"Your targets are a Honju and 36 Yoju that have been placed in the urban training area. These Kaiju caused 16 fatalities in Hachioji last year." Your voice was heard in their earpiece, you're viewing everyone in the operation room, thanks to the drones that surrounds them and are scattered inside the training ground. "We caught them alive to serve them as training aids. You guys will be fighting them with Anti-Kaiju weapons."

Hoshina was just quietly standing beside you, everyone was anticipating for the signal that you'll give them so they could run outside of the line and onto the grounds where they can showcase their skills. "You will all be tracked with a drone that will monitor your actions. If we decides that your life is in danger, we'll remotely activate the shield in your suit, but be aware that this will mean you fail."

"To be honest," Hoshina place his finger on his earpiece as he take the part of giving the warning to everyone. "We can't guarantee that you'll survive this next part." There might be casualties that could happen, applicants could be wounded or receive an injury from the Kaijus, or worst.. death.

"Only if you're willing to accept that, then..." Hoshina's voice was low as he eyed the screen. "Go." That was all it took for everyone to take off. Immediately running off the line, crowding over at an area as they locate a Yoju. "Good luck, everyone." That was the last thing you said before you tap your earpiece and signal to Okonogi to show you a live video of Kikoru.

And you can say that you're impress. She was, after all, got accepted into the California Neutralization University.. she must have learned some thing there and had trained herself while she stays there. Without even a full minute, she manage to take down a Yoju with three hits.

"Yoju 12 down." Okonogi announced, giving them a little bit of a hand as he goes over the number of Yoju, but she didn't tell them their location or their weaknesses is. After all, this is an exam to test their skills, knowledge, and how well they adapt to the situation.

"Yoju 03 down."

Tucking a strand of hair that had fallen on your face as you keep watching your little sister jump off a building and killing the Yoju that Hoshina had a hard time organising inside the training ground so easily. It was like breathing to her, easily taking down the Yoju with three to five hits, not knowing where their weak spot lies within as her bullet pierced through their skin so easily because of her prowess.

You glanced at the door of the operation room when it opened, a somewhat surprise hum left your lips when you who it was that entered the operation room. "Oh, I forgot." Hoshina spoke out once again. "Captain Ashiro Mina is here for the test as well." She was quiet as her eyes focused on the screen, she was wearing the standard uniform of the Defense Force and underneath was her combat suit.

"Do your best to look good for her." All he stated before cutting off his communication to the examinees. There were multiple windows open in the huge screen, showing the different point of views of the examinees, giving you a clear show of what they're doing.

"Which one of the examinees caught your eyes, [Name]-chan?" Hoshina leaned closer to you, his usual close eyes were staring at you, a jovial expression plastered on his face. "Eh?" He already knew the answer for that, it would be your younger sister since she was showing great skills even though she hasn't fully joined the force.

"Probably Hibino Kafka?" His lips formed an 'o' and you can feel Ashiro's eyes on your head. "Why's that?" Hoshina saw the old guy to be a comic relief for him, remembering how he laugh so loud earlier that it made him clutch his stomach. "For someone who is in his early thirty's, he still somehow had the perseverance to move forward." Your eyes stared at the screen, seeing how he instructed Izumo Haruichi about aiming the Yoju at its weak spot, the stomach.

He knows the weaknesses of the Yoju, seeing from his form, he was a member of the clean up company that would always clean the mess that the Defense Force had created. Even though his combat power was only zero percent, he show great perseverance.. but then again, that's not what it takes to be a full officer.

"Huh? Groupie?" You mumbled in confusion when you heard Izumo called Hibino as 'Shinomiya Groupie'. You watched as he denied that with a fuss.

Tilting your head to the side as you rack your brain about the term. It is somehow similar to a fan, you wonder why did Izumo called him that. You just hum in confusion and let your eyes wonder around the screen, seeing everyone aiming their guns and trying their best to defeat the Kaiju.

"Area Delta, Number 2031 injured." Okonogi suddenly announced, showing the vitals of the said applicants and it was Hibino Kafka. As seen from the screen, he was attacked by a Yoju that suddenly appeared out of the building. "Irregularities detected from the vitals. He's unable to continue combat." Her fingers tap on the keyboard, trying to look for any more casualties from the others or to see the vitals of Hibino.

"Yoju 23 is continuing to approach."

"Prepare the remote shield." Hoshina ordered and Okonogi hum. "Activating the remote shield." But before it could actually be activated, the Yoju was shot three times, the fire power already made you guess who it was.

Kikoru had successfully neutralize Yoju 23, landing on top of its lifeless body as she taunted the old man. She immediately leap into the air and off to neutralizing the other Yoju in the area, leaving Hibino with Ichikawa.

