Same night...(Katsuna's POV):

As I drove through the familiar streets, I activated the in-car entertainment system. The digital display sprang to life, casting a soft glow throughout the interior. Ignoring the options, I tapped the screen to access the live news feed, which immediately began streaming.

" '---The criminal has taken a woman as hostage.' The lady reporter starts up the explanation, " ' and has barricaded himself inside an apartment.' " 

The guy holding the knife under the woman's neck began shouting at the end: " 'I'm not bluffing you pigs! I mean it! Back off!' " 

He points the knife toward the crowd before returning it to threaten again, I simply roll my eyes and mute the LIVE news by focusing on the road again.

"Seriously, why do humans even consider getting into the spotlight, Jack?"  

Jack shrugs, "Probably to get Ultraman's attention." 

"No wonder..." My voice trailed off until I remembered something and told him: "Oh, and Uncle Jack, I'm coming over right now to pick up my groceries so I could get a headstart in going to work in the morning at the SSSP. Mind giving me a hand?" 

Earning a smile from Jack through the video call: "Sure, I'll let the others know what you need."

"Thanks, Uncle Jack! See ya in a bit!" I end the video call before I stopped, shifted it to park between the others cars, and turned off the engine. I opened the driver's side door and stepped out onto the pavement. 

While walking, I stop by to take in the familiar scent of white roses filling in the night air—a comforting aroma that came from the flower shop I'd visited countless times before.

As I turned away from the shop's inviting entrance, I noticed the alleyway that leads to Alien Town, my old home. I began to walk down it carefully, mindful of any beggars who might be sleeping nearby. As I walked, something caught my eye.

Among the overflowing trash bins and scattered junk, I spotted a cardboard box covered in old, peeling stickers. As I closed my eyes, a sense of sad déjà vu washed over me. 

It felt as though it was just yesterday that Bemular had rescued me from those drunkards, or more accurately, from rapists as a child. The image of him floating over my little 3-year-old self while handing out a hand for me to take, made me think he was my savior. 

Opening my eyes, I began seeing my little self before me, the reality hit me as a lighting bolt had struck me, I didn't even realize I had tears streaming down my eyes while staring down at an empty cardboard box. 

Seeing Bemular try to harm Shinjiro at the stadium, I couldn't help but wonder why he'd pushed me out of the way and why his glow dimmed guiltily. Groaning, I tried to dismiss the thought and turned to leave the alleyway, heading towards the inviting glow of the yellow streetlights.

Fun fact, every time I see hanging lightbulbs around me, it brings me good memories. 

I giggle as I make my way to the little street restaurant where Uncle Jack is waiting for me, I spot the box filled with my groceries on top of the table while reading tonight's newspaper related to the recent events. 

As I was about to call out to him, an idea came to mind and I couldn't help but grow an evil grin cross my lips, I decided to go on a sneak attack on him, and before I could do it, sadly, Jack knew and called me out: "Y'know, you gotta do better that, right?" He joked.

"Ah, man! C'mon, I was this close to jumpscaring you!" I angrily tried to reach him, but having him already placed one finger on my forehead, Uncle Jack handed over the box of groceries he'd prepared for me, and I immediately felt the weight of it. 

My arms strained as I adjusted my grip, but I refused to let it show. "Whoa, this is heavier than I expected," I muttered, shifting the box in my arms. Jack raised an eyebrow, clearly noticing my struggle. 

"Need a hand with that, kid?" he asked, already reaching out to help. 

I shook my head quickly, forcing a confident smile. 

"Nope! I've got it. I can manage just fine, Uncle Jack. Thanks, though!" 

Jack sweatdropped, clearly not convinced, but he didn't push it. Instead, he gave me a knowing look and said, "Just be careful, alright? And stay alert. You've got a job to do now, remember?"

I nodded, giving him a thumbs-up. 

"Got it! Don't worry about me, Uncle Jack. I'll be fine."

With that, I turned and began lugging the heavy box through the alleyway, grunting with effort as I made my way back toward Tokyo. My arms were already starting to ache, and I couldn't help but wish I'd just gone home to rest instead of insisting on doing this. 

But no, I had to be stubborn.

