"But you are amazing that you can become the 1st rank so easily! Also, you don't seem to be tired and sweating!"
Hibino Kafka, who had lost his breath and was even full of sweat, looked at Shinra in praise and amazement, as if he was about to see one of the legends of the Defense Force start.
Probably not only him, but the others as well, as they could see that Shinra's physical ability was beyond that of all his peers, as he was able to gain the 1st position in the physical test with a huge difference from the 2nd position.
More importantly, all of them could see that Shinra didn't appear to be losing his breath, exhausted, and even looked quite at ease, showing that he could do more if the staff asked him to run.
Unlike Kafka, who knew that he was below everyone and needed to work harder, the rest of the participants on this exam felt an intense pressure when Shinra didn't even give his all and talked normally with Kafka, when they all needed to recover from giving their all on the physical exam.
"You are also amazing, Hibino-san."
"Ah? Am I amazing?"
"Of course, I can see your determination and hard work to succeed on this exam, so let's work together."
"...."
Kafka felt his eyes wet when he heard Shinra's sincere words. He wasn't young anymore, at 32, and should be at the age where he made his own family, and got a stable work, but here, he was, trying to join the Defense Force, chasing after his dream that he had failed so many times.
Usually, people would look down on him, thinking that he really didn't know how to give up, so it was his first time being praised.
"Yes! Let's do our best together, Uchiha-kun!"
While Shinra's result was good, as being accepted to the Defense Force, Kafka also wouldn't fail!
This was his last chance, and he would give his everything!
Still, as Shinra talked with Kafka, Reno Ichikawa, who had recovered, also joined their conversation, and got to know each other, and felt like... Shinra was more mature.
Nevertheless, Kafka, who was in a good mood, noticed the girl, whom he had fought earlier, kept staring in their direction. No, the direction of Shinra!
Which made Kafka show a malicious expression before he shouted, "Kikoru, come here! Let me introduce you to Shinra-kun!"
Yup, as they got closer, they also started to call each other by their first names.
"Don't call me like you are my good friend!?" Kikoru Shinomiya got angry at Kafka, before she looked at Shinra with a complicated, yet still competitive expression. "You are good, but this is just the beginning. I will show you who is the best on the next exam!"
"Do you know about the next exam, Shinomiya-san?"
"It's fine. Just call me Kikoru."
"Then, you can call me, Shinra."
"S-Shinra-kun..."
Her voice was meek and docile, like a domesticated kitty before she talked excitedly to Shinra when he asked her questions as she somehow ignored Kafka and Ichikawa.
"Senpai, is being handsome so fatal to the female gender?"
"Of course! A handsome guy is a threat to every woman! Learn this well, Junior!"
"..." Shinra and Kikoru.
Still, when Kafka thought of his childhood friend, would she be swayed by Shinra's handsome face?
'No! No!'
Shinra was young, and according to his understanding, there should be a decade of years difference between Shinra and his childhood friend, so it was impossible, right?
Nevertheless, while everyone had finished their physical test, in the monitor room, all the staff of the Third Division, which was the division tasked to take care of this examination, were in a discussion about the participants who had passed the exam, especially this young man, who had broken the record of the examination of the Defense Force in the history.
"Did you find someone who takes your interest, Hoshina?"
"Yes, there are many, but among all of them, there is a special one."
"Oh?"
As the captain of the Third Division looked at the data of the participants on the exam, she quickly understood who her Vice Captain was interested with, but at the same time, a familiar face also registered within her eyes, which made her think of her past that she had buried deeply due to nerves, fears, and everything as she had risen to a high position where the lives of many was under her responsibility, so if someone could share this burden and even take away this responsibility for her, then she would be grateful and happy to support that person.
Still, staring at the face of a childhood friend, the one that she had been waiting for, yet never came by her side, finally, came, hopefully, he could pass, but even if he could, could he stand by her side?
As she thought so, she looked at the young face of Uchiha Shinra, and the result of his exam before she decided to wait for the next exam, which would determine the value of a member of the Defense Force.
On the other hand, Shinra, who got to know Kikoru, also understood what kind of exam they would face next. The physical exam was easy, but the next one was the real deal, which was an aptitude test.
"For the past two years, the second part of the exam has been a Kaiju body disposal. It seems they want to raise awareness about the other parts of Kaiju neutralization, beyond just killing them, while testing your Kaiju knowledge and teamwork."
Ichikawa, who had done his research, gave his well-founded reasons for what kind of exam they would face after this. Unfortunately, it seemed he was wrong since as they were led to Defense Force Training Area Two, which was like a gigantic fortress made with a special durable material, causing many to feel surprised and in awe by how colossal the facility of the base was.
"I am the head of the screening exam's selection committee, third division Vice Captain, Hoshina."
A slender man with a mushroom-like hairstyle and slit-like eyes stood before everyone as he introduced himself as the number two person within this base, which surprised many, yet Hoshina ignored their reaction and pressed a button that opened the gigantic gate, where they could see the ruined city with many Kaiju that made all of them tense.
"For the second exam, your task in the training area will be to neutralize Kaiju."
As the gate was opened, several Kaiju quickly leaped toward the entrance, ready to fill their grotesque mouths with the bloody meat of the people they saw, until several massive pillars that were formed into a net stopped their movements under the nervousness that was felt by the participants.
"Naturally, we won't send you there unarmed. We'll lend you there."
As Hoshina pointed his thumb toward the automatic storage, several combat suits that resembled the one Kikoru had worn previously were displayed before everyone.
Taking a deep breath, this was what Shinra had been waiting for.