"Hm? Hibino Kafka. Age: 32." You hum as you stared at the information sheet that Hoshina just handed to you. You stared at the back of his head, wondering at the words you just voiced out. "32? Isn't it 30? The people that we accept?" You match his walking pace, striding to the captain's office next to him.

"Haven't you heard?" He turned his head at you, his eyes squinting as he look at you. "They've raised the age of recruitment for members to 33 years." Your brows furrowed as you continue flipping the pages, seeing that almost everyone is at the age below 30 years old.

"Who's the one that approved that?" You're still wondering, also, it's oddly specific of accepting any recruits that are on the age of 33 or have people joining at the age of 30. "The captain herself. She's also the one who suggested it. It is due to the declining of birth rates." A hum left your lips as you just nod at his words, not planning to question him any further as the two of you continue walking towards her office in silent.

As you were scanning the information sheets, there were few familiar people you've seen. One of them is Izumo Haruichi, his last name ring a bell since Izumo Tech is the one who is making the Combat Suit as well as the personalized weapons per member ever since.

There were bunch of interesting guys, Hoshina would look at you occasionally when he heard a satisfied hum left your lips here and there and seeing that you're reading the sheets. He squinted his eyes as he saw how you were focused on reading the information, licking your lips in concentration and he wonder who was that.

Until, he saw your eyes widen and familiarity flash your emerald orbs. You've been continuously flipping the papers and it still surprises you that there are other women who are willing and wanting to join the Defence Force, eversince she got accepted and made an appeal to the public.

Both you and Hoshina stopped in front of Ashiro's office. Bringing down the papers in your arm as you watch him knock on the door, seconds later, you heard Ashiro's muffled voice, muttering 'come in.' Following Hoshina's footsteps as the two of you entered her office and you handed him the information sheet.

"Shinomiya Kikoru. Age: 20." You remembered reading her information sheet, there were few wow factors that was presented especially the fact that she got accepted four years ago to the California Neutralization University. You were already sure she'll get in and would catch the eye of Ashiro once the aptitude test arrive. Knowing how your father had trained her to be perfect.

Hoshina began summarizing his thoughts about the recruits he find interesting, Ashiro was, surprisingly, listening to his words as her eyes were focused on the papers that is laying on her desk and she is writing her signature on it. While you were just quiet behind Hoshina, wondering how will you react when you see your sister later on.

"Nice to see you once again, Kikoru."

. . .

Putting on your jacket as you follow Hoshina out of the office, he had asked you earlier to accompany him in greeting the examinees and welcoming them to the screening exam in which he will be guiding them and telling them all of the things they'll need to know for the selection exam.

"Why do I have to come with you?" A sigh left your lips as you heard him laugh at the exasperated breathe you just let out. "I need you to charm the male examinees." You deadpanned at the words that escaped his mouth, and once again, a laugh bubble up in his throat seeing your reaction.

"Be serious, Hoshina." He glanced at you when he heard you say his name without the title. You also sometimes do that with Ashiro, and the woman didn't mind, and  he was the same. He somehow likes hearing you call him by his name and not with the title. "Wouldn't you want a reunion with your sister? Give her a good luck before the screening?" You just shook your head at him once again, quietly following him stride over.

You could already feel the eyes of the examinees when the two of you arrived in front of the huge gate of the training ground. Hoshina had a smile on his lips, his fangs poking out as he glance at them with squinted eyes and you following beside him.

Shinomiya Kikoru had her eyes widen when she caught a glimpse of your blonde hair, she made her way to the front to have a good look of what she had seen. Thinking that she might have lost her mind and started hallucinating. Her mouth hang ajar when she saw you mumbling something to Hoshina, seeing how you rolled your eyes when the purple haired male said something.

You caught her eyes. Your emerald eyes reflecting on her own, even from afar, you could see the expression you are making. It's been so long since the two of you had your last talk. A smile manage to form on your lips as you stared at her, Kikoru was delighted when she saw you and gave you a smile in return.

"I'm the head of the screening exam's selection committee this year. Hoshina Soshiro, the Third Division Unit Vice Captain." As he introduced himself, you could see few female examinees mumbling to themselves and whispering to one another at how attractive the vice captain is in person. He do manage to pull women here and there effortlessly. Hoshina glance at you and gestured you to open the gate, you nodded and type in the code, the buttons beep as you press your fingers on the screen.