As I rounded the corner, my mind preoccupied with the weight of the groceries and the thought of getting some rest, I suddenly bumped into someone. The impact sent the box tumbling from my arms, and groceries spilled everywhere.

"Ah! I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed, frantically bowing in apology.

When I looked up, I froze. 

Dan Moroboshi stood before me, adjusting his glasses with a faint pink tint on his cheeks, "Katsuna," he said, his tone sharp but with a hint of surprise the minute he saw me: "Watch where you're going. What are you even doing out here at this hour? You're supposed to be resting and waking up early tomorrow."

I blinked, caught off guard by his scolding, 'Couldn't he at least try to be a little nicer?' I thought, but I quickly pushed the thought aside and explained: 

"I wanted to get a head start on grocery shopping in Alien Town so I could come to work right away and have a free day later. But then—" I paused, realizing I'd just admitted to being in Alien Town, and panic set in, "Uh, I mean—" 

He raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. 

"You're rambling. Just pick up your groceries and get moving." 

I nodded quickly, dropping to my knees to start gathering the spilled items. "Right, right! Could you, uh, help me with this? Please?"

Dan crossed his arms, his expression cold. 

"No. You made the mess; you clean it up."

I glared at him, my frustration bubbling over. 

"Oh, come on, Moroboshi-kun! You're really going to leave me here like this?" Seeing him not willing to help, I decide to blackmail him: "Fine, then. I guess I'll just have to tell everyone at the SSSP about that time in high school when you—"

Before I could finish, Dan's aura darkened, and I swear I saw purple flames flickering around him. His glare was intense, and his voice dropped to a low, threatening tone, "You wouldn't dare."

"Oh, I would." I smirked, knowing I had him, "Now, are you going to help me or not?" Defeated, Dan sighed and knelt to help me gather the groceries. 

Our fingertips brushed, sending a jolt through me. "Sorry," Dan muttered as I recoiled, cheeks burning. "It's fine," I mumbled, avoiding his gaze. 

The silence thrummed with tension. Once the groceries were repacked, I thanked him. "Thanks, Moroboshi-kun. I owe you." He watched, expressionless, as I struggled with the heavy box.  He abruptly snatched it from me, carrying it to my car, "You should've kept exercising," he said dryly. "You're out of shape."

"Excuse me? I am not fat!" I exclaimed.

He rolled his eyes, ignoring my indignation as he loaded the box into the trunk. "I didn't say you were fat. Just out of shape."  Arms crossed, I glared. "Well, thank you, Mr. Grumpy. I'll be sure to hit the gym just to impress you." 

With a hint of sarcasm in my voice, Dan scoffed, slamming the trunk: "Don't flatter yourself, Katsuna. Your lack of fitness doesn't impress me." Before I could retort, he abruptly changed the subject, "Have you seen the news about Shinjiro being Ultraman?"

Caught off guard, I blinked. 

"No. Why?"

Leaning against the car, he explained, "Ide and Edo are pleased with Shinjiro's stepping up." Dan continues, "But I don't like how they're manipulating him, painting this as simply doing the 'right thing.' This world's full of dark, twisted enemies. Being a hero isn't that simple."

"You don't think he's ready, do you?" I frowned.

He nods in agreement and then vents coldly about Shinjiro, "He's too young, too naive. He should be training indoors, learning the ropes before taking on such a huge responsibility." I nodded, surprised by how much I agreed with his statement. 

"Yeah, I get that. He's just a kid. He shouldn't have to carry that kind of weight." 

Dan raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my response. "I didn't expect you to agree with me."

I shrugged, leaning against the car beside him. 

"Well, I'm full of surprises, Moroboshi-kun." We stood in silence for a moment, the weight of the conversation hanging between us. 

Then, I turned to him, a serious expression on my face, "Dan...if Shinjiro were manipulated into believing it was 'right,' do you think he'd kill me?" Dan's eyes widened, and he turned to me sharply, "What kind of question is that? Why would you even ask that?"

I met his gaze, my expression unwavering. 

"Because if he's being manipulated into thinking he's doing the right thing, what's to stop him from seeing me as a threat? If he didn't know I was an alien, would he kill me?" He was silent for a long moment, his jaw clenched as he processed my words. Finally, he whispered, "Yes."

