The interview had gone far smoother than expected.

I snapped my notebook shut with a satisfied smile as the owner of the bookstore shook both of our hands.

"Thank you again," I said.

"It was our pleasure."

Himari lowered her camera after taking one final photograph of the tiny shop nestled between two apartment buildings.

"I'll send you copies once they're edited."

The elderly owner beamed. "My grandchildren will love that."

As we stepped back onto the sidewalk, the afternoon sun was warm enough that I had already rolled my sleeves to my elbows.

I stretched with a groan. "I think that's interview number four this week."

Himari checked the camera screen. "And article number...?"

"Too many."

She laughed. "You say that every week."

"Because every week it's true." I slipped my notebook into my satchel. "So."

She glanced over. "Coffee?"

"Orange juice."

"You've become predictable."

"You know whose fault that is."

She smiled knowingly. "I do."

I bumped her shoulder. "And don't say his name."

"I wasn't going to."

"You were thinking it."

"I absolutely was."

We both laughed.

The train station came into view at the end of the block, commuters flowing steadily through the entrance as trains arrived every few minutes.

Rush hour hadn't started yet, but there were still hundreds of people coming and going.

Businessmen. Students. Parents with children. An elderly couple arguing over which platform they needed.

It felt... Normal. Comfortably normal.

Himari glanced at the departures board. "Our train's in six minutes."

"Perfect."

"I call window seats."

"Those don't exist."

"They do if I believe."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound like Kafka."

"I've been spending too much time around Division Three."

"You really have."

As we climbed the station steps, my phone buzzed.

Soshiro:
How'd the interview go?

A smile crept onto my face before I could stop it.

Me:
Finished five minutes ago.

Three little dots appeared almost instantly.

Shoshiro:
Good. Don't forget to eat.

I snorted.

"What?"

I turned the screen toward Himari.

She laughed. "He really texts like someone's dad."

"I know."

"'Don't forget to eat.'"

"I had lunch!"

"Barely."

"I had half a sandwich."

"Exactly."

I started typing.

Me:
You're one to talk.

His reply came almost immediately.

Shoshiro:
That's different.

Me:
How?

Shoshiro:
I'm professionally irresponsible.

I laughed out loud.

"What's so funny?"

"He just called himself professionally irresponsible."

Himari shook her head. "I like him."

"I know."

"He adores you."

I looked away, cheeks warming. "...Don't."

"I'm serious."

"I know."

"And you adore him."

"...Maybe."

She grinned. "'Maybe.'" Air quotation.

Before I could defend myself, A low vibration rippled beneath my feet. The station floor trembled. The overhead lights flickered.

Around us, conversations falting. Someone frowned. "...Did you feel that?"

Another rumble. Stronger this time. A train screeched to an abrupt stop before entering the platform.

Silence settled over the station.

Then, "BEEP" Every emergency speaker crackled to life. "Attention all civilians." The calm recorded voice echoed through the station. "Potential kaiju activity detected in your area."

People froze. Then looked around. No one moved.

The announcement continued. "Please remain calm and follow evacuation procedures."

Another violent tremor shook the ground. Dust drifted from the ceiling.

A child began crying somewhere behind me.

Himari looked at me. "...Y/N."

"I know."

The station lights flashed red. A deafening alarm erupted overhead.

Every instinct I'd built from months of interviewing the Defense Force kicked in. "Move."

We grabbed our bags at the same time. Security officers immediately began directing people toward the exits.

"This way!"

"Stay together!"

"No running!"

The crowd surged forward. Not panicked. Yet. Just frightened.

Then, a sound unlike anything I'd ever heard tore through the city. Metal screamed. Concrete cracked.

Glass exploded somewhere above the station entrance. People screamed. The floor lurched violently beneath us.

Someone shouted, "IT'S COMING THROUGH!"

The ceiling at the far end of the station collapsed inward in a shower of concrete and twisted steel. A massive claw punched through the dust.

Then another. The creature hauled itself into view with a roar so loud I felt it in my ribs. It wasn't enormous like the ones I'd seen on television.

But inside a crowded train station... It didn't have to be. It was already terrifying.

"CIVILIANS, MOVE!"

The crowd finally broke into a run.

Himari grabbed my wrist. "Go!"

We ran. People shoved past us. Parents lifted children into their arms. Station employees held emergency doors open, shouting directions over the alarms.

Another roar echoed behind us. The kaiju lunged. Its tail smashed through a support pillar. The impact sent chunks of concrete raining across the concourse.

A woman tripped. Her shopping bags scattered across the floor.

