#VICE CAPTAIN HOSHINA THE MAN THAT YOU ARE 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[jaeminvore]

"He's probably at least Fortitude 8.0. That'd make him a Daikaiju." "But what's this weird feeling I'm getting from this fight?" // "Yikes. I let it get away."

Kaiju No. 8 | Episode 8: Welcome to the Defense Force

[justwinginglife]

I've been deepdiving the hoshina tag and you are definitely one of my favourites to read from with the way you portray him 😭😭😭 so I'm wondering how it'd be with him and a reader that's always portrayed as the elegant and forward type... (kind of like shinobu kocho? if you're familiar with her) and on a rough mission he finds her like... heavily injured and he's thinking that it's the first time he's seen her so different from how she usually acts

this is my first time requesting ever.... so if there's some kind or etiquette I'm missing please don't hesitate to tell...........

THANK YOU SO MUCH! This means a lot to me! And, my dude, I just portray what I think of him- that he's the biggest freaking green flag EVER lol. And don't even worry about requesting etiquette, I just joined tumblr a couple weeks ago so you're totally fine, I wouldn't even know either. I'm just glad I could be your first request! Hope I do it justice, thanks again for your support. Also sorry for the wait. Also there were so many different ways I could've gone with this prompt so I hope the one I chose turns out okay.

Honest

There was always a line out the door of officers looking to train with you and today was no different.

Besides the fact that your technique was utterly flawless and you made combat look as graceful as ballet, you were also just stunningly gorgeous. Any man would die just to get a glimpse of you, let alone spar with you. Taking a punch to the face or a kick to the abdomen was an honor if it was from you.

And you were always the same with every man, you never showed any favoritism. You'd give them the same small smile, giving your honest advice when asked, but nothing more than that. You never even blinked at someone longer than you usually did with anyone else.

But even though it seemed like no one had caught (or could catch) your particular attention, there was in fact one man that you had to actively try to subdue your feelings for. You were thankful that no one had noticed that every time a certain Vice Captain walked into the room, your eyes always somehow wandered in the opposite direction of him. And when you'd hear him laugh or even just give out orders, your teeth would clench together to keep from smiling at his voice.

You weren't one to give away parts of yourself easily, having lost all of your family, but one day you'd suddenly found that it was much harder for you to not want to just give everything to him. Especially when you had realized that he was into you too. No matter where you were on campus, he'd make it his mission to find you, to be near you. He'd tell you his best jokes, trying to get you to crack more than just your usual small smile. He'd fight all out with you during training sessions, trying to get you to break a sweat for once, claiming that it did something to him watching you all worked up. It had become quite the strain on you, trying to treat him the same as everyone else when you were dying to just push him up against a wall and kiss him. You'd settle for even just holding his hand or brushing your shoulder up against his. But this wasn't like you- to want such immature, naive things.

You were someone who was wanted, you did not want. You were someone who was needed, you did not need. In fact, you were so hesitant to rely on anything, that if you could've figured out a way to live without oxygen you would've so as to not be indebted to the air filling your lungs.

Your skill and your independence were your swords and you wielded them with grace, distancing yourself from the crowds, but making yourself into a pretty show for them to watch. You were fine if they watched you, as long as that was all that they did. You couldn't imagine someone actually courting you, touching you, loving you.

But you did imagine Hoshina- it was more often than you'd like to admit and it irked you. You thought about just flat out ignoring him, turning down his requests to spar with you. But then he'd be different than everyone else. He'd be someone who spurred enough emotion in you to warrant unnatural behavior. And you refused to give in to emotion, especially emotion so childish and needy as something like love.

So you spent the day the way you always did, giving every officer a proper amount of time to train with you, and ending each session with a curt smile and a nod, gesturing for the next combatant to approach.

But then the alarm went off, signaling a kaiju attack. You thought you'd handle this the way you always did, no mess, no fuss, just efficient and effortless. But this was no ordinary kaiju and tonight was no ordinary night.

You had let all the lower ranking officers handle yoju duty and you had gone straight for the daikaiju. That was not abnormal behavior, you were always confident in your skills and they always served you well. But not tonight.

Tonight, you were humbled in the most brutal way possible.

Your fight had drawn you away from the rest of the squad, and now you were glad it had because you were ashamed to be in such a sorry, gruesome state. You had sustained heavy damage and for the first time in your life, you genuinely considered you might die here.

You thought of all the friends and family that you'd lost to war, kaiju, sickness. You wondered if you were ready to join them. It would be easier to let go.

"But I'm not done yet... I haven't..." You spit up blood, and shakily rise to your feet, groaning at the effort. I haven't even told him how I felt yet, damnit, you think to yourself, unable to speak the words aloud. Without meaning to, you being to cry. You don't have a free hand to wipe the tears away, as one clutches your dripping abdomen trying to stop the flow of blood, and one clings to your gun, aching as you attempt to raise it again. You fire a weak shot but your combat power is high enough that it distracts the kaiju for a moment.

