Kikoru Shinomiya/Plot

## History

Ever since Kikoru was young, both of her parents were already famous high-ranking Defense Force officers. Her mother Hikari Shinomiya was the Captain of the Second Division, whom Kikoru admired o the point of deciding to join the Defense Force. However, ten years ago, Hikari lost her life sacrificing herself to stop a series of cataclysms caused by Kaiju No. 6, leaving a sad Kikoru behind who blamed herself for not keeping her promise.

Ever since her mother's death, even when Kikoru was in middle school, her relationship with her father Isao worsened, to the point that her father became really diminishing on her achievements and kept demanding her to "be perfect" for the sake of the nation and of her late mother.

At the age of 16, Kikoru lived in America and studied at California Neutralization University, where she graduated valedictorian.

## Plot

### The Man Who Became a Kaiju Arc

Arriving at Tachikawa Base, the testing site, Kikoru ordered Kafka Hibino to move his car, as her lucky number for that day was five and he had parked on the 55th slot, calling him "Old Man". As Kafka refused, Kikoru lifted his van and tossed it to the side. She introduced herself and wondered why Kafka reeked of Kaiju, but Leno Ichikawa explained they were working at the Kaiju disposing company. Kafka then flipped the van back, making Kikoru wonder if he also had a private suit, and also told her to remember his name. Kikoru made a comment on how the exam was sort of a rite of passage for her, but it seemed it would be fun and promised to make Kafka look like a fool.

She finished fifth in the fitness test, then making fun of Kafka who finished 219th out of 225. Kikoru's mere presence at the exam venue made everyone aware of who she was, her name even reaching Captain Mina Ashiro. Upon being informed by Leno about who Kikoru was, Kafka was shocked to learn she was such a big deal, however as he touched her, her butler quickly knocked Kafka over and Kikoru commented that he had made a fool of himself again. The aptitude test was then announced to be Kaiju neutralization and they were given Defense Force suits. Kikoru managed to draw 46% of the suit Combat Power, making it the biggest number they had seen from a newbie. During the test, as Kafka was about to be killed, Kikoru arrived and killed the Yoju, thus saving him. She then told him that no one was allowed to die or fail at her battlefield and ordered him to lie down, while she went ahead to finish the test. Kafka and the rest tried to provide assistance, however, no one was able to keep up with her and she managed to kill all the Yoju. She then faced the Honju, throwing a grenade at its back and then shooting it in the mouth, and as the test ended, she decided to go and make fun of Kafka again, but then noticed a humanoid kaiju. The latter pointed at her and pierced her chest. As she was attacked again by the Honju, which was revived by the other kaiju, a transformed Kafka appeared and saved her life, asking her to keep it a secret. Later she, Leno, and Kafka were rescued and hospitalized.

After officially becoming a member of the Third Division, she was nervous by the fact that Kafka should have received the compliments she was receiving during the ceremony, since he defeated the other kaiju. At some point, Kafka, Leno, and Kikoru met at a cafè to explain Kafka's situation to Kikoru. Kikoru swore that she'd keep the secret but the moment Kafka would pose a threat to humanity she'd be the one to kill him. Then she gave Kafka and Leno tips on the kaiju that attacked her during the test, in case encountered it again.

### Sagamihara Neutralization Operation at Daybreak Arc

Two months later, during her shooting training, she unleashed 55% of her Combat Power. However, Kafka bragged with her about unleashing 1% out of his own suit, confusing her a lot. That night, after spending some time in the hot tubs, an alarm went off signaling a kaiju outbreak, starting her first official mission. Dispatched with Kafka in the Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina's platoon, Kikoru quickly showcased her exceptional abilities, earning praise from Kafka. Kikoru then told Kafka to worry about his poor unleashed Combat Power. After Captain Ashiro eliminated the Honju, Kikoru and the rest of her comrades faced the various Yoju coming out of its body. Later, as the deceased Yoju started moving, and Iharu and Leno were announced lost by their platoon leader, Kikoru warned Kafka that the kaiju who attacked her at the exam venue was present too. She then witnesses Kafka transforming to save his friends and then, after he had fought both the Humanoid Kaiju and Vice-Captain Soshiro, she aided him as he turned back to human.

