もののけ | monster | soshiro hoshina (Kaiju No. 8) (COMPLETE)

じゅうく | nineteen

もののけ | kaiju | monster

19

THE SECONDARY SELECTION EXAM
(PART 1)

Soshiro

IN THE END, I COULDN'T BRING MYSELF TO ASK KENJI ABOUT IT. Days passed, and I shrugged it off, convincing myself it wasn't relevant. It was easier that way, to avoid reopening wounds that had barely begun to heal. The truth was, anything related to her now felt like a minefield I wasn't prepared to navigate.

We had ended things a long time ago, and I had to remind myself of that. I should just stop, trying to convince my heart to follow the logic my mind had laid out. Memories of Kiyomi were like shadows—always there, just out of reach, and impossible to grasp without feeling the sting of loss.

My deep thoughts were distracted by faint sounds of huffing and panting in the distance. Ah yes, today's the day of the Defense Force's secondary selection exam. I stood inside the command building, on the fifth floor, gazing out of a large window that overlooked the training field below. The morning sun cast long shadows across the grounds, highlighting the intense efforts of the examinees as they sprinted across the field.

I watched them closely, my eyes scanning each participant. My brows raised when I spotted a familiar figure leading the pack—Kikoru Shinomiya. As expected, she was at the top of the physical exam. Her form was perfect, her speed unmatched. There was a determination in her eyes that spoke volumes about her desire to succeed.

My gaze shifted from person to person, evaluating their performances. That's when I saw Kenji, running with all his might, almost catching up with Kikoru. He was giving it his all, his face set in a mask of fierce concentration. My, that little rascal wanted to prove himself, not just to the Defense Force, but to me as well. A faint smile tugged at the corners of my lips.

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a man lagging behind the group. His movements were slower, more labored. I leaned in closer to the railing for a better look. It was Examinee 2032: Kafka Hibino. The smile on my face grew more evident, fueled by a mix of curiosity and amusement. Kafka wasn't exactly excelling in the physical test; his performance was, frankly, abysmal compared to the others.

I wondered why Ashiro had let him through. In terms of physical ability, he was clearly outmatched. His scores would be low, no doubt about that. Yet, there was something about the way he kept pushing forward, refusing to give up, that caught my attention. I leaned back, crossing my arms as I continued to watch him struggle.

I'll keep an eye on him...

Then suddenly, I felt someone stand beside me, though I already knew who it was without even turning to look. "Hm, you sure are cruel now, Captain," I said, more amused than anything. "You really did make it the hardest exam of the year. You sure we going to have a lot of recruits this year?"

"What I laid out is still easy," Ashiro replied monotonously, her gaze fixed straight ahead on the examinees. "This is still nothing compared to the other units, especially when you want to apply for the Special Unit Division. That's way more of a nightmare. It's like waltzing straight to your grave."