Saijo Nagi scoffed, “Ogami team member, your view is very superficial. Partner? You consider an unknown alien beast a partner, maybe it sees us as food. It may have defeated two monsters, but maybe it thought they would fight over its territory, so it took action.”
“Deputy Captain!”
Ogami Ichihi couldn't listen anymore. Although he hadn't seen the Ultraman with his own eyes, he could feel the Ultraman's kindness towards humans from the video. He thought that the Ultraman must be on the side of humanity, completely different from alien beasts and monsters.
“Alright, you two, stop it. Whether the Ultraman is friend or foe, we don't have a say. We need to see what the Ultraman's attitude towards us is. But the Foreteller also said that as long as we don't take action, the Ultraman won't attack us. Nagi, you know that, right?”
Wakura Eifuku specifically mentioned Saijo Nagi because she was the most hostile towards alien beasts among them. Regardless of whether the Ultraman was an alien beast or not, it was in her eyes. He didn't want her to act rashly and ruin everything, even risking her own life.
Saijo Nagi remained silent for a few seconds before replying, “Yes, Captain.”
Wakura Eifuku nodded and then looked at Ogami Ichihi, saying, “Ogami team member, the situation is a bit special now. The higher-ups have decided to let you train for another week before officially joining the team. Please be prepared.”
In Wakura Eifuku’s opinion, Ogami Ichihi wasn't suitable for the Night Raid team. He didn't understand why Matunaga Manager sent Ogami Ichihi to the Night Raid team, neither in terms of ability nor personality.
Hearing this, Ogami Ichihi looked serious and nodded earnestly, “Yes, Captain, I will work hard!”
He also felt a sense of urgency. He knew that everyone in the Night Raid team was an elite, while he wasn't. So, he needed to work even harder.
“Captain, letting this rookie join in a week, are you serious?”
Hiraki Shiori couldn't understand. Ogami Ichihi had no foundation at all. To join the team, he needed to understand weapons, have a strong body, know how to pilot the Chester fighter, and be able to aim and fire with the fighter.
Just training for a week and letting him join, what are the people above thinking? Isn't this just pure dragging everyone down?
Wakura Eifuku also knew it was difficult, but he couldn't help it. He said, “This is the higher-ups’ decision, and I can't change it. So, Ogami, you need to put in extra effort.”
“Yes, Captain!”
…
In the evening, Zhao Hao cooked himself a simple meal: three dishes and one soup. However, his cooking skills weren't great, so it was edible but not very delicious.
“Ding dong…”
After finishing dinner, the doorbell rang. Zhao Hao didn't have many friends, and few people knew his address. So, the only person he could think of was the girl he met in the morning, named Yukinoshita Yukino.
Opening the door, it was indeed her, still dressed in her school uniform. Although it was just a school uniform, she was beautiful, and it perfectly highlighted her exquisite features.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Zhao Hao and said, “Do you mind me coming over?”
If people who knew her saw Yukinoshita Yukino going to a single man's house alone at night, they would be astonished.
Hearing Yukinoshita Yukino's words, Zhao Hao nodded and said, “Come in.”
“Then I'll bother you.”
After changing into the slippers specifically prepared for guests at the entrance, Yukinoshita Yukino followed Zhao Hao into the house.
Zhao Hao's house wasn't small, but it was a bit empty. There were only some basic tables and chairs, a refrigerator, and nothing else. From this, it could be seen that Zhao Hao was a simple person. After all, he didn't have time to arrange other things.
“Sit.”
Zhao Hao gestured for Yukinoshita Yukino to sit on the sofa.
After sitting down, the two of them looked at each other for a few seconds. Yukinoshita Yukino calmly looked away and looked up and down at Zhao Hao's house, saying, “Is this your own house?”
It didn't look like a rental, because rentals weren't this big. Like the house she lived in, it wasn't big, but it had two floors and was rented.
Zhao Hao said, “It’s a residence I bought a few years ago. Now, it's late at night, and you, a little girl, are coming to a single man's house. Aren't you afraid of something happening?”
Yukinoshita Yukino calmly opened her lips and said, “I'm not afraid, because in my heart, you are my hero.”
“Hero? If you're talking about that time at the summer camp when we were kids, you're overthinking. I just happened to bump into you. Seeing you crying, I found it a bit annoying, so I said those things. That's all.”
Zhao Hao was speechless about Yukinoshita Yukino's words. This girl still remembered an incident from eight years ago so clearly. What hero? It was absurd. Heroes were not easy to be, they could easily die.
Yukinoshita Yukino looked at Zhao Hao, then smiled sweetly and said, “Don't you know what kind of deep impression that incident left on a little girl's heart? Whether you care about me or not doesn't matter. I've made up my mind.”
Yukinoshita Yukino grew up in a family that favored her sister. Because her sister was more outstanding and eloquent, everyone around her liked her. As the younger sister, Yukinoshita Yukino felt a bit lost about this.
She went to the summer camp mainly because her sister wanted to go. Yukinoshita Yukino was just a tag-along.
Therefore, she knew she had to restrain herself. During the summer camp, it was raining heavily, and she got lost and fell. Recalling her grievances, she cried.
Zhao Hao's appearance and his words made her realize that tears were useless. They only showed others her incompetence. She couldn't rely on others, she could only rely on herself.
So, she became independent and strong. She had been top of her class at school abroad and was a bit cold to others. She excelled at seeing through people's true nature, all to prevent people from looking down on her.
Therefore, Zhao Hao left an indelible impression on Yukinoshita Yukino's heart. His words guided her path.
Over time, even though it was only that one encounter, eight years later, Yukinoshita Yukino not only hadn't forgotten, but her impression was even deeper.
“As you wish.”
Looking at Yukinoshita Yukino's unwavering gaze, Zhao Hao had nothing to say.
Yukinoshita Yukino crossed her left leg over her right leg, and her smooth and delicate thighs were revealed above her stockings. Zhao Hao glanced at them, but his heart didn't stir much. Legs were legs, everyone had them. His legs were even longer than Yukinoshita Yukino's.
Seeing Zhao Hao's silence, Yukinoshita Yukino talked about the biggest news of the day, saying, “Have you seen the giant and the monster that appeared today?”
“I was there.”
Zhao Hao honestly said, not only was he there, but he was also the giant.
“You were there?”
Yukinoshita Yukino was surprised. She had seen on the news that there were many casualties. Those giant creatures fighting, human houses were like building blocks in their eyes, easily manipulated, their strength was truly terrifying.
She furrowed her brow, and couldn't help but worry, “Did you get hurt?”
Zhao Hao shook his head, “I was standing far away, I wasn't affected.”