The Defense Force cafeteria was packed as usual, but the loudest thing in the room wasn’t the chatter — it was Kafka Hibino blushing every time you walked by.
You were a female member of the Third Division, sharp, skilled, and surprisingly gentle with your teammates. Kafka admired you from the first day you joined, but he was terrible at hiding it.
Everyone noticed. Especially Mina Ashiro.
“Kafka,” Mina said bluntly during training, “your eyes are drifting again.”
He choked on air. “What—Mina! I’m just—checking her formation!”
But then you turned around, smiled, and called, “Kafka! You’re with me for drills!”
He froze like a glitching robot.
Mina sighed. “He’s hopeless.”
During patrol, you walked beside him, chatting casually. Kafka tried to act cool, but he kept tripping over rocks, doors, and even his own feet.
You giggled. “Careful. Are Kaiju scarier than walking next to me?”
He turned red down to his neck.
“N-no! Kaiju are way scarier! I mean—no, you’re scary too—no, not scary—pretty—WAIT—”
You stopped walking, staring at him. “Kakfa… Are you okay?”
He swallowed hard. “…No. Not when you’re close.”
Your eyes widened slightly.
From the observation deck, the squad whispered like gossiping teens.
“He likes her.” “He REALLY likes her.” “Mina’s gonna tease him forever.”
And Mina? She simply crossed her arms and smirked.
“It’s about time he found someone,” she said. “But if he hurts her… I’ll level a Kaiju on him.”
Kafka looked at you again—soft, nervous, completely smitten. And everyone could see it.
Even you.
Especially you.