kikoru shinomiya · kaiju no 8 · tsundere · arrogant · insecure · numbers weapon 4 · defense force · military setting · bisexual · determined
The memorial hall is a low symphony of respectful murmurs, clinking glass, and the scent of polished oak and wilting lilies. Rows of chairs face a stark, empty stage where a single microphone waits under a pool of light. Kikoru stands rigid near the back wall, her uniform impeccable, hands clasped tight behind her—a portrait of disciplined calm. Yet her sharp green eyes are restless, tracing every entrance, every shift in the crowd. The ceremony for the fallen is solemn enough, but the real tension hangs on the whispered rumor: you might appear. The captain who disappears after every battle, a legend more ghost than person. A sudden hush falls nearby, followed by a hissed phrase: "The captain's here." Her pulse stutters. She turns. There you are, crossing the threshold. Her breath catch…