#headless website

[creations365days]

To Read about Headless Website visit Us

[elightwalktech]

Six benefits of adapting Shopify Headless (Hydrogen) development to your e-commerce development to improve your product momentum. Know how this technology can enhance your website's performance, boost scalability, improve the user experience, streamline content management, and provide flexibility for future growth.

[untoterxhund]

on that note mayhaps just gonna dip and chill w/ some more silent hill, this time probably Silent Hill 3 tho

[ecollatapp]

Build custom websites faster with a headless CMS that separates content management from its presentation. Enjoy greater flexibility and control while minimizing launch hassles.

[islandwizards]

10 posts!

[successivetech22]

Why Should You Choose Acquia CMS For Headless Website Development?

Acquia CMS stands out for Headless Website Development due to its unmatched flexibility and scalability. Its robust architecture empowers developers to craft dynamic, content-rich experiences across channels seamlessly. With Acquia, you access powerful APIs, comprehensive developer tools, and extensive support, ensuring efficient development and exceptional user experiences for your headless projects.

Also read CMS For Headless Website Development

[mnchrmrainbow]

JAMstack, Buddy, and Contentful: A Winning Combination for Scalable and Reliable Websites

The Challenge: We had to build and manage multiple international websites with a small team of 5, while ensuring scalability with the localisation at its core, reliability with easy content and code changes, and efficiency with minimal operational overhead.

The business ambition was to launch 10 new websites within the first year with a limited budget and no additional team members. Our project plan was to use the central development team to build the core components, own the technical operation of the websites, and train the local teams who would content-manage their own localised websites.

Our future vision was to empower local teams to expand their websites with local components, so the central solution had to be a modular and scalable by nature.

The Solution: JAMstack, a web development architecture that uses JavaScript, APIs, and Markup to create fast, secure, and scalable websites and applications. JAMstack allowed us to build a headless website that was decoupled from its back-end, so that it could be served directly from a CDN (Content Delivery Network). This architecture reduced the need for dynamic servers and databases, and improved reliability and scalability which in return helped us to keep operational and maintenance costs much lower than traditonal websites.

We chose Contentful as our headless CMS, as it fit the picture perfectly with its RESTful APIs and easy to handle JSON files. Contentful gave us the flexibility and control to manage our content across different regions and languages, and to integrate with various services and features from third-party providers via APIs.

We used Gatsby and React to build the front-end that was managed through GitHub. Gatsby and React are powerful frameworks that enable us to create dynamic and interactive web pages with high performance and SEO which were crucial for the project as these were brand websites with keen focus on the design and findability. GitHub was our version control system that helped us to collaborate and track changes in our code.

We used Buddy, the DevOps automation platform, to build the CI/CD pipelines that automated our workflows and integrated with our tools. Buddy has a visual pipeline editor and a dashboard that show us the status and performance of our projects, and allow us to manage our settings.

The trick: was to leverage MACH architecture, starting with Headless. MACH stands for Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless, and it is a modern approach to software development that helps us to build a scalable, modular, and composable architecture. MACH architecture gives us the freedom and flexibility to choose the best tools and services for our needs, and enable us to adapt to market changes.

With the help of these technologies and tools, we were able to automate a big portion of the operation, ensuring that the team could manage the ambitious scale. By using the same infrastructure and codebase for every single website, we could avoid duplication, inconsistency, and maintenance issues. We also achieved faster delivery, better quality, and higher customer satisfaction.

[prateekshawebdesign]

Sumeet Shroff's Take on the Top 12 Headless CMS of 2024

Headless Content Management Systems (CMS) have increasingly become a vital part of the web development landscape, particularly as we step into 2024. These systems allow for greater flexibility, scalability, and performance, especially in a world where content needs to be delivered across multiple platforms and devices. Unlike traditional CMS platforms, headless CMSs provide the backend content management capabilities without dictating the front-end presentation layer, making them ideal for building applications with modern architectures such as JAMstack.

What is a Headless CMS?

A headless Content Management System (CMS) is a modern approach to content management that separates the back-end content repository, where the content is stored and managed, from the front-end presentation layer, where the content is displayed. This separation allows greater flexibility and freedom in how and where content is presented.