I nod curtly, "I'm glad you said that. If you'd lied to me, I would've punched you." Dan's expression softened slightly, and he let out a small sigh: "Baka. (idiot)" I smirked, with the tension easing up, I lean on the car right next to him.

"I'm your Baka," I said. Dan rolled his eyes, but a hint of a smile played on his lips, tempting me to grab my polaroid camera from my car, "Get some rest, Katsuna. Big day tomorrow." I nodded, feeling a strange sense of relief as I got into my car. 

As I drove away, I couldn't help but glance back at Dan, who was still standing by the curb, watching me go. 

Despite everything, I felt a little more at ease knowing he was there to guide me.

The next day...(No one's POV):

Parking in front of the SSSP museum at 5 a.m., a yawning Katsuna exits the car, retrieving a cup of coffee and a cup of tea that she got from a cafe. She hip-checked the door shut, before making her inside the place where a guard told her that she wasn't allowed until opening hours.

Luckily for her, she showed her SSSP I.D. card to the man, who immediately recognized it and granted her entry. Minutes later, Katsuna asked someone for directions to her office, good for her that Mr. Ide had found her there and offered to show her where it was.

"And lastly," Mr. Ide said, leading her into a large room filled with cubicles, "everyone shares this space, but each person has their own booth for personal items. You'll also need to complete paperwork after missions."

Katsuna turns to him, "Thank you, Mr. Ide." She thanked him before he motioned her where her booth was: "Oh and this is where you'll be seated." Settling the drinks on her desk, she spotted a name on the desk right next to her.

'Huh, a neighbor in the office.' Katsuna took a sip of her tea, feeling the warmth of her jasmine tea gives her a little boast to wake up a bit, 'Not bad. At least I'll be near a familiar face.' 

She glanced around the open-plan office. Mr. Ide cleared his throat, snapping her attention back to him, "Well, I should get going. Got my own mountain of paperwork to tackle." He gave a weary smile: "If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. And welcome to the SSSP, Katsuna." 

He gave a small bow and then bustled off towards the exit, realizing the mountain of paperwork being placed on Moroboshi's desk, Katsuna had taken it upon herself to tackle the mountain of paperwork piled on Dan Moroboshi's desk, feeling a pang of sympathy for him.

"Mr. Ide!" She calls out to him, who stops and turns around, "Yes, Katsuna?" "Are these Moroboshi's paperwork?" 

He sighs, "Unfortunately, yes." 

"Why so many?" She questions him to which Mr. Ide explained: "Let's just say Moroboshi has a...unique approach to paperwork. He's incredibly skilled in the field, brilliant actually, but he sees paperwork as an unnecessary evil. Tends to...accumulate." 

Katsuna motioned him to continue as she sat down on her chair, while Mr. Ide chuckled a bit: "He hasn't clocked in yet but should be here in a few hours...however, if you're feeling particularly generous, by all means, tackle it. But be warned, it's like navigating a bureaucratic swamp."

"A swamp, huh?" She stares down at the large piles of paperwork that her friend had to do after missions, making her concern for his health that she then turns back to Mr. Ide with a confident look, "Well, I don't mind lending a hand. Might give me something to do other than explore."

'I've always known him to be diligent and hardworking, but seeing the sheer volume of reports being stacked on his desk is just too much! It's no wonder he doesn't get a day off.'  

Mr. Ide seemed surprised that she was willing to do it, and hesitantly, he agreed to let Katsuna handle the paperwork.

....

The echoing sound of footsteps coming from outside, enters Dan Moroboshi as he steps into the office, his usual stoic expression in place as he prepares himself to dive into the mountain of paperwork he'd left unfinished the day before. 

But as he approached his desk, he froze. 

The stacks of papers were gone, and his workspace was spotless.

Confused, he glanced around, his sharp eyes scanning the room until he heard a soft snoring sound coming from the cubicle beside him. He walked over, his footsteps silent, and peered around the corner. 

There, slumped over her desk, was Katsuna. Her long black hair cascaded over her arms, her purple bangs framing her closed eyes. She looked peaceful, but the faint tear streaks on her cheeks told a different story.

