Chapter 21: Eren's Concerns

Knock Knock

The door to the Yeager/Hoshino household knocked and Ai turned towards the door to go check who it was.

After Ruby got back from her "Not date" last night, she was tired and immediately went to bed. She must have had a good time because even when it was nearly 0900 in the morning, she was still asleep.

Ai checked the camera and saw that it was Armin who was knocking. Ai breathed a small sigh of relief, glad that it's someone they could trust who's visiting. Ai opened the door and gave Armin a wide smile.

"Hello Alert-San." Ai greeted.

"Ai, it's good to see you again." Armin smiled and gave a humble nod.

Ai could see why Armin was so popular on LoveNow. He always had a kind aura around him and even the way he spoke seemed humble yet full of intelligence. It's a wonder how him and her husband became such good friends. Mostly because her husband was just completely the opposite of this kind and humble boy. Well, technically a boy... given the rebirth stuff.

"Are you here to see Eren?" She asked.

"Yea, if you don't mind me coming in." Armin said.

"Of course not." Ai said, inviting him in. "You're Eren's best friend so you're basically family. Plus Mika-Chan would be happy to see you."

"How has she been by the way, after the mall?" Armin asked, concerned for his best friends child.

"Well, Mika-Chan as been doing well. She's still a bit shaken and has been struggling to sleep alone lately, but she hasn't lost her energy." Ai said, her voice hopeful but still full of concern.

"I'm glad to hear that." Armin said.

Armin peaked into the garage where he saw Eren doing pushups, dressed in shorts and a sleeveless shirt. Eren was counting out loud in Eldian and was struggling after reaching fifty pushups.

"Getting tired already?" Armin asked with a smirk.

When they were still Scouts, it was normal for everyone to get to one hundred pushups before beginning to get fatigued. Eren was no exception on that fact, though his strength was average as far as Scouts went.

"I've let myself get out of shape." Eren said as he got up and walked over to a towel to wipe the sweat off his neck.

"A simple life with a wife that gives you a full meal, I can imagine." Armin chuckled.

"Yea, I remember when we first met." Ai said with a bit of a happy tone. "You were very muscled and had an amazing physique but there was just too much. You look much better with a bit of weight." Ai giggled.

"I never really cared about how my body looked. Besides, it wasn't like we had access to a lot of food in my world." Eren said.

"Still, I wish you would actually get a bit more weigh. I think you'd look good with a small gut." Ai said longingly.

"Does it really matter?" Eren asked, not caring.

Armin couldn't help but chuckle. In his entire lives, he could never imagine Eren ever dating a woman like Ai. While Eren never voiced his preference in women, Ai was literally the last kind of person he could ever imagine Eren being with. But Eren did seem to really love Ai.

They were also such a weird couple. Ai's bubbly and even childish behavior was such a clash with Eren's serious stoicism. They were complete opposites.

"Let me get breakfast ready." Ai said. "I'll even let you have ice cream if you want." Ai giggled at Eren.

"Eh!?" A yell came from the kitchen. "How come papa can have ice cream and I can't!?"

Mikasa ran up to the garage door and gave her mama an accusatory look. She felt betrayed at the double standards her parents were displaying, not realizing the actual meaning behind their joking conversation.

"Papa pays for everything Mika-Chan." Ai said. "He can eat whatever he wants."

Mikasa then noticed Armin. When Armin and Mikasa made eye contact, Armin gave the child a gentle smile and wave. Mikasa made an eep sound and ran away. The sound of small feet running told them that Mikasa was running upstairs.

Ai giggled behind her hand.

"She's probably upset you saw her in her pajama's." Ai giggled.

Armin also couldn't help but laugh.

"How's your tv show going?" Eren asked. "Did you get married yet?"

"Married?" Armin asked.

"Isn't that the idea behind dating?" Eren asked.

"Not a love show darin." Ai said with a small giggle.

"I went on some dates with Mem-Cho and people like us together, but it's mostly fake." Armin said. "We get along well, but she's not really my type. She's way too... I don't know... mostly she talks about things like cats and other cute things."

