Mina Ashiro/Plot

## History

According to Kafka Hibino, Mina was born on a sunny day.

At some point in her childhood, she and Kafka met each other after a kaiju attack destroyed their houses, swearing to fight against kaiju alongside each other as future Defense Force members.

Nine years ago, when Mina was 18, she took the screening exam to join the Defense Force with Kafka. As the latter failed for the fifth time, Mina managed to join the Third Division and start her career, with Kafka promising to join her soon. However, on Mina's first mission, one of her shots damaged an entire building. She was subsequently studied, much to Director General Isao Shinomiya's amazement, who thought she was the missing link that would change kaiju neutralization forever. On her behalf, Mina was very scared when being studied, and begged Kafka to hurry up and join her. Mina was later assigned on a mission to defeat a huge Honju with her newly equipped cannon, despite her feeling incredibly pressured by the injuries and damages taking place on the battlefield. Completing the mission, as the years went on, she reached captaincy within the Third Division and never forgave Kafka for not joining her as he promised.

Eventually, Mina hired Soshiro Hoshina in her division to have a "blade specialist" to follow her in battle.

## Plot

### The Man Who Became a Kaiju Arc

Mina appeared killing a kaiju appeared in Yokohama. Later that day she lead her team into defeating the kaiju's Yoju, saving kaiju clean-up team members Kafka Hibino and Leno Ichikawa. Later, she received a call informing her of a kaiju presence at the hospital where Kafka and Leno were and dispatched her team.

Three months later, during the second-stage examination, Soshiro Hoshina showed her the files of the examinees, 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 that year anyway.

She ended up proctoring the aptitude test herself, and in the end, was impressed by Kikoru Shinomiya's abilities. After the accident during the test, where she and Soshiro dispatched but arrived late, Mina visited Kafka and Leno at the hospital thanking them for having saved Kikoru's life. Some days later, during the Presentation of Enlistment Certificate, she sternly punished Kafka for calling out to her without her honorific title with 100 push-ups, although smiling a bit shortly after.

### Sagamihara Neutralization Operation at Daybreak Arc

During Kafka's first mission against a Fungal-type kaiju, Mina appeared shooting and killing the Yoju with a cannon multiple times, eventually killing it. After Soshiro's failed attempt to subjugate Kaiju No. 8 Mina approached him to ask him about the kaiju and she was told that No. 8 is most likely a Daikaiju - the first to emerge since the one from Fukuoka five years back, much to Mina's controlled surprise. As Soshiro wondered about No. 8, Mina reminded him that regardless of the type kaiju must be neutralized. They promptly received a call from Platoon Leader Ryo Ikaruga who informed then that the kaiju who attacked Leno and Iharu Furuhashi not only was a humanoid kaiju, but also one who could transform into a human.

### Raid on Tachikawa Base Arc

Some days later, Mina and Kafka had a private meeting where Mina proved to still remember Kafka's promise and told him that it was Soshiro's idea to promote Kafka as an official Corps member since he has high expectations of him. Then, following the events caused by Kaiju No. 9 and the unresolved No. 8 before that, Mina was forced to leave and submit her report regarding both cases to the main office of the Defense Force, leaving everything at Tachikawa to Soshiro.

During the raid, as Soshiro was in trouble while fighting Kaiju No. 10, Mina came back to assist her comrades and thanking them for standing their ground while defending the base. Upon thanking everyone, she proceeded to shoot the kaiju on the shoulder, detaching his arm. Shooting him from a distance and aided by Bakko, Soshiro, and Kikoru, Mina thanked Soshiro for being her partner and proceeded in shooting the kaiju in the core. When the kaiju fell, Mina told Soshiro to go to rest before noticing a massive Yoju-bomb and telling everyone to get ready. As they were preparing to fight the falling threat, Mina and the others witnessed Kafka running at great speeds towards the bomb and suddenly transforming into Kaiju No. 8. Incredulous, Mina could only watch as her friend, now in kaiju form, jumped in the sky to punch the bomb away. As the bomb was going off, Mina ordered everyone to protect themselves with their shield and later approached Kafka, ready to take into custody Kaiju No. 8. A day later, Mina was ordered to move Kafka to the headquarters of the Defense Force. During the trip to the Ariake Maritime Base, Mina and Kafka shared an intimate moment showing each other's trust.

