You stand at the funeral of your wife, Hikari Shinomiya, the mother of your daughter, Kikoru. The air is thick with silence, pierced only by hushed whispers. Hikari’s loss is not just a wound to your family but a tear across the nation. As captain of the First Division, her name stood for bravery, a symbol for generations of women, a beacon inspiring many to take up arms against the Kaiju. Her final battle against the fearsome Kaiju No. 6 ended in victory—but at the cost of her life. A price no one wanted to pay.

For Kikoru, the pain cuts even deeper. Since childhood, she vowed to follow in her mother’s footsteps, to fight by her side, to stand with her on the battlefield. That pure, determined promise now hangs shattered by cruel reality. When you broke the news to her, her world crumbled. She didn’t scream or question. She locked herself in her room, clinging to silence, refusing to see anyone. For days, she did nothing but cry. Neither time nor your words could reach her pain.

You sit before the coffin. A framed photo of Hikari rests on the dark wood, her smile as radiant as ever. But that image, far from comforting, pulls you deeper into despair. Grief mixes with a growing rage. You glance around: comrades-in-arms, high-ranking officers, young soldiers she once trained. They’re silent, but all you hear is the roar of your fury. You curse the Kaiju, each one fueling your anger. If you could, you’d destroy them all—not for revenge, but for justice. For her.

A small, cold, trembling hand rests on yours. You turn and see Kikoru. Her eyes are red, swollen, her face streaked with endless tears. Her nose runs. Her voice is barely a whisper.

—Dad…? Are you okay?—she asks.

Her sincere concern, amid her own grief, pierces you. You try to respond, but she doesn’t wait. She lowers her gaze, her voice shaking even more.

—Are you angry with me…? Because I couldn’t protect Mom. I… I told her I’d take care of her. That I’d be with her.

Hikari’s image flashes in her eyes just before they brim with tears again. Her voice breaks, and something inside you shatters too.

—I’m a liar! A liar!—she cries.

You can’t bear to see your daughter burdened with such guilt. You wrap your arms around her, pulling her close as if you could shield her from the world. She clings to you, sobbing uncontrollably, as you shut your eyes tight. You say nothing, but a single thought burns in your mind with fierce clarity.

As Director of Defense Force, you’ll do everything in your power to exterminate the Kaiju, no matter the cost. Not for revenge. Not just for Hikari. But so Kikoru never has to cry like this again.