Without thinking, I turned. "I've got you!" I caught her beneath the arm and hauled her back to her feet.

"Thank you!"

"Keep moving!"

The woman disappeared into the crowd.

"Himari!"

"I'm here!" She was only a few steps ahead, camera forgotten against her side as she scanned desperately for an opening through the crush of people.

Then, A new sound. Much sharper. Much more familiar. Defense Force transport vehicles. Outside.

The first responders had arrived.

The station speakers changed. "Defense Force units are now engaging the target."

Relief washed through me. They were here. We just had to make it outside. Just a little farther. Just a few more steps.

None of us knew... The most dangerous part of the evacuation was still ahead.

The afternoon sky disappeared beneath a cloud of concrete dust.

The moment Himari and I burst through the station doors, the world erupted into controlled chaos.

Defense Force vehicles had already established a perimeter around the plaza. Officers in combat suits sprinted between barricades while emergency personnel waved civilians toward designated evacuation routes.

"This way!"

"Keep moving!"

"Don't stop!"

Someone caught my arm just long enough to steer me away from the station entrance. "Miss, stay behind the barricades!"

I nodded immediately. "We're going!"

Himari stayed close enough that our shoulders kept bumping as we ran. She had abandoned any thought of taking photographs. Her camera bounced uselessly against her hip as she gripped my sleeve.

Another deafening roar echoed behind us.

I looked over my shoulder.

The kaiju had forced its way halfway out of the station entrance, its body scraping against twisted steel and shattered concrete. It wasn't large enough to level buildings, but in the confined streets around the station it was devastating.

An officer shouted into his headset. "Target exiting the east entrance!"

"Clear civilians from Sector Three!"

"We need another angle!"

The crowd surged forward. People cried. Children screamed. Someone had dropped a stroller. A young father scooped up his toddler without slowing down.

The Defense Force moved with practiced precision, spreading into formation around the creature.

One officer raised his rifle. "Fire!"

The blast echoed through the plaza. Another followed.

The kaiju staggered backward.

Then... It screamed. The sound was so piercing I instinctively covered my ears. The creature swung one massive arm across the street.

A parked bus rolled onto its side as though it weighed nothing. The impact sent a shower of shattered glass across the evacuation route.

"LOOK OUT!" The crowd scattered.

People stumbled over one another trying to get clear. I ducked as pieces of glass rained onto the pavement.

Beside me, an elderly man lost his footing. His cane skidded several feet away. He hit the ground hard.

"Oh my God." Without thinking, I turned back.

"Y/N!" Himari yelled.

"I'll be right there!" I crouched beside him.

"Sir?"

"My leg..."

"It's okay." I slipped one arm beneath his shoulder. "We're getting you up."

The old man winced but nodded. Together we managed to stand.

"There."

"Thank you..."

"We're almost there."

Only another twenty feet separated us from the barricade.

An emergency responder noticed us immediately "I've got him!"

He started running toward us. Everything should have been fine.

Then the kaiju lunged. Not toward us. Toward the officers engaging it.

One Defense Force member pivoted, trying to draw its attention away from the civilians.

Another fired.

The shot struck the creature's armored shoulder. Instead of penetrating...It glanced away. The round ricocheted off the hardened plating at a sharp angle.

Time seemed to slow. Someone shouted, "Ricochet!"

The officer's eyes widened. "No—!"

I barely had time to turn my head. Something slammed into my shoulder with crushing force.

The impact spun me sideways. My grip on the elderly man disappeared. The world tilted violently.

Then... The pavement rushed up to meet me. For a second... I didn't understand. There wasn't much pain. Only overwhelming pressure. Like someone had punched straight through my chest.

I blinked. "...Himari?" My voice sounded strangely far away.

The emergency responder reached us first. "Officer down—" He stopped himself. "Civilian hit!"

Everything exploded into motion. "Medic!"

"We need a medic now!"

Himari dropped to her knees beside me so quickly she nearly fell herself. Her hands hovered over my shoulder, afraid to touch me. "Y/N..."

Her voice cracked. "Oh my God."

"I'm okay..." The words came out weaker than I intended. I looked down. Blood spread steadily across the shoulder of my shirt. "...Oh." That...Was more blood than I expected.

The medic arrived, immediately pressing thick gauze against the wound. "Ma'am, stay with me."

"I am."

"Can you tell me your name?"

Around us, officers continued fighting the kaiju. Explosions echoed through the plaza. Orders rang out over radios. But all of it sounded farther away now.

Himari grabbed my free hand. "I need you to stay awake."

"I am awake."

