もののけ | monster | soshiro hoshina (Kaiju No. 8) (COMPLETE)

にじゅうご | twenty five

もののけ | kaiju | monster

25

Soshiro

WHAT ON EARTH COULD THE LIEUTENANT AND ASHIRO BE DISCUSSING? It's unlike me to be this nosy, but the sudden surge of tension between them as they talked about Kafka Hibino is hard to ignore. It's baffling, really. What is so special about that old man? And why would Kiyomi, of all people, show an interest in him?

It leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

Kiyomi's interest in Kafka is unsettling. Sure, I can understand Ashiro's protectiveness—they were childhood friends, after all. But for Kiyomi to get involved? That's a different story. Knowing her, any interest she shows is never without an ulterior motive. She's a calculating woman, driven by her own ambitions. She would do anything to get what she wants, regardless of the cost to others.

Ashiro, standing her ground against the Lieutenant, must have taken a lot of courage. Watching her defy Kiyomi, I couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction. Now she knows how I felt back then, when emotions ran high and decisions had to be made. It's ironic, really. She, who always seemed so composed and in control, is now struggling with the same emotional turmoil she once criticized me for.

I can still remember the look in Ashiro's eyes, a mixture of determination and fear. She was resolute, but I could sense the underlying tension. She knows as well as I do that crossing Kiyomi is dangerous. The Lieutenant does not forgive or forget easily. She holds grudges, and her retribution is swift and merciless.

"Hey, why are you spacing out? Feed me, come on!"

Kenji's voice pulls me back from the depths of my thoughts. I look down to see him nudging me impatiently, his eyes wide with hunger and desperation. The corners of my mouth lift in a small, relieved smile. This is why I left the officers' headquarters so abruptly. The news that Kenji had finally woken up hit me like a lightning bolt, and I knew I had to be by his side.

I remember how the Lieutenant looked at me when I requested an early dismissal. There was a moment of silent understanding in her eyes, perhaps sensing the urgency of my need. To my surprise, she granted my request without hesitation. It was a rare moment of leniency that I hadn't expected, but I was grateful for it nonetheless.

"Oniichan, come on, move your hand! I'm so hungry, I haven't eaten in days!" Kenji's voice breaks through again, laced with a mix of frustration and childish impatience.

I chuckle softly, the sound almost foreign to my ears after the stress of the past few days. "Alright, alright, I'm on it. Hold your horses."

As I help him with his meal, I can't help but feel an overwhelming wave of relief wash over me. The fear that had gripped me when I first entered the room and saw him lying there, pale and motionless, begins to fade. I had been terrified that I had lost him, that I had failed him. But seeing his bright smile now, hearing his playful complaints, all those fears start to dissipate.

"Man, that's good!" Kenji exclaims with delight, leaning back in his bed and placing his arms behind his head for support. He looks so relaxed, basking in the comfort of the moment. I raise an eyebrow at his actions, slightly amused and slightly irritated by how much he's enjoying being pampered.

"Enjoy it while it lasts," I say, shaking my head with a wry smile. "Remember, I'm your Vice-Captain, not your personal servant. You get a few days of feeling like a king, but after that, it's back to business."