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“Come on. The man could fall in love if he wants to.”
“I don't disagree in theory, but I doubt that's what's going on here,” Reno said while shoving the already too close Iharu away, “not today at least.”
Hoshina is a private life man. The lilac eyed officer has no memory of his vice-captain ever mentioning a girl he fancies. The only women Hoshina is close to is the captain herself and Kikoru. Do those two even count? If he did have a girlfriend the whole squadron would have been well aware of her by now. If not, suspicious.
“You want to bet on it? The loser pays for dinner.”
And thus began the mission of stalking the vice-captain around Japan. ‘Operation: Secret Love Life’. What could possibly go wrong?
~~~
The yellow mini cooper made trailing their target pretty straightforward. It’d be rotten luck to lose a brightly colored car among the numerous black and grey ones. The tricky part was staying out of the vice-captain’s line of sight.
“Iharu, I’m starting to think this is a bad idea.” Their little operation had barely begun yet the sinking feeling in Reno's stomach was getting worse. The idea of being caught was eating him alive. The punishment Captain Ashiro gives for addressing her so casually, only done by Kafka, results in having to do a few measly pushups. But for stalking? And the vice-captain no less. Best to resign while they’re still alive.
“Well, it's the only way to settle the bet.” Iharu began to speed up, refusing to wait at a light that would end up separating them from Hoshina.
Fuck the bet. Is it too late to back out now?
“Plus, It's not like you were doing anything anyways,” remarked the taller of the two. “Consider this a lesson in how to have fun.”
They trailed the mini cooper another two miles before reaching a parking garage attached to a shopping center. The Hokkaido Products Exhibition to be exact.
The exhibition was crowded for a Tuesday morning. Colorful tables of food stretching on as the eye can see. If Reno wasn’t busy with Operation: Secret Love Life, the idea of spending his day off shopping with Ihara sounded appealing. The two could also buy a few snacks for their fellow officers. There might even be something here that could help Kafka’s current situation.
Hoshina spent most of his time scanning the market than taking his sweet time to shop around. Like he was on a mission to find a particular product. The two officers made the effort to stay five to six tables away from their vice. Peaking through neighboring stalls when they could. They watched as Hoshina brought various goods from food, medicine, and two matching pink and purple cat trinkets from a table that sold honey.
As the pair began to find their next strategic hiding spot, Hoshina suddenly proceeded to backtrack down the same aisle. Panic ensues between the duo as they would definitely be caught if they tried to run away. With quick thinking from Reno the two pretended to be customers fully invested in the chocolate covered strawberries presented in front of them. Safe for another day as the vice walked pass without a second glance.
The shopping trip has finally come to an end. For only one bag the whole event felt like the entire day was gone. Perhaps constantly being on high alert wasn’t good on the human heart.
The two hid behind one of the many pillars that lined the walls of the exhibition. They must look like weird fanboys to onlookers, but the pair had a way more important task at hand. Lord forbid if anyone decided to approach the two staring at the famous vice-captain of the Third Division making a simple phone call.
“Hey, Captain Ashiro. Mission Complete. I have obtained the top quality, limited run dried squid snacks you requested,” the vice stated. Proud of his accomplishment.
“Dried squid?” The confusion and disappointment were clear as Reno spoke. He would have lost the bet but Reno was hoping for more, to actually see someone with their vice.
“That’s so lame! I wanted something juicy,” complained Iharu.
Was the whole operation really a complete waste of time? Did Reno really spend his day trailing the vice-captain all for dried squid? What a letdown. The only upside to the day was that Iharu had to pay for dinner. Reno could treat himself to something fancy.
“Anyway, you lost the bet! He wasn't going to see his girlfriend.”
Iharu was quick to rebuttal. “But I didn't say girlfriend. I said ‘lady’, so I'm technically the winner.”
“That phone call means shit.”
If the two weren’t already suspicious looking they definitely were now. Bickering between the two about who won the bet quickly turned into a mini brawl. Trying to fight the pink hothead while in a headlock proved to be a challenge. The smaller one attempted to push Iharu face away, once again, but his fingers would graze those razor sharp teeth which only added to Reno’s pain.
“No big deal, it was on the way to where I’m headed. I'll drop it off later.” Saying his goodbye, Hoshina ended his call with the captain. “Alrighty then, it's time. I'm quite excited about this.”
