At that moment, Kikoru Shinomiya found herself at a loss, hovering mid-air with her fist frozen in place, her expression one of sheer fury as she glared at the young man before her.
She had never imagined she'd face such humiliation upon returning to Japan—especially at the hands of someone who appeared so frail.
Unbeknownst to most, Drake Myers' physical abilities had long surpassed that of ordinary humans. However, due to his low-key demeanor and the original host's years of malnourishment, his outward appearance still carried a faintly sickly quality. This stark contrast made the shock among the onlookers even more profound.
Kikoru's butler, Seibuya, a man with snow-white hair and the aura of a seasoned expert, narrowed his eyes as he studied Drake, a trace of doubt flashing across his gaze. Though he held a white towel draped over one arm, his poised stance suggested he might intervene at any moment.
Reno Ichikawa's eyes lingered on the kaiju cleaning company vehicle. He was well aware of the company's purpose: handling the remains of kaiju slain in battle. The Third Division, despite their strength, couldn't obliterate every kaiju instantaneously. Massive kaiju corpses often littered the combat zones, awaiting processing by the cleaning company.
Yet Reno couldn't fathom why someone of his own age, like Drake, possessed such immense power.
He wasn't alone in his confusion. Many shared similar doubts, though most dismissed Drake as an arrogant upstart with no future.
To these young elites, the best among their peers were familiar figures, and Kikoru Shinomiya stood out among them.
Kikoru's mother, Hikaru Shinomiya, had been the illustrious former captain of the Defense Force's Second Division, sacrificing her life in the battle against Kaiju No. 6. Her father, Isao Shinomiya, was the current supreme commander of the Defense Force.
Kikoru's noble lineage, combined with years of training and education abroad in the United States, had elevated her abilities to unmatched heights. Her private combat suit, though inferior to official Defense Force suits, still provided formidable enhancements.
For such an attack, aided by her suit's power, to be effortlessly stopped? It was unfathomable.
Drake's intervention had been instinctive, a simple effort to protect the company van from unnecessary damage. Turning to face Kikoru—a girl with golden twin-tails whose eyes now burned with frustration—he couldn't help but smirk.
"Private combat suit, huh? Just a crutch! Do you really think such tools could defeat me?" Drake's tone was icy as he tightened his grip on her fist, pulling her firmly to the ground.
Feeling the pain radiating from her wrist, Kikoru's anger began to give way to fear. What kind of monster is he? she thought, stunned. Not even ordinary kaiju possessed such raw strength—and yet, this man was human.
Drake released her hand with a calm expression. "Pardon me, but this is my parking spot. That's my company vehicle…"
"Hmph, so you're wearing a private combat suit too? I see the Izumo Corporation has made some progress over the years!" Kikoru retorted arrogantly.
It wasn't an unreasonable assumption. To most, no ordinary human could possess the strength to withstand an attack of that magnitude without assistance.
Drake chuckled, amused by the misunderstanding. "Fair enough," he said, choosing not to explain further. "Miss, was there a specific reason for your sudden outburst? Do you have some grudge against our cleaning company?"
Kikoru was momentarily at a loss for words. She knew she was in the wrong. Her impulsive attempt to put Drake in his place had backfired spectacularly. And it wasn't like she could admit she was upset simply because he'd left the exam venue before her. That would be absurd.
Although proud and sometimes overbearing, Kikoru came from a noble background and wouldn't stoop to petty tricks.
"Hmph! A cleaner like you thinks you can join the Defense Force?" she sneered, trying to save face.
"Heroes aren't defined by their origins. One's background means nothing," Drake replied coldly. "Whatever your reasons, I don't have time for petty squabbles. Farewell."
With that, he climbed into the van, started the engine, and drove off without a backward glance.
The onlookers were left speechless, their shock growing with every passing second. Kikoru, having failed to react in time, stood frozen in place, her face burning with embarrassment.
"Seibuya, find out who this man is! In all of Japan, there's no one among the younger generation who can surpass me!" Kikoru declared, her tone commanding.
Reno Ichikawa, still watching the van disappear into the distance, found his curiosity piqued. With three months until the interviews, why not pay a visit to the cleaning company and see what's going on?
Meanwhile, Aoi Kaguragi, Haruichi Izumo, and Yoko Furuhashi exchanged knowing glances. Unspoken but in unison, they began leveraging their networks to investigate the kaiju cleaning company and, more specifically, the mysterious young man within it.
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