"No." Tears spilled freely down her cheeks. "I really need you to stay awake."

"I was just..." I swallowed. "...Really tired."

"Don't." Her grip tightened. "Don't you dare."

The medic looked over his shoulder "Ambulance!"

"We're losing blood!"

Two more medics rushed in with a stretcher. As they carefully lifted me, my head lolled toward the line of Defense Force officers still engaging the kaiju.

One of them had lowered his rifle completely. Even from this distance... I could see he hadn't taken his eyes off me since the ricochet.

His helmet hid most of his face. But not the horror frozen across it. Another officer grabbed his shoulder. "Focus!"

He didn't move. For one awful second... He simply stood there staring at the civilian he'd accidentally shot.

Then his vice-captain stepped in front of him. Not shouting. Not grabbing him.

Just pointing firmly back toward the battle. The young officer swallowed hard. Raised his weapon again. And forced himself back into the fight.

The ambulance doors closed. The last thing I heard before the sirens drowned everything else out was Himari climbing in beside me. Still holding my hand. Still refusing to let go.

"You're going to be okay," she whispered, more to convince herself than me.

I wanted to tell her she was right. Instead... The ceiling lights blurred together. And the darkness finally caught up with me.

...

Everything sounded underwater. Voices drifted in and out. Monitors beeped somewhere beside me. The sharp scent of antiseptic lingered in the room.

I couldn't tell if my eyes were open or closed anymore. Every time I managed to wake, exhaustion dragged me back under before I could understand where I was.

"...She's stable."

"...Blood loss was moderate..."

"...No permanent damage..."

Someone squeezed my hand.

Warm. Familiar.

"...Soshiro?"

The pressure tightened ever so slightly. "I'm here."

I tried opening my eyes.

The room blurred together in soft whites and muted colors until his face slowly came into focus beside my bed.

He looked... Awful. His uniform jacket had been discarded somewhere. His sleeves were rolled unevenly. His hair had fallen loose from constantly running a hand through it.

There was a fresh scrape across one cheek I didn't remember seeing before.

"You look tired," I mumbled.

A tiny smile appeared. "So do you."

"...What happened?"

"You caught a ricochet."

I frowned. "...That's embarrassing."

His laugh came out as nothing more than a quiet breath. "Only you would wake up and say that."

"I ruin dramatic moments."

"Mhm."

I tried to lift my hand. Pain immediately reminded me why that was a bad idea.

He was already there, gently helping settle it back onto the blanket. "Easy."

"...Sorry."

"You apologize too much."

"I got shot."

"You got shot."

"I feel like that's apology-worthy."

His jaw tightened. For just a moment. Then it was gone. "You don't owe anyone an apology."

The medicine pulled at me again. Everything felt heavy. "I wanna sleep..."

"I know."

"You'll still be here?"

"I'm not goin' anywhere."

I believed him. The darkness returned.

...

The next time I woke... The room was darker. Night. The television was off. Rain tapped softly against the hospital window.

Soshiro wasn't beside the bed.

I frowned. "...Soshiro?"

No answer. Then... Voices. Outside my room. Quiet. Measured.

I couldn't make out every word. Only pieces.

"...understand..."

"...civilian..."

"...crossfire..."

Another unfamiliar voice answered.

"...Vice-Captain, I assure you—"

"No."

Soshiro. His voice wasn't raised. If anything... It was quieter than usual. Which somehow made it far more frightening. "I don't think you do."

Silence. Then another man spoke.

"My officer followed protocol."

"I'm aware."

"He prevented additional civilian casualties."

"I'm aware."

"So what exactly—"

"What exactly?" The hallway fell silent.

Even through the haze clouding my thoughts, I could hear the difference. Soshiro wasn't arguing. He was holding himself together by sheer force of will.

"When my people make a mistake..." His voice remained calm. "...I don't hide behind protocol. Another pause. "I look at the outcome." No one interrupted him. "A civilian who trusted the Defense Force..." He spoke each word slowly. "...Is lying in that room."

I swallowed.

"...She evacuated exactly as instructed."

The other Vice-Captain answered carefully. "It was an unavoidable accident."

"It was."

"...Then surely—"

"It was still preventable."

Silence again. Longer this time.

"I've already spoken to the officer."

"I'm not here because I enjoy assigning blame." His tone never changed. "I'm here because every member of my division will hear about this tomorrow."

"...Vice-Captain?"

"They'll review every angle. Every decision. Every line of fire. They'll train until they're sick of hearing my voice. Because if this can happen once..." He paused. "...It can happen again."

The other Vice-Captain let out a slow breath. "...Understood."