"You'll be doing your aptitude test in here." The two of you move into the middle as you both eyed the participants. "Also, Shinomiya [Name] will be here to oversee you guys as well. Even if she's not a captain or a vice captain, her role to the Third Division Unit is just as important." You were shock to hear him introduce you to everyone. The examinees began whispering to themselves once again, pointing at you and at Kikoru.

"So that's her sister?"

"The rumors are right, she had a younger sister."

"Shinomiya [Name] is so pretty in person."

"Alright." Hoshina clap his hands together to gather their attention. "For the second selection, your task in the training area will be to.." he was edging them as he eyed their expression. The gate was slowly opening before it finally revealed the obstacle they'll have to face. "Neutralize Kaiju." Some were shocked to see live Kaiju on the training ground.

Your eyes shifted to the brown Honju that had sense human presence nearby, it immediately dash towards your direction at full speed, crashing the buildings that come in its way. And before it could even touch Hoshina, the bar had already lowered down, preventing it from escaping. It's hooves passing through the gaps of the bars, there were also multiple firearms aimed at him even though you and Hoshina is on the scene.

From the corner of your eyes, you see two men arguing to one another, the older one—you had assumed since you remembered his face—was shouting at the younger male about lying to him because both of them knew that they'll be dismantling the Kaijus.

"But of course, we can't send you empty-handed and unarmed out there." You speak up, gathering the attention of the two men who were arguing few seconds ago. "So you'll be wearing the Combat Suit that the Defence Force had been using in fighting off Kaijus." Brushing your hair off your face as you glance at everyone, eyeing Hoshina and letting him lead the examinees to where they could put on the suit.

As you were about to follow, you felt a hand grab your wrist. Turning around you saw Kikoru eyeing you, you smiled at her and pulled her in a hug. There were few examinees who was left behind and was eyeing the two of you, but neither of you minded and pulled away from the hug.

"Nice to see you here, Kikoru." You mumbled and lead her with the other examinees. "It was nice to see you too, Nee-san." A smile formed on your lips when you heard her call you that. There was only three years age gap between the two of you, so you were pretty closed with one another.

"I'm glad you're here." A contented sigh left your lips. Hoshina was wondering where you went to and he turned his head back, seeing you talking to your younger sister, he let you be and opened the gates where everyone would be wearing their own Combat Suit. "I'm so proud of you." You mumble underneath your breath, you could see blush dusting off her cheeks as she hummed at your words, nodding at you before you bid your farewell and went towards the operation room, where you and Hoshina will be overseeing the exam.

"Goodluck."

. . .

"This is the Defense Force Kaiju Combat Suit. It's made from organic material taken from Kaiju, and massively multiplies the combat power of its wearer." Hoshina spoke, looking up at the screen, seeing that everyone was familiarizing themselves with the combat suit. You could see that they are surprised when they felt the suit merging with their body, feeling like it's becoming their own body. "For now, there's no better weapons you have against the Kaiju."

Your eyes shifted to the screen of Okonogi's computer, where you could see the vitals and stats of each examinees, as well as their combat power. "There are bunch of interesting guys this year." You mumbled, leaning forward as your eyes scanned everyone's numbers.

"Ichikawa Reno. Unleashed Combat Power, 8%."

"Izumo Haruichi, 18%."

"Kaguragi Aoi, 15%."

"Furuhashi Iharu, 14%."

Nodding your head as you listen to Okonogi, there were other few examinees who also exceeds past 10%, which was impressive. You remembered your first time wearing the combat suit, it weirded you out at how it seems to become your second skin, feeling that the suit was becoming one with your body.

"Unleashed Combat Power indicates how much of the suit's power you've drawn out. Even after training, it's usually around 20%." Hoshina began explaining what the combat suit is for. "We're lucky to get one applicant a year above 10%. But there's this." Okonogi said in awe, continuing announcing the numbers of percent to everyone.

"This year might be a bumper crop that we've never seen before." A smile played on Hoshina's face as he stared with amusement at everyone. "Woah, seriously?!" You heard a surprise noise from Okonogi, you walk towards her and saw what she was staring at. A smile formed on your lips as you look at the screen, seeing the proud look than dances on her face.

