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Narumi and Ashiro are dating. When the news broke, the Internet blew up. It was all over social media. Forum posts and discussions everywhere on the topic of the captains of the First and Third Divisions being an item.
Narumi is a chronic ego surfer. Always looking for praise from strangers on the Internet.
“Narumi is so cool.”
“I can't believe he beat the giant kaiju all by himself!”
“That guy is literally a 1 man army.”
The praise would send him a dopamine rush. But there were other types of comments that would make his veins pop.
“Ashiro is way better than Narumi.”
“Ashrio’s cannon weapon is the coolest thing I've seen.”
“The fact that she has a tiger is badass.”
“Narumi has to try so hard to be cool. Ashiro has natural aura.”
Narumi wasn't fond of being compared to Ashiro. Although he personally admired her from a distance, it hurt his ego to be dismissed by others.
That was before they became official.
Now it seems the narrative has switched. Despite Ashiro being the most popular captain, she now faces scrutiny.
“Ashiro is barely engaged in the fights. She just stands at a distance and lets her team do all the work and goes in for the last hit.”
“What does Narumi see in Ashiro? Shouldn't he date someone more in his league.”
“I bet Ashiro slept her way to the captain position.”
That last one really gets to him. He doesn't get it. Just before she was getting so much praise and hype for her work as a captain. Now just because she's dating him that all her hard work is worth nothing?!?
Narumi isn't free from public backlash either.
“The strongest captain needs another captain to keep him in check haha.”
“Narumi totally ruined his image with this relationship being public.”
The way that Narumi and Ashiro were being talked about were as if they were idols. What was the big deal anyway. They were both still committed to their work for the defense force. Their relationship hardly got in the way of work. Apparently the public didn't see it that way.
Ashiro isn't obsessed with social media the way Narumi is. And Narumi is thankful for that. She avoids seeing all the hate she gets for the most part.
Unfortunately, Narumi can't avoid it. Rather, he chooses not to. He’s too obsessed with his own image to give up social media. Now he's just as concerned about what people are saying about Ashiro.
It's funny. The Ashiro hate train seems to get to him more than Ashiro herself. He knows she doesn't deserve it. After all, Narumi wants to protect her. In and out of the battlefield.
Now he wishes he saw comments praising Ashiro again. Even if they were comments that were unfavorable for him. As long as they didn't attack Ashiro. He'd do anything to keep her safe. Even though they're just comments written behind a screen, he can never be too sure of netizens' intentions.
Narumi visits Ashiro’s apartment frequently. It gets him away from Hasegawa’s nagging. Ashiro got her own BS5 so Narumi will have an outlet to wind down there. It's nice for them to just be in each other’s presence. Of course, she also occasionally joins in.
Tonight the moon shines extra bright into Ashiro’s high rise apartment. Bakko is curled up on the floor with Narumi leaning against him. In the meantime, Ashiro does some chores while occasionally spectating Narumi. She goes to move her floral-patterned bedsheets from the washer to the dryer.
The sounds of button mashing from the BS5 controller fill the air. Narumi remains focused on his game until he gets a notification on his phone. He immediately regrets glancing at it. It's a comment left on his most recent photo of himself.
“Give up dating Ashiro. She’ll find someone better.”
Oh another one.
“idk how you can protect us if you're too busy hanging out with your girlfriend.”
And another.
“If I ever saw Captain Ashiro in person I would make her mine.”
Why now? When he's trying to enjoy relaxing at his girlfriend’s apartment. Naturally Narumi would have a reaction then delete them. But he's tired. All he can do for now is sigh as he finishes up his game.
“Mina”
Her response echos through the hallway “yes?”
Narumi’s eyes stayed glued to the screen. “Do you ever get tired”
“Tired of what? This? Never”
After turning on the dryer, Ashiro walks over to give Narumi. Patting his head, she gives him a kiss on his cheek.
Narumi finishes his match and sets his controller down. His eyes wander down, looking at his phone but not picking it up for anything.
“No. The hate. The nonstop criticism about us.”
Ashiro is puzzled “You know I don't care about online comments like you do.”
Narumi knows that. But he still fears. Is she just saying that to be strong?
“It's not just that.” Narumi sounded oddly determined. But still shy to speak on his thoughts. “It might just seem like people behind a keyboard. But you can never know their true intentions. People have been harassed in person because of their public relationship. Even someone like me knows that”
Mina is surprised at the change in Narumi’s demeanor. “Understanding that much seems out of character for you.”
Narumi is embarrassed. He's not great at expressing his emotions. Instead, he tries to play it off cool. “What? Is it weird to want my girlfriend to be safe?”
Mina chuckles as she feels a bit guilty for doubting him. “I suppose you're right.”
She recalls a time they went on a date to Akibahara - per Narumi’s idea of course.
…
Walking through the bustling streets in the evening, Ashiro’s eyes land on a gachapon shop. Narumi catches her fixed gaze on the cat keychain gachapon near the entrance.
Without saying anything, he walks into the shop.
Ashiro, surprised, follows in “Can we get something?”
Narumi is already walking to the cashier to buy some coins “Why do you think I came in here”.
Ashiro follows Narumi, holding her hands behind her back with a swing to her walk and a soft smile on her face. They approach the cat keychain gacha and Narumi hands her the coins for the machine.
Ashiro intensely looks at the gacha as she turns the knob. She knows she'll have a 100% win rate since she doesn't have any of the possible options.
The store was getting crowded and Narumi started to feel claustrophobic. He's not exactly fond of being around many people, despite choosing to go to Akibahara today. The desire to browse the games and figurines was too strong for him.