As quick as the brawl began, the world came to a screeching halt. The two froze in disbelief. A spark of hope in that endless darkness.
“Does that mean this was just a pit stop?
“Lucky you. Guess the bet hasn't been settled yet. Come on, let's tail him.
~~~
The pursuit wasn’t over yet, no, the hunt was only beginning. The determination within became stronger than before. This bet would finally settle with a clean and concise winner. No ‘technically the winner’ getting in the way this time.
Reno and Iharu never let Hoshina escape their sight. So close yet far enough to not be caught. The gods must be looking out for the duo as it was truly a miracle how the hell Hoshina has yet to spot his stalkers.
Round and round they drove across multiple prefectures. If this was how the two would spend their day off then so be it. Reno, afraid at first, was finally having fun in the situation he found himself in. Laughing to himself when Iharu swears he’s taken the same turn for the fourth time now.
The sudden jerk then stop of the motorcycle sent Reno crashing into his partner’s back. “Ow! What the hell man? Give me a warning next time!” His helmet muffled the yelling that would have gotten them caught.
“Would you look at that? Not one but three different ladies he was going to see.” Iharu turned around to meet Reno's gaze, grinning ear to ear. “Looks like you lost the bet once again.”
Finally catching his bearings, Reno was able to examine the situation at hand. The vice-captain had pulled over on the side of the road, hazard lights flashing. There on the sidewalk stood their fellow officers from the Third Division: Shinomiya, Minase and Igarashi. A quick slap upside the head was the wake-up call Iharu surely needed.
“You can’t be this stupid, can you? I’m pretty sure they're having one of those girls’ days out so the vice-captain would be out of the picture. Too bad we can’t hear the conversation from this distance.”
“I could try to get closer but the girls are facing our direction.” It’s true. One of them could easily catch sight of the pair spying and that would be the end. No point in risking the entire operation for a single conversation.
~~~
How do you go from pursuing one person to four? Well that was the situation Reno and Iharu found themselves in. Apparently, the girls were having trouble trying to acquire a taxi so Hoshina offered to give his fellow teammates a ride to who knows where. The two have been following the yellow car for a good 15 minutes now. Passing numerous shopping centers along the way but never once stopping.
Reno was attempting to imagine what grand destination the girls had planned for their day off, yet he was drawing a blank. The same question he asked himself kept replaying instead, what are you even supposed to do with a day off?
What are you supposed to do?
The last time Reno took a day just for himself, he could not recall. Not a single memory. Even before working for the Monster Sweeper Inc., he has been working nonstop in preparation for the exam into the defense force. Training was all he knew. A day of relaxation was a foreign concept.
Yet, Reno cherishes the small moments of rest that naturally occurred. Like times, after a grueling training session, where the men told stories in the bathhouse. Times when he was simply healing up in one of the many infirmary rooms, with or without company or times when Reno would escape to the rooftop when he needed time to himself. None of that compares to having an entire day to do whatever the heart desires, but it’s always the little things that brighten one’s day.
“Reno?”
If Japan was normal, not a single kaiju in existence, what would Reno do? Training of course would be off the table.
I’d probably go shopping. I could also um…I um…take a walk? His mind was still hitting a dead end. Why is this so difficult?
“Yo Reno?”
Reno’s life revolves primarily around the defense force. If he can’t fight, can’t kill the kaijus that plague his homeland, then what is he?
“You know you can let go of me now. Are you doing okay?”
All Reno wanted in life was to join the defense force. He had no plans for college. No hobbies he can turn into a steady career. His friends-
“Ahh!” The sudden sharp pain to Reno’s upper thigh was enough to snap him out of his thoughts. A firm squeeze of acknowledgment would’ve been much preferable than getting a set of keys jabbed into one’s leg. Reno knew a bruise would definitely form by tomorrow morning. He hadn't registered that the two had pulled over to the side once again. Iharu had stopped driving for a while now.
“You doing alright dude? If you need a break just let me know, okay.” Has Reno really been that absorbed in his own thoughts to the point Iharu got concerned about him? All because he didn’t know how to relax and have fun.
“Please don't worry, I'm just thinking about earlier today.” His fingers still intertwined with the fabric of Iharu’s jacket, trying to stay grounded, as if he let go his mind would once again consume him. This was becoming a bad habit of his.