"That's a common persona many girls in the entertainment industry adopt." Ai chuckled.

"Still, it's just so unnatural." Armin said.

Ai couldn't help but think Armin sounded like Eren. She guessed that even with the fact that Armin was reborn, his general tastes were still similar to the culture he grew up in. A culture that probably didn't care much for the overly kawaii way that girls are portrayed in Japan.

"What about that Akane girl?" Ai suggested. "She seems like a good girl when I met her."

"I'm actually concerned about her." Armin said. "She hasn't really been doing much lately. She kind of is having a controversy due to an accident on set where she cut Yuki's face."

"Why is that an issue?" Eren asked.

"Well, her social media has been getting harrassed a lot online lately." Armin said. "She was kind of played as a villain in our dynamic and I guess it's working, but I think Akane is affected by it.

"Why should she care?" Eren shrugged. "It's not like I've ever cared about my own controversies."

"You're not a teenage girl darin." Ai said, her own heart going out to Akane.

Ai knew what it was like to have fans attack you for things that are outside your control. Ai could admit, she hated Akane in the show, even Mikasa did as well. She came off as a problem in the group dynamic and tried to steal Yuki's date. It made Ai hate Akane.

Of course, Ai knew it was an act. Akane is an actor, and these shows rarely depict how people actually are. While it's not strictly scripted, there are roles that people have to play. Although Ai hated Akane's character, she respected the performance she was attempting as an upcoming professional actress. Ai could never hate the performer behind the character.

Eren shrugged, not caring about what strangers on the internet said about anything.

"He never gets bothered by what people say about him online." Ai said to Armin.

"Sounds like Eren." Armin said.

"The only thing that annoys me is when I try to talk to someone, and they act terrified." Eren said with a shrug.

"They are terrified darin." Ai said with a giggle. "Anyway, I'm going to go finish making breakfast. You're welcome to eat Armin."

"Sure, I haven't eaten yet." Armin said.

Ai walked into the kitchen as Eren and Armin went into the main room. Armin and Ern started talking about how things have been since last time they met. Armin knew that Eren was working on fighting the Marleyans and Eren told him what's been going on so far.

"Annie?" Armin asked. "Are you sure she's involved?"

"Unless you or Reiner secretly trained Yakuza thugs to use ODM gear, I'm sure." Eren said.

"I guess she still has ties to Marley." Armin said.

"I know." Eren said. "Annie never was very patriotic towards Marley. So I'm not sure why she would."

"You think she's not patriotic?" Armin asked.

Eren almost forgot. Armin didn't learn about that side of Annie until after the Rumbling began. Without those memories, all he remembers of Annie was the enemy they fought in Stoehess.

"I learned about it while I was posing as an Eldian in Marley." Eren lied. "Fact is, I'd assume she'd be similar to Reiner. All too happy to abandon a society that treated her poorly for a second chance. The Jaws and Cart I understood. But I don't know Annie's reasoning."

"So you're up against three confirmed Shifters and ODM using thugs." Armin said.

"And unfortunatly, aside from Zeke, I don't have much support." Eren said.

"Well, tell me what I need to do." Armin said predictably.

"I don't want to involve you-" Eren was cut off.

"Eren, I joined the military and the Scouts to support you. Mikasa too." Armin said. "Do you really think I'd do anything less than help you now?"

"What about your new life here?" Eren asked. "I'd honestly rather see you settle down with one of those girls and start a family."

"This world doesn't go that fast in relationships Eren." Armin chuckled. "Besides, I am still a Deputy Commander, and second in command under Commander Hange. Even in this world we still have to beat the Marleyan's."

Yea, the 15th Commander of the Survey Corp, Armin Arlert. Though he doesn't remember that, if it even happened to him at all.

"Something on your mind Eren?" Armin asked.

"Just thinking." Eren said. "Gan'an Shinomiya did make some ODM gear, and with some Titan made Ice Burst Stone's, we could at least even the fight. Especially for you."