And a moment is all that you need.

"Hey there, princess. You look like you could use a little saving. Don't worry, I won't tell the guys."

Right before your eyes, the beast suddenly splits into little dissected pieces and they rain down on the pavement, pelting the ground.

For the first time in years, you smile a real genuine smile as the Vice Captain holds his hand out to you. You're relieved to be alive to make it to another day, and you're shocked at how relieved you are. You don't remember when life began to feel so precious to you.

Maybe it was when you'd accidentally overheard a conversation where Hoshina was telling another officer that you'd be the one to bring hope to future generations.

Maybe it was when you'd forgotten your lunch one day and he'd sacrificed his lunch to leave it in your locker for you to find when your growling stomach had sent you hungrily ravaging through it for any snack you might've left behind.

Or maybe... maybe it was when your last living relative died and everyone whispered to each other about how cold you were for not shedding a tear and keeping your chin up when all you wanted to do was curl up and cry, but he alone told you in passing (not wanting to make a scene) that it was okay to grieve in whichever way you pleased.

And now he was holding a hand out to you. And you thought if you took it you might never let go. You might want to know where this led, what your feelings felt like when you let them roam wild, what he felt like in your arms.

Before you can decide if you truly want to take that terrifying step, his hand clasps yours and he pulls you in for a hug.

"You did good." He whispers in your ear.

You shake your head but you don't pull away from him. "I didn't. I almost died. You had to save me. I wasn't good enough."

"You're enough. You did well." He repeats, firmer this time.

You sigh against him, exhaling every pent up feeling you'd been holding on to. "Th-thank you, Vice Captain."

He pulls back a little and grins at you. "It's Soshiro, actually."

You bite your lip, trying to force down the warmth that's started to flood into your cheeks.

"You know I've never seen you like this before. It's a good look on you." He teases.

"Shut up, Soshiro."

He grins even wider at you using his first name so soon. "You get your butt kicked for the first time, you actually blush, and then you raise your voice at me? What is going on with you today?" He chuckles, nudging you playfully.

"I think... I think I might want to try something. Something different." You say finally.

He raises a curious eyebrow at you. "And what's that, princess?"

"Being honest with myself for once."

And with that, you pull him in and kiss him.

[nyarumie]

Ruined Flowers, Beautiful Flowers.

hoshina soshiro x f!reader — 3.6k words. Mentions of stabbing, reader had an outburst, attempt at angst, established friendship, extreme fluff at the end because i cant stand making my characters suffer. Not proofread!

Author's Note: It's my first time writing something involving drama, feedbacks are highly appreciated! I tried my best and got carried away with the length. 💔

Author's Reply: A request from anon here. Kinda hit way too close to home when you said reader is afraid of falling in love 😭 (also guys pls send me Narumi stuff too I want to make more content for my guy)

Ask box is open! Also cross-posted on ao3.

Cheers erupted from your platoon, exhausted strength from the fight seemingly replenished as you dealt the final blow to the Honju once again. Their eyes sparkled with victory, anticipation filling the air as they immediately chatter to plan another celebration for your win. Familiar words of praise reach your ears, but none of them truly reach your heart. What's there to praise about when you're just doing work as expected?

You offer a soft smile to your platoon who is now approaching you, finally engaging yourself in chatter. You were never one for loud occasions, but you have a reputation to keep. They went on about your elegant strikes in battle, your speed and agility that beats even the fastest of lightning, and the reputable “silent, but deadly” strides you have.

“Man, I sure would always keep my distance from our platoon leader! Might get caught up in her Kaiju kill with how silent she attacks, y'know?” one of them joked, a series of awed agreements emerging from the others.

That's right, keep your distance. Getting too close… might just kill anyone.

You close your eyes as you listen, basking in the enthusiasm exuding from your officers. To them, the hushed strides you've perfected in battle is nothing more than a technique. To you, it's just the one thing that keeps your peace, and no one will be able to understand it the way you do.

Except, there's this one person—too persistent for your liking, so much more than your comrades asking you to mentor them. Scratch that, he's not persistent; he's simply way too highly attentive, it scares you just how much about you he already had figured out.

From a distance stands Hoshina Soshiro, the esteemed Vice Captain of the division you belong to. His watchful eyes never miss anything. You fail to ignore his all too familiar peering gaze even as you try to indulge yourself in the antics of your platoon. You don't understand, you never will. Why does he desperately want to unravel you? Closing your eyes really was the best option. That way, you'll avoid making eye contact with him lest he sees through you again, as if he's starting to pick up the puzzle pieces bit by bit. Curiosity getting the best of you, you peeked one eye open to see what he's up to.

