Original subtitles

[RENO] Last time on Kaiju Number Eight.

[HOSHINA] What is happening?

Is something else out there?

[KONOMI] We’re picking up new vital signs

from the dead Kaiju!

You did great, Kikoru. Good job!

[KAFKA (KAIJU)] I'm running out of time here.

I have to clean you up.

In one shot!

[shatters]

[RENO] Things took an unexpected turn.

But my work buddy

finished his last entrance exam ever.

[KAFKA] I wouldn’t have remembered

if you hadn’t pushed me.

Thanks for that, Ichikawa.

[RENO] When I looked over at him.

I saw a man I could count on.

[scream]

Oh God, dude, this tension is gonna freaking destroy me!

[RENO] How I miss that man.

I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared,

I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m so scared! Huh!

Damn you!

I’m at the end of my emotional rope,

and I would never have gotten here

if you hadn’t pushed me!

You thanked me for pushing you at the hospital!

What happened to my cool coworker

ready to fight for his dreams?

[MIZOGUCHI] Hey.

- Kafka! Ichikawa! - Huh?

Sorry to interrupt.

But, you’ve both got mail.

- [BOTH] Huh? - [both gulp]

[sighs]

Okay, let’s open ‘em on three.

[gulps]

[KAFKA] However this turns out, it’s my last shot.

Will the path I’m on take me all the way to Mina’s side?

Let’s see.

One, two.

[paper rustling]

[gasps]

♪

[indistinct chatter]

[HARUICHI] Hey. Good to see you not that I’m surprised.

Yeah, same to you.

[AOI] Hardly any surprises, I would say.

I noticed that Shinomiya fanboy isn’t here though.

Were you hoping he would make it?

Not "hoping," per se.

[MALE OFFICER 5A] Hey, there’s Shinomiya!

[chuckles]

[AKARI] Oh, Shinomiya!

I heard you got the highest score out there!

Yeah. I’ll be taking the oath for us.

- What an honor! - Oh, the honor is mine.

[HARUICHI] I went into that test knowing

beyond a doubt I’d get the number one spot.

And then that girl strolled in.

Least I got some tough competition

for number two.

I crushed her and everyone else

- on the fitness portion. - Huh?

Settle for second if you want.

I’m gonna keep aiming for the top.

[chuckles]

Huh. [gasps]

Whoa, sorry.

Oh, yeah it’s you!

You were the one running around with that old dude.

Reno Ichikawa.

My bad!

No disrespect, I just suck with names.

Iharu Furuhashi.

Oh, no offense taken, Furuhashi.

You can call me Iharu, Reno.

Uh, okay.

[laughs]

So anyway, old Dude flunked?

Uh, here’s the thing.

Captain Mina Ashiro. Attention!

♪

[AOI] There she is.

[IHARU] It’s finally time!

♪

[KONOMI] The ceremony will now begin.

Representing our incoming officers,

Kikoru Shinomiya!

Right!

As of this moment,

the 27 here assembled

are officers of the Defense Force.

On behalf of all 27 of us,

I pledge that we’ll lay down our lives for the cause.

You averted a catastrophe after the exam.

Your actions prevented any loss of life.

You have my thanks.

[gasps]

Hm.

[KIKORU] I didn’t defeat those Kaiju.

Kafka Hibino,

these words are really meant for you,

so why aren’t you around to hear them?

You had the gall to save my life,

and then you dared to worry about me

like I was some scared little girl!

Glad, you’re okay!

[KIKORU] It’s humiliating!

And I still need answers about that Kaiju form, too.

Don’t think for a second that I’ll just let you disappear!

[KAFKA] Pardon me, everyone!

Sorry to pop in here in the middle of everything.

- Huh. - [indistinct chatter]

It’s Old Dude!

[indistinct chatter]

[KONOMI] Number two-oh-three-two.

Kafka Hibino. Failed.

Lowest score on the fitness portion.

And first zero we’ve ever witnessed

on the suit aptitude test.

Yeah. Hard to argue with that.

♪

- I can’t think of any-- - I could!

If you would allow me.

I won’t try to pretend his test scores weren’t abysmal.

By that measure, he falls well short.

Even so, his knowledge of the Kaiju’s weaknesses

helped his teammates in the fight.