“Go ahead and wait outside for me. I'll go recycle the capsule for you”
“Ah ok. I'll be right at the entrance”
Narumi goes to the back where the capsule recycle is but immediately regrets letting Ashrio out of his sight. He heads towards the front of the store and sees some guy approaching her.
He gets a bad feeling about it so he hurries towards her. He's glad that he kept on RT-1000 today, in case he gets called in for an emergency. Although he would complain about it if one were to happen.
Narumi reads the signals in the man’s brain, seeing that he is about to grab Ashiro, Narumi quickly puts himself in front of her. His stance made him a wall between the two. Ashiro isn’t helpless. In fact, there wasn't an ounce of fear in her. She could easily fend off a random attacker on the street. But Narumi’s blood was boiling.
“What do you want?” Narumi intimidates the man. Standing eye to eye.
“Oh just wondering what the third division captain is doing out here alone without her boyfriend. Guess I was wrong”
“You were” Narumi continues to glare at the man. It looks like his veins will pop.
Narumi tried to start a fight. But before anything could break out Ashiro grabs Narumi’s arm and pulls him to walk away and leave the situation behind.
Would this even happen if their relationship wasn't public?
—
The following night, Narumi opts for handheld gaming on his Switch so he can lay on the bed. Ashiro is cuddled against Narumi for the optimal spectating angle.
Narumi remembers that the bedsheets were just washed the previous night. The cherry blossom scented detergent still lingered. It reminded him of his worries from the previous night. Thinking about how nice it would to forever bask in the comfort of his lover. To just be alone with Ashrio Mina without other worries in the world.
No kaijus. No public image. No scrutiny.
No fear of losing her.
He imagines a quiet life with Ashiro. Playing his game on auto-pilot, he blurts out his thoughts.
“Would you run away?”
“What?” Ashiro says with a blank expression, “You're confusing me by asking weird questions again.”
Narumi didn't let a proper thought form before rambling. He speaks before thinking.
“Let's go on a vacation far away from Tokyo. That way we won't get recognized.” Narumi is avoiding eye contact by continuing to play his game. At this point he's not even focused on his game anymore. He fears that if he faces Ashiro he won't be able to hold back his feelings.
“I'm always happy to go out with you. But why all this now?”
To escape it all.
To disappear and just be together.
To protect you.
It's past the point of dealing with Internet threats. Narumi wants to simply exist with Ashiro in their own bubble.
Narumi doesn't want to seem pathetic so he comes up with an excuse.
“I just think it would be romantic”
Ashiro Mina has learned a lot about Narumi over the years of knowing him. Observing him from afar. Looking at him from the crowd of new recruits she was part of. It usually wasn't hard to find him. He was either dozing off or being obnoxious.
Ashiro pretended not to care about him. She found him to be a pest in the beginning even. They were exact opposites. But with every interaction with him, Ashiro understood him more and more. Finding herself being comforted by him more often than not. This time, she wants to be the one to make him feel at ease.
“Gen,” Ashiro gently holds his face, feeling the warmth of his cheek. She turns his face to face her. Their faces are so close to each other. Narumi’s game is officially interrupted. But he didn't really care nor threw a tantrum for once. “We’ve dedicated our lives to killing kaiju. The hate won't get to me.”
Ashiro feels a bit ridiculous having to say this. But she knows she has to say it in order to snap Narumi out of his trance. “I'm not doing this - killing kaijus or dating you - for public approval.”
Narumi always seeked validation from others. He was abandoned. Thrown around between orphanages when they deemed him problematic. It seemed like no matter what he did he was unloveable.
When he started gaining traction as the first captain of the defense force on social media, he would spend his time ego surfing. He sought that validation online. Praises would ring bells in his ears. It gave him a rush - knowing that people admired him. Knowing that he was wanted.
But that feeling was nothing compared to the love he received from Ashiro Mina. To be loved by someone who truly cares was euphoric.
Narumi feels silly. To be reminded of something so simple.
Ashiro places both her hands on his hands. Prying them away from the controller so she could fully hold him. She knew that he cared about his image but still wanted to be with her. She says softly to his ear “Thank you for choosing to love me.”
Narumi’s eyes widen, looking over Ashiro’s shoulder. He pulls away to fully face her. He gives into his feelings.
“I would give it all up if it meant being with you” He pauses, debating on if he’ll regret what he's going to say next. “Protecting you… having you by my side… is more important than protecting society”
He knows that's wrong to say. He's saved many, many civilians. But to him, none of that mattered anymore.
Truthfully, maybe it didn't matter much to begin with. He joined the defense force in hopes to find a home. He's so grateful he did. Otherwise he never would've met Ashiro. Someone who gave him life a bigger meaning. Someone who gave him a home.
“Gen… you know we can't” Ashiro grows more concerned.
“If we step away from the spotlight… from the front lines…”
Ashiro knows what he'll say next. She preemptively responds “I won't lose. Not when we’re both out there. Together.”
Narumi thinks of the times on the battlefield where he worried for Ashiro.
Every time they have a joint mission, Ashiro stands alone on the rooftop, waiting for her opening. Narumi knows that behind the strong mask she puts up, she fears messing up. He would always remind her “I’m here for you.”
Maybe he should be the one to be told to stop worrying. Because she never fails to impress him. She always lands her hits. Perfectly subjugating any kaiju that comes across her path.
Narumi is lucky to have Ashiro.
Narumi is lucky to be able to love Ashrio.
Ashiro continues “I'm not scared of threats from people.” Narumi is well aware of her strength. “If I ever end up in a bad situation, I know you'll protect me.”
Narumi returns to his usual behavior “Of course. I'm the strongest after all.”