“Actually, can I ask you something Iharu?” He finally removed the helmet he was wearing, a hint of nervousness as he spoke. All Reno received was a light ‘hmm’ to know that his partner in crime was listening.
“Before chasing the vice-captain around, what were you planning to do with your day off?” That question was not at all what Iharu had expected. He was expecting something more serious with the way Reno was acting only a few minutes ago. Was this his way of changing the mood?
“Let’s see, the main plan was to tune-up my ride but that can now be done another day. Afterward I was gonna run a few small errands. Oh, I was about to head over to Ricoland for extra supplies before I got a glimpse of you. The vice-captain got to ya first and I didn’t want to interrupt.”
“I see,” so everyone had plans but me, he concluded. “Thanks.”
If Reno was unable to think of anything other than training, then perhaps he could tag along with a fellow officer again. Let’s hope Kafka won't become sick again when the next day off comes around. He could additionally see if Shinomiya would like to join the two of them. Isn’t that one saying ‘two is company, three is a party’ or something along that line. If not, Reno could ruin Iharu's plans to go on another adventure. Speaking of adventures…
“So anyways, where are we at now?” Reno questioned. He hasn’t had time to take in their surroundings since arriving. The rich smell of katsudon hit Reno first.
The two had stopped alongside a road that had a metal fence to their left and a row of buildings to their right. One building stood out against the others; a restaurant with a ‘Now Open’ sign located near the entrance. Through the windows Reno was able to see that nearly all the tables were filled up with about three parties waiting for an opening. He watched as Shinomiya, Minase, and Igarashi were placed by the exact window from where he was observing from. For a brand new restaurant they were quite popular. Plus, the food smells so delicious. When Reno wins this bet he’s definitely coming back and getting everything on the menu.
“This restaurant is where the vice-captain dropped the girls off before driving off. I heard it opened last week but has a flood of amazing reviews. Pretty small in my opinion.”
Before driving off? Did Reno hear that correctly? He watched as the girls were seated but didn’t see how long they were waiting for their table. Quickly scanning the area, the vice-captain’s car was nowhere to be found. He was gone.
“WHAT!? YOU LET HOSHINA GO?”
“DON’T SCREAM IN MY EAR!”
“HOW COULD YOU? THE BET STILL NEEDS TO BE SETTLED WITH YOU AS THE LOSER!”
“THIS IS TECHNICALLY YOUR FAULT. YOU GOT ME ALL WORRIED ABOUT YA SINCE YOU’RE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN HIM! NOW SHUT UP BEFORE I MAKE YOU QUIET!”
Silence.
Reno felt the blush spreading across his face, wishing he never removed his helmet in the first place. He felt so exposed under Iharu's stare. Reno opened his mouth to fight back but nothing came out. He hates to admit defeat but Iharu was right.
This isn’t the first time he got lost in his own thoughts that Reno completely forgets about the world around him. It started off small. From which workout he should start with or how he takes longer to order a basic meal. Kafka loves retelling the story about how Reno once zoned out at a McDonald’s because he didn’t know what he wanted as a side. Kafka also took a photo as proof. He really wished Kafka would forget about that whole day. The embarrassment was enough to kill him once everyone in the Third Division knew.
Nowadays his thoughts were a little more mentally damaging. His strength, his worth, his life coming into question. Reno is the type of man who’s willing to help out those around him but refuses if someone dares to help him back. He stays quiet about his problems. Scared to be perceived as weak.
Iharu has always been able to get Reno out of his own head. Always been a shoulder Reno could lean on. To the outside world the two were inseparable. The two would train together in the morning, share the same living quarters through the day, on the battlefield the two were far beyond the definition of in sync, and some night, when one was haunted by nightmares, they slept in the same bed.
Reno would never say it out loud but he became remarkably greedy when it came to the attention of the pink haired office. Reno knows better than to abuse Iharu's generosity but he couldn’t help himself. The stolen glance, the lingering touches, just his damn presence alone drove Reno insane. It definitely doesn’t help that Shinomiya adores teasing the shit out of Reno for his stupid crush. There’s just one small problem.
Iharu claims rivalry; Reno craves more.