Instead of flailing around, chasing kills

he wasn’t gonna get, he prioritized the mission.

Speaks to a rare presence of mind.

- But more than that. - [chuckles]

The guy is funny as hell,

and that counts for something in my book.

Are you still on that?

I can’t say for sure he’ll ever be a general officer

but I’ll give him a trial run as a cadet in my platoon.

[grunts]

I had this man sit out the induction ceremony.

He’ll be enrolled as a cadet for the time being.

[KIKORU] That’s more like it. Kafka Hibino.

[HARUICHI] Got in just under the wire, huh?

[IHARU] Coming on as a cadet.

[AOI] Didn’t expect that.

♪

Right, then.

Now that the whole class has assembled

time for a word from Captain Ashiro.

Everyone.

You’ve already endured a great deal to get here,

and there is more to come.

On the Defense Force’s behalf, and my own.

I thank you.

In the last few years, we’ve experienced

Kaiju emerging in greater numbers,

and at higher fortitude levels than ever before.

What’s more, we’ve now witnessed

dead Kaiju returning to life.

You’ve chosen to take on an extremely dangerous job.

Some of you may not even return

from your first mission.

No one’s survival is guaranteed.

In spite of this, or rather, for this reason.

I ask that you entrust your lives to me.

[grunts]

And I will repay your trust in battle,

standing at the forefront, as your shield and spear!

[grunts] I’ll be there.

I’ll be at your side soon, Mina!

I swear!

- Huh? - Huh?

[gasps]

[MALE OFFICER 5B] What the hell was that?

Did he just first-name Captain Ashiro?

Huh.

Kaf...

Cadet Hibino, you’re to address your superiors

in turn and by rank.

You owe me 100 push-ups.

[screams]

I meant to think that, not yell it across the room!

[laughs]

Day one and he’s already at it!

This guy’s a serious case, Captain.

A hundred might not be...

Huh?

Was that a smile I saw?

Well, I hope you’re pleased with yourself.

He’s already turned this whole thing into a joke.

I surely am!

The guy’s funny without even trying.

And I think we need that around here.

Things can get pretty grim in this line of work.

That’s as much of the truth as I can say out loud.

Right when the Kaiju started coming back to life,

a 9.8 fortitude signal showed up out of thin air.

I’d chalk that up to instrument error,

if we hadn’t lost one examinee’s vitals

at the same moment.

Kafka Hibino.

There’s something off about you,

and I don’t mean your zero-percent suit aptitude.

So I’m gonna keep you real close,

till I figure out what that is.

[groaning]

A hundred!

- [grunts] - [thuds]

Way to tough it out, Old Dude!

[panting]

- [KIKORU] Kafka Hibino. - Hm.

[KIKORU] Up. I need to talk to you.

So talk to me. I don’t see why I gotta get up.

Hmm. This isn’t a good place.

Why not? You askin’ him out?

[KIKORU] Of course not!

Let’s go.

So is this like, "meet me behind the gym after class"

- kinda thing or-- - Just come with me!

- [thuds] - [grunts]

[sighs]

[KIKORU] Huh?

So you ate a Kaiju, and now you are a Kaiju?

That’s repugnant. Do you just eat anything?

[KAFKA] It wasn’t like I ate it on purpose!

Can you both quit yelling?

I’m wondering if my best option

wouldn’t be to just tell the Defense Force everything.

If anyone could cure me, it’d be them.

- That’s no option at all. - Huh?

There’s a good chance they’d neutralize you on the spot.

Either that, or keep you as a lab rat.

No way it ends with you

becoming a Defense Force officer.

- Seriously? - Mm-hmm.

What’s more, you’re one of the rare Kaiju

to get a codename, so when they kill you,

they’ll carve you up and build a special weapon

with your body parts.

If the rumors are to be believed.

Kikoru, please!

You gotta promise you won’t tell

the Defense Force about any of this!

Have a heart and let this old man live,

- I am begging you please! - Get out of my personal space!

[grunts]

Spare me your groveling.

You saved my life, so I’m willing to keep

- your secret for now. - [sighs]

But know this.

If you turn out to be just another Kaiju

looking to bring destruction to humanity,

I’ll put you down without a second thought.

[gasps]

Yeah.

[chuckles] I’ll hold you to that.

Hm?