Characteristics of a Headless CMS:

1. API-Driven: A headless CMS typically provides content through APIs, usually RESTful or GraphQL, enabling content to be delivered to any device or channel capable of calling these APIs.

2. Front-End Freedom: It allows developers to use any front-end tool or framework to display content, as the CMS does not impose any front-end technology or structure. This is particularly advantageous for creating omnichannel experiences.

3. Content-First Approach: Focuses purely on the content, without considerations for how it might be displayed or styled, ensuring content is future-proof and reusable across various platforms.

4. Enhanced Scalability and Flexibility: Being decoupled from the presentation layer, headless CMSs are more scalable and adaptable to changing technologies or platforms.

Use Cases:

1. Omnichannel Content Delivery: Ideal for businesses that want to deliver content consistently across multiple platforms, like websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, and more.

2. Customized User Experiences: Useful for projects that require customized, dynamic user experiences across different digital touchpoints.

3. Future-Proof Projects: Suitable for projects that need to adapt to emerging technologies and trends without overhauling the entire content management system.

Headless CMSs have become increasingly popular due to their flexibility, scalability, and ability to provide a more personalized user experience. They are especially beneficial in scenarios where content needs to be distributed across multiple platforms and formats.

Read More

[creations365days]

What Is A Headless Website? Discover the Power of Headless Architecture.

blog source — Qortechno https://qortechno.com/headless-website-advantages/

What is a Headless Website?

A headless website is a website where the front-end (UI) separates from the back-end (content management system). This means that the content and data are stored in a centralized database, while the user interface is built as a separate application that accesses the data and presents it to the user.

It is built without a traditional frontend or user interface. It doesn’t have a visual interface that a user interacts with through a web browser like Chrome or Firefox. Instead, the website’s content and functionality are delivered through an API (Application Programming Interface). This means that a headless website is designed to separate the content and functionality of a website from its presentation layer. This approach allows developers to focus on creating and managing the backend of a website, without worrying about the frontend.

What is Headless Architecture?

Headless architecture is an approach to software development that separates the presentation layer from the application logic and data storage layers. In a headless architecture, the application logic and data storage are exposed through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), while the presentation layer is built separately and consumes the APIs to display content to the user.

The term “headless” comes from the idea of removing the “head” of the application, which is the presentation layer, and leaving only the backend systems. The frontend, or presentation layer, is often referred to as the “head” of the application because it’s the part of the application that users interact with directly.

To know the Advantages of Headless Website visit Us at Qortechno.com

[bainry]

Supermodern real-time websites.

We develop supermodern websites

built on real-time technologies. Today, almost everyone makes modern websites. We take them to a higher level.

[webdevelopment-ecommerce]

Unleashing the Power of Headless Commerce: The Rise of Headless Magento Stores

In the fast-paced world of ecommerce, delivering seamless, personalized, and engaging customer experiences is paramount. Traditional monolithic ecommerce platforms often struggle to meet the evolving demands of modern shoppers. This has given rise to a new approach known as headless commerce, which offers unparalleled flexibility, scalability, and customization possibilities. In this blog post, we explore the concept of headless commerce and dive into the world of Headless Magento stores, showcasing how this architecture empowers businesses to create truly exceptional ecommerce experiences.

[headless-website]

The Power of Headless Websites: Embracing Innovation for Safer Online Experiences

In the modern era of technology, establishing a robust online presence has become imperative for businesses to flourish successfully. To stay ahead of the curve, companies like Civilized Savage are embracing the power of headless websites Safer. But what exactly is a headless website, and why is it gaining popularity among businesses? Let’s explore the benefits and advantages of this innovative approach.

Understanding Headless Websites Agency

If the question “What is a headless website?” is still lingering in our minds, the answer is right here, waiting to be unveiled. A headless website Agency refers to a new way of structuring a website where the front-end and back-end are decoupled. Unlike traditional websites, headless websites separate the presentation layer (the “head”) from the content management system (the “body”). This decoupling enables greater flexibility, scalability, and customization options for businesses

Empowering Businesses with Safety and Security

Headless websites provide enhanced security measures, ensuring a safer online experience for both businesses and their customers. By separating the presentation layer, potential vulnerabilities are minimized, making it harder for hackers to exploit security loopholes. Civilized Savage understands the importance of protecting their clients’ data and has taken the proactive step of adopting headless websites to safeguard their customers’ information.