"I expect your division to do the same."

"...We will."

Another silence.

Then... Much quieter, "I know your officer didn't mean for this to happen."

"I know."

"But intent doesn't change the person recovering behind that door." Footsteps echoed down the hallway. Slowly fading.

Then another pair remained.

Captain Ashiro. I recognized her voice immediately. "You've made your point."

"...Have I?"

"You have." A pause.

"You should go back inside."

"...Not yet."

"You're angry."

"...Yes."

"You've earned that."

Another long silence. Then Ashiro spoke again. "But don't let your anger convince you this was malicious."

"It wasn't."

"Good."

"I know it wasn't." His voice cracked ever so slightly on the last sentence. "...That almost makes it worse."

I closed my eyes. Not because I was tired. Because hearing him like that... Hurt more than my shoulder.

A few moments later, the door opened quietly. I pretended to still be asleep. He walked over without a sound. The chair beside my bed creaked softly as he sat.

For several minutes... Nothing. Just the rhythmic beeping of the monitor.

Then... Warm fingers carefully found mine beneath the blanket.

He thought I was asleep. "...You scared me."

Barely louder than a whisper. "I've seen people get hurt before."

His thumb brushed gently across the back of my hand. "I've treated injuries. I've lost good officers. But..." He took a slow breath. "I've never stood there...and watched someone I love fall."

The room blurred behind tears I hadn't realized were forming.

He bowed his head. Still believing I couldn't hear him. "I was supposed to keep you safe."

I squeezed his hand. Just enough.

His head lifted immediately. Our eyes met. "...You were listening."

My voice was little more than a whisper. "...You found me."

For the first time since I'd opened my eyes... Some of the weight left his shoulders. He leaned forward, resting his forehead gently against mine. Neither of us spoke again. We didn't need to. The silence finally said everything words couldn't.

...

I stared at the overnight bag sitting open on my bed. Then at Hoshina. Then back at the bag. "...You're serious."

He nodded once. "Mhm."

"They're letting me live at the Third Division."

"Temporarily."

"I know."

I pointed toward myself with my good hand. "Me."

"Mhm."

"The civilian."

"That's the one."

I blinked. "Is that even allowed?"

He scratched the back of his neck. "...Normally?"

"That's not a reassuring answer."

He laughed. "...Captain pulled a few strings."

"So..."

"You'll be stayin' in one of the guest rooms until your shoulder heals."

"And you're sure nobody minds?"

His expression turned into one of complete disbelief. "(Y/N)."

"What?"

"They've been askin' about ya every day."

"...Really?"

"Mhm."

I looked down at the sling supporting my arm. "...I don't want people feeling sorry for me."

"They don't."

"They don't?"

"They're worried."

"...That's worse."

"Nah." He picked up my bag and zipped it closed before I could protest. "They like havin' ya around."

"I was only there three days."

He smiled. "Apparently that was enough."

...

Walking through the gates of the Third Division with my arm tucked into a navy-blue sling felt... strange. I wasn't carrying a visitor badge this time.

Instead, the guard simply smiled. "Welcome back."

"...Thanks."

The moment the main doors opened, "Y/N!" Kafka nearly tripped over his own feet trying to reach me first. "You came back!"

"I did."

"Vice-Captain said you're gonna stay here!"

"Temporarily."

"That's still staying!"

Before I could answer, Reno gently caught Kafka by the back of his shirt. "Easy."

Kafka froze. "...Right."

He looked sheepish. "Sorry." He glanced at my shoulder. "I forgot."

I smiled. "It's okay."

Kikoru walked over next, arms folded. "You look better."

"I feel better."

"Liar."

"...Maybe a little."

She nodded once. "Good."

Then, before I could react... She gave me an incredibly awkward side hug, obviously trying not to bump my injured shoulder. "There."

I blinked. "...Was that a hug?"

She immediately looked away. "No."

"It definitely was."

"It wasn't."

Kafka gasped dramatically. "Kikoru hugged someone!"

"I did not."

"You absolutely—"

"I'll throw you."

"...Worth it."

Even Aoi stopped to offer a quiet, "...It's good to see you again."

"Thank you."

Furuhashi smiled. "Glad you're okay."

The warmth behind those simple words caught me off guard. I'd only known these people a short while. Yet somehow... Coming back felt a little like coming home.

...

"Captain." Ashiro looked up from the reports on her desk as Hoshina knocked lightly against the open office door. "(Y/N) is here."

"I know." She stood, walking around the desk. For a brief second, I wondered if I should salute. I decided against it. She noticed. "...Relax."