[panting]

♪

[RENO] Arms tight to your sides, wrists loose.

Guide the reticle onto the target.

Don’t pull the trigger.

Squeeze it!

[gunshot]

Huh.

- Squeeze! - [gunshot]

- Squeeze! - [gunshot]

[MALE GEAR VOICE 3A] Reno Ichikawa,

fire training exercise complete.

Time, two minutes, 35 seconds.

Estimated unleashed combat power, 18 percent.

[panting]

Haruichi! I’ve got a question!

[HOSHINA] Oh-ho.

That one’s made quite a bit of improvement

in not a lot of time.

- Reno, you punk. Another PB? - [HARUICHI] Damn. Nice.

- [HARUICHI] Great work. - [grunts]

[IHARU] Let’s go!

[gunshots]

[grunts]

[IHARU] I’m not letting him beat me!

[gunshot]

[gunshot]

[MALE GEAR VOICE 3A] Iharu Furuhashi,

two minutes, 15 seconds.

Estimated unleashed combat power, 20 percent.

Get wrecked!

[laughs]

I’ve still got your number.

Don’t go gettin’ cocky, Reno.

- Didn’t plan on it, thanks. - Yeah? Yeah?

- [screaming] - [BOTH] Huh.

[MALE GEAR VOICE 3A] Kikoru Shinomiya,

one minute, 16 seconds.

Estimated unleashed combat power, 55 percent.

[chuckles]

Oh, were you comparing scores?

If you combine yours,

- they’re over half of mine! - Ugh!

That girl.

The more I push myself,

the more she shows me how mediocre I really am.

[AOI] Are you still worried about her?

Why?

I’m the one who just matched your combat power.

- [sighs] - [beeping]

[HARUICHI] Facing threats from above and below, huh?

Then I’ll have to set a new personal best, Aoi.

Aah!

[MALE GEAR VOICE 3A] Kafka Hibino.

Six minutes, 39 seconds.

Estimated unleashed combat power, one percent.

Hell yeah!

- Hm. Hm. [chuckles] - [gasps]

Hear that, Kikoru?

I finally turned my zero into a one!

- Back off! - Say it! Say I’m cool!

I’ll tell you you’re one percent

as cool as me if it’ll make you

stop chasing me around!

- [HOSHINA] Kafka! - Yes, Vice-Captain Hoshina?

[HOSHINA] You keep improving at this rate,

you’re gettin’ tossed.

Ya got three months to shape up.

[gasps]

- Old Dude. - [chuckles]

[HOSHINA] All right, team.

Ten laps around the perimeter and we can call it.

[ALL] What?

[HOSHINA] Fine, if you insist, fifteen.

- Get moving! - [ALL] Yes, sir!

Quite a few rivalries have formed already.

- What a fun group. - Right?

Makes my job easier too.

They’ll push each other to get better

even without me around.

[water splashing]

[groans]

I’m dead.

[sighs]

Tacking on laps at the end was just cruel.

The Vice Captain is a monster.

You gotta put on some more muscle mass, Reno!

Huh? Uh...

Yours aren’t really that much different from mine,

and I’m already matching all your fitness scores.

Huh? Bro, be serious!

Are you even looking at these biceps right now?

[RENO] I’m looking at what they can do,

and I’m not impressed.

Reno’s actually a pretty stubborn kid, isn’t he?

- [water splashing] - Hm?

[KAFKA] You boys and your bickering

are ruining my bathtime.

Simmer down and get a load

of the functional muscles of a working adult,

and then off to bed you go!

Yo! Has Old Dude secretly been jacked the whole--

[grunts]

- [exhales] - [laughs]

You wanna protect the country?

You can’t even protect your waistline!

[laughs]

[RENO] Cut it out, Iharu. That’s rude.

Yeah, laugh it up.

Karma’s gonna wreck your metabolism

when you hit twenty-eight!

I will have you know, I’ve lost weight!

Let’s see how much that flat stomach

helps you in an arm-wrestling match!

[IHARU] Oh, you know I’m down!

[RENO] Yeah, me too.

[KAFKA] All right then, let me just put

a towel down right here.

[AOI] Gentlemen. Why so noisy tonight?

♪

[all gasp]

- [water splashing] - Hm?

- What’s wrong? - Oh, nothing.

Just talkin’ about being scrawny little manlets.