Reno took a deep breath. His mind cleared of any doubt he once held. He might not know how to ‘have fun’ however he knew how he was going to spend the rest of his day off and if the two got in trouble Reno would take full responsibility. They already made it this far, backing out now was no longer an option.
“You better be ready to break a few traffic laws. Speed, run all the yellow lights I truly don’t care what you do. We still might be able to catch the vice-captain if we go now,” Reno said firmly while fumbling with the helmet straps. He felt so alive. Unable to contain the excitement within each nerve.
A deep chuckle erupted from the driver. The two have been quarreling from the beginning yet here in this very moment, they were in perfect agreement.
“I like that fire of yours Reno.”
~~~
This game of theirs has been playing for four hours about to reach five. Any sane person would have given up by the third hour with nothing to show. Not this duo. The sheer willpower alone was enough for them to go all night, or until Hoshina identified them. No matter what, there was no stopping these two from completing Operation: Secret Love Life.
Hoshina is unpredictable. One moment he's casually walking downtown, next minute he was running up to strangers in need of help, going up to any and all cats that crossed his path, visiting two different Lawson’s for a quick snack, or checking his phone every twenty minutes. Reno and Iharu were becoming sceptical over if their vice-captain really had an exciting event, as he claimed, or if he was taking things as they came. If the latter, that’d be pretty boring. Where's the drama, the shocking plot twists?
The pair continued their never-ending pursuit on Hoshina. Often using the motorcycle helmets as a disguise when their target got too close for comfort. Fear was a natural instinct. Fear due to Hoshina was as terrifying as it was exhilarating.
More familiar faces appeared as the day continued. It was a coincidence that they came across the women of the force, but it was a surprise to run into Izumo and Kaguragi. A few words were exchanged between the three before Hoshina ran off once again. Can’t the man rest for one second, Reno thought. His stamina was amazing yet nowhere near that of the vice-captain.
Finally, their target was no longer on the move. A well deserved breather was needed for all of them.
Hoshina sat quietly at a nearby bench, the trees casting a cool shade over him. The older woman, who talked about her granddaughter and who offered the kind Hoshina tea, left not too long ago. He was now alone. The quiet was welcomed with open arms. The world finally understood peace. Only if the trees were cherry blossoms the picture painted in front of Reno would’ve been a breathtaking scene for sure. Only one thing didn’t sit right with Reno.
“Oh come on!” Hoshina cried out, startling his two watchers hiding behind a nearby bush. The previous excitement the vice-captain expressed turned to defeat with a hint of irritation. The constant checking of his phone became erratic. Hoshina was the most patient man Reno knew so this side of him was unsettling. The type to send a chill down his spine.
“Why is time moving slow, huh? Just how did that chronic gamer of mine get caught up in a meeting when we both got approved for the day off?”
And back down the rabbit holes for Reno. Iharu would need to save this sleeping beauty once more.
Meeting? Time? Day off? So many theories flooded Reno's head. All the puzzle pieces were laid out, he only needed to complete said puzzle. How could he do that when Reno was focusing intently on the one word that caught his attention.
Mine.
Chronic gamer of MINE!
HOLY SHIT! HOSHINA IS ACTUALLY DATING SOMEONE!!!
Meeting? Time? Day off? Finally, it was all coming together. The man who’s been dragging Reno and Iharu around like crazy without having any knowledge, the reason he kept looking at the time displayed on his phone, the one excited for a mysterious event yet never reaching a final destination; all because he was killing time. Hoshina’s original plans were destroyed due to a single unplanned meeting he couldn’t foresee.
Reno felt bad for Hoshina. Although, it's not like he could come out from hiding to comfort the man.
So, who is this mysterious person who has managed to capture the heart of Soshiro Hoshina? Reno didn't have the slightest clue. The vice never talked openly about a loved one, nor accidentally let it slip that he was dating in the first place. Judging by the vague context clues, Reno concluded that this lover also works for the Defense Force. Must be someone higher up if they're in a meeting, perhaps a captain? he wonders. Captain Ashiro crossed his mind for a fraction of a second although he quickly dismissed that idea. She's had a meeting, yes, but she was not even in town to begin with. The two wouldn’t meet up again until tomorrow evening. That's the whole reason the dried squid snack is part of this adventure. If not her, then who?
