Soshiro Hoshina/Plot

## History

Coming from a family of kaiju-killers dating back to the Muromachi period, Soshiro has displayed a great talent in swordsmanship ever since he was a kid. However, Soshiro always lived in the shadow of his older brother Soichiro, who has always been a better swordsman and overall fighter than Soshiro. Furthermore, since his unleashed combat power with firearms was always low, Soshiro had been told his entire life to give up on the Defense Force, both by his own father and by his superior officer.

Soshiro eventually joined the Defense Force, an an officer under a different division. One day, he was sent to Tachikawa Base for a meeting regarding a goodwill kendo match between his division and the Third Division. There, he spoke to the soon-to-be retired instructor, who offered Soshiro to take his place. This propose made Soshiro think about his father and his superior officer also suggesting him to become an instructor, effectively trying to persuade him from entering the battlefield. Later that day, he was called in Captain Mina Ashiro's officer, where she commended his sword skills. Suprisingly, instead of discouraging him, Mina asked him to join her division, as his close-quarters abilities would make up for her specialty in long-range attacks. Moments later, Platoon Leader Ebina entered the officer annoucing a miniature kaiju and its yoju have emerged in Ome City. Despite Ebina's blunt reaction upon Soshiro's request to join them, Mina allowed Soshiro to give them aid, starting their relationship as partners on the battlefield.

On the way to Ome City, Soshiro was promptly reprimanded by Platoon Leader Ebina, who then told Soshiro about their instructor's word of praise. However, as many others before, Ebina reminded Soshiro that "times have changed". On the scene, Ebina told his men and Soshiro that their job was to dispose of some Lizard-type Yoju that the previous platoon coulnd't neutralize in Zone Lima. As they were facing them, a yoju managed to flee, giving Soshiro the opportunity to chase it and easily slay him. As Soshiro was then observing the massive Honju, he spotted another more mature yoju next to him. While fighting it, however, the monster shoot a stream of acid saliva from its mouth, putting Soshiro in serious difficulty if Ebina and the others didn't join him and kill the kaiju. Much to his disappointment, Soshiro was ordered by Ebina to go look for stranded children in the area. Despite the platoon leader praising Soshiro's skills and job, he deemed him unsuited to face those kaiju. Following his superior's orders, Soshiro started to wonder about his very existence.

## Plot

### The Man Who Became a Kaiju Arc

During the second-stage examination for the Defense Force, Soshiro Hoshina showed the files of the examinees to Mina Ashiro, guessing she wasn't interested as she only cared about kaiju killing, but as she saw Kafka's file, she decided to listen to him. Soshiro was surprised, but started telling her of all the promising people of that year.

He announced that the aptitude test would be kaiju neutralization and explained that each will get a Defense Force Suit, which used kaiju muscle fibers and would give them more strength. He was surprised they got that many people who were able to draw more than 10%, including Kikoru Shinomiya who was able to draw 46%, but then he laughed at Kafka Hibino's 0%.

He informed the examinees that there were 46 Yoju and Honju in the area and that Mina Ashiro would also be proctoring this test. When Kafka got injured, he suggested him to give up, but Kafka insisted on keep going. He then saw Leno Ichikawa carrying Kafka and laughed, jokingly wanting them to pass but in the comedy department. As the test was over, Mina was impressed by Kikoru and Soshiro agreed, commenting she would be a linchpin in the future of the Defense Force. They expected 30 dropouts, but due to her presence, no one dropped out and there are minimal injuries. Just then the Honju Kikoru killed mysteriously came back to life and started to wreak havoc all over the place. Before he and Mina could intervene, the kaiju was killed and Kafka and Leno brought Kikoru to safety. Soshiro then noticed that when a fortitude 9.8 kaiju appeared in the area, Kafka's vitals disappeared at the same time. For this reason he decided that, despite the council's decision not to pass Kafka, he would have him pass as his personal cadet.

### Sagamihara Neutralization Operation at Daybreak Arc

Two months later, after the shooting training, he overheard Kafka talking in the bathroom to the other boys about his reason for entering the Defense Force. Soshiro approached Kafka about that the same night and as he warned Kafka not to trust his comrades a kaiju appeared. As the mission started he gave everyone orders to follow, while leading himself a platoon with Kafka and Kikoru in. Later Kafka was able to contact Soshiro informing him of the location of the core of the yoju, earning him Soshiro's praise. Seconds later Soshiro announced Mina's arrival with a cannon. As he once again questioned Kafka's will to pursue his dream to stand next to Mina, Soshiro showed off his ability with the swords by defeating an Yoju. As Mina destroyed the Honju, Soshiro ordered everyone to take care of all the Yoju who came out of his corpse, but moments later a call from platoon leader Ikaruga informs him that Leno Ichikawa and Iharu Furuhashi were lost.