Dan's brow furrowed as he stared at her, his mind racing. 'Why is she sleeping here? And why does she look like she's been crying?' He glanced at her desk and noticed the neatly organized files and completed paperwork. 

His eyes widened slightly as realization dawned on him. 

She'd done his work. 

All of it.

Before he could process this further, Mr. Ide appeared beside him, a knowing smile on his face.

"She insisted on helping," Ide quietly explained, his voice low so as not to wake Katsuna, "Said it was her first day and she wanted to make a good impression by clearing your paperwork for you. I figured it wouldn't hurt to let her."

Dan's expression remained unreadable, but his eyes softened as he looked back at Katsuna. "...She didn't have to do that," he muttered, more to himself than to Ide.

Mr. Ide chuckled softly. 

"Relax, Moroboshi. She's just trying to help. Besides, it's not like you to turn down assistance, especially from someone who cares about you."

Dan shot him a glare, but Ide simply waved him off. 

"I'll leave you to it. Don't forget, you've got a squadron to prepare for the warehouse mission this afternoon. And Moroboshi," he added, pausing at the door, "try to be a little less...cynical with her. She's not your enemy, after all, she's your friend."

Dan sighed, running a hand through his hair as Ide left the room. He turned back to Katsuna, who was still asleep, her shoulders shaking slightly as she whimpered in her sleep. His chest tightened at the sight, and for a moment, he hesitated. 

He wasn't good at comforting people—never had been. But something about seeing Katsuna like this made him want to try. Glancing around to make sure no one was watching, he knelt down beside her. 

His hand hovered in the air, halfway to her back, as he debated whether or not to touch her. 'What if she wakes up? What if she thinks I'm being weird?' His thoughts raced, but before he could decide, Katsuna stirred slightly, mumbling something under her breath.

"No...Dan...don't die..." she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Dan froze, his hand still hovering in the air. His heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he felt like an idiot: 'She's dreaming about me? What kind of nonsense is this?' He shook his head, trying to dispel the strange warmth spreading through his chest.

Standing up, he decided to leave her be. 

But as he turned to go, he noticed the slight chill in the room. Without thinking, he grabbed the blanket draped over the back of his chair and gently placed it over Katsuna's shoulders. She didn't wake, but her whimpering stopped, and she seemed to settle into a more peaceful sleep.

Dan stood there for a moment, watching her. His usual scowl softened, and he let out a quiet sigh. "Baka," he muttered under his breath, though there was no real bite to his words.

As he walked away, he couldn't help but glance back one last time. Katsuna looked so small and vulnerable, curled up under the blanket he'd given her. It was a stark contrast to the fiery, headstrong woman he'd known in high school—and the one who'd just single-handedly cleared his entire workload.

Shaking his head, Dan pulled out his comlink and contacted the squadron. "Prepare the vehicles. We're heading out to the warehouse in ten minutes."

"Yes, sir," came the immediate reply.

Dan ended the call and took one last look at Katsuna. She was still asleep, her breathing steady now. He adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable, and then turned on his heel, striding out of the office.

Katsuna stirred a bit as Moroboshi-kun walked out, her hand brushing against the blanket. A faint smile spread across her lips as she said, "Thanks, Moroboshi-kun..." without really thinking about it. Meanwhile, Dan stood frozen in the doorway, feeling tense. 

His heart raced with a mix of annoyance, gratitude, and old feelings bubbling up inside him, immediately he shook it off and walked away.

Three hours go by and Katsuna has already woken up,

"Hello, this is the SSSP protocol, how can I help you?... Oh Mr. Ide, yes,...uh huh, I'll go right now." She hangs up and heads out to get her car as she drives to the location.

Time skip~

With Katsuna, she parked her car outside the old warehouse before glancing down at the address given to her by Mr. Ide and Edo, who told her that her first mission is to try to negotiate with the enemy to stand down.

Katsuna had already figured that this was going to be difficult, and comments after exiting her car: "Very secluded...I hope this guy doesn't have some kind of power. Or logic, for that matter. Negotiation with these types usually ends up in a fight anyway." 