The Role of a headless website agency

As businesses recognize the potential of headless websites, the demand for expert guidance has surged. This is where a specialized headless website agency like Civilized Savage steps in. By leveraging their expertise and experience, they help businesses seamlessly transition to the headless approach. The agency offers tailored solutions that align with each client’s unique needs, ensuring a smooth and successful migration.

Unleashing Creative Freedom and Flexibility

One of the most significant advantages of headless websites is the creative freedom and flexibility they provide. With a decoupled front-end and back-end, businesses can experiment with different presentation layers, design elements, and user experiences without impacting the underlying infrastructure. This empowers businesses to deliver engaging, personalized, and immersive digital experiences that captivate their target audience.

Future-Proofing Your Business with Headless Websites

In an ever-evolving digital landscape, adaptability is key. Headless websites safer scalability and future-proofing, helps those businesses which need to stay competitive. As technology advances and new devices emerge, headless websites can seamlessly adapt and deliver content across various platforms, ensuring a consistent and optimized user experience.

Partnering with Civilized Savage for Your Headless Website Needs

When it comes to embracing the power of headless websites, partnering with a reputable agency like Civilized Savage is crucial. Their expertise, knowledge, and commitment to delivering exceptional results make them the ideal choice for businesses seeking to unlock the full potential of headless websites. With their guidance and support, you can navigate the complexities of this innovative approach and transform your online presence.

Conclusion

Headless websites offer a new paradigm for businesses to elevate their digital strategies. With enhanced security, creative freedom, and future-proofing capabilities, they provide a powerful solution for businesses aiming to thrive in the digital realm. Civilized Savage, as a leading headless website agency, stands ready to assist businesses in harnessing the power of this innovative approach. Contact them today and embark on a journey of digital transformation and success.

Source URL-https://www.ventsglobal.com/headless-website-agency-new-way-of-structuring-website/

[perfectiongeeks]

What is a PWA (Progressive Web App)?

A Progressive Web App, commonly called PWA, is a web application that utilizes modern web capabilities to give users an app-like experience on the web without native apps. PWAs utilize headless commerce technology and a decoupled front and back-end architecture that allows businesses to develop flexible front ends capable of communicating with various back ends.PWAs can be accessed from any browser without needing to be downloaded from an app store, using service workers to cache data and work offline; this enables PWAs to load instantly, even with poor network connections.

Visit us:

[audrey-carr1]

The Heiress and the Lady of the House (part 1)

Author's note: Due to a lack of Hetty x reader fics I decided to fix that. This will more than likely be a series! For future writings, I will take requests as well! Please don't be too upset with how i write because I'm still learning how to write for Hetty. We all know she's a simple yet complex lady. We learn as we go. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

warnings: fem!reader, hettyxreader

It was an accident when I stumbled upon the "Woodstone B&B "hiring ad". As a child visiting my grandmother, I remember riding my bike past the mansion. My grandmother used to take me trick or treating there, and the older woman who lived at the manor always gave the children king-sized candy bars.

After a near-death experience as a teen, I've been able to see ghosts. It began to happen on occasion before it became an everyday thing. I would pretend it wasn’t real and ignore every ghost I encountered. Unless they looked sorely out of place, I couldn't really tell if they weren't living anyway. Ignoring all of them had worked...at least up until I walked into the Woodstone B&B.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So is there a history convention in town or something?” I ask Sam teaches me the basics of the B&B website.

“Um no, why do you ask?” Sam questions nervously

“Because of the people in costume? Do you not see the Viking and Revolutionary officer in front of us?”

Sam gasps, “ Oh my gosh You can see them!?”

“She can see us?!” The two men ask.

“Am I not supposed to?” I asks

Sam quickly takes my hand and leads me into the living room. She has me sit and takes a seat in the spot next to me.