Sometime later Kikoru and Kafka visited Iharu and Leno in the hospital and two weeks later they had a party with the other Third Divisio members to celebrate their first mission. As they were all discussing about the mission, she watched as Soshiro announced Kafka's promotion to offical Third Division officer.

At some point Kikoru was given a battle axe from Captain Ashiro and Vice-Captain Hoshina, being considered by both the third strongest combatant in the Third Division, thus earning a custom weapon.

### Raid on Tachikawa Base Arc

The night of the raid, Kikoru was sleeping when multiple Wyvern-type kaiju descended from the sky and attacked Tachikawa Base. During the fight, Kikoru saved Aoi, Izumo, and Ikaruga by killing some of the Wyverns with a giant axe. Easily annihilating all the kaiju who attacked her, Kikoru and Leno, as her support, proceeded to stir up the hordes of Wyverns on their path. They then proceeded to rescue Kafka and Minase, ordering them to take care of the injured.

Later, while Soshiro and Mina joined forced to defeat Kaiju No. 10, Kikoru stormed in to personally assist Soshiro by cutting an opening on the kaiju's body. While succeeding, she subsequently fell to the ground due to exhaustion. After regaining energy, Kikoru stood with Mina and Soshiro as they defeated the enormous kaiju. Moments later, however, a massive Yoju-bomb appeared in the sky. Unable to do anything, Kikoru watched as Kafka transformed into Kaiju No. 8 in front of everyone and punched the bomb away, much to the shock of all the present. The day after, Kikoru watched powerlessly as Kafka was taken into custody and brought to the headquarters of the Defense Force.

### Kaiju No. 8 Captured Arc

Reaching the Ariake Maritime Base, Kikoru visited her father Isao to personally ask him to spare Kafka. Receiving nothing by cold-hearted comments by his father, Kikoru was then informed by him that Kafka has a core instead of a heart, proving his kaiju nature, although this wasn't enough to make Kikoru change her mind. She then witnesses as her father attacked Kafka and collected a sample of his blood with his bare hands. Then, dring Isao's fight with Kafka, Kikoru watched with Deputy Director Keiji Itami and Nogizaka. She saw as Kafka lost control of his transformation but then regained it, ending their fight. At some point later Kikoru was texted by Captain Ashiro about the high-rank members' decision not to kill Kafka and to keep him into the Defense Force as an asset.

Due to the critical damage at Tachikawa Base, she was transferred to the First Division, under the guidance of Captain Gen Narumi. Despite him being a rather childish person, she was accompanied by Vice-Captain Eiji Hasegawa to witness the First Division and Narumi himself in action, much to her amazement. Then, as Gen proceeded to attack a giant kaiju, he asked her to ditch her well-mannered behavior and show him overwhelming skills. Later on, Kikoru was present during a meeting with Narumi, Hasegawa, Isao and Kafka, with the latter being also dispatched into the First Division.

### Kaiju Weapon Arc

After one of her afternoon trainings with the First Division, Kikoru visited Captain Narumi to ask him to train with her but, after he asked her for money making her mad, Hasegawa interrupted them because a group of kaiju attacked Shinagawa Ward in Tokyo. In action with the First Division for the first time, Kikoru and Kafka were asked by their captain to kill every kaiju in the neutralization zones, without holding back and showing results. Taking action, Kikoru managed to defeat some kaiju to assist Platoon Leader Shinonome, before being informed that Kaiju No. 9 once again appeared to face Kafka. Promptly taking action to aid Kafka, who seemed to have problems with his transformation, the two teamed up to take on Kaiju No. 9. As they engaged the kaiju, Kikoru weathered his hits driven to the utmost by her mother's figure and her promise to never allow casualties in her battlefield. When Kafka Hibino's transformation failed once again, Kikoru loudly encouraged Kafka to not underestimate himself or his comrades and to overcome his fear of transforming, hence succeeding in making him turn into Kaiju No. 8. Left to take care of the various Yoju, Kikoru then watched as Kafka attacked No. 9. After Kafka, Captain Narumi and her managed to beat both No. 9's Beta and Gamma bodies, Kikoru joyed over her father's supportive words. However, few moments later, they realized that not only Kaiju No. 9 was still alive but that he also manifested in Isao's location, looking for him and Kaiju No. 2's power.