She adjusted the shoulder strap where her blaster was, took it out for protection and continues to go inside.

Earlier Flashback...

"Take this," Mr. Ide said, handing me a blaster. 

Confused, Katsuna asked, "Why are you giving me a blaster, Mr. Ide?" 

"For your protection, in case things go south." He paused, then hesitantly inquired, "You...do know how to use one, right?"

A light smirk crawled over her lips, as she twirls the blaster before tucking it behind her back in a movie-like flair style, "Please, Uncle Jack had one of his buddies babysit me one time as a kid that I was given a chance to learn how to use different kinds of blasters, this isn't my first rodeo, sir."

"Interesting..." Edo turned, amusement glinting in his one eye. "I never expected a Xandarian so well-trained by assassins." 

"Those 'alien assassins' are part of my small family," I retorted. 

He hummed, then faced the screen. "We shall see..."

End flashback... WARNING BLOOD GRUESOME!

'I swear...Edo is like questioning my family members' loyalty. How dare he! No matter, it's not related to the mission anyway...or is it?'  Ensuring her sidearm was readily accessible, Katsuna took a deep breath before walking towards it.

"Let's see if I can handle it." The warehouse door was a rusted metal behemoth, scarred with graffiti and the ghosts of old welding jobs—no welcoming committee, which was just as well. 

As soon as she stepped across the threshold of the run-down warehouse, a wave of nausea washed over her, her breath catching in her throat at the scent of iron. The scene that unfolded before her innocent eyes was nothing short of horrific. 

Blood, thick and dark, was spattered with reckless abandon across every surface, painting a macabre mural on the aged brick walls, old containers, and dusty concrete floors. The source of the carnage was immediately apparent: 

Dead bodies, their limbs twisted at unnatural angles, were strewn haphazardly across the floor, a grotesque mosaic of lifeless forms. The sheer cruelty of it all churned her stomach, causing her to puke in disgust.

Groaning, Katsuna wiped her mouth with her handkerchief, then produced a vial of minty liquid, a 16th birthday gift from Jack's boxing friends, and drank it in order to cleanse her throat: "Ugh, that's just freaking gross." 

"ɱყ ɱყ ơɧ ɱყ~ Ɩơơƙ ყơų ɖɛƈıɖɛʂ ɬơ ʄıŋɖ ɱɛ ɧɛrɛ."

Katsuna spun around as she was met by a large Adacic alien's shadow and before she could take out her blaster from her back, it knocked her out.

(this is where we start in the show/manga)

...━━━☆§ v𝕆𝐋. ➀: Chapter 11 §☆━━━━━━...

Back at the SSSP...

Shinjiro had just gotten back from his normal high school life and greeted, "Good Morning!"

"Ah, Shinjiro," Mr. Ide smiles, "You're looking rested!" Putting his hands on his waist as Shinjiro tilts his head in curiosity at the comment, raises his arms up then down so he can ask what he meant: "Oh? How do I usually look?" 

He shrugged, then asked, "Up for some training?" Filled with determination, Shinjiro nods, "Yeah! I'd love to get used to the Utra-Suit." Mr. Ide, pleased, started to ask, "Does that mean—" 

"Does that mean you have decided to become Ultraman?" 

Edo interjected, drawing the attention of both humans as Shinjiro nervously scratches the back of his neck and tries to speak, "Um...well, you see..." And before he can respond, the screen flickers to life as Dan Moroboshi shows up on the screen: "Progress report."

"What is it, Moroboshi?" The one-eyed alien asked.

Moroboshi then replies, "We've got the target identified for elimination. We are a go." Shinjiro stares at the screen where the man in red glasses that Edo nods before standing up to announce his new orders: "Moroboshi...I would like you to stand down." 

"Stand down?" He asked, perplexed but kept calm as he listened.

Both Mr. Ide and Shinjiro were slightly confused but then understood what Edo meant after he explained, "We would have Ultraman to eliminate the target." "Huh?" "..." Moroboshi's eyes furrow at the new orders before he agreed but not long before Edo announced:

"Oh and...your Xandarian friend, is already inside."

Making Dan Moroboshi widen his eyes slightly, "What do you mean?"