"Yea, I'd rather avoid transforming if I can help it, unless we were in the wilderness." Armin said. "Though will your work be ok since I'd technically still be considered a child?"

"I think the Government will make an exception." Eren said.

"Do you think Reiner would help?" Armin asked.

"Reiner has said he has no interest. Plus, I don't want to put him in a position where he has to choose us or his comrades." Eren said.

"Good point." Armin nodded.

"Mikasa! What did I say about ice cream!" Both men heard yelling in the kitchen.

Mikasa bolted out of the kitchen, a wooden spoon from the ice cream cup still in her mouth as she ran to the couch and got behind Eren. Unlike before, she was dressed in loose leggings, a skirt, and a pink sweater that was too big for her and made her look smaller than she was.

"I'm sorry papa!" Mikasa cried as she looked up at her papa. "It was just so delicious, and I didn't mean it."

"Mikasa, come here." Ai said sternly, stepping out of the kitchen.

Mikasa buried her head in Eren's back, hiding from her mama and lightly sobbing. Eren felt his heart break at Mikasa's vulnerability. She seemed really sorry about what she did and looked so sad. Besides, it's just ice cream.

"It's alright Ai." Eren said. "Mikasa's sorry and won't do it again."

"Eh?" Ai asked. "Eren, she's-"

"I'm really sorry papa. I promise this will be the last time I ever sneak ice cream again." Mikasa poked her head up over Eren's shoulder.

Her eyes were watering, and her brows were up in a position that showed complete sadness and even hope. Eren knew Mikasa was sorry and trusted that she'd never do it again.

"Let her have this one." Eren said to Ai.

Ai closed her eyes and tried to steady her breathing. Once again, Eren was completely manipulated by his daughter. Ai knew that Eren was very intelligent. Despite his lack of a modern education, Eren was a very smart and cunning man.

But all that went out the window the moment Mikasa started her fake crying.

"One time." Ai said as she turned and went back into the kitchen.

Armin couldn't help but laugh at the interaction. He could already tell that Mikasa had him wrapped around her finger. It was a side of Eren that Armin never saw before. A gentle, understanding, and even oblivious father that showed unconditional love to his child. Even if his child exploited that.

Mikasa smiled, any and all previous sadness gone as she shifted so that she was sitting in Eren's lap. Her smile was wide as she closed her eyes and started eating the ice cream she stole. Eren pat her head lightly as she clearly felt comforted at the affection from her papa.

"You are easy for her to manipulate." Armin chuckled.

"Why does everyone say that?" Eren asked.

"Because you're the only one that can't see it apparently." Armin chuckled.

"She's a kid." Eren shrugged. "It's normal for a kid to want ice cream. These are luxuries we never had growing up."

"True." Armin said.

"Luxuries papa?" Mikasa asked. "What do you mean?" She asked.

"Well, for most of my life, in my world, we never had anything like this." Eren said.

"Really? What kind of sweets did you have?" Mikasa asked innocently.

"We didn't have sweets." Eren said. "At least none that my family could afford. We weren't poor, but we could never afford something like that."

"No ice cream?" Mikasa asked.

"On our island it didn't exist. I never tried it till I was an adult." Eren said.

"What did you eat?" Mikasa asked.

"Well, I had mostly bread and vegetable stew." Eren said.

"Eh!?" Mikasa looked at him in shock.

"Maybe meat if we were lucky." Eren said.

Mikasa looked up at her papa from her spot in his lap. She had no idea that he lived such a terrible life. No sweets? No ice cream? No delicious food? Just bread and vegetable stew? How could her papa have possibly survived?

If it was her in that world, she didn't know what she'd do. Her mama always made such amazing and delicious food and even if she couldn't eat sweets whenever she wanted, she always looked forward to the times when she could.

Mikasa looked down at her half-eaten cup of delicious ice cream. Ice cream she rightfully stole and used her sad face to keep. Imagining a world where she could never have that.

"Here papa." Mikasa handed Eren her remaining ice cream.