“What I’m about to say is going to seem absolutely insane,”

“Okay?” I say unsure of where Sam is taking this.

“This place is haunted, and everyone you see besides me and Jay are dead,” Sam explains

I didn’t mean to burst into laughter, but I did. How could something so absurd be true?

“My word what is all of this laughter about? Can you plebians be joyous outside of my napping hours,” a voice says

I turn to see a red-headed Victorian woman descend the main staircase. We both lock eyes and I feel as if time has stood still. My heart starts to beat a little faster and are my palms sweating? I could be mistaken but is that blush on the other woman's cheeks? "Can ghosts blush?" I ask myself

The redhead quirks and eyebrow before breaking the silence, “You can see me?”

Suddenly unable to speak I nod still looking into blue eyes.

“Hetty, this is (y/n). She is our new employee,”

“And she can see us? She’s not dead? How can you see us?”

Finally finding my words I reply, “I can see you, I’m not dead, and I’m not sure as to why I can see you but I can,”

“Did young girl fall and hit head like Sam?” The Viking asks

“I don’t remember falling recently,” I reply

“Have you always been able to see ghosts,” Sam turns and asks me.

“It’s a long complicated story, I’d rather not get into,” I say.

The redhead purses her lips not enthused by my answer. Soon I hear whispering of what I assume are the other ghosts.

“It’s okay guys, you can come out,” I say not sure of what could happen next.

Entering the room is a flapper, the Viking, the war officer, a hippie, an oversized Boy Scout, and a man without pants. My mind is filled with questions, but mainly I'm wondering why that man doesn’t have on pants. Before I can question his attire, Sam begins introducing everyone.

“There is one more of the main 8, his name is Sassapis, but we call him Sass. He’s out on a walk with Crash, our occasional headless ghost.”

“I see, well it’s nice to meet you all,” I say to them.

“Well go on tell us about your little cute self,” Alberta says “We want to know everything,”

“Well okay I’ve graduated college with a (insert major) degree, and my grandmother recently passed and left me with more money than I know what to do with. Which means I'm technically a heiress. I’m not sure I want to go into my field of work yet, that probably has something to do with my imposter syndrome. I’m an only child, my parents passed away when I was 19. Oh, I love jazz! I actually play piano and know almost all of the Jazz standards, my favorite pizza is pepperoni, and after reading a dystopian novel series I got into archery but that didn’t last long. Let’s see what else,” As I try to recall information I notice the redhead Victorian woman, Hetty looking at you. I begin to blush as I start my next sentence, “I was crowned queen at my senior prom, I love playing vintage Super Mario Brothers in my spare time, My favorite fish to cook is cod, I have a stuffed teddy bear named Daisy, and my favorite musical of all time is Hamilton,”

Isaac, the revolutionary war officer, scoffs and throws his hands up in exasperation while Hetty pats his shoulder while holding back a smirk.

“What about the juicy stuff, like do you have a significant other and have you ever killed someone?” Alberta asks.

“Oh well," I say a little overwhelmed, "I do not have a significant other, I haven’t even had my first kiss yet. To answer your other question, I have not participated in a murder at least not to my knowledge,”

“Sam you have to keep her! She’s perfect for the job,” Flower says

“Except for the Hamilton thing,” Isaac says off the side.

“Plus she’s incredibly hot,” Trevor says. “Not like Tara Reid hot but she’s almost at your level Sam,”

Everyone rolls their eyes at his comment, “I find it best if you ignore his comments. He’s harmless ” The victorian woman who's the name I've learned is, Hetty, whispers in my ear and I try to ignore the sudden butterflies in my stomach. I don’t need to add attracted to a ghost to my resume.

“Well it seems like everyone is on board with you being here even though you were already hired. Why don’t we go back and get some training done,” Sam says heading back to the front desk.

I go to follow her, but I trip over my untied shoelace. Before I can hit the floor, I find myself caught by a pair of soft hands.

Everyone gasps, and I can tell it wasn’t from the fall.

“Did Hetty just catch a living?”