As he found out that Kaiju No. 8 was present in the zone, he found him in an alley, unaware that the kaiju was actually Kafka, and tried to attack him. After having all his attacks evaded by the kaiju, Soshiro decided to go all out, releasing 92% of his suit energy. Using mutiple form of his Blade Cutting Technique, Soshiro was still unable to injure his opponent effectively. As he detected the kaiju's core, Soshiro tried to slash it but was ultimately outplayed by Kaiju No. 8 who got away. Then a frustrated Soshiro reported that Kaiju No. 8 escaped to the rest of the Defense Force. As Mina approached him he admitted that it was an embarrassing situation and, at the same time, he remembered how fighting Kaiju No. 8 was like fighting a human. Then, he was informed by Ikaruga that Leno and Iharu saw a worker at Monster Sweeper Inc. transforming into a Humanoid Kaiju. For this reason Soshiro and Konomi Okonogi secretly went to Professional Kaiju Cleaning Company Monster Sweeper Inc. to speak to the staff about their new worker Takamichi Hotaka.

When the Third Division officers were celebrating their first mission Soshiro joined them and showed Leno how everyone discussed about the mission and seeked to become stronger. Later, he announced Kafka's promotion to Corps member of the Third Division of the Defense Force.

Days later, Soshiro was approached by journalists from Metro TV, who wanted to interview him. They asked him about the talented rookies of that year, including the prodigious Kikoru Shinomiya and the enigmatic Kafka Hibino. Then, Soshiro remembered he had a private training session to hold and invited the journalists to join. During the kendo training, Soshiro explained the situation to the journalists, before the rookie Aoi Kaguragi challenged him to a sparring match. Soshiro bested him with little to no effort, commending the youngster's skills. Then, he was challenged by Kafka, Leno and Iharu, defeating them with no problems, before he was challenged by Kikoru as well.

### Raid on Tachikawa Base Arc

When Mina was forced to leave to the main office of the Defense Force, Soshiro was left as substitute. One night, he was training by reenacting his fight against Kaiju No. 8 to eliminate him once and for all the next time they meet. Just then Kafka interrupted him and after a conversation Soshiro confirmed the high expectations he has on Kafka. Later that night, while investigating on Kaiju No. 8 and No. 9, Soshiro witnessed the attack of dozens of kaiju on Tachikawa Base, and, while giving orders to Konomi, he got ready to fight. Soshiro was then called by Kafka, who told him that since Wyvern-type kaiju are usually lonely they had to be controlled by a powerful leader. Seconds later the leader of those kaiju confronted Soshiro, so the Vice-Captain engaged in combat with him, quickly realizing that that kaiju was on par with Kaiju No. 8. Realising that his opponent wasn't just fighting to kill, but for the thrill of it, Soshiro tried to confine him, with the help of Konomi, outside the gates. After the kaiju destroyed Gate Number Three, Soshiro decided to go all out, thus severing one of the kaiju's arms and releasing the full force of his suit. With the fight going on, he slashed the kaiju multiple times with his style of Sword-Slay Technique before witnessing the kaiju's unexpected transformation. As the kaiju grew in size, reaching the size of a building, Soshiro kept on his attack, barely keeping on since large kaiju are those he has the hardest time against. When blood started coming out of his nose, Soshiro realized that he was overheating due to abusing of the full force of his suit, and that he only had one minute to finish the kaiju off. After arduously arriving behind the kaiju, he was the localized by him and punched through several blocks, losing the full force of his suit. Despite the serious hit, Soshiro was able to keep fighting, driven by his gratitude towards Mina's trust in him and his deep bond with the Defense Force. After being caught in a deadly grasp by the kaiju, Soshiro was then saved by Mina, who came back to thank everyone for their struggles to defend the base and shoot the kaiju in the shoulder. With Mina arriving, they joined forces against the kaiju, despite Soshiro being at his limit. With the fatigue almost reaching him, he was further aided by Kikoru Shinomiya, who was able to cut an opening on the enemy's body before falling from exhaustion. Thanks to her help and driven to his utmost, Soshiro succeeded in exposing the kaiju's core, taunting him as Mina shot it. With the kaiju down, Soshiro told Kikoru to rest before being told the same thing by Mina. As he accepted the offer, he noticed as a massive yoju-bomb was falling from the sky, ready to blow up on Tachikawa Base, with the Second Humanoid Kaiju (now reduced to a talking decapitated head) calling their fight "a draw". Out of nowhere, Soshiro and the others noticed as Kafka rushed at great speeds towards the bomb, before transforming into Kaiju No. 8. With his initial suspicions on him coming true, Soshiro regretted turning a blind eye on him due to Kafka's charm and watched as Kafka punched the bomb away, launching it higher up to the sky above where it detonated several miles into the atmosphere and sparing everybody at the base. Then, Soshiro and Mina proceeded to take the transformed Kafka in custody; the former was seen looking away as his Captain did, appearing dismayed and with an unreadable expression.