Ah, he's now making his way to you. Well, damn him.

Concluding that you have no escape from what's about to come, you sighed and bid your platoon a (short) farewell, leaving them the promise of a celebratory feast tonight. You walked and met him halfway.

Vice Captain Hoshina was already grinning from ear to ear when you neared him, as if he wasn't mentally piercing through your own mind moments ago. You pouted. In an instant, his arm is heavily draped over your shoulder, his other hand playfully ruffling your hair. 

A series of complaints were heard from you, only causing him to let out devilish laughs and made an even more mess of your hair. 

“Vice Captain! It took me almost an hour to fix and style my hair, and we have a celebration to attend later!” you complained, begging him to stop.

“Fine, fine! Ya did another excellent job today. No wonder Captain Ashiro always trusts you a hella bunch.” he said, satisfied with today's operation. ���However…” 

And there he goes.

He stood too near you, still hearing clearly enough despite how hushed his voice became. “You're a lot worse today. Still not spillin' the beans? I'm your closest friend here, ya know?”

You looked away from him, finding a car ruined to smithereens apparently far more interesting than whatever this is right now. “Must be your imagination. The Honju just so happened to be tougher today.”

Lie. Today's Honju had a lower fortitude compared to last time. You both know that. And you both know there's no fooling him from what he saw.

You stood atop the Kaiju's corpse after neutralizing it. Back facing everyone, holding your head up high. To the rest of the Division, you were basking in your victory, trying to keep your breath steady after all the action that took place. But there was no fooling Soshiro's eyes.

His keen gaze traveled over your entire figure. Breath ragged, chest heaving as if deprived of oxygen, a clenched grip on your thin, sharp sword forged akin to that of a rapier—in contrast with your lax hand holding your pistol, careful to not fire a shot. You looked like you were in complete agony and exasperation. Soshiro knows that you were heavily sobbing. Silently. Alone. Exactly how you do things your way.

You were only snapped out of your unrest when cheers finally erupted from your platoon. The smile you offer, to a stranger's eyes, is soft and gentle. To him, it's sad—as if it was a struggle for you to smile wide without hesitancy. Your deadly silence in battle wasn't so silent today at all. He can hear it far too well, that each slash of your blade and each shot of your pistol is accompanied with restlessness, each attack heavier than the last.

The Honju has been reported to have no vitals detected, but you kept slashing and shooting, ‘just in case’. Outrageous. You were literally taking out whatever storm is in your head to the Honju's corpse. Not that he minded the Honju, but he cared for you. He is your friend, you can pour your heart and mind out on him instead of a corpse of a monster. Why won't you? Why is the inside of your mind much more different from what you show others? How do you do it?

He doesn't understand. Or maybe he does, but you won't let him in. He wants to be with you, even at your lowest. And he's already failing.

“I see. If the Honju is indeed tougher today,” he started, “then report to me later, Platoon Leader. Post-celebratory report will do. Take it easy for now.” 

Was he upset? He rarely addresses you by your position. You carefully turned your head back to him, afraid that he's finally fed up with your bullshit. You're insufferable. Maybe one day he'll ask you to serve another Division. But instead, you see him grace you with a real, soft smile. It makes you want to cry.

'Take it easy for now.' You wish you could unhear it. You hate how easy his words always go through you. How can you take it easy when you try so hard to not be a burden? You don't want him to know any more than he already does.

“...I've no need for rest. But thank you.” You finally feel the tiredness creeping its way through your system.

Post-neutralization banquets are rare, happening annually at most. Somehow, your platoon members managed to smooth talk their way in securing an approval for tonight's celebration. For what, you don't know.

Everyone had their eyes on you when you entered the hall, bright smiles and expectant faces greeting you. This unnerved you, knowing full well what they're requesting with their doe, puppy eyes.

“Ahem. If you're expecting a heartwarming speech, I'm not the person for the job. You all should wait for the Vice Captain for that.” you said, earning a handful of groans from your members.

A hand suddenly lightly ruffled your hair, an action you’ve grown quite accustomed to. “Wait no more! Allow me to handle things, then!” the Vice Captain cheerfully said. Taking this as your cue to sit down, you excused yourself from him, feeling his slightly disappointed gaze trailing you as you sit.

Cheers echoed from the team as he finished his short spiel, everyone’s hunger evident as they hurriedly fill their plates with food. Your tablemates are no different, they're rushing here and there to get the best pieces of meat and pour each other some drinks. You decided to wait, not wanting to contribute to the mess the hall has become.

A plate filled with juicy meat and a bowl of your favorite stew was placed in front of you. Now someone is also taking up your space? About to reprimand whoever placed them in your eating area, you looked up to see that it was just the Vice Captain.