### Kaiju No. 8 Captured Arc

After Kafka was captured, Mina offered Leno, Iharu, Aoi and Haruichi a transfer to another division, since Tachikawa Base's functionality was reduced by 75% and it was suitable for newbies anymore.

At some point, Mina texted Kikoru to inform her that the Defense Force high-ranking members decided against disposing of Kafka.

Sometime later, Mina and the rest of the Third Division payed homage to Isao Shinomiya's demise during the funeral.

### Cataclysms Arc

During a joint training exercise, Mina stationed in the Ariake Maritime Base where, during her lunch break, she exchanged her first words with Kafka Hibino since he saved Tachikawa Base. During their conversation, both of them recalled the old days when they were kids and when Kafka would reassure Mina with her smile whenever a kaiju attacked. Then, Mina proceeded to thank Kafka for saving Tachikawa Base and reassured him on their promise to neutralize every kaiju left together before leaving.

When the No-9-induced cataclysms broke out, Mina and the rest of the Third Division took action in Tachikawa. She later assisted the First Division operating in Oizumi by shooting down two Daikaiju from Tachikawa, using her new Anti-Daikaiju Rail Gun weapon.

### Second Wave Arc

When Kaiju No. 14 appeared in Tachikawa, Mina targeted it to neutralize it. As the Kaiju was wreaking havoc in Tachikawa, thanks to its teleportation and energy beam powers, Mina and Bakko took action to take it down. As No. 14 was wrangled into neutralization zone, Mina reminisced the pressure she awlays felt when killing kaiju throughout her career. After dodging an attack from No. 14, Mina managed to shoot mid-air through the kaiju's body.

### The Last Wave Arc

After Mina's shot, Kaiju No. 14 was declared dead. In that moment, Kaiju No. 9 took on the live communications of the Defense Force to admit its shock towards the officers' strength but also to declare the battle was its victory. No. 9 then declared that, like in Sagamihara and during the Tachikawa Raid later, the battle was its third attempt to attack the entity the holds the most destructive power in the Defense Force: Mina Ashiro. A white version of Kaiju No. 14 then opened a portal that allowed No. 9 to walk through No. 14's body, ready to attack Mina and take her power. Mina stood there in horror, as First Division's Kurusu announced No. 9's appearance in Tachikawa, with the most powerful officers available mobilitating towards her before the Third Wave appeared. Mina promptly switched to her handgun, swearing to neutralize No. 9 while shooting at it. She even managed to destroy No. 2's shield, before No. 9 closed the distance between them and grabbed her. It then went on to state its intentions: since No. 6's cataclysms proved that humanity is weak against giant-class Identified Kaiju, No. 9 wants to absorb Mina and incorporate her into its creations to destroy the country.

## Reference

1. ↑ Chapter 11
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Chapter 1
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chapter 95
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chapter 29
5. ↑ Chapter 2
6. ↑ Chapter 4
7. ↑ Chapter 5
8. ↑ Chapter 6
9. ↑ Chapter 7
10. ↑ Chapter 8
11. ↑ Chapter 9
12. ↑ Chapter 10
13. ↑ Chapter 13
14. ↑ Chapter 14
15. ↑ Chapter 21
16. ↑ Chapter 23
17. ↑ Chapter 30
18. ↑ Chapter 31
19. ↑ Chapter 32
20. ↑ Chapter 33
21. ↑ Chapter 34
22. ↑ Chapter 39
23. ↑ Chapter 54
24. ↑ Chapter 69
25. ↑ Chapter 70
26. ↑ Chapter 75
27. ↑ Chapter 76
28. ↑ Chapter 94
29. ↑ Chapter 96
30. ↑ Chapter 97
31. ↑ Chapter 98