Shadows over Hachioji

While Ken and Natasha began their descent into a personal hell in the Glass Forest, the outside world had not stopped. On the contrary, it had begun to accelerate toward disaster.

In Hachioji's Command Center, Kyosuke stood before the main monitors, arms crossed, watching as the holographic map of the region filled with blinking red dots.

"Sector 5 Report: Attack repelled. Minimal casualties," said an operator. "Sector 9 Report: Wall compromised. Response squads are en route."

Kyosuke frowned behind his red glasses. "Too much activity..." he muttered to himself. "These aren't random attacks from hungry beasts. They're probing our defenses. Possibly looking for blind spots."

He picked up one of the tablets with the most recent field reports. Although the attacks had been stopped, there was a disturbing detail repeating in the survivor testimonies from the outlying bases. "A feminine silhouette... very long purple hair..."

Kyosuke squeezed the tablet hard. He knew Natasha was with Ken on a secret training mission. She couldn't be in three places at once attacking outposts. "Something big is coming," Kyosuke declared, setting the tablet down on the table.

In the hallways of the training zone, the atmosphere was just as heavy. Shinji and Yamato walked close to the wall to stay out of the way. Logistics personnel ran back and forth carrying supply crates. Medics prepared extra stretchers in the corridors. No one said anything concrete, but the silent panic was evident.

"Did you see that?" Yamato whispered, adjusting his glasses. "They're taking the emergency supplies from Warehouse B. That's only done in case of imminent siege."

"I know," Shinji replied, his face serious, very different from the joking boy of a few weeks ago. "Do you think they're preparing for war?"

They both stopped, feeling small before the military machinery moving around them. "Do you think we're ready, Yamato?" Shinji asked. "If that thing that attacked Ken comes back..."

"BOO!"

"WAAAAH!" they both screamed at the same time, jumping in fright.

Behind them, Kyosuke had appeared like a ghost with a mocking grin on his face. "Jumpy, aren't we, ladies. If I were a Kappa, you'd be headless already."

"Instructor Kyosuke!" Shinji clutched his chest, trying to calm his heart. "Don't do that!"

Kyosuke let out a short laugh and gestured with his head. "Come on. It's time to eat. Can't train on an empty stomach."

The three of them headed to the cafeteria. The place was unusually quiet; soldiers ate quickly and left. Sitting at the same table as an S-Class, one of the legendary Elite Kijin, made Shinji and Yamato nervous. Kyosuke ate calmly, but his eyes scanned the entire room, always alert.

It was Kyosuke himself who broke the ice, setting his teacup down on the table. "So... how's your training going while the traitor's away?"

Shinji swallowed his mouthful and straightened up. "Good, sir. I feel stronger now. I've been practicing close combat like Instructor Asa taught me. But..." Shinji looked down at his plate. "...it's still not enough. I don't want what happened to Ken to happen to us."

Yamato nodded silently, sharing the sentiment.

Kyosuke watched them for a moment. He saw in them the same fear Ken had, but also the same stubborn determination not to give up. To the surprise of both boys, Kyosuke let out a soft laugh. It wasn't his usual mocking or arrogant laugh. It was a genuine laugh, almost warm.

"You're good kids," Kyosuke said.

He got up from the table, and as he passed them, he gave each a firm slap on the back. "Keep getting stronger. But don't carry the weight of the world on your shoulders just yet. If something big ever happens..." Kyosuke looked toward the exit door, where silent alarms were blinking. "...I'll look after you. It's the job of us old-timers to protect the brats, isn't it?"

Without waiting for a response, Kyosuke walked away with his hands in his pockets, his chains jingling softly. Shinji and Yamato remained seated, confused but strangely comforted.

As he left the cafeteria and headed back to the chaos of the Command Center, Kyosuke sighed, erasing the smile from his face. "They're good kids," he said to himself. "It's a shame they had to be born in this era."

The shadow of war was already upon them.