"He means that we requested her, on her first mission... to negotiate with the enemy."

Time skip~

Ultraman (Shinjiro) makes it to the location of the target where a squadron of SSSP soldiers are standing by with Dan Moroboshi, who pushes up his glasses after receiving the information from his superiors saying something that got him, if not secretly concerned. 

While not pleased with having a rookie here, that wasn't what he was not pleased about.

What he was NOT PLEASED with was the fact that his superiors would order someone like Katsuna to negotiate with an unknown, potentially lethal alien; Especially considering their lack of relationship and her inexperience. 

A thought that always caused him distress when it involved someone he cared for. 

And the person had to be Katsuna.

The only person he has ever cared other than...well, no other person could compete with that.

He understood the logic, or at least, the twisted, bureaucratic semblance of it. Katsuna possessed an uncanny knack for reading people, a silver tongue that could soothe a rabid dog. 

But this wasn't a disgruntled civilian, this was an enemy alien, for God's sake. One whose motivations were completely unknown, whose physiology might render human psychology utterly useless.

He clenched his fist inside his pocket, the metal of his Beta Capsule digging into his palm. He wanted to argue, to protest, to scream at someone – anyone – who thought this was a good idea. But he knew it would be futile. 

Orders were orders, and Moroboshi was nothing if not a soldier.

He could only hope, pray to whatever cosmic deity might be listening, that Katsuna's 'sense of humor' would be enough. That her quick wit and sharp intelligence would bridge the gap between species. 

That she wouldn't become another statistic in the long, bloody history of humanity's encounters with the unknown.

His gaze drifted towards the warehouse where she's located inside, if his memory serves him right, Dan Moroboshi had heard that Katsuna had arrived at the scene of the crime earlier than he had expected. 

That's what he admired about her, what drew him to her... and what terrified him now.

He forced himself to focus, pushing aside the rising tide of anxiety. He had a job to do. He was here as backup now, not to protect her, but if he was under orders to get her out of the warehouse, he wouldn't hesitate to do so.

And if this negotiation DID go south, he'd be ready. He 'had' to be ready. For Katsuna. Always for Katsuna. "Sorry, to keep you guys waiting!" Shinjiro chirps in, removes the shield around his mouth, and asks, a little nervous: "So uh...what is it do you want me to do?" 

 " 'What is it you need to do'? What do you think...?!?" Dan Moroboshi doesn't look at him as he continues, "We need you to take out a worthless extraterrestrial." The way he responded, was simply annoyed. 

Making Ultraman feel an instant weight of hesitation on whether to respond back or not so, he went with: "By 'take out', do you mean... kill?" 

"Did you think I meant to go out on a date?!" Moroboshi quietly snaps at Ultraman, as he visibly gulps, "Uh...No...I guess not but..." the Ultraman manages to answer, not until he turns around and strolls his way towards him.

Ultraman could see his eyes narrowing behind the glint of his red glasses, a bead of sweat trickling down his temple, "Listen to me," He starts off coldly, "You need to know what you're in for, when you arrive at the scene." 

"..." 

The new hero stays silent, giving Dan Moroboshi the time to add more of his explanation of what he needed to do: "Also..." with a head tilt of judgment: "I don't want to hear you whine no matter what happens." 

And from underneath the Ultraman's mask, he gritted his teeth out of frustration since he also just met him and could already tell that he didn't like him either.

"Now get in there and kill it." Dan Moroboshi turns away to face the warehouse, already aware that Ultraman had jumped his way toward the old warehouse after talking with him. 

He narrows his eyes at him before comlinking his superiors, "This is Moroboshi." Sarcastically announces in a monotone voice, "Our Great Ultraman is headed to the factory/warehouse." After that, the first thought that came to mind was: 'Katsuna...'

Meanwhile with Shinjiro...

And so, Ultraman goes jumping from rooftop to rooftop until he reached his destination, not without complaining to himself about what a 'dick' Moroboshi was to him, but he doesn't whine. Once he entered the place, quietly like a mouse, he heard a sound. 

A slurping sound that makes you want to cringe in disgust.

He looks down only to widen his eyes in horror at the sight before him.

"ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"