Grey: Monsters

A round table was situated in the center of the room. Around it were seven chairs, with only three of them occupied. The rest displayed holographic images of different individuals. The room was dark, with only a faint light and the glow from the holograms providing illumination. Due to the dim lighting, the individuals present couldn't be seen clearly, but among them was Leonard, the captain of the seventh division.

"I believe everyone is present?"

A voice came from one of the holograms.

"Well then, shall we begin? There are more cases than usual today—some minor, others major. To maintain stability in society, none of these cases have been made public, not even among the captains."

"If you could proceed with these cases, it would save us quite a bit of time," a female voice interjected.

"Alright. First, the Kyoto water reservoir, which supplies water to all of Japan's bases, has been damaged. There's no solid proof of the cause, but it's likely the work of the Nephilim."

"It has to be those damned Nephilim," another voice grumbled.

"Indeed. What other creatures are capable of destroying reservoirs if not those beasts? But I have a question—does the government know about this?"

"They're aware and have handed the matter over to us."

"Alright, let's move on to the next case."

"News reached the government earlier this week that a horde, possibly an army, of Nephilim is approaching the Hokkaido base."

Everyone's interest was piqued.

"An army? How is that possible?"

"Nephilim don't travel in groups," another voice pointed out.

"Normally, they don't," Leonard said, "but at this rate, anything's possible."

"That reminds me," one of the holograms spoke again, "I heard Shibuya base had a technical error during the combat exams that nearly cost the participants their lives. Care to explain what happened, Captain Leonard?"

"One of the participants lost his life—"

"Oho, straight to the point, as always."

"And I wouldn't call it a technical error. We discovered that a Nephilim had made the combat grounds its secret lair for some time."

"And no one knew about this?"

"I'm afraid not. That being said, I wouldn't be surprised if the Nephilim are moving in groups now. Evolution is beyond our control."

Leonard's words caused a heavy silence to fall over the room.

"Captain Furahashi, can you brief us on the situation at Hokkaido?"

"Thank you, Head captain. As it stands, things are getting worse every day. The first wall surrounding the farm base and the lab has been destroyed. Not only can we not access food, but we can't even treat the sick. The mortality rate keeps rising everyday due to sickness, and in recent calculations we discovered the Nephilims are moving in waves. We've only experienced the first wave, with many more expected."

"That's terrible."

"As if they're migrating," someone commented.

"Captain Furahashi, can you tell us the grade of Nephilim you've encountered so far?"

"Er… it fluctuates—"

"Fluctuates?" another voice questioned.

"Yes! So far, we've fought Nephilim ranging from Grade E to Grade D. We're expecting another wave in a few weeks. We're low on men and firearms. At this rate, Hokkaido base will…will be wiped out."

The room fell into a grave silence, the air thick with tension. Captain Leonard and the two others present—one of them a woman—glanced at each other, then at the holographic figures.

"Captain Furahashi, hang tight—help is on the way," one of the holograms said, the Head Captain. "Squads four, five, and three will join squads two at Hokkaido to prepare for the upcoming wave. Squads six and seven will head to Kyoto with a team of engineers to restore the reservoir. The future within the walls depends on us. For honor, for glory, and for the motherland—"

"We fight!"

***

I sip from the cup of hot chocolate in my hand, but I can't taste it thanks to the botched job B did patching me back to life. I miss my tongue. But that's just one of many things I miss. Right now, though, I miss my freedom. How the hell did I end up stuck in a children's restaurant, drinking hot chocolate and babysitting Saiya—the legendary Saiya—who everyone I've met adores?

"Hey, Ryuma."

"Yes?"

"I'm annoyed."

"Wow, you don't say."

She took a sip of her hot chocolate and let out a satisfied burp. Her face was bright red, and her eyes were too. I wasn't sure if she was drunk, but she sure acted like it.

But it's just hot chocolate. Who gets drunk off hot chocolate?

"Yes, I'm really annoyed. My best friend keeps telling me to get a boyfriend. I don't understand her at all. I'm only nineteen, what do I need a boyfriend for?"

She's definitely drunk on chocolate. She's giving more information than she's taking.

"She even set me up with this Issei guy, then came back to tell me it was all a prank. She's a terrible friend."

She started crying.

Issei… could it be? No, I doubt it.

"So what do you want from me, Saiya? I've got to go home, you know—it's getting late."

"Tell me, Ryuma…"

She set her cup down and wrapped her arms around my neck, bringing her face close to mine. I could feel her heat—her breath, smelling like chocolate, was warm against my skin. I could also catch the scent of her shampoo. It smelled like bananas. Looking at her up close like this, she seemed familiar, as if I'd seen her somewhere before. But where? I've never talked to any girls in my past. Was it a picture? That's the only explanation. But which picture was it…?

"Ryuma… will you be my boyfriend?"

Suddenly, everything clicked. I remembered back when I studied human biology—sex, and certain stimulants. I learned that chocolate releases chemicals that make people feel like they're falling in love. Sometimes it even makes people feel high, or in rare cases, aroused. If I'm right, that's what's happening to Saiya.

"I—"

I opened my mouth to speak, but she collapsed onto the table. I was heartbroken. Truly heartbroken. My first-ever proposal, and it was because of a chocolate-induced high.

I palmed my face, gulped down the tasteless chocolate, and looked at Saiya. She was cute, with her small lips and long lashes. My eyes drifted lower, and I noticed her butt—it was perfect.

"If only she were a little older…"

Like I have a choice. I've never dated a girl, let alone kissed one. I'm at the stage where even if a forty-year-old woman asked me out, I'd gladly say yes.

I lifted Saiya onto my back, carefully avoiding touching her sensitive parts like her breasts and butt. Just as I was about to leave, the waitress approached me. She was beautiful and looked about the right age for me.

"Your bill, sir?"

"Er… yeah, the thing is, I'm still an immigrant, so…"

"Ohh. Your card, then?"

I showed her my ID card.

"And what about her?"

"She's my sister."

"Okay then, have a good day, sir."

I left the kids' restaurant.

On my way home, I realized something—I had no idea where Saiya lived. Taking her to my place wasn't a bad idea, but I didn't know how she'd feel about it, and I was trying to avoid drama in my life.

"I hate everyone…" she mumbled again. Her lips brushed against my neck, and it tickled.

"I hate the captain most of all. I'm the only girl in the squad, and after begging him to allow Sarada into the squad, he went ahead and added three more boys. I hate everybody."

What a touching story. Is that why she got herself drunk on chocolate?

"Ryuma, where are you taking me?"

"I don't know. My house."

"I hope you aren't going to do anything weird to me?"

"If you think I would, then get the fuck up and go to your own house—"

"I'm sorry…"

Huh?

"I'm really sorry for trying to kill you that day. You caught me off guard. Everyone I've ever met has a particular odor, but you don't. You have no smell at all. It's as if you don't exist. You don't smell like a human, or an animal, or even a Nephilim. You just…"

She fell asleep again. I wasn't sure if I should be happy or sad. It's one thing to say I don't smell like a Nephilim, and it's another to say I don't exist.