Kikoru had not yet run the obstacle course. It was day one with the television crew, and she was being interviewed at the shooting range. Kafka and Reno had been with her, but both had drifted off to the side.
The director, Mr. Ooka, turned his mic toward Kikoru with a cheerful smile. “It’s already been over two months since you assumed your new post in the Third Division,” he said. “Please tell us about your first combat mission at Sagamihara.”
Kikoru thought for a moment, then responded in a formal manner most unlike her usual speech. “Let me see. First of all, I’d like to express my sympathy for all those who were injured, displaced, or bereaved there, as well as their families. There’s a reason they call Japan ‘the Land of the Kaiju.’ During combat, I realized all over again how enormous kaiju and yoju can be, and how very different they are from what we encounter in our training. I also wonder if I’ve started to realize what I have to do next.”
“Next?” the director said. “I’ve heard you played a really big role during your first mission.”
“The creatures I neutralized were all just yoju,” Kikoru explained. “Of course, even yoju are still very dangerous.”
“I see. Then you’re never satisfied with yourself. You’re always aiming high. Hmm,” said the director as he nodded. “Are there any officers that you pay special attention to?”
“Special attention, you say?”
The face that bubbled up in her mind was Kafka Hibino’s.
“Ah-chooo!!”
From behind, Kikoru could hear Kafka’s deafening sneeze, followed by the sound of sniffling. “Ugh, Ichikawa. Got any tissues?” Kafka asked with a hapless expression.
What is he doing over there?
“Ms. Shinomiya?”
“Oh, pardon me.” Kikoru coughed once. “I’d say it has to be Captain Mina Ashiro. In terms of combat power, she’s head and shoulders above the rest of the division. I felt that especially strongly at Sagamihara. With one blow, she opened up a gigantic hole in a colossal kaiju—that’s a trick I still can’t perform. Though I will try harder to accomplish it.”
“I see,” said the director. “Well, if it’s with your present enthusiasm, by all means keep trying to reach your goal moving forward.”
“I think there are many civilians who are uneasy about the emergence of giant kaiju in recent years,” Kikoru said. “But as a member of the Defense Force, I am determined to neutralize kaiju. I won’t let even one of them get away.”
“What a fine, reassuring answer! Thank you very much!”
Kikoru spun around on her heel and solemnly vowed: someday, she was even going to blow away Kaiju No. 9—the hominoid kaiju that had appeared before her on that day.
✦ ✦ ✦
On the second day of filming, the obstacle course and the postmortem had both been held, and the afternoon tasks were complete. From then until lights-out, the JDF members were in principle free, and it was during this time that their dinners and baths were taken. Some went out, some studied in their rooms, some held bull sessions, some watched television, and some worked out. There were all kinds of ways to pass the time. The base was furnished with a gym, and it had all the latest facilities and equipment. Though the sun was already sinking outside the window, it was packed with officers.
“Whew!” Having finished her workout on the chest press, Kikoru was wiping up drops of sweat with a towel.
I guess that’s enough for today.
At first glance, Kikoru looked like a slender young girl. Her whole body was sheathed in strong, well-developed muscle, however. It was a different body type from that of Aoi, the former Ground Self-Defense Force officer. He was all large, rippling muscles, but she had a graceful, refined form that excluded every hint of excess.
Just as she was about to leave the gym, Kikoru noticed that one corner of it was getting loud.
“Draaaaaaaagh—!” The mighty roar came from Kafka, who was using the bench press.
There at his side, Iharu—dumbbells in his hands—was crying, “Hey, you’ve got it! You’ve got it, old man!”
Reno and Aoi were also nearby, observing the sight with interest.
“Mr. Hibino, I told you it’s best not to strain too much!” said Reno.
“You’re clearly overdoing it. This isn’t efficient,” said Aoi.
“Good grief, what’re you all up to?” said Kikoru. She was the youngest of the new recruits, but there were times when the men seemed so childish to her. Kafka in particular was like a little boy, though he was a whole Chinese zodiac’s worth of years older than her. In the bath, he’d get into arguments and end up dizzy from overheating, he’d compete to eat more than other people, and he’d turn things into contests at the drop of a hat.