### Kaiju Weapon Arc

After Isao Shinomiya's death at the hand of Kaiju No. 9, Soshiro and the rest of the Third Division held their commemorative rites at Tachikawa Base.

When Kaiju No. 10 awakened in Tachikawa Base, Soshiro decided to interrogate him to find out more about Kaiju No. 9. Upon being revealed that Kaiju No. 10 was created by No. 9 himself, No. 10 declared that he'd say anything he knew only if Soshiro accepted to weaponize it and wear it as his personal weapon. After Soshiro agreed, he listened to No. 10's insight on the other Kaiju.

### The Compatible User Arc

Soshiro and the rest of the Third Division, some time later, visited the First Division at the Ariake Maritime Base, bringing their encounter to a bickering moment. Then, during an assembly of all the Divisions in the Defense Force and the new Director General Keiji Itami, Soshiro revealed the intel he got from Kaiju No. 10. It was then theorized by Soshiro himself that Kaiju No. 9's hidden location was where the Philippine sea and the Eurasial plate meet underwater, a place inaccessible to humans. Then, remebering that Kaiju No. 9 assimilated Director Isao and his memories and knowledge of the Defense Force, Soshiro also noted that the way to defeat him lies in training the young recruits, then proposing Leno Ichikawa as a possible compatible user of the strongest weapon in the Defense Force arsenal: the one made from Kaiju No. 6's corpse.

A month later, Soshiro appeared in the Ariake Maritime Base at night while Kafka Hibino was having a jogging session. Taunting him for not being powerful enough to replaced him as Mina's Vice-Captain, Soshiro quickly attempted to slash Kafka like he was going to do back in Sagamihara, facing Kaiju No. 8. Finally being even with him, Soshiro then thanked Kafka for saving the Third Division during Kaiju No. 10's attack and told him not to transform again since Soshiro himself wanted to destroy Kaiju No. 9. After Kafka decided to decline Soshiro's idea, Soshiro offered him a fight training to improve Kafka's combat skills. Bringing him to Ryunei Shrine, Soshiro told him the story of the temple and challenged Kafka to a sparring match, easily overwhelming him but still praising his training. Underlining Kafka's habit to rely on his kaiju powers, Soshiro decided to teach him Isao Shinomiya's Squadron-Style Combat Technique, to give Kafka something to help him fighting without transforming. Then, Soshiro encouraged Kafka once again to steal his position as Mina's Vice-Captain and the two left the temple. Soshiro then trained Kafka with lower body exercises and promised him to check on him every twice every week.

Some time later, Soshiro and other Defense Force upper echelons met to discuss the fourteen unsolved kaiju cases of the last month, preparing a strategy to counter this new No. 9-induced cataclysm theorized by Soshiro himself.

At some point, Soshiro and Konomi discussed about him wielding a new weapon since No. 9 probably observed Soshiro's fight with No. 10, hence studying his dual-blade style.

### Cataclysms Arc

During the No. 9-induced catalcysms, Soshiro took action at the Chofu Airport area by wearing the Numbers Weapon 10, freshly made from the body of Kaiju No. 10. With the weapon not only being sentient, but hosting the conscience and latent power of No. 10, Soshiro was forced to come to terms with the kaiju obssessed with him and to synchronize with it to defeat the rampant monsters at the airport. With No. 10 proving to be headstrong and reluctant to follow Soshiro's tactics, the Vice-Captain had trouble moving and eventually decided to give up his body to No. 10's influence, with the two ready the destroy their enemies. Managing to reach a state of semi-synchronization, Soshiro and No. 10 defeated the remaining kaiju.