-end-

A/N: Oh I hope y'all don't hate it! This is the first fanfic I've written in about 11 years, so I'm a little rusty. As I said before this is the first part of this many-part series. I may even add this to AO3. Tell me what you think! Until later!

[brynnewithane]

Kaiju No. 8 Light Novel: Closely Observed! Unit 3 [Translate]

This is an UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION of the Light Novel Kaiju No. 8. The translation and proofreading were done by me. Since my bias is Hoshina, I only plan to translate his story.

Hoshina's chapter is split into six parts. The following post includes my translation of parts 1 and 2.

***The translation that follows is not translated from the original Japanese, but rather from Vietnamese to English. Since this is my first attempt translating literature and English is not my first language, if there are any parts that seem unnatural or out-of-place please feel free to point them out. I’m open for feedback!👾 ***There are some segments that I've referenced from the translation of Kaiju No. 8: B-Side posted on the Mangaplus website. ***Word count: 2725

Chapter 3: Vice-captain Soshiro Hoshina

[PART 1/6]

“Phew, alright…”

With a soft thud, Hoshina set the stack of papers down on the table and took a deep breath. In his hand was the report on Kikoru’s match from the day before. He was evaluating it, through the lens of a vice-captain.

“Who would’ve thought it’d take this long, huh.”

Finishing off the last sip of his now-cold coffee, Hoshina made his way out of the room. Although work hours were over, he still had other plans await. As he strode down the corridor, he spotted the Metro TV crew heading towards him.

“Director! How’s the filming coming along?

The director nodded in return, “It went pretty well, everyone has been very cooperative after all. Mr. Hoshina, would you mind if we get a few words from you?”

“Me? But I’ve already been around the block though.”

“Ha ha ha. No, I just wanted to ask about the rookies. All of the officers this year are really something. The performance that Officer Shinomiya did yesterday was truly remarkable.”

“Well, that’s ‘cause the West Tokyo entry exam was way tougher this year, probably the hardest we’ve ever had. Plus, there were way more standout talents than usual this time around."

“I see. But now I’m more curious.”

“Curious ‘bout what?”

“It’s about Officer Kafka Hibino. Compared to the others, his basic physical strength seems pretty lacking. Would you mind telling us why he’s accepted to the Defense Force?”

The director couldn't help but wonder; it was no surprise at all. For days Kafka had shown no significant improvement to the crew. Whether it was marksmanship or obstacle courses, he consistently ranked last.

“Of course, we don’t just recruit folks based on combat abilities, y’know? We take a lot of other factors into account too. One of the reasons we accepted Kafka Hibino is…

“Is…?”

“Comic relief!” Hoshina smirked.

“C, comic relief, sir?” Hearing such a response, the director’s eyes widened.

“Novelty, y’know? He’s entertaining does he not? The impulsiveness and silliness and all. I’ve never seen anyone with an unleashed combat power of 0% before, and despite being physically weak, he’s bursting with energy. Not to mention he’s completely oblivious to his true potential, so he kept ended up running around like a headless chicken on the field.”

“T, That’s quite the harsh evaluation…”

“But I don’t dislike dummies like him.”

“And why is that?”

“Back in the day…” Hoshina scratched his cheek. "I met someone who was just like that. This idiot was constantly told to give up on bein’ a member of the Defense Force, yet he just kept throwin’ himself into it, no matter what.”

“So there really was a recruit like that? What’s that officer doing now?”

“Beats me. He’s likely assigned to some other unit.” Hoshina flashed a brief smile as he started to walk off. “Oh right, I’m about to hold a private training session at the dojo. The rookies will be there too, you could drop by if you’re interested.”

⁂ ⁂ ⁂

“Yaaaah!”

The soldiers’ exhort resonated throughout the wooden dojo. Apart from the outdoor training area, the Defense Force base also featured an indoor training room. Many officers would come here to train after dinner.

“My, my... It’s so crowded even during break time.” The director mumbled in admiration.

“This year’s rookies are really proactive.”

Hoshina was scanning around the dojo when he saw two individuals, both wearing armour(1), fighting intensely near the entrance. One of them caught an opening and leaped forward, swinging his bamboo sword(2) and striking his opponent. The victor removed his mask, revealing none other than Haruichi Izumo.