Apparently, everyone in the Third Division had the day off so that ruled out a few folks. If not the third then maybe…
There weren't many women who were captains or vice-captains. Most were platoon leaders but they wouldn't have been called in for a meeting, right? Toko Kirimori, from the fourth, was the only vice-captain he could think of yet he knew that possibility was slim to none.
No matter the answer, Hoshina had a date planned with a woman that Reno may or may not know. Which means that— that means Reno— oh. God dammit!
Reno didn’t have to look at Iharu. He could practically feel that smug smile plastered upon his partner's face. The gleam in his eyes bore deep into Reno’s soul. They both came to the same solid conclusion.
Reno has lost the bet.
“Don’t.”
“I haven’t said anything”
“Just. Don’t.” Reno didn’t need to hear Iharu gloat about his victory. Not when the vice-captain was within close proximity.
The day off for the Third Division was a roller coaster full of twists and turns. The previous turns left a trail of bad luck. First, Shinomiya and her friends couldn’t find a taxi, next Hoshina had less time to spend with his lover, and lastly Reno found himself with a future empty wallet. Pleasant isn't it? At least Reno could pretend he was on a date with Iharu rather than their dinner stemming from a bet.
A soft ping emanating from Hoshina's phone caught everyone's attention. The mood shifted its once sour tune. A simple message had the vice-captain back to his true self. His usual sinister smile was true with optimism and love.
“You better be right about this love.” Hoshina replied, standing up to stretch his muscles before setting off once more. “So, one hour you say? I can easily kill another hour.”
~~~
After a 20 minute drive Hoshina led the pair to a nearby park. Reno spent most of his time surrounded by fallen debris and kaiju corpses, so the view was magnificent. Mother Nature was wearing her finest dress today. Trees in full blossom spanning on for miles, a gentle breeze kissing the skin, and a nearby pond housing a family of ducks. Just a snippet of the park since Reno currently stood on the other side of the road underneath a railroad infrastructure. The park had a mini lot dedicated for cars, but no way would the two think about parking so close. There was no cover for hiding either. From where they stood there was a wired fence and a few vending machines that would mask their presence.
“I guess he’s going to chill in his car until his mystery partner shows,” stated Iharu. The bet was settled, they could call it a day and go home, yet the pair agreed that they needed to see the woman Hoshina loves. What was she like? Was she as famous as Hoshina? Would she be a familiar face? So many questions that need answering. Reno was getting impatient, more so than Iharu.
“What are you two gawking at?”
When the fuck did he leave the car!? Panic ran through Reno veins. He was not prepared for the vice-captain’s wrath. He was too young to die. Quickly spinning around Reno was ready to beg on hands and knees for his life (or throw Iharu under the bus). Relief was the new heart attack medicine.
“Shinomiya?” Iharu was the first to speak up after the fright. Fear still written over his face.
There stood Kikoru Shinomiya, like a disappointed mother finding out her children were drawing on the walls. A few steps behind were Minase and Igarashi. The same party they followed to the new restaurant. What a coincidence they’d meet again.
“You don't have to be surprised, do you?”
“Sorry, we thought you were someone else. What are the three of you doing here?”
“We were all just out getting lunch together.”
“And you guys are not gonna believe this,” Igarashi piped up excitedly. “Guess who gave us a ride to the restaurant?”
“U-um we already know.” Reno thought out loud, earning a small shove from Iharu.
“Oh that’s right! You guys were outside the restaurant too. You two were so loud it was hard not to notice.”
“You’re so right Akari,” a devilish smile appeared as Shinomiya strolled closer to Reno. “Who knew office Ichikawa could get so red in the face. I wonder what Iharu said to you.”
Reno was too flustered to say anything back. He hadn’t expected the two would be spotted so soon nor have his love life hinted at around an audience. Yeah, they were making public fools of themselves for shouting, but it was all in the moment. Reno didn’t know his emotions would get the best of him.
With Reno being at a loss for words, she decided to go back to her previously asked question. “So what were you two doing before we arrived?”
Reno turned to look at Iharu, searching for any sign on if they should tell the truth or lie. There was no harm in telling the three the truth. They were all on the same team after all. If worse comes to worse, claiming that the girls were also part of this game would be Reno revenge towards Kikoru. A little corporate punishment.