"Huh?" Eren asked.

"You deserve it more." Mikasa said.

Eren chuckled as his daughter tried so hard to be compassionate. It warmed Eren's heart to see her be so generous.

"You have it." Eren kissed the top of her head.

"Are you sure papa?" Mikasa asked.

"If I wanted ice cream, I could just get some, so don't worry about me and enjoy it." Eren said.

"Ok." Mikasa said, going back to eating her ice cream.

Armin smiled at the little moment. Once again seeing a side of Eren he didn't realize existed. Armin could tell Eren was easily manipulated by Mikasa, but at the same time Armin realized why Eren let her have the ice cream. It was a luxury they were denied in their world. Even Ai grew up with easy access to delicious foods, so she couldn't fully understand why Eren was so forgiving to Mikasa's antics.

Even a moderately poor person in this world had a better standard of living than most of the wealthy elites in his world. At Eren's middle class economic standards, he had more luxuries and access to food than probably even Queen Historia.

Armin realized that to Eren, the fact that his children lived what they would consider a royal lifestyle was something that made him happy and understanding when his kids wanted delicious foods. Eren's family would never have to go through a winter after a bad harvest and be forced to go hungry.

Armin remembered his own childhood, where even a large loaf of bread was considered three days worth of food for him. Eren lived more comfortably since his father was a doctor, but even then his daily food was always a kind of stew with bread and vegetables. Not even any spices or salt to add flavor.

"Armin-San, can I ask a question." Mikasa asked in between bites.

"Sure." Armin said.

"When you climbed that mountain, what did you think at the top?" She asked, referencing one of Armin's older videos.

"Well." Armin thought. "I thought it was the most amazing thing in the world. I was a bit scared, but it felt so amazing that after that, I was at a location so few people had been."

"Wow." Mikasa said. "Papa said he didn't care when he climbed a mountain."

"Really?" Armin asked in shock, unable to believe Eren wouldn't care much about climbing a mountain.

"I thought it would be a simple climb." Eren said. "Go uphill for a few days, pack some winter gear and food, and then get to the top."

"Eren... didn't you climb Everest?" Armin asked.

"But then I had to go from basecamp to basecamp, go up and down to climatize, and then I could get to the top."

"Eren, didn't you research it?" Armin asked.

"I didn't realize at the time. Again, I thought it was as simple as going uphill for a few days. Wouldn't be that hard." He shrugged.

"Wow." Armin said in shock.

"Then on summit day, everyone was in line on the way up. So, I got stuck in a line because some people could barely make it. I hated the fact that there were so many people there." Eren crossed his arms. "Then some guy asked me where my oxygen was and I asked, "What the hell is oxygen"?"

"You reached the peak without oxygen!?" Armin yelled.

While it was possible to summit a large mountain without oxygen, it was dangerous and led to death most of the time.

"I didn't know air gets thinner as you get higher." Eren said. "Admittedly, I almost died on the way down from exhaustion."

"I sometimes forget you didn't get a restart like us." Armin said.

"Then I climbed K2." Eren said. "Everyone said it was harder but I found it too easy when I actually prepared."

"I believe that." Armin chuckled.

"But it had the same problem. Just so many people all around. And the lines, the merchandise, it took the wonder away." Eren sighed in frustration. "I wish I came to a point in time in this world where the land wasn't so well explored."

Now that was the old Eren coming through, Armin thought to himself.

"Eren, breakfast is ready, can you get everyone?" Ai called from the kitchen.

"Sure." Eren said as he stood up.

Armin walked over to the kitchento sit down. He noticed that the food on the table was very healthy and flavorful. Clearly, Ai has a lot of experience and knowledge on cooking to make something healthy and delicious.

"No ice cream?" Armin joked.

"Don't remind me." Ai said with a subtle laugh. "She's so impossible sometimes."

Armin could tell from Ai's demeanor that despite her daughter's disobedience, it was something that Ai knew was just childish mischief.