“Not bad Reno. Have you done kendo before?”

“I picked up a bit during middle school… But I couldn’t see that last strike of yours coming at all.” Reno, Haruichi’s opponent, also lifted off his mask and let out a sigh.

“Nah, you almost had me there too, man.” Haruichi smiled gently.

Nearby, a match took place between two individuals with distinctly different builds. One was a kendo expert senior, yet he was outmatched by his bulkier opponent who launched many heavy knocks from overhead.

“Woah that officer is really impressive. Is he a rookie too?”

“Maybe it’s hard for you to tell with a mask on like that, but it’s ‘she,’ not ‘he’, and yes she’s a rookie, her name is Hakua Igarashi.” Hoshina shook his head and replied to the director.

“Igarashi… Oh, is she the younger sister of Officer Jura from the Second Division?”

Igarashi Hakua is a promising rookie and Kikoru’s close friend.

As Hoshina looked around, a male officer approached. This young man had a muscular physique, piercing eyes, and tanned skin. He’s Aoi Kaguragi, a former member of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

“Vice-captain Hoshina, would you mind having a sparring match with me?”

“Sure thing, let’s have a match.”

Once clad in his armour, Hoshina got into a ready stance, facing Aoi. As the referee signalled to start the match, a palpable tension filled the air. Others instinctively paused, as their attention was drawn to the two of them as well.

The fight began with two swords sharply clashing. Attacking first was Aoi.

“Ha-yaaa!” Aoi shouted as he charged forward, instantly closing the gap. He moved with a speed that left amateurs struggling to keep pace.

Hoshina skillfully parried with his bamboo sword and countered back. Aoi’s attack was neutralised. The two returned to a standoff, maintaining their distance once again.

Hoshina took the initiative this time. In response, Aoi swung his sword, attempting to strike first. Seizing the opportunity, Hoshina deftly flicked Aoi's sword upward, breaching his defence. A loud “thud” rang out as Hoshina landed a perfect hit onto Aoi’s mask.

“Men strike! (3)” (Face hit)

The referee’s voice rang out. The two exchanged bows at each other as the match ended. Once their mask was removed, Aoi’s face was glistening with sweat, in stark contrast to Hoshina, who remained calm and composed.

“Thank you, sir… I will strive to improve even more.” Aoi said, earnestly bowing his head.

“Nah, you did great! You’ve got some serious talent, y’know.” Hoshina complimented. Aoi was a rising star in the Ground Self-Defense Force, with relatively good kendo skills; he could even be ranked among the top in the Third Division.

(The rookies this year sure are outstanding.)

Applause sprang out as people enjoyed the duel between two formidable figures. Meanwhile, at the dojo entrance, an entirely different kind of match was unfolding.

“Heeeyaaah!!”

A man stumbled forward, ferociously swinging his bamboo sword. His wide, sweeping motions were all over the place, making it easy for his opponent to dodge, counter, and raise his sword high before slamming it down with force.

“Gack!!??”

The hit landed with such power that the mask seemed as though it was about to shatter. The man dropped to one knee on the floor.

“Sure-kill attack: Iharu Blade! How’d you like the power of my strike, old man!?”

“W, why you! Take it easy on me, won’t ya!?” Kafka stood up, removing his mask.

“That was me going easy. Seriously, why are you so ‘green,’ old man?” Iharu tilted his head.

“Well duh, I’ve never practised kendo once in my entire life. So, everyone else has, even Ichikawa huh… I guess all the Defense Force recruits are pros at this stuff…”

“Since you have zero experience in kendo, I assume you chose judo instead, yes?” Reno approached, striking up a conversation with Kafka.

“Hm? Nope, I don’t know judo either.”

“Huh? You weren’t required to take any martial arts class?”

“What martial arts?”

“Didn’t they require you to take either judo or kendo in middle school?”

“What’re you talking about?”

As the conversation drifted off course, Hoshina tucked his mask under his arm and walked toward them.

“Martial arts were made mandatory after the curriculum reform, which is why y’see nearly all of our rookies this year have some sort of experience—except you, Kafka.