Is that how guys are, no matter how old they get?
The reporters were at the end of the gym filming Kafka and the other new recruits working out.
You won’t turn into Kaiju No. 8 again, I trust.
She remembered Kafka nearly transforming in front of the camera yesterday. But just like then, Reno was standing nearby. Things were probably going to be all right after all. Probably. Just as Kikoru was thinking of taking a shower and heading back to her room, something cold touched the back of her neck.
“Eek! W-what’s that?” Kikoru jumped away before she could form a thought, spun around, and then breathed a sigh of relief. “Oh, Akari and Hakua.”
Standing there were her fellow female newcomers, Akari Minase and Hakua Igarashi. Akari was the type who was good at looking after others, and she always seemed concerned about Kikoru for one reason or another. Hakua was more like a big sister, with a large-boned physique that was the equal of any of the guys. Out of the women she’d entered the force with, Kikoru got on especially well with these two.
Akari was holding a sports drink in her hand. “Worked up a sweat, Kiko-baby? Why not have one?”
“Thanks, don’t mind if I do.”
“Something bothering you? Your brows are all scrunched,” said Hakua.
“It’s really not anything important,” Kikoru said.
From the gym, another cheer rang out from Kafka and the rest.
“Those guys,” Kikoru sighed. “Just look at ’em, at it again.”
“Mr. Hibino & Co.?” Hakua asked.
“Yes. Honestly, that guy was awful yesterday too. Even his interview was a train wreck. If I hadn’t covered for him, it honestly could’ve been a total disaster.”
At Kikoru’s impassioned words, Akari began giggling behind her fingertips.
“Huh? W-what’s so funny?” Kikoru asked.
“I was just thinking, you talk about Mr. Hibino quite a lot these days.”
A moment later, Kikoru realized what Akari was implying—and her face burned with embarrassment.
“H-huh! W-what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, you’re right,” Hakua said, nodding from the side. “She seems to enjoy that topic an awful lot.”
“Et tu, Hakua? No, it’s nothing like that.” Though Kikoru tried to argue, she realized she had spoken about Kafka a lot recently. There was yesterday, and lately thoughts of Kafka often crossed her mind. What in the world was she thinking about that blockhead for?
“Oh, there she is.” From behind Kikoru came a voice speaking in Kansai dialect. She turned to find Hoshina standing there.
“Vice-Captain Hoshina, what can I do for you?”
“Well, I got a little something I’d like to talk about. Would you by any chance be proficient in swordplay?”
“Swordplay?” Kikoru cocked her head, unsure exactly what he was getting at. “I think you may know this already, but of the eighteen martial arts, I’ve studied the basics of archery, equestrianism, and swordplay.”
“Well, I just wanted to confirm,” Hoshina said. “Oh yeah, and could I get you to skip tomorrow morning’s drills and come to the control room instead? I’ve got a little job for you.”
“I’ve no objection, sir, but—”
“Oh yeah, do you like crabs, Shinomiya?”
“Huh?” Kikoru tilted her head at the unexpected question. “What’s this, all of a sudden?”
“No allergy problems?” Hoshina asked. “Lots of folks are allergic to crustaceans.”
“Crabs are one of my favorite foods,” Kikoru said. “I’m not allergic to them.”
“Fantastic. In that case, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Telling her nothing further, Hoshina departed.
“Huh? What was with that last question?” Kikoru thought out loud.
“A summons that even gets you out of work,” said Akari. “Do you think you might be getting a commendation?”
“Maybe he’s gonna treat you to a crab dinner?”
Akari and Hakua were overly optimistic, but Kikoru was feeling cornered. In the mission to Sagamihara, Hoshina had battled against Kaiju No. 8. Given his observant eye and keen intellect, it wouldn’t surprise her one bit if he’d gotten hold of some other information.
Don’t tell me he’s going to ask about Kafka Hibino.
Kikoru realized that once again she was letting her thoughts run wild. She shook her head sharply, trying to clear her mind. Once more, she heard Kafka’s yelling coming from the gym.
Oh, good grief! How can you be carrying on like that at a time like this?