The following evening, Yokohama's neon skyline glimmered against the darkened sky. A sea breeze carried the salty tang of the harbor through the city streets, wrapping the night in a strange mix of calm and anticipation.
Inside a small ramen shop tucked near the station, three figures huddled around a cramped wooden booth: Akira Kurogiri, Reno Ichikawa, and Kafka Hibino. Empty bowls stacked precariously in front of them, evidence of a meal well fought and consumed.
"Oi, oi, you two eat like bottomless pits," Kafka groaned, clutching his stomach. "I'm too old for this pace."
"You're thirty-two, not eighty," Reno muttered, arms crossed. His chopsticks still lingered in his hand though—ready for another bite.
Akira leaned back, the ghost of a smile on his face. "Don't act like you weren't shoveling noodles faster than either of us, Ichikawa."
"Tch." Reno clicked his tongue, but the faint flush on his cheeks betrayed him.
It wasn't much. Just ramen, laughter, and light bickering. Yet the air felt different from before—less strained, more like a bond slowly threading itself together. For the first time since the exam, Akira allowed himself to relax, even if only a fraction.
In the quiet of the night
Later, after they split ways, Akira trudged back toward his shabby apartment block on the city's edge. The neighborhood was dim, its vending machines buzzing louder than the distant traffic.
Akira yawned, stretching his arms. "…Man. For all the hype about kaiju and the Defense Force, the in-between's just boring cleanup shifts and instant noodles. Systems in anime at least crack jokes or act like buddies. Mine? Just cold diagnostics all day."
He sighed, kicking a pebble down the sidewalk. "Would it kill you to have some personality?"
A pause. Then—
[Ravan: Host feedback registered.]
Akira froze. "…Wait. Did you just answer me?"
[Ravan: Response—affirmative.]
[Ravan: Morale module detected. Status—dormant.]
[Ravan: Query—authorize activation?]
Akira blinked. "Morale… module? You've had this all along?"
[Ravan: Clarification—prototype feature. Optional. Requires Host consent.]
Akira frowned. "Last thing I need is a glitchy backseat driver."
[Ravan: Risk assessment—minimal.]
"…Tch. Fine. Do it."
[Ravan: Interactive Mode—engaged.]
[Ravan: Frequency—slightly increased.]
[Ravan: Expect periodic commentary.]
Akira groaned. "Great. My system's got a mouth now."
[Ravan: Correction—optimized tactical advisor.]
"…Already correcting me. Perfect."
The next day, as dusk bled across the horizon, Akira returned home from cleanup duty. Kafka had lingered to finish paperwork with Uncle De, while Reno had darted off early, muttering about sharpening his focus. Akira enjoyed the walk back alone—though "alone" was rarely true anymore.
[Ravan: Multiple surveillance signatures detected. Same as previous night. You're still being watched.]
Akira's smirk was faint. "Yeah, I figured."
But tonight, something else lurked in the air. A sharper, heavier presence waiting inside his apartment. He pushed the door open without hesitation.
She was there.
Kikoru Shinomiya sat on the windowsill, arms crossed, golden twin-tails catching the fading light like molten fire. Her uniform was immaculate, but her eyes burned with a storm.
"You really don't learn your place, do you?" she snapped.
Akira closed the door calmly behind him. "Funny. I could say the same to you."
The air crackled. Neither moved for several heartbeats.
Finally, Kikoru hopped down, boots clicking against the floor. "Yesterday, I underestimated you. That won't happen again."
[Ravan: Warning. High aggression levels detected. Recommend evasive sarcasm or counterintimidation.]
Akira almost laughed at the suggestion. "So, you came back just to pick another fight? You must really like me."
Her cheeks flushed. "Don't flatter yourself!" She took a step closer, eyes narrowing
"You got away yesterday. But tonight, I'll settle this properly."
Her battle suit's plates began to hum faintly as she activated them.
Akira tilted his head, unbothered. "You really want to do this in my apartment? Gonna pay for the damages?"
Kikoru's glare sharpened. For a heartbeat, it looked like she'd lunge.
Unbeknownst to them, surveillance feeds relayed the standoff directly to the Third Division's base. Hoshina leaned forward, sharp grin flashing.
"Oooh, tension's thick enough to cut with my blade. Think they'll actually go at it, Captain?"
Mina's gaze remained level. "Keep watching. Don't interfere yet."
Hoshina chuckled. "You're hopin' too, huh? This kid's a puzzle—and I wanna see which piece snaps first."
Inside the apartment, the moment stretched thin. Kikoru's fists clenched. Akira's smile never faltered. Ravan's voice hummed lightly in his mind.
[Ravan: External tremor detected. Approaching seismic event… magnitude rising rapidly.]
Akira's eyes flicked sideways. "…What now?"
The building shuddered suddenly. Glass rattled in its frame. A low, bone-deep rumble rolled through the district.
Then the sirens wailed.
"Attention all residents!" A booming automated voice echoed across the city. "Seismic shockwave detected! Epicenter: Kawasaki, Eastern Industrial Ward. Category: Level 5 kaiju confirmed. Evacuation immediately!"
Kikoru stiffened, fury momentarily replaced by instinct. She glanced toward the window, then back at Akira.
"This isn't over," she hissed.
Akira smirked faintly. "Looking forward to round two."
She vaulted out the window, battle suit humming as she dashed into the night.
Akira turned his gaze eastward, toward the faint glow already blooming on the horizon. Smoke, fire, and the roar of something monstrous.
[Ravan: Kaiju presence confirmed. Estimated threat class consistent with official report. Warning—combat encounter probability: high.]
Akira clenched his fists. The thrill of battle prickled under his skin. "Good. Then let's see what I can really do."
Elsewhere
In the monitoring room, Hoshina leaned back, tapping his sword hilt. "Well, well. Looks like our night just got interesting."
Mina closed the file in her hand and stood, her expression grave. "Mobilize. If Kawasaki's burning, we don't have the luxury of just watching anymore."
On the horizon, the storm had begun.
To be continued…
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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