[RENO] He is former military, after all.

[laughs]

[sighs]

[KAFKA] Man.

It’s been a long time

since I’ve done anything like this.

Damn straight, and tomorrow, I’m showing you up!

[RENO] Keep telling yourself that.

[gulps]

[Kikoru laughing]

But it’s hardly a surprise, right?

- Well, of course! - Not even a little.

[all gasp]

[KIKORU] Excuse us, captain!

At ease. I planned on leaving soon.

Thank you very much, Captain!

- [both chuckle] - Jump scare.

[AKARI] Man, we’re so lucky!

I trust you’ve fully recuperated by now?

Yes.

I appreciate your concern.

[KIKORU] Wow.

Her muscles are basically perfect.

But still, good conditioning isn’t nearly enough

to explain her combat power.

- Hello? - [gasps] Sorry, Ma’am!

I was just noticing your muscles.

I mean, I was wondering what kind of training

you did to achieve that physique.

Stand next to me.

Huh?

[MINA] I can show you the basics.

[gasp]

Right now?

Hm?

[groans] Um... Thank you, Captain!

[roars]

[IHARU] All right, story time.

What made you all decide to join up?

Huh?

If you’re asking us, maybe you ought to go first.

Well, that shouldn’t take too long.

Captain Ashiro!

She saved my life when I was in middle school.

And I’ve been trying to be like her ever since!

[chuckles]

Hm?

How about you?

Partly family stuff, but we’re mostly

in the same boat.

Captain Ashiro is my inspiration.

Mine, too.

[chuckles] Man, I saw that one poster.

It was over then and there.

For me it was when I saw her in that documentary.

So, seems like everyone’s here for Mina.

She’s a real life superhero for our generation.

- Well? Spill it, Old Dude. - [gasps]

I-it’s similar, uh...

[IHARU] What?

You and Captain Ashiro.

Were childhood friends?

[KAFKA] Y-yes?

And you both promised

to join the Defense Force together.

The "childhood promise" thing in real life.

Gosh, I’d better hop out before I start getting pruney.

[ALL] Slow down.

[whimpering]

You’re not going anywhere

till we hear the rest of this story.

[KAFKA] Let’s see.

Uh, she was born on a beautiful, sunny day.

[Aoi gasps]

[KAFKA] She’s loved dried squid since she was little.

[HARUICHI] Unexpected!

[KAFKA] She always took care of the class pets

in elementary school.

[IHARU] Yeah, keep going.

[KAFKA] And like, uh...

[sighs]

What a splendid bath that was.

Hm.

[all groaning]

Is there a serial killer loose?

Oh. Hi Kikoru.

These guys stayed in the bath too long

and got lightheaded.

Huh?

Lost in stories about Captain Ashiro, they said.

Ugh! Why are boys always so dumb?

[grunts]

[groans]

♪

[yawning]

[KAFKA] I’m running outta time,

so I gotta work twice as hard.

- [HOSHINA] Diligent, aren’t we? - Hm.

Vice-Captain Hoshina!

It’s your job to stay rested.

[gasps]

[sighs]

[KAFKA] I understand, sir,

but I can’t afford to get cut from the force.

[HOSHINA] Gotta be there for the Captain?

[gasps] Where did you hear that?

[HOSHINA] From you, in the bathhouse.

Huh?

The Defense Force will hear every word

of every conversation held within these dorms.

[KAFKA] Creepy!

Hm.

I made a promise sir.

I swore I would fight by her side.

Ah. If I were the type to read into things,

I might take that to mean you were

after the Vice-Captain’s seat.

[Kafka gasps] Sir, that’s not what I...

No.

That’s exactly what I meant.

Hm.

- [gasps] - [HOSHINA] You’re on.

You’ve got two more hours.

Lights out before you hit the hay.

Lock up when you leave.

And know that you’re not taking my place

without a fight.

Hm.

- Yes! Understood, sir! Huh. - Also.

I wouldn’t recommend getting too attached

to your colleagues in this business.

Hm?

When you do what we do,

anything can happen to anyone any time.

Hm.

- [bell rings] - [gasps]

- A Kaiju? - [groans]

I don’t think this is a drill.

♪

- [gasps] - [HOSHINA] Well,

speak of the devil.

You ready? Go time, cadet.

♪