20XX Osaka, Japan. Kansai Airbase.
Hideki Ishita glanced over the paperwork in front of him, feeling a headache coming on as he went between the forms, the pile of suspiciously long baggage and instrument cases piled neatly in the holding section of the customs office, and the Youth that was currently using his desk as a footrest shooting him a shit-eating grin. A veteran of the Incursion wars, the middle-aged man was fairly typical looking, if missing an arm and leg from his time in the war. In their place were prosthetics that allowed him to live normally with only a slight hindrance to his dexterity. The wonders of Japanese medical tech.
He reached to pinch the bridge of his nose with his good hand; giving the form another look as he began in competent English. “So... No formal education, no family to speak of whatsoever, and they’re sending us a minor as the Hunter’s Guild’s official representative and agent for this part of the country?” The boy across from him gave an unapologetic shrug, folding his hands behind his head as he leaned further back; tilting the chair back a bit. “Don’t know what to tell ya man, more than meets the eye.” he chuckled, speaking rough but surprisingly acceptable Japanese, though Hideki was sure he was intentionally flubbing the pronunciation in places.
Hideki sighed as he gave the Youth another glance. Like most foreigners he stood taller than most men in Japan, he had a long face and an appearance that wouldn’t be out of place on a clever thug or yakuza. The thick dark brown mop of hair on the Youth cast a shadow over his eyes but Hideki could make out the piercing hazel gaze. Despite the nonchalant expression, the young man was watching him intently. He passed a glance to the gun strapped to the Youth’s thigh. A common thing with Hunters; practically their version of a police badge. The Youth’s clothing consisted of an old oversized field jacket, cargo pants, and worn but sturdy-looking trail running shoes. The jacket was worn mostly open showing a loose dark undershirt, one arm having a patch embroidered with a cheshire moon and the other having the stripes of a corporal stitched on it. Hideki wasn't sure if the rank belonged to the Youth or the previous owner of the jacket. One thing that stood out was how thin the Youth looked, his worn clothes were oversized for him as if he wanted to hide how underfed he appeared. He suspected that the Youth barely scraped by on his own in the wake of the Incursion. Tapping the sheet as he started. “Let’s go from the top: Name.”
The Youth moved his head from side to side as if he was racking his brain even though he had written it on the form. “Eeehhh, Solomon. No family name, so just put that down as hunter or some shit if you want.” Solomon stretched back with a yawn, still shaking off his jet lag, even though he had slept the whole trip. “Man, what it takes to get some coffee or soda in this joint?” Hideki gave a slight roll of his eyes as he continued down the list. “Education?”
“Private. Good enough to learn your moon speak and pass that entrance exam the pencil pushers insist is needed.” Solomon started to pick his ear. Flicking it to the ground he made a disparaging remark in English that Hideki was thankful that the guard standing at the door didn’t understand English. Biting down his own remark. Clearing his throat. “Your parents?”
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There was a brief moment as the smirk on Solomon’s face darkened but recovered to the default nonchalant expression. “They died before the shit hit the fan. Kinda just been tossed from foster home to foster home till the Incursion hit.'' Tipping back in his seat further, putting both feet on Hideki’s desk, “Kinda was bumming around till the Hunters started bein’ a thing. Only thing to do was join up. Paid better than nothin’.” Hideki nodded. Understanding the sentiment. He left his peaceful office job soon as things started before they had to start drafting men for the fighting. Though, he wondered exactly how bad it was in America that literal children would be allowed to fight. Assuming he had his years in order from how Solomon’s personal history was presented; the Incursion happened only a scant couple of years after he was orphaned if he was reading the report right. And the Hunters only formed after the Incursion wars had died down in intensity, Solomon would’ve only been barely thirteen by the time he joined, which didn’t leave much room for education, much less one for this particular school’s requirements. But, the boy was speaking passable Japanese so he was telling the truth if obfuscating the details.
Hideki muttered to himself as he filled in a few notes for the report, looking back up at Solomon. “May I ask a question?” He asked. Solomon snorted; replying snidely. “You already just did.”
Hideki gave him an unimpressed look; causing Solomon to give him the go-ahead. “Take a joke man,” Hideki grunted as he cleared his voice, asking. “Regarding your combat experience. Exactly how early did you start?”
Solomon’s expression grew distant. Showing Hideki the familiar thousand-yard stare if only for the briefest of moments as Solomon lost his composure as the gears ran in his head. Recovering just as quickly as it fell and gave a crooked grin. “Early enough…” he didn’t elaborate. But Hideki wasn’t going to push, he knew one couldn’t fake that reaction. Putting the form down he grabbed his stamp and pressed it down, clearing his throat again. “Well, Hunter Solomon--” “Oh, sounds so official!” Solomon interjected with a snigger, only to be ignored as Hideki continued. “--You’re hereby instated to be Osaka’s Hunter’s Guild representative.” Making a gesture for the guard at the door to bring a package, who then used it as an excuse to knock Solomon’s feet from the table eliciting a complaint.
“This is your uniform for the school you’ll be attending, you start classes at the beginning of next week. Before then, you’ll be expected to find a place of residence. You’ll be escorted by your police department handlers, who’ll then assist in that task. I recommend someplace near your school and the train station. You’ll be expected to be able to deploy on short notice if the surrounding provinces have daemon incursions the local forces can’t handle. Your--” He gave a glance at the cases in the corner. “--‘supplies’ will be held here until you’re settled. So try to keep hunting to daemons you can handle with the weapon you have now.” Solomon gave an annoyed groan, standing to pick the box up. “Not even here a day and you’re already stepping on my balls.”