When Kikoru arrived on the scene, Kaiju No. 9 had already killed and assimilated Isao, morphing his face into him to taunt an angry and confused Kikoru, before Gen and Kafka stepped him to kill No. 9. However, in the climax of the battle, No. 9 released a double attack on Kikoru and Kurusu, forcing Kafka and Gen to protect them and managing to escape. During Isao's funeral, Kikoru decided not to go to the ceremony to cry in her father's office, being found moments later by Gen Narumi. Crying at her inability to save her father and her desire to get stronger, Kikoru apologized for her loss of composure before Gen promising her to make her much stronger and ordering her to improve.

### The Compatible User Arc

Kikoru and Kafka were training when they found from Vice-Captain Hasegawa that out Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina and the rest of the Third Division were coming to the Ariake Maritime Base for the Anti-No. 9 Eastern Divisional Conference.

One month later, Eiji once again informed them that Leno Ichikawa became the first ever compatible person with Numbers Weapon 6, this event Kikoru to catch up. Sometime later, Kikoru witnessed Kafka training his Squadron-Style Combat Technique, with Kikoru commenting that her father used to train like that every time. Then, Kikoru delivered Kafka's phone back to him and, later, she saw Kafka tearing up after he had seen the honest concern everybody in the Third Division had for him.

Sometime later, keeping his promise, Captain Gen Narumi gave Kikoru a weapon that could make her stronger: Numbers Weapon 4, her mother's personal weapon. For the following three months, Kikoru and Gen kept sparring to train her with the suit. During their sparring sessions, Kikoru revealed to Gen that she could see her mother's ghost while wearing Numbers Weapon 4, with Gen responding that the phenomena of seeing a previous Numbers Weapon user's ghost is possible as the Numbered Kaiju's memory of its user.

### Cataclysms Arc

Five days prior to the attacks, Kikoru made Kafka promise that he would not save her in case she was in trouble, with her thanking him for doing it in the past but declaring that she needed him to trust in her skills.

During No. 9's catclysms, Kikoru used Numbers Weapon 4 to take action at the National Diet Building, slaying many kaiju that were attacking it.

### The Second Wave Arc

She was later approached by Kaiju No. 15, which was in its human Kikoru-like form, happy to have found her. It then quickly killed the platoon officers aiding Kikoru. As she watched in shock, No. 15 morphed back to her human form while taunting Kikoru, who then decided to face and neutralize the kaiju after talking to Captain Narumi about the lack of reinforcements. Kikoru unleashed her 84% Combat Power and prepared for battle. As Kurusu from the control room communicated she'd take command of the Kasumigaseki Area, Kikoru stabilized a 500-meter perimeter danger zone and gave orders to nearby platoon before announcing the beginning of No. 15's neutralization. As the kaiju mimicked her in mockery, it promptly attacked Kikoru with its superhuman strength and energy attacks, swiftly dodging her attacks and destroying the area around them effortlessly. Kikoru's shields were then breached by a powerful attack as No. 15 tuanted her while morphing its arm into a giant axe to eliminate her. After dodging the attack, Kikori prevented Director General Itami from sending her reiforcements from the headquarter, believing No. 9 would attack it with no hesitation, declaring he'd defeat No. 15 on her own and that she could almost "catch up". As her unleashed Combat Power grew to 88%, her words made Keiji theorize what was happening, as Kikoru began following Hikari's ghost through battle with No. 15, eventually hitting the kaiju once and deciding to surpass her mother in that exact moment. Her resolve brought Kikoru to actually surpass Hikari's Combat Power and release an attack that managed to expose No. 15's core. Then, Kikoru notices the kaiju's maniacal smile, before being struck by its psychogenic attacks. Inside of her subconscious, Kikoru heard the kaiju asking her why she wanted to become stronger, calling her a liar after every answer. Kikoru then found herself in her child body, due to the kaiju's mental illusion, only to ber forced to reveal that all she ever wanted was to be praised by her parents, hence why she always struggled to improve. As Kaiju No. 15 manifested Hikari and Isao in front of a young Kikoru, the former proceeded to make them disappear, in order to taunt her for their death. As No. 15 and everybody else sensed Kaiju No. 8's appearance in Oizumi, Kikoru received a call from Kafka, who told her he wouldn't save her but believed in her, thus keeping his promise. Kikoru then stood back up, ready to finally take down Kaiju No. 15.

