𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢𝗫𝗜𝗖𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗗 ➵ 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗇𝖺 𝗌𝗈𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗋𝗈

14.

"I didn't expect that someone with only 1% combat power would be Kaiju No. 8," Ikaruga mumbled, staring at the hologram of the Kaiju. You were currently in the Operation Room to discuss the pressing matters at hand. Meanwhile, the other soldiers had been sent to the hospital, fortunately in stable condition.

You were included in this meeting because Hoshina was unable to attend due to his injuries. He had been sent to the hospital for treatment. The atmosphere was tense as everyone recalled how Kafka had run towards the Yoju bomb and transformed into the enemy of the Defense Force.

Hoshina had confided his suspicions to you from the beginning. He mentioned that Okonogi had told him about the disappearance of Kafka's vital signs at the same time a Kaiju with a fortitude level of 9.8 appeared. You had dismissed it back then, attributing it to the explosion that had disrupted communications.

But the same anomaly occurred during the Sagamihara Neutralization Operation.

Kafka had suddenly gone off the radar right after Ichikawa and Furuhashi were reported missing, coinciding with the appearance of Kaiju No. 8, which had been spotted by the two soldiers. However, other soldiers had also experienced intermittent radar signals, a topic that was discussed during the welcome party, so you hadn’t given it much thought at the time.

"What's the plan now?" Another platoon leader spoke, Takao. Everyone in the operation room was quiet, the only sound you could hear was the tapping of the operation team on the keyboard and the whirring sound of the machines. It's only been, at least, four hours since the battle with the Wyvern-type Yoju, the Honju that have 9.0 fortitude level, and finding out the true identity of Kaiju no. 8.

To say that everyone is on edge is an understatement, they never thought that one of the new recruits—especially the one whom they least suspected, a person that have the lowest combat power to be known—is the Kaiju no. 8 that you've been searching for the past months ever since it made an appearance in the hospital.

You glanced at Ashiro, she was in deep thoughts. Learning from Kafka, a voice recording of their conversation in the bathroom that Hoshina made you to listened to. The both of them are childhood friends, so the decision must be tough for her. She's the Captain of the Third Division Unit, she had responsibilities to do. But Kafka is a friend of hers.

"He'll be in custody." Ashiro stated, staring at the hologram of Kaiju no. 8. You could see how she clench her fist, eyes focused on the hologram.  "But Captain, he's a Kaiju..." Nakanoshima tried to reason out, finding it odd to have a Kaiju in custody and not to use as a weapon.

Everyone here must have been thinking of disagreeing with Ashiro, but can't really voice it out loud because of her position. But you saw how Kafka protected all of you despite him being a Kaiju that you guys have been trained to fight with.

"Well, I agree with Captain Ashiro..." You started off, gathering their attention to you while you stared at Ashiro who was also looking at you with the same intensity in the eyes. "That we should take him into custody." You could see how the others wanted to protest to your words, but you raised your hand to tell them you're not done yet.

"We don't know if he'll be our ally..." Your voice trailing off, eyeing them one-by-one to see their reaction. Ashiro awaited for your next words, already knowing what it would be.

"Or our foe."

. . .

"How's your injuries?" Leaning on your palm as your elbow is propped on the hospital bed. Hoshina leaned his body on the headboard of the bed and glanced at you, there's a plaster on his cheek since a debris had scratched into it while he was fighting with Kaiju no. 10. "Doing better," he replied simply, crossing his arms and tilting his head to the side. He sat in a cross-legged position, just like when he had when he let Kaiju No. 8 get away that time.