The two men proceeded to explain the crazy bet they made involving vice-captain Hoshina. How if Hoshina were to spend his day off with a lady, Iharu won the bet, but if he did literally anything else, then Reno won the bet. They explained the dried squid disappointment, the trailing to the restaurant, the constant running around of a madman, and the date Hoshina had planned. There was no harm except digging into your boss’s personal life and being caught for stalking. They survived this long and this was the home stretch, that’s for sure. They just have to keep up the distance between Hoshina a little longer.
A long sigh escapes from Shinomiya. “You've been tailing the vice-captain all day long? Lucky this isn't America, you’d get sued for poking into his private life. Boys never grow up, do they?” She wasn’t angry as Reno thought she might be, just disappointed like when she first spotted the two.
“What are you guys doing?” A new voice chimed into the conversation. It’s been coincidence after coincidence spotting familiar faces for Reno and Iharu but somehow all of them arriving at Hoshina’s lover's grand reveal was something supernatural. Kaguragi and Izumo approached the group of fellow officers. They exchanged casual greetings until the original duo had to explain the whole pursuit again. With this current rate of bad luck, Reno might as well go straight up to Hoshina and explain the situation once more.
Izumo's attention was fully set on Shinomiya. “You're tailing the vice-captain too? Wow, color me surprised. I didn't take you for a stalker."
“I just stumbled upon these buffoons! How dare you imply I could be so vulgar!”
“Shh! He’ll hear you.” Reno begged Shinomiya to quit yelling. The five newcomers could completely ruin the hard work Reno and Iharu spent all day on. The odds of Kafka showing up like a bolt out of the blue became plausible. Reno really wished everyone would leave him alone and just go home.
As Izumo and Shinomiya continued their little banter, Hoshina started making his way to the lavish park with the two cat keychains in hand. Aoi Kaguragi was the first to notice Hoshina, quickly gathering the attention of the others. The newfound party watched in silence. Their boss was like a schoolgirl who ruled over Valentine’s Day. All smile, a cute bounce in his steps, lost in his own world of blinding love. It was endearing to see him so full of joy. It’d be extremely unwise for any kaiju to come out and play now. Without warning Hoshina broke out into a sprint, eyes on his prize. Reno and Iharu quickly followed behind with no hesitation.
“What are you two idiots doing? Get back here!”
“Should we tag along?”
“Obviously.”
The pursuit didn't last long. They chased the vice-captain to an open grass field with no trees or structures to protect themselves from detection. The only option was to stand far away and pray. The group of officers could pretend to be passersby admiring the beautiful scenery.
The sun has started setting on this eventful day. A few folks began leaving the park, leaving behind a calm and quiet atmosphere. This made spotting Hoshina’s partner fairly easy.
There, in the open field, was a figure dressed in casual clothing. Black sweatpants, a navy hoodie with a white undershirt sticking out from the bottom, and white sneakers. The figure had their back towards them and their hood up, disguising the mysterious person even further. Next to their feet was a rolled out knitted blanket and a few grocery bags. A small picnic was the date Hoshina was looking forward to.
When Hoshina closed the distance he announced his arrival by jumping onto his partner's back, placing them in a tight embrace. Any normal person would have fallen to the floor at the sudden impact but they hardly flinched. They were ready for the attack.
“Damn she's strong!”
“Don't be too loud, Igarashi,” Reno whispered. The park was now empty, any noise would instantly call out the new found party. All emotions had to be suppressed; to be a silent observer.
When Hoshina finally found the ground he grabbed his partner by the hoodie and pulled them into a kiss. Not a care in the world if anyone looked upon this heartwarming display of affection. His patient had finally run out, his greed now allowing him to claim what he wants.
“And she's taller than the vice-captain,” Aoi added.
In a situation like this it was challenging to not voice one's thoughts. The hushed chattering was overpowering any ‘shh’ that were thrown out. Everyone was curious about the mysterious lover. If only she wasn't hiding behind a hoodie.
“You think she's as scary as him? She already has the strength.”
“Do you think she's a familiar face?”
“If she's a part of the Defense Force I hope we can work alongside her.”
“You two mentioned something about gaming. You think she's a famous esports player?”
“Must be very famous if she's hiding her face.”
“You think they have kids?”
