"How... how did you know?" Song Shu was startled.
"I saw workout equipment in your office. It wasn't covered in dust. You use it often. And your face looks healthy. You speak with energy. You're not weak," Morin said. "Yet you're still drinking warm water with goji berries. That's a bit early for someone like you to be so focused on health. But if you're taking care of your body, then it makes sense."
He smiled lightly. "If you were really a lazy bum, why would you exercise and watch your diet instead of eating greasy food and drinking beer all day?"
"You probably don't even drink much."
"Yeah. I get drunk easily. Some kind of physical issue, I think," Song Shu nodded.
"Then it makes even less sense," Morin said. "With your experience, drowning yourself in alcohol would be normal. You could've even turned bitter. But you've kept a healthy, positive lifestyle."
Morin looked at him. "If you told me you didn't have a goal, I wouldn't believe it."
"...You're right." Song Shu knew there was no point hiding it. He admitted it calmly. There was no harm anyway.
"But you're still missing an opportunity," Morin said.
"Not just one," Song Shu replied with a bitter smile, shaking his head. "Many. Opportunities that are almost impossible to achieve."
"The hardest part is finding a qualified mecha pilot who can achieve mental synchronization with me. And then..."
Mid-sentence, even with alcohol in his system, Song Shu realized what he was saying and stopped.
"What's wrong?" Morin asked.
"The rest is just speculation. It involves confidential information. It's not appropriate to talk about," Song Shu said, shaking his head.
"...That Kaiju appearances are becoming more frequent," Morin whispered, leaning in. "That mecha attrition is too high. That repair and manufacturing speed can't keep up?"
Morin's heart skipped a beat.
This was a test. If Song Shu passed, Morin wouldn't mind giving this man he liked a bit of luck-and becoming his benefactor.
"How do you know?!" Song Shu's eyes widened as he stared at Morin.
"I chose to become a mecha designer after analyzing a lot of information," Morin said calmly. "When the nest collapses, no egg survives."
"...You're incredible." Song Shu swallowed and gave a quiet thumbs-up. "Even I needed internal data to reach that conclusion."
"Want to talk details?"
"It's basically what you said... I think I just broke another NDA." Song Shu sighed. "Whatever. With your ability, you'll probably be one of us anyway. This won't stay hidden much longer."
Without realizing it, his attitude shifted. From thinking Morin had no chance-
To believing he almost certainly would make it.
People with real confidence were different. Morin's words and knowledge made Song Shu feel, more and more, that this man would succeed.
"The gap between Kaiju appearances keeps shrinking," Song Shu said in a low voice. "The first was in San Francisco. The second appeared in Manila six months later. Five months after that, Cabo San Lucas."
"And now, it's nearly one every three months."
"They've gone from Category I to Category II. There may be Category III and IV in the future. Mecha combat power needs improvement, but there's a limit."
"When you compare manufacturing and repair speed to appearance frequency..."
He stopped.
Morin understood. Nothing more needed to be said.
As they continued eating skewers, several young men who looked like thugs walked into the barbecue shop. Their clothes had Kaiju prints. They ordered beer and food, then started bragging loudly.
"What's so scary about Kaiju? Just moving piles of meat and bones."
"We've got mechas. Steel and titanium. If we can't beat them, it's embarrassing."
"If Brother Morin went, those Kaiju wouldn't dare act up."
"Keep it down," another said. "It's not my fault no one can mentally sync with me."
"Does Brother Morin even need synchronization? He could pilot solo, right?"
...
Song Shu unconsciously squeezed the beer can. His gaze shifted toward them.
"What's wrong?" Morin asked with a smile. "Angry?"
"...A little." Song Shu took a deep breath and drank again, suppressing it.
"The more ignorant someone is, the louder they bark," Morin said casually. "If you get angry too, you're just lowering yourself to their level."
"Haha..." Song Shu laughed. "You're right."
"Hey, you two," a thug shouted, slamming a bottle on the table. "What are you whispering about?"
"Full?" Morin asked.
"Yeah." Song Shu stood up. "Let's go."
"What's the rush?" Morin gestured toward the thugs. "Perfect timing for exercise. Go teach them a lesson."
"Huh?" Song Shu froze.
"How can a future mecha pilot let people like this insult the profession-and those who died protecting Earth?" Morin said.
"I'm not a mecha pilot yet," Song Shu said reflexively.
"Then have you forgotten what I'll be?" Morin asked helplessly.
Song Shu fell silent.
"I'll be a mecha designer," Morin continued. "Designing one specifically for you isn't difficult."
"Hahaha! Two lunatics dreaming," the thugs mocked.
"Are you serious?" Song Shu glanced at them, then looked at Morin. "I don't fight often."
"So you have fought before," Morin said. "Go on. Show me what you've got left."
"Enough to make me give you a mecha?"
"A promise?"
"Once made, it can't be broken."
...
"You arrogant bastards!" the thugs snapped. Bottles were raised.
"You'd better not resist," Song Shu said seriously. "Otherwise, it'll hurt."
The thugs stared.
"Do you think we're idiots?!" the one called Brother Morin roared and charged.
A moment later-
Song Shu stood unharmed. The thugs lay on the ground, faces swollen and bruised.
"I told you not to resist," Song Shu said innocently. "You still rushed me. I really didn't mean to hit that hard."
Morin nodded in satisfaction. By normal standards, Song Shu's combat ability was near top-tier. He even had muscle memory.
Control was the next step. He hadn't reached it yet.
But this was enough.
At least he wouldn't be completely overwhelmed by a Kaiju inside a mecha.
Morin hadn't been joking about building him one. Song Shu was a decent match. He just lacked opportunity.
Morin didn't mind being his benefactor.
What he wanted even more-
Was to pilot a mecha himself.
That could wait.
At his current [Mecha Designer] level, he probably couldn't draw anything impressive anyway.
I need money. Fast.
I'm really curious what that draw skill will give me.
"What now?" Song Shu asked.
"Call the police," Morin said righteously.
"Huh?" Song Shu froze again.
You hit them and still want to wait for police?
"They insulted soldiers," Morin said. "That alone is enough for jail."
"And you're a mecha pilot in training."
"They started it. Self-defense. Justifiable action. Protecting dignity."
"Any one of those puts them at a disadvantage."
"...You're not wrong," Song Shu whispered. "But people are recording."
Cameras were everywhere.
The fight. Morin's words. All of it.
"As long as we're in the right, there's nothing to fear," Morin said, disappointed as he lectured him. "We're doing the right thing."
"You're already shrinking because of a camera."
"What will you do when you're in a mecha, with the entire world watching?"
"You wouldn't even be able to move."
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