"I know she wants sweets all the time, but I don't want her to overindulge. I want her to be healthy and live a healthy life." Ai said.

Armin noticed something. Eren let his kids indulge because he knew what it was like to grow up always hungry and deprived of sweets. Ai was the opposite. She always had access to sweets, so she wants her children to eat in moderation to stay healthy because of her better standard of living growing up.

It made for an interesting dynamic between the two parents.

"Good morning, Armin-San." Ruby said as she walked into the kitchen.

"Hi, huh, Ruby, right?" Armin asked, trying to remember Eren's kids names.

"Yup." Ruby nodded. "I guess I know you more because Mikasa always watches your show." Ruby chuckled.

"Don't say that!" Mikasa said as she walked into the kitchen with a blush.

Kawachi, Aqua, and Eren walked into the kitchen and sat down to eat. Ai had salted salmon with rice and miso laid out on the table, with a bit extra for Armin to eat.

The family and Armin sat down to eat and enjoy the morning. Armin noticed Eren using chopsticks with practiced ease, which wasn't surprising considering how long he's lived in Japan. Armin himself was struggling with the chopsticks since he only just recently learned how to use them. He resorted to stabbing his salmon with the chopstick.

"Eren was the same way when he first came." Ai said with a chuckle.

"Akane actually showed me once." Armin said.

"Reiner still uses western silverware." Ai said. "I guess forks and spoons were normal in your world?"

"Yea, it is." Armin nodded. "I think Hizuru uses chopsticks, but I'm not sure."

"I remember that, Eren used to call us Hizuru sometimes." Ai said, remembering that word.

"Hizuru and Japan are almost exactly the same in culture." Eren said. "Complete with the concept of clans, old warrior classes, and a civil war that was the result of modernization."

"Wow, so it's like there's a Japan in your world." Ruby said.

"Hizuru was the only country willing to work with our island." Armin said. "Mainly because they were historical friends with the Kingdom of Eldia before Marley deposed us one hundred years ago."

"That sounds so cool." Ruby said. "What did Reiner think of Hizuru?" Ruby asked.

There was a small silence that followed Ruby's question. Ai giggled lightly since she knew Ruby was curious if Reiner maybe had a thing for Asian girls. It was a similar thought she had when she first developed feeling for Eren.

Eren on the other hand glared at Ruby's question, wondering why she cared what Reiner thought.

"I don't know." Armin shrugged. "Why?"

"N-no reason." Ruby said, going back to her meal.

"You're not interested in him, right?" Eren asked with narrowed eyes.

Uh oh, Ai thought. Eren's going into protective papa mode.

"Papa, I'm an idol. I can't be interested in anyone." Ruby said, a little too quickly for Eren's taste. "We only hung out last night."

Ai shook her head. Ruby really couldn't keep a secret.

"Just the two of you?" Eren asked.

"As friends." Ruby felt the need to clarify.

Eren sighed heavily at Ruby's apparent crush. He felt like this was the last thing he needed on his plate and he could tell his daughter did start developing feelings for his old enemy.

"Eren, you don't have to worry. Reiner is a good per-." Ai was cut off.

"That's not the point Ai." Eren said.

Armin could see that Eren was thinking about the past encounters he had with Reiner. The past battles they had, whether it was wall rose, Shiganshina, or Liberio.

"The point is." Eren began. "Reiner's old comrades are trying to kill me. The people he fought with, bled with, and forged everlasting bonds with. The people who he sacrificed so much for. And now we're putting him in a position to go against his old comrades for our own reasons."

"But Reiner said he wouldn't join them." Ruby defended.

"I have no doubt he believes that. But his warrior comrades were his family. Family he formed bonds with over a long period of war. Both against Paradis and during the Mid East war. And now we're telling him to put his old enemy over his comrades." Eren explained.

"I know, but-" Ruby began.

"I know Reiner better than any of you. Reiner and I have tried to kill each other for four years." Eren said. "We have literally beaten each other to near death, destroyed each other's homes, and believed each other evil. Now we're asking him to choose us over his own friends."