Questions after questions with no answers. The more Reno watched the couple the more his curiosity stirred. The image he created around Hoshina completely shattered. Seeing this soft, more intimate side left him speechless. A tad jealous too since he couldn't express that same love for his friend.
“I don't mean to sound sexist here but,” Izumo finally spoke up after quietly observing, “are we sure that our vice-captain is with a woman as you two claim?”
“Huh!?” The officers questioned in unison. The sudden accusations was a possibility that was never considered. Could the mystery person actually be a man?
“Just what are you implying? You don't think a wife could be both stronger and taller than their husband? That we have to be a damsel in distress?” Shinomiya was ready to defend the mysterious guest. Minase and Igarashi were prepared to back her up.
“That's not what I'm saying. Listen, I'm basing the situation solely on body language and it's vice-captain Hoshina who has his arms wrapped around his lover's neck and…um well…he’s practically straddling the guy.”
The onslaught the girls brought upon Izumo was instant but they were still aware to stay quiet. Poor Izumo couldn't get a single word out, not that Reno cared for the conversation at hand. He was slightly listening, picking up on a few words like ‘bad bitch’ and ‘muscle mommy’, but Reno was focused on the couple before him. The possibility that Izumo's assumption held any merit intrigued his curiosity.
The game continues once more.
Was their boss acting like a lovestruck school girl?
Yes.
Was their boss completely invading their partner's space by sitting in their lap?
Also yes.
The odds that this mysterious 'woman' the party heavily believed in was a man seemed more and more believable with each passing second. If only that damn hoodie wasn't blocking his face! There was no safe way to uncover this mystery without getting caught.
As if being heard by some higher power a miracle occurred in the form of quarreling. The lovers were arguing and quite loud too. Sharp taunts from the stranger and biting comebacks from Hoshina. What happened?
Reno might not be able to see the stranger's face but he could hear the conversation. One thing's for certain; that was definitely two men fighting. His voice was deeper than Hoshina’s yet held the same slyness.
This was all the proof Reno needed.
Much like how Hoshina “attacked” his boyfriend upon reuniting, Reno did the same to Iharu. Fully jumping onto his back and hugging as tightly as he could, a smile plastered upon his lips.
“Haha I win! I win! You owe me a date Iharu! I'd like to see you get out of this situation now!”
If anyone caught Reno small mishap they decided to keep it to themselves. Questions could be answered tomorrow. Reno himself didn't seem to catch what he fully said in excitement. Iharu, on the other hand, froze. Forgetting that he was trying to pry Reno off.
To add the final nail in the coffin of confusion, Hoshina finally revealed the mystery the officers were dying to uncover.
During the sudden confrontation the vice-captain grabbed hold of the hood to pull his lover closer, his partner leaned away to escape Hoshina's hold causing the hood to fall in one swift movement.
.
.
.
“WHAAAT?!!” They all screamed in unison.
The air around the party started to feel suffocating. The young officers became paralyzed with fear as newfound ruby eyes fell upon the watchers. Oh, if looks could kill. This is bad. Like really really bad.
The one currently pinned under Hoshina, the one whose eyes lock onto the officers like a predator who's found its next meal, the one who hid his appearance until now was none other than Gen Narumi; Japan's strongest Anti-Kaiju soldier.
Reno never met Narumi in person before, but Reno knew exactly how FUCKED he and his friends were right now. Not only is Narumi the strongest, but he is also the Captain of the First Division. His division is the most famous and beloved not only in Japan but around the whole world. Vice-captain Hoshina has fought against No. 8 and lost but Reno fully believed that Captain Narumi could kill No. 8 in a heartbeat.
What sick and twisted fever dream was this?
“I-I think we should run,” mumbled Iharu yet no one moved. Everyone was too terrified to even breathe. It was a ‘if we move, they move’ situation. The safest option was to run so why isn’t Reno's body responding.
The group watched as Hoshina whispered something to Narumi before getting up. Their vice-captain was slowly and dangerously approaching. The intent to kill was clearly displayed in his eyes. They ruined his date and now they were going to pay the price.
Hoshina was about five feet away when the group finally found the courage to flee. They all understood that they could never outrun Hoshina, but they are damn sure were going to try cause their life literally depends on it. Reno didn’t need to outrun Hoshina, he just needed to overtake a friend to survive.