### The Second Wave Arc

Later, they were approached by Kaiju No. 12. During their fight, No. 12 turns its arms into blades and fight toe-to-toe with Soshiro, who was amazed that a kaiju was able to threaten him in a blade contest. Soshiro, acknowledging No. 12's superior power, assumed the kaiju was the finished product of No. 10, who revealed itself to be a prototype in the past. Pummelled by No. 12, Soshiro had even his swords destroyed by the kaiju. Disarmed and cornered, Soshiro instructed Konomi deploy Case 7: an array of pods containing new katanas. Accepting that he couldn't get his combat power in the No. 10 suit up to his normal level, he opts for switching his fighting style. Despite avoiding it since it was his brother Soichiro's specialty, Soshiro grabs his new katana and challenges No. 12 with his family's single-blade form. Using the new form, Soshiro managed to chop one hand off No. 12, turning the tables. He goes even further by using techniques from the Sword-Slay Style with his new Quick Slash techniques. With the tables turned, Soshiro managed to find No. 12's core, but it managed to adapt before he could reach the core. No. 12 coutners by making a katana of its own and copying Soshiro's single blade form. Shocked by the kaiju's move, Soshiro's resolve to defeat it found its peak, right before he was hit by a slash from No. 12. In a state of trance, Soshiro realized he had lost his right arm, bringing him to a state of despair as he considered quitting the Defense Force since he couldn't be as strong as Soichiro. However, No. 10's laugh made Soshiro realize it was actually the suit's tail that was severed, revealing that it had defended Soshiro. No. 10 encouraged Soshiro to fight back and do what they love most together, even if it killed them both. As No. 10 spoke in Soshiro's subconscious, he realized that he was spurred to go on and improve himself in life becuase he found sword-fighting fun. Having found his ultimate resolve, he grabs more backup katana and prepares for one final clash with No. 12. Having embraced his true reason for fighting, Soshiro is able to connect with No. 10 and unleash 100% of the suit's combat power. With the help of No. 10's tail, Soshiro grabbed a third swords and invented a new technique on the spot, consisting of twelve consecutive strikes that exposed No. 12's core. The Daikaiju was able to adapt and block the final strike that would hit its core, but Soshiro shot No. 10's tail in the air behind No. 12, allowing the third blade to stab the enemy's core. Despite hitting the core, Soshiro watches No. 12 try to continue fighting despite its fatal injury. Fortunately, its core breaks down before it can attack again, but as it dies, the Vice-Captain applauds the kaiju's incredible strength before collapsing from exhaustion himself. After scolding No. 10 for wanting to fight the other officers again, he remembers that Ashiro has to face the last identified Kaiju standing.

### The Last Wave Arc

After Mina managed to ending the Second Wave with the neutralization of Kaiju No. 14, Soshiro gladly listened to the news. When, seconds later, Kaiju No. 9 appeared in front of Mina in Tachikawa, First Division's Kurusu announced to everyone nearby, with Soshiro rushing towards her.

## Reference

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Chapter 14
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Chapter 89
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chapter 29
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 1 (B-side)
5. ↑ Chapter 2 (B-side)
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Chapter 4
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Chapter 5
8. ↑ Chapter 6
9. ↑ Chapter 8
10. ↑ Chapter 8
11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 Chapter 10
12. ↑ Chapter 12
13. ↑ Chapter 13
14. ↑ Chapter 16
15. ↑ Chapter 19
16. ↑ Chapter 20
17. ↑ Chapter 21
18. ↑ Chapter 22
19. ↑ Chapter 23
20. ↑ Chapter 24
21. ↑ Chapter 25
22. ↑ Chapter 26
23. ↑ Chapter 27
24. ↑ Chapter 28
25. ↑ Chapter 30
26. ↑ Chapter 31
27. ↑ Chapter 32
28. ↑ Chapter 54
29. ↑ Chapter 55
30. ↑ Chapter 56
31. ↑ Chapter 57
32. ↑ Chapter 58
33. ↑ Chapter 65
34. ↑ Chapter 66
35. ↑ Chapter 67
36. ↑ Chapter 68
37. ↑ Chapter 72
38. ↑ Chapter 73
39. ↑ Chapter 75
40. ↑ Chapter 76
41. ↑ Chapter 81
42. ↑ Chapter 88
43. ↑ Chapter 90
44. ↑ Chapter 91
45. ↑ Chapter 92
46. ↑ Chapter 93
47. ↑ Chapter 94
48. ↑ Chapter 96
49. ↑ Chapter 97