Ruby and Ai didn't really consider that. Reiner said that he wouldn't get involved. But what would happen if Eren did actually get to a point where he tried to kill Reiner's friends. Would Reiner still choose to protect them?

Ruby thought so. She really did. She felt that Reiner was a good person and she honestly felt safe when he was around. Even if she had no plans to date him due to her career, she did enjoy being around him.

"I guess I didn't consider that." Ai said sadly. "I just thought you didn't want Ruby dating at all."

"I don't mind Ruby dating." Eren said. "In fact, I do think we should start trying to find her a husband. She is old enough."

Ai was surprised for a moment but remembered that Eren still had his older cultural mindset when it came to relationships.

Ruby just blushed and his behind her hands again.

"But Reiner concerns me. I tolerate him now only because right now he's not a threat. But I know better than anyone that people can change when the people they care about is threatened." Eren explained.

Ruby stood up, her breakfast half eaten, and walked out of the kitchen.

Eren looked at his daughter as she walked away. He could tell she was confused, but they needed to realize that his concerns were valid. This wasn't really a case of Eren being against Ruby dating. She was old enough by his standards to marry and move out. It's just the fact that it's Reiner.

Eren stood up and followed his daughter. Watching as she went out the front door to stand on the porch. Eren walked over and stood next to Ruby as she looked out in thought. She looked sad and it broke Eren's heart to see his daughter like this.

Despite her being reborn, he did truly see Ruby as his daughter. Even if by marriage.

"I'm sorry papa." Ruby said, looking down. "I guess I just didn't think of it like that."

"Reiner is a good person Ruby, he really is." Eren said. "But just because someone is good, doesn't mean they aren't a threat."

"But..." Ruby began, but her voice died down.

"Ruby, do you like him?" Eren asked.

"N-not romantically." Ruby denied poorly. "I can't date ever. Because otherwise I might end up like mama when she was found out."

"I didn't ask about your career Ruby." Eren said. "I asked if you like Reiner."

"N-no..." Ruby lied poorly, hiding her face to conceal her blush.

Eren was not as good at detecting lies as Ai was. Ai was almost able to mind read with how perceptive she was when it came to people. But even Eren didn't need to be good at reading people to know that Ruby was lying to herself.

Ruby truly was the exact copy of her mother. Everything about her was the same as Ai. Her personality, her drive, her compassion, and even her bashfulness. Maybe more so her bashfulness since Ai was never that shy.

"Just promise me you won't pursue anything with him." Eren said.

Ruby was quiet for a moment, not really able to answer at first. She turned to Eren, not even looking him in the eye when she answered.

"I promise papa." Ruby lied.

Ruby didn't lie to Eren. Eren knew she was telling the truth as far as she knew. No, Ruby was lying to herself. She didn't fully understand her own feelings and it was hard for her to come to a decision.

"Damn it." Eren said to himself.

"Nani?" Ruby asked.

Eren put his hand on the top of Ruby's head and lightly rubbed it, making Ruby close her eyes a bit at the show of affection from her papa.

Eren was terrified of Reiner betraying him again. He knew that if Reiner blindsided him in another betrayal, Eren wouldn't be able to protect his family well enough. He understood Reiner's reasons if he did decide to betray him. After all, Eren would go to hell and back for Armin, so when push came to shove, he was concerned about Reiner's allegiance.

"Why don't I stop by the studio today." Eren said.

"Eh?" Ruby asked. "Nani?"

"No reason." Eren lied.

Corporal Yujiwara woke up early to do his normal rounds of security. He's been stationed on this Airbase for the past two years since he joined the Air Self-Defense Force as a security guard. This particular Airbase was the Misawa Airbase, located in the Aomori Prefecture.

Lately, the F35 Squadron has been launching in support of domestic issues, specifically those weird Kaiju things that have been attacking Tokyo. He couldn't help but imagine it was like some crazy video game or manga.

Since he was just a simple guard, he had no real knowledge on what was going on. He was only supposed to guard the entrance to the airfield along with a few other servicemen.

