The Man Who Watches the Battlefield Like a Game
(Captain Narumi x Officer Reader)
(Hoshina will be mentioned~☆)
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CHAPTER 5
You know something is wrong the second you wake up.
Not with you.
With everything else.
The air feels heavier. The silence stretches too long. Even the hum of the base sounds… off.
You sit up, eyes scanning your room out of habit.
Nothing looks different.
And that’s what bothers you.
A knock comes at your door.
Not rushed. Not urgent.
Measured.
You open it to find an officer standing straight, expression neutral.
“Captain Narumi wants you at the command floor.”
You don’t ask why.
You already know this isn’t routine.
The command area is quieter than usual.
Not empty. Just… controlled.
Screens flicker with data. Officers move with purpose, but no one speaks louder than necessary. It feels like something has already gone wrong, and everyone is pretending it hasn’t.
Narumi is leaning against a console, head tilted back slightly, phone in hand.
He looks bored.
That’s the first red flag.
The second is the man standing across from him.
**Soshiro Hoshina**.
Hoshina’s posture is relaxed, arms loosely crossed, expression easy. But his eyes move, sharp and calculating, taking in everything.
You stop a few steps away.
Neither of them looks surprised that you’re here.
“So this is the one,” Hoshina says, voice light.
Narumi doesn’t look up. “Don’t start.”
“I’m not startin’ anything,” Hoshina replies easily. “Just curious. Heard you pulled someone out of their lane.”
Narumi clicks something on his phone, annoyed. “They’re not out of their lane.”
Hoshina hums. “Doesn’t look like your usual type.”
That makes Narumi finally glance up.
“What’s that supposed to mean.”
Hoshina smiles slightly. “You don’t usually keep things that think for themselves.”
Silence.
Narumi’s expression tightens for just a second.
Then it’s gone.
“They’re useful,” he says flatly.
The word lands heavier than it should.
You don’t react.
You’ve learned not to.
Hoshina’s gaze shifts to you now, more focused.
“Useful’s a dangerous label,” he says. “Means people start expectin’ things.”
You hold his gaze. “Expectations are part of the job.”
“Aye,” Hoshina says. “Until they’re not.”
Narumi exhales sharply. “Can we not do this.”
“Do what,” Hoshina asks, amused.
“This,” Narumi gestures vaguely between you and the situation. “You acting like you’ve already figured something out.”
Hoshina’s smile doesn’t fade.
“Maybe I have.”
That tension again.
Different from before.
Not directed at you.
Between them.
You watch it happen.
Narumi straightens slightly, irritation clear now.
“You’re not even assigned here,” he says.
“Didn’t stop you from calling me,” Hoshina replies.
Narumi goes still.
You notice that.
Because it means something.
“You didn’t call me here to argue,” Hoshina continues, voice quieter now. “So what is it.”
Narumi doesn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he looks at you.
Direct.
Focused.
“You felt something after the last mission,” he says.
It’s not a question.
You hesitate.
Then—
“Yes.”
Hoshina’s eyes narrow slightly.
“What kind of something.”
You search for the right word.
“Wrong,” you say. “Like it didn’t end.”
Silence settles.
Hoshina glances at Narumi.
Narumi looks annoyed.
Not surprised.
“You see,” Hoshina says quietly, “that’s the problem.”
“What problem,” you ask.
“That things are startin’ to behave like they’re thinkin’.”
The words settle uncomfortably.
Narumi scoffs. “Kaiju don’t think.”
“Not like us,” Hoshina agrees. “But they adapt. And lately, they’re adaptin’ faster.”
Narumi crosses his arms. “You’re reaching.”
Hoshina looks at him, amused again.
“Am I,” he says. “Or are you just irritated I might be right.”
Narumi clicks his tongue.
There it is.
That childish edge.
“You lost that exam once and suddenly you think you know everything.”
Hoshina laughs softly. “Still hung up on that, huh.”
“You got lucky.”
“Aye,” Hoshina nods. “Must’ve been it.”
The tension breaks just enough to breathe.
But not enough to disappear.
You step in.
“The kaiju body,” you say. “It didn’t feel… finished.”
Narumi’s gaze snaps back to you.
Hoshina watches you more carefully now.
“Then don’t go chasing it,” Narumi says immediately.
You frown. “That’s not your usual approach.”
“Yeah,” he replies. “Well, you’re not my usual problem.”
The words come out sharper than intended.
He pauses.
Just for a second.
Then looks away.
You feel that.
More than you should.
Hoshina notices too.
Of course he does.
“Interesting,” he murmurs.
Narumi glares. “Don’t.”
Hoshina ignores him.
“You ran toward it last time, didn’t ya,” he says to you.
You don’t answer.
That’s answer enough.
Hoshina nods slightly. “Figures.”
Narumi pushes off the console.
“You’re off field today,” he says.
“No.”
His eyes narrow. “That wasn’t—”
“You don’t bench someone for noticing something wrong.”
“I do if they run straight into it.”
“That’s your job.”
Silence.
Narumi steps closer.
“That’s exactly why I’m telling you not to.”
You hold your ground.
“And you expect me to listen.”
“No,” he says. “I expect you to think.”
The words hang there.
Hoshina watches the exchange quietly now, something more serious behind his expression.
Then he sighs lightly.
“Alright,” he says, stepping back. “I’ve seen enough.”
Narumi glances at him. “You’re leaving.”
“For now.” Hoshina looks at you one last time. “Just be careful. Things that start actin’ different don’t usually stop halfway.”
He turns, walking off like none of this concerns him.
But you know it does.
Narumi watches him go, irritation still lingering.
Then he looks at you again.
“You’re not going after it,” he says.
You don’t respond.
Because you already know—
You are.
The alarm hits before either of you can say more.
Sharp. Immediate. Real.
Every screen flashes red.
UNKNOWN KAIJU SIGNATURE DETECTED.
LOCATION: WITHIN PERIMETER.
Narumi exhales slowly.
“…of course it is.”
The ground trembles.
Not outside.
Inside.
Somewhere deep within the base—
something moves.
And this time,
you don’t hesitate.
Next Chapter
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