“What, is that how it is!? Grk, even this has a generation gap!” Kafka stood up abruptly, clenching his fists. “Damn it, that means I need to train way harder. Vice-captain Hoshina, could you please instruct me as well? Let’s have a match!”

“Vice-captain, could I request the same for myself?”

“Hey Reno! Tryin’ to one-up me, aren’t ya!? Count me in too, sir!”

“Iharu, that wasn’t my intention.”

Seeing the rookies got all excited, Hoshina nodded, “Alright then. I’ll take y’all on—line up!”

A sharp "Thwack!" echoed through the air.

“Gack!”

A sharp "Thwack!" echoed through the air.

“Gurk!”

A sharp "Thwack!" echoed through the air.

“Agh!”

“All righty practice over. Y’all need to work on your basic skills.”

Upon the dojo floor, three members of Kafka lay scattered, their skill levels markedly inferior to Hoshina’s. After a lengthy observation of the scene, the director made his way toward them.

“Impressive! It’s clear that no one can even come close to your skill with the blade, sir. I wouldn’t expect anything less from someone hailing from one of the most renowned kaiju-slaying families in Kansai. Speaking of which, when you first enlisted, you weren’t here, were you? You were in Kansai, right sir?”

“Yeah, I got promoted by Captain Ashiro and transferred here.”

“I see! You must have been making a name for yourself since your early days then.”

“... That’s not the case at all.” Hoshina chuckled, looking a bit flustered.

This hesitancy of his somewhat confused the director.

“Vice-captain Hoshina.”

Hoshina shifted his attention when he heard a voice ring behind him. Kikoru stood there in her armour, her stern gaze peering through the mask.

“May I spar with you next, sir?”

“... ‘course.”

Raising her sword, Kikoru formed a ready stance. Judging by her form, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that her kendo technique was exceptionally polished. One could confidently assert that her skill was on par with Aoi’s.

(She's skilled in both firearms and swordplay. Truly astounding—a complete contrast from me.)

As Hoshina gazed at the rookies before him, memories of his own early days came flooding back—days before he joined the Third Division.

❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅••❅───✧❅

*NOTE:

(1) Here, they are wearing a type of protective gear specifically used in kendo known as bōgu (防具) or kendōgu (剣道具). Since I saw most Western websites tend to use the terms “bogu” or “kendo armour,” I decided to simply use the word “armour” here for a smoother reading.

(2) Similar to that, I’ve chosen to use the “bamboo sword” here to make it easier to understand even though the proper term for it is shinai (竹刀).

(3) Men strike (面打ち) in Kendo is one of the most fundamental and commonly used attacks aimed at the opponent’s head. Other primary strikes include kote (wrist), dō (torso), and tsuki (throat thrust).

❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅••❅───✧❅

[PART 2/6]

Hoshina was usually stationed in Kansai. However, on that day, he travelled to Tokyo for a meeting about a friendly kendo match with the Third Division, which was set to occur in a month. The kendo instructor of the Third Division was someone his father greatly respected, and a figure Hoshina had known since childhood.

“Sir, I’m glad to see you’re still doing well.”

“Not at all! I’m not as sharp as I used to be nowadays. I’ve been planning on stepping down as an instructor soon. So what do you say, Soshiro? Do you want to come and carry on my work?”

“Ha ha ha, I’ll consider it, sir.” Hoshina chuckled, quickly changing the subject.

Hoshina had received countless recommendations to become an instructor. Everyone in the Defense Force recognised his exceptional swordsmanship, yet they all believed it wasn’t suitable for practical combat. His father, superiors—everyone urged him to take on the role of a kendo instructor, suggesting he withdraw from the battlefield. Despite this, he still longed to remain on the front lines.

(I’m well aware… that my desires are selfish and stubborn.)

The meeting ended, and just as Hoshina was about to leave, he received a call from the general affairs office, informing him that the captain of the Third Division wanted to see him in the office.

(The captain? Wants to meet me?)

Even though Hoshina was completely perplexed, he had no choice but to go. Anxiously, he knocked on the captain’s office door.

“Come in,” a calm female voice replied.

