(nobody got you) the way i do
It was supposed to be a lighthearted tease, a way to fluster the kaiju defense officer.
No one else in the third division would even admit to being deathly curious about the relationship between their revered captain and their favorite ossan. Sure, everyone knew the two were childhood friends, but would such a bond be enough to explain everything?
‘We shouldn’t pry,’ Reno says, probably remembering ill-advised stalking attempts of superior officers.
‘Doesn’t it make you curious, Reno?!’
‘What’s there to be curious about,’ Kikoru interrupts, ‘It’s Captain Ashiro.’ As if that should explain everything, even if she still thought that there was more to it.
The fact of the matter was, he made her his shrine, his pinnacle and reason for being, as he walked his thorny path.
…Not that Hoshina was one to talk. He knew that that kind of deep and abiding loyalty did exist, and that Captain Ashiro was a totem that their entire generation worshipped. She paved the path and led the way for the rest of them.
But maybe that was it. Even as she already had him on her right side, the reason that she kept on gazing to her left, and waiting, was because despite the unfathomable gap, there was still someone who refused to give up, even crawling if he had to, just to deserve that coveted place beside her.
Everyone knew her as a legend. But he knew her as just a girl. With the world’s weight on her shoulders, who could even think to begrudge her this simple comfort, of a familiar hand in hers?
Even with all this, he was still her right-hand, and it is a vice-captain’s duty - his duty - to look after his captain’s well-being.
So yes, it is part lighthearted teasing, but more intentional poking that he asks Kafka this:
‘Why are you working so hard to fight beside Captain Ashiro?’
And it is with poorly veiled curiosity that everyone strains their ears to hear the response.
Kafka looks confused, probably thinking he’s answered this question countless times before.
‘Vice-Captain? Uh, it’s because we made a promise.’
‘Yes but why,’ Hoshina needles with that ever present grin, not entirely satisfied with the answer, ‘Why are you so desperate to fulfill that promise?’
Whatever he was expecting, Hoshina can honestly say he did not expect this.
Deflection, maybe? Clueless obliviousness would also have been within his calculations.
But trust Kafka to blow all preconceived notions out of the water.
There isn’t a trace of hesitation in his voice as he answers, ‘I wouldn’t be any kind of man if I couldn’t fulfill a promise with the woman I love.’
Hoshina can only stare open-eyed at him, feeling a sense of deja vu as a chorus of incredulous shrieks start around them.
‘I can’t believe he said that without any embarrassment at all,’ Kikoru huffs, ‘I feel mortified for him.’
‘But that was really manly of him to say, Kikorun, don’t you think?’
‘That did indeed take a lot of guts,’ Haruichi admits sheepishly, while Aoi just nods beside him.
Amidst all this chaos, Kafka only looks confused as if sincerely wondering what he said to garner such a reaction.
Hoshina feels like a slapping a hand to his face, not entirely sure how to react. He thinks back to his Captain, and how there was no way she could wave this off as them being ‘just’ childhood friends whenever Kafka loudly proclaimed his dream and wish to be by her side.
He had always wondered, but for Kafka, it was nothing to be ashamed of, but rather a badge of honor he’d wear proudly.
Again, he wants to facepalm. Maybe he was the slow one here and not Kafka. He never hid his desire to be Captain Ashiro’s partner and equal. It was on him for not realizing he meant ‘partner’ in every sense of the word.
‘Ahh, but,’ Kafka starts, finally exhibiting some trace of panic, ‘Don’t tell Mina. She doesn’t know. I don’t expect anything and I’m not expecting anything. I just want to keep working hard and fighting to be next to her.’ The gravity within which he swears them all to secrecy is the same weight as when he had asked Reno and Kikoru to keep a secret that would risk his life. Him making “shh” motions would have been comical if not for the light in his eyes which were entirely too serious.
‘Ah, my bad Kafka,’ and Hoshina absolutely means it too, with a hand rubbing behind his neck as he points behind the other man. Kafka follows the path his finger makes as he looks behind him to see Captain Ashiro flanked by an excited Okonogi-chan, and an entirely too interested Nakanoshima. ‘Looks like it’s too late.’
He tries not to feel too amused at his kouhai’s plight, he really does, but he can’t help it when he sees how Kafka’s soul leaves his body as he tries to pretend he’s air while his Captain performs another uncharacteristic act after that smile that might as well have been a mirage - a miracle really - as her entire face burns and steams, comparable to any daikaiju after receiving her wave gun smack-dab in the face.
He absolutely knew he made the right decision in letting Kafka in, and that he’d make them all smile.
(But he still wouldn’t give up his place to him though. At least, he laughs, not without a good fight first.)
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