"2032, can you hear me?" You look towards Hoshina as he spoke to him. "This is Hoshina from the operation room. We're seeing irregularities in yoir vitals." He had stated, seeing how Hibino looked at the drone that is flying over their heads, and you could see fear and disappointment in his eyes.

"Multiple fractures, probably. Possibly organ damage. As the exam proctor,  recommend you to drop out. Even those shields aren't perfect." It was kind of disappointing to see someone give up, especially someone who had been trying for years. You've somehow remembered seeing his face multiple times before, he applied every year until he had turned 30, since the age limit was that and now, Ashiro had suggested to raise it to 33 because, for her reasoning, of decrease in birth rate.

"I'm too old for dreams." You heard his voice quiver inside the operation room. "I'm the one who decides if I give up or not." Kneeling on his broken leg. "I know I look like an idiot but... I've decided to bet my whole life up to this point and chase my dreams again!" Your mouth formed an 'o' seeing an increase in his combat power, though, it is something that is not worth of being surprised or being bragged about. But it is certainly a development that someone like him could use.

"This time, I'm not giving up, no matter what!" He declared, looking straight at the camera of the drone. If you stare at him, it looks like he was eyeing someone.

'0.01% huh.'

. . .

"What's this?" Okonogi muttered, staring at her screen as her fingers jump over the keys of her keyboard. Hoshina glanced over at her, wondering what is happening. "What's wrong, Okonogi?" He slowly approach the girl, seeing what she's been busy about.

"Shinomiya [Name]'s combat power is decreasing." His eyes widen at her words, seeing that the once 53% Combat Power that she manage to drawn out of the suit earlier, making her at the top and the first in having a combat power that exceed 50%. "48%, 40%, 33%.." Okonogi's eyes widen even more as she reads the vitals.

"0%?!" Her eyes stared at the screen, seeing your figure stop running. You eyed your combat suit, feeling the decrease of power that you felt from earlier. There was something wrong, you knew it. "Shinomiya-san? Can you hear me?" Her voice was quivering when she felt your eyes stared at her, even though you're eyeing the drone in front of you.

"Your combat power had decreased dramatically. It is now currently 0% that is jumping into 8% and back to zero." Your eyes widen at her words, wondering what went wrong with your suit. Head immediately snapping towards the crash next to you, jumping away to dodge the hands of the Yoju that tried to grab you.

"Woah! She's my first ever zero!" Hoshina was in a giggling fit, covering his mouth as he watches your stats jumping in numbers. Putting a hand on his stomach as he started to have a hard time breathing from all of the laughing. Okonogi stared at him in dumbfounded, also noting at how he had put emphasis on the term 'my.'

"Vice Captain this is not a laughing matter!"

Even though it was funny to see someone reach the combat power of zero, it was still concerning.

"Shit." They heard you curse as you threw your firearms away, it would be waste of time using it without any combat power to release its full strenght. You were just jumping around, trying to find a way on how to pass this exam. "Her combat suit is defective." Okonogi came into conclusion as she continually watches your combat powers, and the readings are all jumbled up.

"But if she continues to use it.. it would overheat." Okonogi stared at Hoshina, seeing how his face formed in a worry expression. The smile on his face wavering as they continue to watch you.

You just sigh, staring at the road sign that was near you and at the Yoju that is staring at you as well. Clicking your tongue to the insides of your cheeks as you dash forward and grabbed the steel pole. You were kinda surprised that you managed to pull it out of the cemented floor, it was heavy but you don't seem to be having a hard time holding it.

"There's no point crying over spilled milk." Hoshina heard you mumble, breathing heavily as you swing the pole and hit the Yoju in its legs. You know that your combat power right now is zero, and you had heard from Okonogi that your suot is defective.

"For a 16 year old girl, she's hella strong." Someone said in awe, they couldn't help but to be captivated by your graceful moves even without the help of your suit.

"Wow." Okonogi stared at in awe, your suit was completely stuck in zero percent but.. wow. "She's amazing. Even with zero combat powers, she managed to perform well, she looks like her combat power is still 53%." They all watch you move fast, slipping under the hold of the Yoju and jumping over the building so easily.

"She's the daughter of Chief Shinomiya Isao and the late Captain Shinomiya Hikari."

. . .

"Can we just pass this guys already?!" Your gaze snap over Hoshina when you heard his loud laughter filled your ears. You were reminiscing of the day when you first applied to the Defense Force.

He was kneeling on the floor, slapping his hand on the floor as he was in an uncontrollable fit of laughter once again. You stared back at the screen, trying to see what made him react that way and you couldn't help but to snort seeing the scene. You cough in your hands, composing yourself as you could still hear him laughing.