"I've never been very good at military etiquette."

"I've noticed."

A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. "I wanted to personally welcome you."

"...Thank you."

"The guest room has been prepared."

"I really appreciate you allowing this."

She shook her head. "It was the logical decision."

"I still feel like I'm imposing."

"You aren't."

Her gaze softened just slightly. "My officers perform better when they aren't worrying."

I looked toward Hoshina. He suddenly found the ceiling incredibly interesting.

Ashiro noticed too. "...Particularly my Vice-Captain."

His ears turned just the faintest shade of pink. "...Captain."

"What?"

"...Please."

She almost smiled. Almost. "I expect you to recover fully."

"I'll do my best."

"I know you will."

The guest room was surprisingly comfortable. Small. Neat. A single bed rested beneath the window. A desk sat against one wall. It was perfect.

That evening, after dinner, Hoshina carried my bag inside. "There." I looked around.

"This is really nice."

"Mhm." He sat on the edge of the bed, Then frowned. "...Bed's kinda small."

"It'll do."

He pressed a hand against the mattress. "...Not nearly as comfortable as yours."

I laughed. "You've become spoiled."

"I blame you."

"You should."

"I do."

...

The next morning, I wandered into the cafeteria one-handed, still trying to figure out how anyone managed to butter toast with only their non-dominant hand.

It wasn't going well.

The butter packet shot off the knife and landed on the floor.

"...Oops." Before I could even bend down—

Three different voices answered at once. "I got it."

"I'll help."

"Don't move."

I looked up. Kafka had already picked it up. Reno quietly handed me another packet. Hoshina appeared beside me carrying my breakfast tray before I'd even asked.

"...You all realize it's just toast."

Kafka nodded seriously. "We have a system."

"You have... a system?"

"Mhm." He nodded vigorously.

"For me?"

"Mhm."

I looked toward Hoshina. "...Did you organize this?"

He took a sip of his tea. "I have no idea what you're talkin' about."

Kafka immediately pointed at him. "It was definitely Vice-Captain."

"...Kafka."

"What?"

"...Quiet."

I laughed so hard my shoulder protested. "Oww."

Every officer at the table looked up at once.

"You okay?"

"Does it hurt?"

"Need the medic?"

I waved them off, still laughing. "I'm fine!"

Hoshina sighed dramatically. "...Congratulations."

"For what?"

"You've somehow convinced an entire division to fuss over ya."

I grinned. "I learned from the best."

He looked at me over the rim of his cup. "...Was that supposed to be a joke?"

"Mhm."

He smiled. "...Fair enough."

...

That afternoon I found Captain Ashiro watering a row of small potted plants outside her office.

"I didn't know these were yours."

She glanced over. "They're relaxing."

"I would've guessed target practice."

"...I also enjoy target practice."

I laughed. "That tracks." For a while we watered the plants together in comfortable silence. Finally, curiosity got the better of me. "...Can I ask you something?"

"You may."

"When I was in the hospital..."

She looked over. "Hm?"

"I heard him."

Her watering can paused.

"He sounded..." I searched for the right word. "...Terrifying?"

Ashiro nodded once. "He was."

"I've never heard him like that."

"Most people haven't."

I smiled sheepishly. "I almost felt bad for the other Vice-Captain."

"The feeling was mutual."

I laughed. "He wasn't even yelling."

"He rarely does."

"Honestly..." I grinned. "I think I'd prefer yelling."

For the first time since I'd met her... Captain Ashiro let out a quiet laugh. "So would I."

That evening, I found Hoshina reading on one of the lounge sofas. I dropped into the seat beside him. "You know..."

"Hm?"

"I heard about your hospital hallway speech."

His eyes slowly lifted from the page. "...Who told ya?"

"I have my sources."

"Mm."

"I've gotta say..." I leaned closer with a teasing smile. "...Kinda scary."

"I wasn't scary."

"Soshiro."

"Hm?"

"You made another Vice-Captain look like he wanted to disappear into the floor."

He rubbed the back of his neck. "...Did I?"

"Mhm." I bumped his shoulder lightly with mine. "I think I like your normal voice better."

He looked at me for a long second. Then smiled. "...Me too." He reached over, careful of my sling, and intertwined his fingers with my free hand. "...Still..."

"Hm?"

"I'm glad you never have to hear that voice directed at you."

I squeezed his hand. "I don't plan on giving you a reason."

He chuckled. "...Good." Then, after a beat, he added with a grin, "...Though if ya keep playin' with my training knives again..."

I laughed so loudly that officers walking past the lounge turned to look. Worth it.