"Ichikawa... we really won't be discovered like this, right?"
Yokohama South General Hospital lobby. Kafka Hibino in hospital gown—sat in wheelchair. Expression tense—watched every person passing by. Asked Reno behind him.
Reno also wore hospital gown. Pushed the wheelchair. Led Kafka through the hospital lobby.
"Last night barely got away with it. No problem." His expression much calmer than Kafka's.
Last night—they ran back to the hospital. Explanation to hospital and police—escaped and got separated. Barely passed.
"But really looking forward to it. Alien special training." Kafka thought of upcoming content. Face full of excitement.
Originally his nerves were thick. Now—after becoming kaiju—amplified this trait further.
"Over there." Reno pushed the wheelchair through the hospital's ground floor clearing. Found their target by a green tree.
Still casual attire. Holding a popsicle. Crouched on steps. Completely lacking tension as an alien.
"Natsuki-san!"
Kafka saw Natsuki. Directly stood up from wheelchair. Greeted him.
Already couldn't wait to train—master his power—then join the Defense Force and shine.
"Wait, senpai! Still at the hospital!" Reno watched Kafka perform a medical miracle. Hurriedly pressed him back down. Also looked back—checking if anyone noticed.
"Ah... sorry." Kafka finally reacted. Scratched his head awkwardly.
"Speaking of which, where'd you get money, Natsuki-san?" He looked at Natsuki's popsicle—only stick remaining. Asked curiously.
This alien should be visiting Earth for the first time. Why so familiar with Earth culture?
"Where'd I get it? My wallet, of course." Natsuki—hearing this question—raised eyebrows. Pulled a wallet from his pocket. Waved it.
His wallet contained not just yen—also dollars. All brought from two other Earths.
Could he use them?
Well—bill validators said they were real.
"Alright. After a night's rest, you two should be refreshed."
"Let's go."
Natsuki turned. Prepared to leave the hospital. Head to secluded suburbs.
"Yes!" Kafka answered energetically.
"Eh? I'm going too?" Reno pointed at himself. Asked confused.
"Of course, Ichikawa! You're also joining the Defense Force, right? Let's work hard together!" Before Natsuki could answer—Kafka jumped in.
"Alright..."
Even two days ago—Reno couldn't imagine encountering both a human who transforms into kaiju and an alien. Yet following them—somehow already felt natural.
Japan Defense Force Third Division base. Tachikawa Base.
"Vice-Captain, still investigating yesterday's incident?"
Soshiro Hoshina's personal office. A member came to submit yesterday's follow-up report. Saw the vice-captain still watching hospital surveillance. Asked casually.
"Yeah. There's someone I'm very concerned about."
Hoshina took the report. Placed it on desk. Looked at the computer screen. Expression thoughtful.
"No warning—suddenly fell from the sky. Facial recognition completely unable to find this person in personnel archives. After last night's kaiju appeared—suddenly disappeared. Too many suspicious points."
He looked at hospital surveillance—yesterday's footage of Natsuki sleeping shamelessly. Frowned.
"Vice-Captain means?" The member asked.
"This person fell from midair. Crushed a Yoju to death. Yet suffered no injuries himself." Hoshina analyzed.
"He was arranged into a hospital room. That night—the humanoid black kaiju appeared in that room. After the kaiju disappeared—he also vanished."
"Though somewhat absurd, I suspect..."
He already guessed an answer. But without solid evidence—absolutely couldn't announce it. Otherwise—might cause social panic.
After all—if kaiju mimicking humans got exposed—everyone would suspect people around them. Entire social order would be severely affected.
Due to this special nature—plus the scene they saw arriving at last night's kaiju location—they determined this kaiju extremely threatening.
Possessing extreme strength while hiding its tracks. Even possibly disguising as human. Too dangerous.
Thus—they gave this kaiju a special name—Kaiju No. 8.
History's eighth numbered kaiju. Every prior one—extremely threatening to humanity. Setting this name showed their emphasis on Kaiju No. 8.
"Next—can only issue wanted notices for both Kaiju No. 8 and this person." Hoshina already submitted the wanted application to Defense Force supreme commander. Should pass around this afternoon.
Southern Yokohama suburbs. A desolate abandoned factory.
"Though I don't know the principle behind this thing inside you—its resentment toward kaiju is real."
"From my observation—it won't affect you much. As long as you want to eliminate kaiju—it becomes your power."
Natsuki stood before Kafka. Explained.
This thing's existence form—very special.
Beings formed from resentment—he'd seen before.
But the resentment collective he knew—invaders called Alien Yapool. Followed Ace everywhere. Made Ace endlessly annoyed. Fighting style became increasingly wild.
This kaiju-targeting resentment collective—very rare. Plus—a symbiote that only enhanced power without obvious cost. Natsuki's first time seeing it.
"You just gained this power. So can't control it yet. Without transforming—no different from ordinary people."
"My training for you—first master partial transformation ability."
Natsuki crossed his arms. Methodically told Kafka.
Regarding training juniors—he was professional. Gave different training plans for different warriors.
But the cost—every visit to Land of Light's training ground—got surrounded.
Taro also suggested he take over Space Garrison's chief instructor position. But he refused. Chose to stay outside—search for the bastard who parasitized him. Also take easy missions to adjust his mindset.
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