Hibino was on top of Ichikawa, as the snowy haired male was carrying him and running around, Hibino was yelling loudly, gathering attention.

"They'll be a comic relief!" Hoshina just keeps laughing, tapping his hands on the floor while Ashiro was unamuse by the action of the two examinees. She just glanced at Hoshina and back to the screen. "Take your job seriously!" Okonogi scolds that vice captain.

"Shush now, Hoshina." You just sigh, still hearing his soft giggles as he slowly stands up. Using your shoulders as his support since he was still feeling giggly. Tears was streaming down his face as he then wiped them away, another sigh escaped your lips as you just let him lean on your shoulder.

The three of you then quietly observe the candidates aim and shoot the Yoju. But there is one individual that is doing all the work, not even letting the others help her. Well, it is none other than Shinomiya Kikoru.

"Number 2016 has taken down the last Yoju in Area Delta." Whew, that was faster than expected. You look at the vitals of the other examinees, seeing that some of them only have minor injuries, unlike Hibino who had few fractures of bones here and there. "She's not engaging with the Honju!"

Watching as Kikoru jump over the wall, pulling out the grenade on that id attached on her combat suit and pulling the pin, throwing it towards the Honju and seconds later before it could hit the Honju on its face, it blows up. A holler left the monster's lips, Kikoru landed on its mouth, doing a half split as her feet was on the teeth of the Honju.

Licking her lips with a mix of concentration and anticipation, she took careful aim at the creature's mouth. Her finger tightened on the trigger, her breath steady as she prepared for the shot. Her eyes squinted as her finger pulled the trigger, with that single shot, the bullet struck with deadly accuracy, and within an instant, the Honju began to bubble and churn violently. Seconds later, it erupted in an explosion, sending fragments of its form scattering in all directions. Kikoru lowered her weapon, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips as she surveyed the remains of the Honju, its vital organs was seen before collapse on its feet.

"T-the Honju had been destroyed!" Okonogi was in awe, seeing how fast Kikoru defeated the Honju. "The final stage of the exam is complete!" She announced to everyone in the arena. "Recovering drones." Her fingers hover above the keyboard.

"As you bring back the drones, send medics while you're at it." You ordered to Okonogi who only nodded, conveying your message to the others.  "That was faster than we all thought." You had voice out Hoshina's thoughts, he had long gone lean back and stand next to you.

"It was so much work to set this all up too." He mumbled, remembering the times he had organized the whole ordeal. "Shinomiya Kikoru is even more powerful than the rumors say." At Ashiro's voice, you turned to look at her and saw that she was focused on the screen that replayed all of Kikoru's action on sight.

"I'd imagine that at least 30 people would drop out but there was none." Hoshina honestly stated, looking at the names of the applicants that flashes on the screen. "There's only minimal injuries. It's all thanks to her." You smiled at his words, Kikoru is the one who had saved everyone in the exam.

It almost feels like a one-sided battle.

"That's what you would expect from Direct Shinomiya's daughter." Hoshina stated, his hands resting on his hips. "She'll be a big shot to Defense Force someday, that's for sure." He then glanced at you, knowing the grudge that you held against your father.

"And a ray of hope for this country." You could hear his voice ringing inside your head, the words that he had said about Kikoru being perfect for the sake of the nation.

"She does take after her, huh." You mumbler underneath your breath, remembering a memory from decades ago, where everything seems to be fine. "Shinomiya Kikoru is truly your sister, [Name]-chan." Hoshina nudge your elbows and you look at him, a smile on your face as you push his face off of yours when he began being closer to you.

There was a moment of silence as everyone was going back, the exam had already ended and all of the Yoju and the Honju was neutralized by them. You stared at the stats, seeing Okonogi's fingers tapping on her board, she was focused on something that is flashed on her screen.

"Is something wrong, Okonogi?" You decided to approach her. You looked up when the visuals where Kikoru was had suddenly black out, then.. an agonizing scream echoer in the operation room.

"Kikoru?" You muttered, seeing the color red on her name as her vitals was dropping. "Abnormalities detected in number 2016's vitals!" Okonogi announced, feeling your presence beside her. Hoshina was in confusion as he asked her as well while Ashiro was quietly observing.

"We're picking up live signals from the Kaiju they already had killed." There's no absolute way that they would be revived like that, even Hoshina knows that. You glanced at him and back to the screen.

"The revived Honju's fortitude level is... Wait, what's this?! It's 6.4!"

♡︎༄,'; ALSEPHINA'S NOTE:
INTOXICATED! writing this was kind of.. hard. writer's block TvT.

Huwag na magsulat, puro nalang writer's block.

This was written like... On June 9, the book haven't published yet. I'm already writing chapter 11 of this book.. I've been focusing on this book than my Windbreaker FF.