With Kafka's words echoing in her head, Kikoru managed to break free from No. 15's mental control, finding her true motivation in proving to be a worthy comrade for her friends in the Third and First Divisions. She then proceeded to pummel the Kaiju, as the former cursed Kikoru for the sake fo making its "dad" proud. After Kikoru delivered a serious blow on No. 15, she entered the kaiju's psyche, realizing how No. 15's attempts to impress Kaiju No. 9 and gain its approval were similar to Kikoru's relationship with her late father. In tears, Kikoru heard a moribound No. 15 lamenting how its father only used it as a pawn, unlike Isao who truly loved Kikoru. Despite not feeling any kind of sympathy for such a hineous creature, Kikoru swore to kill No. 9 for No. 15 too, before effectively killing it. She then called Gen to encourage him to defeat Kaiju No. 11. She then cheered as Gen defeated No. 11.

### The Last Wave Arc

After Captain Ashiro neutralized Kaiju No. 14, effectively ending the Second Wave, Kikoru listened in shock to Kaiju No. 9's speech through the Defense Force communications. She then listened to Kurusu's announcement that No. 9 appeared in Tachikawa.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter 44
2. ↑ Chapter 38
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Chapter 7
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Chapter 4
5. ↑ Chapter 3
6. ↑ Chapter 5
7. ↑ Chapter 6
8. ↑ Chapter 9
9. ↑ Chapter 10
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Chapter 12
11. ↑ Chapter 15
12. ↑ Chapter 11
13. ↑ Chapter 13
14. ↑ Chapter 14
15. ↑ Chapter 16
16. ↑ Chapter 19
17. ↑ Chapter 21
18. ↑ Chapter 22
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Chapter 26
20. ↑ Chapter 24
21. ↑ Chapter 25
22. ↑ Chapter 27
23. ↑ Chapter 30
24. ↑ Chapter 31
25. ↑ Chapter 32
26. ↑ Chapter 33
27. ↑ Chapter 34
28. ↑ Chapter 35
29. ↑ Chapter 36
30. ↑ Chapter 37
31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Chapter 39
32. ↑ Chapter 40
33. ↑ Chapter 41
34. ↑ 34.0 34.1 Chapter 42
35. ↑ Chapter 43
36. ↑ Chapter 45
37. ↑ Chapter 46
38. ↑ Chapter 48
39. ↑ Chapter 52
40. ↑ Chapter 53
41. ↑ Chapter 54
42. ↑ Chapter 57
43. ↑ Chapter 65
44. ↑ Chapter 67
45. ↑ Chapter 68
46. ↑ Chapter 69
47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 Chapter 79
48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 Chapter 83
49. ↑ Chapter 72
50. ↑ Chapter 76
51. ↑ Chapter 77
52. ↑ Chapter 7
53. ↑ Chapter 80
54. ↑ Chapter 84
55. ↑ Chapter 85
56. ↑ Chapter 88
57. ↑ Chapter 96
58. ↑ Chapter 97