"Shinomiya Kikoru. Unleashed Combat Power, 46%!" She loudly exclaim, her voice going up as she feels excitement and shock at the readings. "The greatest talent in history." Okonogi couldn't help but to mumble underneath her breath.

"This has to be a record for anybody who hasn't officially joined yet.." The two operator staff next to Okonogi speak to each other. Hoshina couldn't help but to glance at you, remembering the time he saw you trying the combat suit and hearing your unleashed combat power that day.

"Eh? Let's not forget our very own Shinomiya [Name] here." He pointed at you with both of his arms like he's proud of you or whatsoever, you deadpanned at his actions. "Getting 53% on her first try!" You wince at how loudly he said that, you knew that your face and his was flashed in front of them, just like how you could see their faces now.

Everyone was looking at the projector, you felt like they're actually looking at you. Kikoru was in awe when he heard Hoshina speaks highly of you, hearing that you've reach past 50% when you first applied. Staring at her palm and squeezing it, forming a fist before opening them. Her eyes darted at the machine next to her, seeing the green two digits number on the screen. 46%.

"Don't be too loud, Vice Captain." You reprimanded him, he just laughs at you and cough to clear his throat. He eyed Ichikawa who was looking with disappointment at the monitor next to him. "There's no reason to feel down, Ichikawa-kun. If you get an 8% on your first time, you did well." He placed both of his hands behind his back as he looked at the screen, havign a close up look of the snow haired male.

"Honestly, if you don't have a zero at this point, you'll pass." You spoke, standing next to Hoshina as you eyed them. "And I've never seen a zero!" He glance at you, a memory running in his mind as a chuckle left his lips, you glaring at him in return. "Don't say it," you roll your eyes at him and continue listening to what Okonogi was explaining.

"Oh!" Another surprise sound left her lips, but this time, it was somehow not the same tone as what she expressed with Kikoru's. "Hibino Kafka. Unleashed Combat Power, 0%!" There was confusion lace in her voice as she leaned forward on her monitor.

You sigh when you heard Hoshina burst into laughters, "Maji?!" He keeps laughing, he couldn't even form a coherent sentence right now. "What's wrong with him?" His lips are trembling as his fangs poke out of his mouth, he was trying to not laugh loudly but he was failing at that. "Wow! He's my first zero!" As he keeps laughing, blush began forming his cheeks.

"Huh? Are the measurements wrong?" While Okonogi was checking if there was something wrong in the system. Then, a scene of Hibino Kafka flashes on the screen, his face all red as he was stanced in a sumo squat.

"Just give me more time. I'm trying to squeeze it out!" As the scene flashes on the screen, Hoshina once again laugh hysterically and uncontrollably  as he began kneeling on the floor. "No! Stop! You're not trying to take a dump!" You just eyed Hoshina as you avoid looking at the screen, putting your hand on your lips as you try not to let a sound escape.

"[Name]-san! Not you too!"

"You can't squeeze it out!" Holding his stomach as he keeps laughing loudly. Hoshina sat on the ground as he couldn't look at the screen because he will start laughing once again. "Wow, the old guy is hilarious!" There were tears that started to form on the edge of his eyes. "I like him!" You rolled your eyes at him as you compose yourself.

"He probably won't pass, though." He sigh once last time, as another fit of giggles left his mouth. "Take your proctoring job seriously!" Okonogi reprimanded him, clicking a button on her keyboard and you knew that she probably turned off the camera that showed you guys in front of the applicants. Kinda too late about that though.

"Compose yourself, Hoshina." You sigh at his behaviour, he couldn't even stand on his legs because it's probably feels like jelly from all of the fit of laughter that escapes his throat. "Don't tell me you didn't find that funny, [Name]-chan." He wipe away the tear that formed on his eyes as he finally stands on his own two feet, staring at you, the smile still on his face.

"Shut up."

"I remembered your first try too!"

"Don't say anything, Hoshina!"

♡︎༄,'; ALSEPHINA'S NOTE:
INTOXICATED! i was giggling while I write that scene.. Hoshina's laughter is just.. ack.

Feel free to correct my wrong spellings or any grammatical errors. I would highly appreciate that if you do!! (Edit: July 4th)