𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗𝗬, 𝗔𝗜𝗠, 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗧! ➵ 𝗇𝖺𝗋𝗎𝗆𝗂 𝗀𝖾𝗇

04.

Dear Ms. Hoshimiya [Name],

We are pleased to inform you that you have successfully passed the entrance examination for the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force (JAKDF).

You closed the envelope after reading the first sentence, not bothering to read it as a whole as you already know what it says, just stating about your skills, how impressed they were, hoping that you'll use your skills to help the citizens of Japan, yada, yada. Nothing important. The only thing that mattered was that single word: passed.

"Let me guess, you passed?" You heard Narumi beside you scoff, seeing the closed envelope in your hands and the satisfied look in your face. "And I'm 100% sure you passed with flying colors." You gave him a sarcastic smile, your tone leaking with so much sarcasm you couldn't hold, but as dense he is, he just replied:

"Obviously, I'll passed, that is a fact."

You sighed, watching as his smug grin widened, and he pulled his own envelope out, holding it like some sacred artifact. You didn't have to guess what it said. The letter probably mirrored yours with the same overdone flattery, just paraphrased to make it sound personal. Compliments about his skills, promises about his potential, and all the motivational fluff that Narumi would undoubtedly eat up.

But with the look on his face, it seems like there's more than mere flattery written in his letter.

"Let's see here," he hum as he open the envelope, his smirk growing wider as he sees the bold letters the first he pulled the letter out of the envelope. "Oh look," he showed you the paper, he was oozing with so much confidence - correction, arrogance - that you feel suffocated by it.

OVERALL RANKING:

1. NARUMI GEN

It was there in big, bold letters, and he made sure you saw every inch of it. You squinted, trying to piece the letters together as he waved the paper obnoxiously close to your face.

"Well?" He asked, his tone practically dripping with self-satisfaction. "Go ahead, admit it. I'm amazing. Better than amazing, actually. Probably the best recruit they've ever had." He keep boasting, the smug smile on his face keeps growing and you wish to tear hislips and pluck out his teeth all together in annoyance, not because he's higher than you but because of how arrogant he looks.

Taking a deep sigh, shaking off the thoughts that lingers in your head before looking at Narumi once again.

"Good for you, Gen," you muttered, trying to sound unfazed. Rankings didn't matter to you - you had passed, and that was enough. But Narumi, being Narumi, wasn't going to let it slide.

"Hmph! "Good for you", that's all?" He glared at you, acting like he was offended by your unfazed reaction. "You should be bowing in front of me! Muttering praises and singing praises of my skills!" He shouted loudly and laughing out loud that it had already gather attention from the other examinees who were also staying in the Ariake Maritime Base.

You just stared at him in disbelief, shaking your head at his childishness and you're not in the mood to feed his delusions right now. And, you feel a massive second-hand embarrassment from his actions, not knowing where he got the courage to do such thing with so many people around both of you.

"BOW DOWN TO ME, YOU PEASANTS! I'M YOUR SUPERIOR, NARUMI GEN!"

Superior my ass.