“Eat up. Keep waitin’ for the chaos to calm down and ya will be left with nothin’ to munch on.” He sat beside you, carrying his own set of food.

“Thanks. But I can grab my own fill just fine.” That's what you said, but still started eating what he gave you.

“Mhm… Just accept it in earnest. You never happily accepted any help I offered ya.”

“That’s because no one can give me the help I need.” you absentmindedly said, almost mumbling to yourself. Soshiro remained silent, now looking at you instead of his food. Maybe you shouldn't have said that. “... Let's just eat.” 

As the end of the celebration approached, he wanted to test the waters; he got up and collected the plastic flowers adorning the tables, wrapping them around a ribbon he miraculously spotted somewhere—his own version of a small, makeshift bouquet. 

He sat down beside you again, earning your attention. You raised your brow at him upon seeing the makeshift bouquet in his hand, a silent question about what he's up to.

“Ta-da! They aren't the real deal, but I did a pretty good job, won't ya say? This one's yours, ya look good with it.” He made a gesture for you to take the flowers, which you did, studying it closely for a while.

“Vice Captain, you shouldn't be taking the establishment’s props.” you said, frowning. “We should get back to your office. Let's get today's report over with.” 

Internally sighing, he doesn't know if you're purposely acting dense or just straight up ignoring his subtle advances. Maybe he needs to tell you outright. You once told him that words and actions come hand-in-hand.

It's surprisingly cold tonight even through the heat of the celebrations. He went outside the hall, leaning against the corridor’s wall to wait for you. You told him you have unfinished business to take care of, which is scolding your far too drunk officers who took their drinking competition to another level. Groans and wails from the inside resounded through the door, probably from officers begging you to lighten their punishment. 

Finally, he saw you stepping out of the hall. No makeshift bouquet in hand spotted. “Where’d ya put it?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

“Oh, the flowers? I told you we’re not supposed to take them. So I kinda dismantled the ribbon and put them back in place…” you said, looking away guiltily.

That surprisingly stung, despite knowing you didn't want to intentionally hurt him. He knows you’d leave it there, but dismantling them is another. He struggled putting it all together, after all.

“Makes sense. Let's get the report done.” he smiled, ruffling your hair again. This time, it's his way of saying ‘it’s okay, don't feel guilty about it’.

You threw him a look of concern, the playfulness absent from his smile. “I didn't—” 

“Are ya cold?” he suddenly asked. Before you can even answer, he removed his work jacket and draped it over your shoulders. “Please put the sleeves on. Yer hands are shakin’ so bad.”

Oh, you didn't even notice. Silently, you put them on as he asked. It's so… large. And oddly comforting. You hated it, somehow. The sleeves extend way beyond your hands and it would look like a mini dress if zipped up.

Satisfied with this, the Vice Captain started walking, pace slow. You followed suit, opting to walk behind him. You looked confused. You feel overwhelmed. Why is he always doing so much? You prefer your friendly banters, the idiotic laughter you share with each other after stupid musings; you dislike the foreign feeling and lingering intention in each action he does towards you. You don't understand.

He once gave you a poetry book about flowers, saying it was like a reflection of yourself. It wasn't. You told him to stop mocking you.

You never asked for company on boring work days, but he was somehow finding his way towards you, offering an invitation to train new recruits. He knew you loved helping others, imparting your knowledge and watching them grow. You turned him down, saying he's more than capable of mentoring them himself.

Once, you were feeling a bit too competitive. Your platoon urged you on, daring you to make a bet with the Vice Captain. The losing platoon must prepare a banquet according to the winning platoon’s wishes. He can hit you in your sword sparring as many times as he can, but hit him once in the given time limit and you win. But you just so happen to miraculously strike him at the last second. He lost on purpose. But you didn't attend the banquet.

Then a tragedy occured. A citizen hiding from the Honju was left undetected, causing you to accidentally inflict a fatal wound on them as you attacked the Honju. Had you known, you would've prioritized their safety. He didn't have to cover this up. He was there. He should be reprimanding you. You were at a loss then.

You bump into his figure, letting out a sound of surprise. You were already inside his office? Perhaps your mind has been too occupied all the way here, you don't even know if he said something on the way here or when he opened the door for you.

Soshiro looked too serious at the moment. You shouldn't have agreed to report to him, because the Honju being tougher today is bullshit. This leaves you with nothing to report, and god you want to miraculously vanish into thin air at this instant.

“What's goin’ on in that li’l head of yours? It's unlike ya to get so out of focus.” he asked, crossing his arms.

“Vice Captain. I’d like to proceed with the report, please.”

“But ya don't have anything to report. I saw it well with my own two eyes.”

He can barely hear you, your voice only a mere whisper. “...Then report to me instead, Soshiro.”

