The hospital ward had never felt so crowded. Between the guards outside, the surveillance team breathing down their necks, and Mina's piercing gaze, even the air seemed to hum with tension.
Akira sat cross-legged on the bed, expression annoyingly serene for someone about to undergo what half the base was already calling the human test.
Kikoru paced near the window, arms crossed, jaw tight. Kafka fidgeted with the edge of his jacket. Reno stood by the door, posture rigid, eyes sharp on Akira as if daring him to slip up.
The door opened. A squad of Defense Force officers wheeled in a cart stacked high with containers. The aromas hit the room instantly — grilled fish, roast chicken, sizzling pork, raw cuts of beef wrapped in plastic, even a slab of tuna still pink and glistening.
Kikoru blinked. "This looks more like a banquet than a test."
Soushiro Hoshina's drawl carried from the hall. "What can I say? Mina doesn't do things halfway."
Mina herself entered behind the cart, her presence silencing even the hum of the monitors. "No excuses. Eat, Akira Kurogiri."
Akira's smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I was beginning to think you'd forgotten I'm technically a patient. Fine. Let's see what passes for cuisine in Tachikawa."
[Ravan: Advisory. Probability of poisoning attempt = 0%. Nutritional composition consistent with human dietary intake. Opportunity to strengthen social bonds.]
"Always looking out for me, aren't you?" Akira murmured under his breath before plucking up a steaming chicken leg.
He bit in without hesitation. The savory juices spilled, and he chewed slowly, deliberately, making eye contact with Mina the entire time.
Silence blanketed the room.
Kafka leaned forward nervously. "So… tastes fine, right?"
Akira swallowed with a satisfied sigh. "Not bad. A little dry. Whoever's in charge of seasoning should be court-martialed."
Kikoru's head snapped toward him. "Are you insane? You're mocking the Defense Force while on trial for being human?"
[Ravan: Subject Kikoru Shinomiya → emotional spike detected: irritation 89%. Recommend continued provocation for distraction effect.]
Akira winked at her and reached for a slice of raw tuna.
Reno's brows furrowed as Akira ate piece after piece — cooked, raw, grilled, smoked. He didn't flinch, didn't gag, didn't hesitate. He ate like… well, like a hungry man.
When he finally leaned back with a contented sigh, half the spread was gone. Kafka gawked at the devastation. "You—you really were hungry."
Akira stretched, patting his stomach. "What can I say? Fighting monsters builds an appetite."
Kikoru pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're insufferable."
Surveillance – Tachikawa Base
Behind the glass, Kaori Kozunugi threw her hands up. "Unbelievable. He just turned a life-or-death investigation into a lunch break."
Soushiro smirked, arms crossed. "And yet… he passed. Can't fake that reaction."
"Don't sound so amused," Kozunugi snapped. "This doesn't clear him. It only proves he can eat."
Soushiro's grin didn't fade. "Sometimes that's enough."
Back in the Ward
Mina studied Akira for a long, unreadable moment. Her eyes, sharper than steel, didn't waver.
"You've proven nothing absolute," she said finally. "But your actions don't align with our data on kaiju. For now… you'll remain classified and under observation. Any word of this test leaves this room, and consequences will be severe."
Her tone left no room for argument. Even Kikoru swallowed hard.
Akira leaned back on his elbows, smirk unfading. "Observation, classification, ominous warnings… Captain, you really know how to make a man feel welcome."
[Ravan: Subject Mina Ashiro → hostility contained. Respect marker detected. Probability of escalation reduced.]
For the first time, Mina's lips twitched. Not quite a smile, but something close. She turned sharply, cape swishing behind her. "Rest. You'll need it. This isn't over."
The door shut behind her, leaving the four of them in a charged silence.
Kafka was first to break it, rubbing his hair nervously. "Well… that could've gone worse. Right? She didn't shoot you. That's a win!"
Kikoru gave him a look sharp enough to cut steel. "Do you ever listen to yourself?"
Akira only laughed.
Reno, however, stayed quiet, arms still folded. But his glare was different now — less sharp, more thoughtful. His suspicion hadn't vanished, but it was bending, shifting.
[Ravan: Subject Reno Ichikawa → hostility index reduced. Rivalry potential strengthening. Transition ongoing.]
Akira caught the subtle shift and let the silence hang, choosing not to press.
Outside the Hospital
Mina walked with Hoshina at her side, her mind already calculating.
"You saw it too," she said flatly.
Hoshina's grin thinned. "Yeah. Whatever he is, he's good at looking human. Too good."
"And the reports from Yokohama?" Mina asked.
He sobered. "Disappearances. Odd attacks near the coast. People whispering about shadows that looked like men. It doesn't match kaiju patterns."
Mina's eyes narrowed. "If kaiju can mimic us, then this hospital room may only be the beginning."
The captain and her vice-commander walked into the night, the weight of unspoken fears trailing behind them.
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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