Lead you

As the battle on the Tachikawa Base had reached its conclusion, everyone who was hurt was brought to the nearby hospital or base to be taken care of, as everyone was a hero who had given their everything to fight against the Kaiju, who had almost destroyed the foundation of this country. 

Regardless, as those who were brought to another base might be okay, those who were brought to the nearby hospital needed someone to take care of them, protecting everyone, in case another emergency situation occurred. 

As this incident happened, everyone knew that the Kaiju could appear at any moment, whether it was from the sky or even from the underground. No one was saved, and everyone's life could be threatened at any moment, so without a doubt, due to this, Shinra's treatment was special, especially when he was the strongest, and if he was better, the more people he could save. 

It was also due to this that even if Mina stayed by his side, no one questioned her, thinking that she just wanted to guard him, so he wouldn't be hurt. 

Yet, what they didn't know, Mina just felt like she was pathetic as she could do nothing to change everything, and everything that had happened made her give up, putting her in intense stress, almost broken, but only by his side, she could feel at ease.

Yes, it was immoral, yet she didn't want to leave Shinra's side, especially when she thought of what would happen to Kafka. 

As Kafka had said before, Mina was weak, and instead of a leader who led everyone on the battlefield, she was someone who would follow others from behind, believing in the one who led them, and fight together. 

Even if Mina tried to be strong, her eyes betrayed her as she tried to ask about Shinra's condition. 

"I should be the one who asks you that question, are you okay?" 

Shinra had rested enough, and as long as he ate, he should be more or less okay. As for his mental exhaustion, for someone who had been stressed by the thought of almost being killed by Itachi, Obito, Danzo, and everyone else, this type of problem was nothing for him. 

"W-What's wrong with me? I am okay." 

"It's fine. Don't force yourselves. I am here." 

Those words were the ones that Mina needed the most, so she clung to him as she cried. 

While Shinra felt helpless, he patted her back softly and gently rubbed her head, thinking that living was hard. It was said that Adam and Eve were sent to Earth to be punished, and they had to live in this world, especially the world of Kaiju No. 8, which was so painful that no one knew when they would die, and they also had to work hard to get money. 

Sleep, eat, shit, work, repeat, then be in despair when a Kaiju emerges. 

As for the Defense Force, while it was seen as a hero, it was also the organization with the highest casualties, as many passed away, and most of the soldiers were orphans, who had no parents. 

If Shinra were born in this world, he was sure that if he didn't have good parents, then he would be in despair. 

So, facing Mina, who was crying in his arms, he didn't say anything and just silently comforted her. It was just—

"Shinra... just what should I do?" 

Her beautiful face was streaming with tears, showing her desperation and hopelessness as she was unable to do anything. 

"Fight. Don't give up." 

What could Shinra say except this? 

Unless they continued to struggle, nothing could be done, and if they did nothing, their situation would worsen. Instead of waiting to be saved when one was drowning, it was better to reach out for the air, so one could breathe once again. 

"...." 

However, Mina hesitated, feeling extremely helpless since she knew well that she wasn't strong. She was weak and often cried, especially when she thought of how she could do nothing when her pet died during the attack of Kaiju in the past. 

Her eyes were like those of an abandoned kitty, completely in confused despair as it was unable to do anything. 

"..." 

Shinra knew well that Mina needed it the most, yet he wondered whether this was okay. Even if Kafka had said those words to him, it was simply improper to do all of that to Kafka's childhood friend. 

What did Kafka feel toward Mina? 

Naturally, while it was subtle, Shinra knew that it was affection. 

As for what kind of affection it was, he wasn't sure, but this also reminded him of the story of "The Metamorphosis" from Franz Kafka about the story of a man that transformed into a giant bug on the top of his bed, which was quite similar to Kafka in this world, who turned into a Kaiju on the top of his bed. 

While many things happened in that story, the ending was simple: to learn to move on, especially after the ending of the story of "The Metamorphosis." 

Regardless, this and that were different. 

Shinra had Kikoru on his side, and she entrusted him with everything, thinking that the two would be together, so could he betray that trust? 

If it were in the world of Naruto or Kengan, he had no need to think all of that since the heroines were quite unique, but this world was different since he knew well the sincere feelings felt by Kikoru and Mina. 

"But I am not strong enough..." 

Those words from Mina's lips made him fall into a deep silence. 

A decade. 

This was the time that Mina and Kafka had parted ways, and while Mina faced many dangers as the ace of the Defense Force, Kafka worked as a cleaner at the Kaiju disposal company. 

One was facing battle and took the responsibility of the lives of many, and the other was working hard to live day by day as he tried to chase after his dream. 

Did the two even have time to think about love? 

As he thought so, his thumb lightly caressed against Mina's smooth, white cheek before slowly moving toward her tender, pink lips. Despite having worked as a soldier all the time, she was beautiful. 

Her heroic figure was something that no one could take their eyes off of as her silky, long black hair that was tied in a ponytail swayed with the wind. 

When one looked at her closely, they would notice a small movement right under her eye, giving her a unique charm. 

As his movement became ambiguous, Mina's face turned redder as her breathing grew harder, as her hot breath leaked from her lips, as her eyes stared at him with the eyes of a woman with a new feeling that made her body feel scorching yet filled with anticipation. 

"Then, follow me. Stay by my side. Let me protect you and lead you as we support each other."

"...can I?" 

"Yes." 

"Thank you." 

Yet, as his emotions were also ignited and his desire grew stronger, he knew that it couldn't be stopped anymore.

As he moved closer, ready to take her lips, Mina was surprised, shy, yet she closed her eyes, accepted his tender lips that slowly grew lewder, vulgar yet made them filled with an unexpected joy that couldn't be stopped until in the end, they crossed the line that they shouldn't. 

---

I feel like their relationship is like Lancelot and Guinevere in the King Arthur Legend; they shouldn't be together, yet in the end, they become one as everything is in ruins.