He walked closer to you, your breath almost stopping. Why is it like this?

"What do ya want to know? I'll give you everything." 

Your fists clenched in frustration at his words. He's doing this on purpose, saying something that totally means another.

“Why… Why do you insist on staying by my side? Why do you care so much? I don't understand. You're my friend, but you're doing so much for just a friend. Why do you do these things? The book—the poetry book you once gave me, saying it reminded you of me—it doesn't make sense! It's full of flowery words, it speaks of beauty, but none of those are me. You’ve seen what mess of a person I am. You say you’d give me everything, but I can't even give you a single thing, Soshiro!”

You grabbed the front of his shirt, lowering your head as you failed to stop the tears from flowing.

“You should've let me rot in bed when you found me in a sickly state. Should've reported me to the higher ups for making a careless mistake. Should've distanced yourself from me, I did nothing but unintentionally hurt you when all you wanted was to look out for me.” 

You bit your lip, not wanting to spill more than you should've. A warm pair of arms went around you, causing you to cry harder, your body relaxing against your wishes.

“I see. Do my actions confuse you?” he softly asked. 

“...I can't accept them.” 

“That doesn't answer my question.” 

Still sobbing, you answered, “I don't know. You confuse me. I don't want to rely on anyone. I don't know what to make of them. I hate the lingering, unspoken intentions. I hate not understanding. I hate pushing you away, but it feels overwhelming when you're too close. I hate the comforting feeling you give me. Please don't waste your energy on me. I’m filled with dirt, my hands are covered in more blood than you know about.”

You’ve never spilled this much before, Soshiro noted. He thinks that's a lot to unpack, but he has all the time in his hands to walk you through it. You were a ticking time bomb, the impending explosion only delayed by taking out your anguish on all the Kaiju you’ve slayed. 

Soshiro caressed the back of your head, speaking. “Then I’ll help ya understand. I like you and I like bein’ with ya, even if you think otherwise. If you don't wanna rely on me, then don't. But I’ll be here when ya need me. I’ll walk you through everythin’ slowly if you’ll allow me. And I still think you're as beautiful as the flowers I keep tellin’ you about.” 

He tried holding your hand. You pulled it away when you felt his, but he insisted. “And these bloodied hands ya speak of, tell me more, please? The stains might be impossible for you to wash away, but I’ll gladly hold ‘em still.” 

He isn't the type to deliberately fool others, even if he humors himself with being a menace to others. You looked at him and was met with surprise as you were met with the soft pair of red eyes and gentle smile you’ve deniably always found comfort in. Were you deserving of this, even after unintentionally turning him away?

You let out a shaky breath, bracing yourself to recall a scenario that has haunted your mind for years. 

“A Kaiju attack. Was a yonju. It was small, but I can tell it's dangerous. Grabbed anything sharp, anything heavy I can get my hands on. I closed my eyes and kept swaying my makeshift weapon around, in hopes of defending myself. I know my sister was hiding somewhere, but it all happened too fast. I heard a piercing scream right in front of me. The yonju had found her somewhere and used her as its shield. I didn't know that even a yonju could think of that. I… accidentally stabbed my sister. She died. I should’ve kept my eyes open. I was weak and was only 14 then. Today's neutralization location is the exact same spot where it happened.”

Tears filled your eyes again. “The day… when I accidentally hit a hiding civilian. I felt my mind shut down. The same scenario replayed over and over again. Had it not been for you, both I and the civilian would've been long gone now. I was only able to take a breath when they got stabilized by the medical team.”

“I’m sorry. I understand if you don't want to involve yourself with me anymore. But thank you for… being my friend.” 

Instead of letting you go, you felt his arm wrap even tighter. “I told ya, didn't I? I’ll walk with ya through everythin'. What happened then doesn't make you any less of a person in my eyes. You’ve saved more lives than any of us can count. I’m sure yer sister will be immensely proud of ya.” 

"And! I haven't kept my end of the deal for our bet. Ya didn't attend the banquet for it." 

How persistent. But he's always been like this. It comforts you, how he's still being Soshiro even after your heavy outburst.

You cleared your throat. “You said you like me.”

“Mhm? And what about it?” 

“...I’m sorry for unintentionally pushing you away, or if I was rude sometimes. I didn't know how to handle it.” 

He let out a laugh of relief. “Dear, that was nothin’ at all! Ya don't have to reciprocate, I only wanted to do what I can for ya. That won't change anytime soon.”

Back to his playful self, he let you go and squished your tear-stained cheeks. “I’ll go with ya anywhere, even if it's straight to hell.” 

What a fast turnaround of mood. You don't mind it, though. There's no use drowning in your anguish. You wanted to get better.

You frowned. “Don't want you to go to hell, ‘Shiro.” 

“Was kiddin’. Get some rest?” 

