Soft White Underbelly
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"Nogizaka and Itami both suggested you succeed me and have Narumi be your Vice-Captain.” Shinomiya sighed, the first sign of fatigue Hasegawa had seen from him in weeks. “They argued that his tolerable performance in your platoon indicated potential for a tolerable performance as your Vice-Captain. I disagreed. To be perfectly blunt: Narumi trusts you, but he won’t follow you.”
“No.” Hasegawa huffed a laugh, remembering all the times Narumi had ignored orders and done precisely what he wanted to in the field. “He won’t follow anyone but you, Sir.”
“The time has come for him to stop following. But he will need a Vice-Captain he can trust, and Narumi does not trust easily. Hasegawa.” Shinomiya leaned forward across his desk, tone somehow even graver. “Are you willing to turn down a potential captaincy and stunt your career to support his?”
To support him, you mean. “Yes, Sir. Wholeheartedly.”
Series
- Part 1 of Soft White Underbelly
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Dead Draw (n.): A drawn position in chess in which neither player has any realistic chance of winning, usually due to both players having insufficient pieces or insufficient remaining time
His posture, Isao mused, was as poor as ever, spine curled almost into a circle as he hunched in a chair over his handheld console. He’d kicked his feet up onto the chair next to him, boots sank deep into the velvet. Uncouth, but not worth Isao’s attention. Deep shadows hugged the skin beneath Narumi’s eyes and he was steadily chewing his lip to shreds. His hair was a mess.
Not a proud sight, if Isao were being honest. But he had only one concern worth voicing. “Narumi.”
Narumi grunted in response, eyes still glued to his console.
“How will you compensate for missing afternoon drills?”
“Night practice.”
So the boy was in an agreeable mood. On his more temperamental days he spewed insults, not answers. Perhaps now was a good time, then. Or perhaps you are a lonely, desperate old man seeking companionship and calling it training.
*
Isao teaches Narumi chess. Neither of them feel like they've won in the end.
Series
- Part 2 of Soft White Underbelly
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Love and Lack by metri_zin
Fandoms: 怪獣８号 | Kaiju No. 8 (Manga), 怪獣８号 | Kaiju No. 8 (Anime)
04 May 2026
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The cafeteria was packed, echoing with shouts and boos: officers challenging each other to arm wrestles, comparing training scores, boasting kill counts and negging each other.
Kafka nudged her again. “Wanna eat on the roof? Doesn’t look like there’s much space in here.”
Oh god. She was being cornered. “Here is fine. I’m sure we can get someone to budge up.”
Kafka frowned. They played this game every couple of months. Kikoru would tense up, Kafka would probe. Kikoru would rebuff, Kafka would try again. Sometimes she would win and he would back off, let her stew for a bit before she came to him willingly. More often, he would somehow wheedle her thoughts out of her, pushing her to talk about feelings until her nerves were scraped raw. That kind of talk needed a good fight to follow, and Kikoru would track down Narumi and spar until her bones ached.
But she didn’t want to see Narumi right now.
*
Kikoru navigates her grief and her jealousy - which means Narumi has to as well.
Series
- Part 3 of Soft White Underbelly