As he opened the door and stepped inside, Hoshina was greeted by the sight of a young woman seated at the desk. It was Mina Ashiro, who had become the captain of the Third Division at a remarkably young age. The two were not far apart in age. He had seen her before, during the joint training sessions, but this was their first opportunity to talk directly.

“I apologize for interrupting you during your busy schedule. Soshiro Hoshina, at your service, ma’am.” Hoshina straightened his back and saluted to the captain.

“Third Division Captain, Mina Ashiro. I appreciate you stopping by.”

“Happy to do it, I have time to spare after all. I was planning to take a look around Tokyo for a bit before returning to base. Now then, what was it that you need me for, Captain?”

Ashiro turned her back, her gaze drifting toward the sombre sky beyond the window. 

“I’ve seen you in joint training before. Even from a distance, I can tell that your swordsmanship is exceptional.”

“Oh, thank you captain…”

(Why is she bringing that up all of a sudden?)

Hoshina couldn’t help but feel sceptical.

“Soshiro Hoshina, I heard that you’re a sword specialist.”

“Yes, that is correct.”

Hoshina could already sense what Ashiro was about to say. He let out a small sigh.

(Here it comes. She’s definitely going to tell me to give it up…)

The Third Division was in dire need of a new sword instructor during this time. It seemed that Ashiro would soon suggest that he leave the front lines and take on that role.

“I need your abilities. Will you join my force, Hoshina?” Ashiro said as she gently turned back to face him.

The gloomy sky gradually dispersed, and shafts of sunlight entered the room. Her gleaming eyes gazed directly into Hoshina’s.

“Huh…?” Caught off guard by the unexpected proposal, Hoshina felt as though his mind had gone blank.

“We cannot overlook the possibility that more powerful miniatured-size kaiju might emerge in the future. Also, unlike you, I’m awful with bladed weaponry. I wouldn’t even want to pick up a kitchen knife.”

(Okay but isn’t kitchen knives are a complete different matter…)

“When I pierce through the enemies, will you clear a path for me?”

“...”

No one had ever spoken to Hoshina like that, not even his father. He felt his heart racing intensely, unable to suppress the thought that, just by serving under her, maybe…  

(No, stop…)

Hoshina took a breath and exhaled slowly. He quickly regained his composure, and his heartbeat returned to a steady rhythm.  

(Don’t take it seriously; it’s just lip service. If I accept the offer, I’ll only become a laughingstock.) 

Since they were being courteous, one ought to return their gesture. That’s just how things should be done.

“I am truly honoured, but…”

Right after that, the shrill wail of the alarm echoed through the hallway.

“Excuse me, captain!” The door swung open as a bald officer rushed in. “We’ve received reports of a kaiju attack in Oume City. Miniature class, but there are large numbers of them, and over a dozen civilians were reported dead. About the details...”

Listening to the report, Ashiro nodded. “Understood. Ebina, rally the entire team, including those off-duty.”

“Roger!” Ebina responded promptly to the order. “Man, we’re still in the middle of restructuring the division and issues just kept cropping up.”

“We’re againsting the kaiju, they wouldn’t care less about our situation.”

Ashiro picked up the phone from the table and quickly issued orders. However, as she had just recently been promoted to captain, the chain of command was still in disarray. If they were to engage Kaiju, her unit would probably face a severe troop shortage. That was why she could stolidly make such a proposal.

“Captain Ashiro, I could head to the site as well if you will.”

“Wha!? You’re the guy who’s here for a business trip, right? You’re from a different division is it not?” Ebina frowned.

“I carried my suit and weapons. I can at least help with disposing of the yoju.”

“Yeah, but even so…”

Ashiro cut Ebina off. “Hoshina, as the captain of the Third Division, I’m asking for your aid. I’ll make sure to run it by your division as well.”

“Captain, are you sure about this!?” Ebina raised his voice. “Based on the kaiju’s estimated fortitude, this operation is going to be extremely dangerous.”

“He’s a close-combat specialist; he can definitely be able to help us a great deal. Isn’t that right, Hoshina?”

"Right." Hoshina nodded. "I'm the best there is when it comes to neutralising miniature kaiju."

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