You tiredly nodded at him, eyes heavy. “Vice Captain. I’m officially giving you a chance. At the same time, I’ll start getting better.”

He shot you an incredulous look. “My title? Really now? Fine then, Platoon Leader, as a reward for taking your first step, let me bestow this upon ya. Close your eyes.”

What is he up to now? You’ll punch him with no hesitation if he kisses you on your lips.

You felt something cold wrap around your wrist, his own hand gripping the back of yours.

“Open up.” He held up your hand to your face level. It's a floral bracelet. He always loves associating you with flowers. You don't understand why, but someday you know you will.

“Perfect match, ain’t it? Now, for the cherry on top…”

His next move took you by surprise. With no hesitation, he kissed your palm. “There. I hope that wasn't too much?”

Receiving no reply, his eyes snapped to your face, worried if he overstepped his newly established boundary.

The sight that greeted him was something to behold. You were looking at anything but him, unable to control the redness of your face. Ah, so that was quite the shot to your heart then?

“Hello? Earth to you?”

“I’m fine! It's okay! Just… not used to it. Do give me a warning next time for my sake, please. And we're not yet in a relationship, mind you.” you said, shyness still evident.

He heartily laughed, still not letting go of your hand. “I’ll walk ya back to your room now. The princess needs her long needed quality sleep.”

And sure enough, it was indeed the most peaceful night you’ve ever had.

[birinboom]

Hello dearest darling Em! I am here to ask about HoshiEm, because I think it's adorable and I would like to know more <3

You are taking a trip together - where are you going? What activities are you doing together? What are you most excited about on your trip? Which of you hates packing the most?

Also if you feel like it, tell me a little about your man, because I don't know him 🎤

🤍🫂

Aaaaaah, my darling Roxy-Rose, thank you so so much for sending me this!!! 😭💖💖💖

We’re going on a trip!

He and I met in Tokyo, but Hoshina is actually from the Kansai region (Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/etc). So we’re taking a trip back to his home. We’re mostly planning on sightseeing, which is something I enjoy a lot, and he enjoys finding new places to show me. We can easily spend a whole day just wandering around one of the older parts of Kyoto and taking in the sights. I’m really looking forward to seeing new things and eating new food, and feeding some tame deer, and also just getting to spend some uninterrupted time with him, he’s always so busy.

Which of us hates packing the most?

That’s probably me 😅 I always panic a little bit thinking I’ve forgotten something so I spend a lot of time making lists and double and triple checking everything, and I end up packing way too much. I don’t know why but I’m unable to pack light, even if I put genuine effort into it. Hoshina, on the other hand, can fit everything he needs into a small duffle bag and I hate him a little bit for it. 

Tell me a little about him

So, funny story. My husband and I watched Kn8 together. At one point he came into my office while I had a piece of fanart of Hoshina on my screen, and said ‘oh is that who you like now? Isn’t he kind of an asshole?’

And he’s right. Hoshina is kind of an asshole and I still love him.

I’m gonna put my ramblings under a cut ‘cause there will be spoilers. And I don't know how to be brief. Cue that drawing of me wordlessly crying while pointing to a picture of him.

Kaiju no. 8 takes place in a world where kaiju (ie. monsters) regularly attack humanity. They vary vastly in both size and the way they attack. Some are human-sized, or smaller, some are about the size of a minivan, and some tower over the tallest skyscrapers (this part is important for later) 

Enter the Japan Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. Hoshina is the vice-captain of the 3rd division, which is centered in West Tokyo. He comes from a long line of swordsmen and kaiju slayers, but while he’s excellent with swords and very capable of dealing with smaller and mid-sized kaiju, guns are needed for the biggest ones. And he’s shit at using guns. 

Because of this, pretty much everybody in his life has been telling him that he should just give up. He’s not gonna make it, he’s just gonna cause trouble and get himself killed. The only one who believed in him is his now-captain, Mina. She’s the opposite of Hoshina, she’s excellent with guns but terrible with bladed weapons. And she believed that the two of them could compliment each other’s fighting styles enough to give him a genuine chance.

So this is where the asshole part comes into play. Because now Hoshina has the rank of vice-captain, he’s to a certain extent in charge of dealing with new recruits, and he WILL haze them. There’s one omake ending of the manga -which sadly never made it into the anime- where he’s overseeing a new recruit doing pushups as a punishment, he’s counting out loud, and then he starts counting backwards.

He’s an asshole in that whenever there’s a conflict that doesn’t directly involve him, he bursts out laughing. He will also quite readily tease people. But he takes his role as vice-captain very seriously. He’s ready to risk his life to keep people safe. He’ll go up against kaiju too big for him to handle if he has to, if nothing else then to buy time until someone better suited to fight them arrives.