"Hey Annie, how are you doing?" Yujiwara asked the blonde sixteen-year-old girl who walked up to the gate.

Annie was dressed in a high school uniform. Despite being a forigner, she went to a Japanese high school due to her families work.

"Hi Yujiwara. Is my mom here?" Annie asked.

"Colonel Leonhart?" Yujiwara asked. "No, she's on a meeting in Okinawa today. Why?"

"She left something on her desk, she wanted me to pick it up." Annie said calmly.

"I don't know Anie." Yujiwara said. "You know you can't go to HQ without your mom escorting you."

"It'll be quick." Annie said. "I just need to get it. I'll be in and out."

Yujiwara thought for a moment, but he figured there was no reason not to let her in. Technically, only authorized personnel are allowed but occasionally some officers let their kids come to visit. Especially American Officers like Colonel Leonhart.

"Just be quick." He said, letting Annie pass the gate.

Annie jogged slightly past him, probably trying to get quick. It was still early so no one should stop her for not having an access badge.

Yujiwara took out a cigerette and took a quick puff. Normally you weren't allowed to smoke on duty, but a lot of gate guards did it in the morning since no higher ups were in until at least 0900 am.

After about an hour, Annie didn't show up and he was a little concerned that she was either stopped by someone or got lost. If she was stopped, she might just be escorted off, but Yujiwara would get in trouble for letting a civilian on a military base without and escort.

Suddenly, there was a lightning bolt that hit behind him. Yujiwara turned around and opened his mouth in shock, dropping his cigarette as he did.

Standing on the runway was one of those Kaiju things. This one was like the big bald one, a giant corpse with no skin. But unlike the one at the mall, this one looked like a skinned woman. It was maybe fourteen or fifteen meters tall.

He stood still in shock as the Kaiju ran down the runway and directly into one of the hangers. He just watched in complete surprise as the Kaiju started to destroy the infrastructure of the base... no, not the base. The Kaiju was directly targeting the planes on the base. No one reacted from the sudden surprise.

Yujiwara unholstered his pistol, but looked down at it. What is a 9mm going to do against something that big? Security on the base mainly had small arms, maybe a large machine gun at best. Any explosives like rocket launchers were locked up in other locations.

Additionally, their missiles were meant for air protection, not for threats on the ground. They had no armored vehicles ready or anything. Their only quick response units were riot control type soldiers or small units similar to Special Assault Teams.

So, he just watched from the gate as the Kaiju destroyed the hangers, planes, and their entire F-35 fleet. It was quick, decisive, and violent.

Once the Kaiju was done, it crouched down it just started to practically evaporate. He couldn't see any detail from the distance, but it just steamed and slowly started to disappear.

Breaking himself out of his stupor, Corporal Yujiwara ran over to see if he can do any kind of relief to the many servicemen that were injured. He looked around and saw a group of men injured or buried under rubble. At a glance, he could tell that some were dead.

It was so quick that many men couldn't get away from the hangers before they collapsed. By the time he reached one, the Kaiju was almost completely gone, only a skeleton remained.

"H-help!" He heard a familiar voice.

"Annie!" Yujiwara yelled.

Annie was near a hanger and it looked like something collapsed on her. She had cuts and bruizes and lit looked like her shoulder was dislocated. Luckily, the rubble she under wasn't heavy so she looked relatively safe.

"Let me help you!" He said as he moved the rubble off of her.

"W-what was that?" Annie asked in fear.

"I don't know." Yujiwara said. "But don't worry, we'll get you medical attention." He said.

"My shoulder hurts." Annie said.

"I know, medics are on the way. Don't worry."

Yujiwara turned and started looking for someone to help the poor high school girl. If he turned back to Annie, he would notice that Annie's teary and scared expression turned serious for a moment, but quickly went back her scared and terrified mask.

Fun little chapter, with a surprise lol. Don't get used to these OC POV moments. They're very spare and only used to show glimpses of the Marleyan's actions.

Hope you guys enjoy.