It’s also shown that once he likes someone, he’ll go a long way to help them. It’s implied that he’s the one training the most promising of the new recruits (Kikoru) in using her axe, and he decides on his own to train the main character, Kafka, in hand to hand combat. 

(‘Course that last one only happens after Hoshina threatened Kafka with what turned out to be a very realistic rubber knife because he apparently holds grudges like a mofo)

I love him. I love his Kansai-accent. I love the way his voice goes nasal when he’s complaining about something. I love how he nearly always has his eyes closed. I love the shiver down my spine when he opens his eyes (shit’s most likely about to get serious!) I love his oversized canines. I love his stupid bowl-cut. I love the way he’s one of the few male characters (if not the only one) to use ‘boku’ about himself (and I have thoughts on WHY he does that!)

I love that he’s a bit of an asshole. I want him to tease me.

[jaeminvore]

girl the song when Hoshina appears behind Kafka Kaiju-fied in that dingy alleyway is so good… too good like… I can go on and on about it

[justwinginglife]

Hi dear~ current going thru a severe hoshina drought… I have a request! Soshiro having a crush on y/n who is the vice captain of division 1 who is narumi’s right hand woman in battle. She has a special weapon, maybe a large hammer so she can easily smash thru the kaijus!

They have a joint operation and Soshiro got to see her in battle for the first time and fell harder that he asked her out once its over🤩 (sorry it sounded better in my head😭)

Thank you🫶🏻

Not the Hoshina drought! We can't have that, not on my watch. Here- have some more Soshiro.

In Pursuit

As Hoshina suited up beside the members of the 1st Division, he couldn’t help but feel a slight sense of inferiority in his choice of weapon. Just slightly. He’d always loved the sword; he didn’t care much for the gun and not just because his combat power was low with one. It was just not as artful or as graceful as the sword. It wasn’t as personal either, didn’t give as much satisfaction as a sword did when killing a kaiju. But, as he watched the Captain of the 1st Division lug his large bayonet into view, and then the Vice Captain of the 1st Division follow suit, hoisting your gigantic hammer onto your shoulder, he was beginning to think he was feeling what they called “small dick syndrome.”

It didn’t help that he had fallen for you, so deeply, so devastatingly. Naturally, he wanted to impress you. In fact, he had begged this joint operation into existence. But now he was wondering if he stacked up at all. He’d have to try twice as hard to get even half your attention. But he was up for the challenge; you were worth it. 

The first time he met you, he knew his heart was yours. 

You weren’t even on duty, you weren’t even in your city, you were in his. It was your day off and you were in the middle of a road trip when you drove by a Yoju that was on the run from the Defense Force. Hoshina was in close pursuit, but not close enough for your comfort. You had no gear with you, so you did what you could with what you had- you slammed the car in reverse and rammed into the Kaiju. Hoshina skidded to a halt. He surveyed the situation cautiously, ready to move in once he’d confirmed that you were safe and the Kaiju had been rendered immobile but immobile wasn’t good enough for you. You drove your thundering truck right over its meager core, crushing it to a pulp with your tires. And then he fell in love with you. 

He’d hear stories of your impressive feats and your selfless deeds from the mouths of awestruck officers, and he’d fall more in love. He’d watch an interview of you on TV, every response intelligent, every smile sweet, and he’d fall more in love. He’d sneak glances at you in cross-division meetings, your presence commanding respect and admiration wherever you went, and he’d fall more and more in love with you. He was so in love with you, without ever intimately knowing you, without ever spending more than an hour at a time in your company, that he thought if you ever looked at him, if you ever acknowledged him, if you ever wanted him, he might just pass onto heaven right then and there. But Hoshina wasn’t content to just die happy in your presence, he wanted to make you happy. He wanted to make you his. That is, if you’d have him. 

What he didn’t know was that you were equally as interested in him. From the day that you’d met him, when he’d completely forgotten everything but ensuring your safety, when he’d taken your car in to get repaired after the incident, to every meeting you shared after that, stealing glances at him, not realizing he was also stealing glances at you, you were smitten. You’d heard the same heroic stories about him as he’d heard about you, you’d felt the same rush that he felt whenever you were in a room together, and before you knew it, you’d fallen for him too. You wondered how you could help run an entire Division, how you could cripple an entire army of Kaiju, but you were at a complete loss as to how to ask a man out. You hoped to god something would happen soon, something that would breach the gap between you two. 

Both of your prayers were answered when an enormous Daikaiju began its rampage halfway between your two cities. When Hoshina heard the news, he almost praised the gods out loud for the opportunity that had just landed itself in his lap. It took no convincing on Captain Ashiro’s part, and some convincing on Captain Narumi’s part, to approve a joint operation. He was glad Narumi hadn’t tested the limits of his desperation, because he would’ve made an embarrassing mess of himself, just pleading on his knees to have a second by your side. But it seemed that fate was on his side and no kneeling was needed, because he was suiting up next to you in no time at all. He vowed he wouldn’t waste a chance like this, not when it might be the best chance he had with you. 

On the transport, he began his active pursuit of you, engaging you in conversation. When you hung on his every word, reciprocating his energy with your enthusiastic replies, he thought he might just throw all caution out the window and kiss you in front of all the other soldiers. He had expected you to be sweet, but he was pleasantly surprised at how incredibly charming you were. And when you were reassuring to the rookies who were nervous, when you were inspiring even to the experienced officers, he knew he was too far gone for you. You’d raised the bar straight into the stratosphere and he could never come back from that. If you rejected him, he might just give up on dating altogether. 

His anxieties rumbled to a stop when the car did, signaling their arrival at their destination. He wanted to wish you good luck, to tell you to stay safe, to reassure you that he had your back, but suddenly you smiled at him and the sight robbed the words from his throat. 

“See you on the other side, yeah?” 

He nodded. 

You dropped your hammer to the ground, saluted him, and then back flipped off the edge of the truck. When you landed, you took off running, swinging your hammer at every foe you met.

For a moment, Hoshina stayed in the transport, just watching you destroy every Kaiju that dared cross your path. For such a beautiful, elegant woman, you wielded such a beastly, robust weapon. Somehow, you dealt your damage in both a devastating and a graceful manner, all at the same time. He could lose himself just watching you, just drinking in the sight of your power, getting intoxicated on your allure. Then he shook his head, snapping back to reality. He was going to be useful to you if it killed him. He took off after you with renewed energy, his eagerness to prove himself boosting his speed. 

You were impressed that he kept pace with you, even pulling ahead of you at times, when even Narumi struggled to stay by your side when you got serious. You were so captivated by the way he fought, that you even dared to banter with him mid-battle. 

“Hey! Whoever kills the most kaiju gets to request anything they want from the other. You game?” You called to him after bashing in another beast’s head. 

He grinned and you swore your heart skipped a beat. “Oh, I’m game; I hope you’re prepared to do whatever I want.”

You hammered another Kaiju to the ground, wiping the splattered blood from your face. “Oh, is that so? I suppose I’ll have to try harder then.” 

Somehow, in between slicing down multiple foes, he had the audacity to wink at you, and now you were sure your heart was skipping multiple beats. “I’ve already got my request in mind, so I hope you’re not a sore loser.”

Your cheeks lit on fire and you vowed to yourself that even if you won, you weren’t letting him go back to his city before you weaseled his request out of him. You wondered if he wanted the same thing you did. There was only one way to find out. 

Spotting the large Honju ahead, you sped up, slamming the head of your hammer down on its skull, bringing it crashing down. When you’d demolished its core, you turned to brag to Hoshina, then realized he’d obliterated every other Yoju nearby. 

“You know, I believe that Honju only counts as one point.” He teased.

You huffed, but the sound held no annoyance, only playful amusement. “I feel like it should count as ten because it was so big.” 

He pointed to a pile of kaiju he’d just sent to their graves. “No- that counts as 10. Which totals me at about 40 kaiju each. What’re you at?”

You coughed. “39.” 

He grinned again and your heart did somersaults in your chest. 

“So, you said anything I want right?”

You nodded, suddenly shy. There you were, Vice Captain of the greatest division the Defense Force had ever produced, wielding a big ass hammer, doused in the blood of your enemies, and you were suddenly rendered shy at the simple sight of a man smiling at you. No, not just a man. Soshiro Hoshina. 

He stepped towards you. “You promise? Anything?”

You laughed at that. “Yes I believe that anything usually means anything. So tell me, what is this outlandish request you’re about to ask of me?”

His gaze was unwavering and you thought you might get drunk on the deep purple that was burning bright in his eyes. 

“Go out with me.”

Your eyes widened. “W-what?”

He smiled again. “Go out on a date with me. Just one. If you don’t like me, I’ll stick to my side of town.”

“And if I do like you?” You took another step towards him.

He sucked in a breath, steeling himself. “Then go on another date with me. Go on as many dates with me as it takes to convince you to be mine.”

“And what if it doesn’t take any dates? What if I’m already convinced?”

And that’s when you learned that the Vice Captain of the Third Division was extremely adorable when he blushed. 

“If you’re already mine… then I’m a lucky guy.” He whispered, taking your hands in his. 

“If I’m already yours… does that warrant a kiss?”

A flicker of surprise flitted across his face, but he didn’t think too long about it before he enveloped you in his arms, pulling you closer and resting his forehead against yours. 

“If you’re mine, I’ll give you as many kisses as you want.”

Then he brought his lips to yours and you forgot about a time when you were ever not his.