#bumblebeast

For example, Sting approves of Xiulin and Thrax because I'm sure Xiulin has picked up on Sting's more manipulative/protective side when it comes to his siblings. Even before they announced that they were official, Sting cornering Xiulin at the compound and being all: "I know about you and Thrax...I'm gonna be honest, I'm surprised that he's your type." and Xiulin blushes and giggles as she's all: "Well, he's a good man. Very sweet and considerate, I've never felt this way before...And don't worry, I have no intentions of trying to take him away from the Hive, I know that's where he belongs~" and Sting grins as he's all: "Ah, so you know what this is about? Good, means I can skip over the whole cryptic threat thing. But I'm still not going to trust your word for it, if Thrax begins to get distracted or starts having any ideas on leaving the Hive, I will find you. After all, he may love you, but I'm his brother." and Xiulin just raises an eyebrow and grins: "Duly noted, General Sting." and Sting just responding: "Lovely. You do have a way of calming his temper, so I'm glad you don't pose a threat...and surely you understand this conversation stays between us, correct?" and Xiulin goes: "What conversation?~"

And it makes Sting smile because, yeah, Xiulin is his favorite so far.

When it comes Kanami and her friendship with Daito and her relationship to Kai, he allows them to be apart of her life because he sees how susceptible Daito is to manipulation through his ego, but Kai is a different story and a completely different threat. He lets Kanami hang out with them, especially in instances where he needs Kanami to be away from the Hive for something, and because they do make her happy. He is a bit irritated if Kanami gets upset she can't hang out with them or if she's upset and they're the only ones that can cheer her up but it's fine, he knows she's just a teenager. He teases Daito but he feels like how could easily dispatch him but he also does respect Daito because even if he originally was trying to manipulate Kanami, he is going against that which Sting can respect.

However, him and Kai have a tense relationship with each other, especially after he starts dating Kanami. Kai HATES people like Sting who aren't ever direct or honest, he understands that there's nuance, but he feels like Sting doesn't give Kanami enough agency and when Sting tries to manipulate him, Kai is all: "What exactly is the difference between you and SAKIYAKU?" And Sting just frowns for once and he's all: "I love Kanami and my family. SAKIYAKU only wants to weaponize us." and Kai is all: "You don't lie to people you love. I'll keep my thoughts to myself because I respect that your family has...their own ways...but I won't lie to Kanami or help lie to Kanami. She's stronger than you know and you're more foolish than you think."

Or like, Kai planting seeds and he's all: "I heard that human boys are mean to girls that they're interested in." and Thrax, in his mind, is all: "Oh no...DAITO IS SO MEAN TO KANAMI." and it's super entertaining to Kai, Kanami, and Daito because they get mess with Kanami's brothers but also, it allows Kai and Kanami to have some alone time. BECAUSE THEY DON'T CARE IF KAI HANGS OUT WITH KANAMI ALONE BECAUSE HE'S THE "trustworthy" friend. So moments when the three brothers think they've kept Kanami boyfriend-free with success, Kanami just laying on top of Kai's chest as Kai is reading a book and he's all: "You've been staring for 5 minutes." and Kanami is all: "...Can I have another kiss?"

Meanwhile, now that they're dating, I like to think that Kanami (being as practical as she is) already has a back up plan for if they were ever to break up (Kai told her that wasn't going to happen. He's hers now. Whether she likes it or not) that Kanami already has a chart arranging on how they'd share Daito's time without having to interact with each other. But spoiler alert: they're never gonna break up.

Daito: "I just helped you two get together and you're already talking about breaking up?"

Kanami: "I don't like to fly by the seat of my pants. Anyways, would you like to alternate between every other week or would you want to split up week days?"

And Hachika keeps walking and she's all: "Is that all, Takayama?"

Akio: "..."

Rush: "She wants a proper apology, Akio."

And Akio stops walking, making Hachika pause and turn around at him. Akio closes his eyes and he sighs, trying to think about what he's going to say next before he opens up his eyes: "...No, thats not all. I want to apologize and thank you. I'm sorry I stole that SAKIYAKU mission and I'm sorry I doubled down, I didn't know you had such strong connections to SAKIYAKU but that's because it really wasn't my place...People have told me I would just end up hurting others if I kept being reckless...and when it came to you and how you reacted to the Swarm Riders I hurt, I think I see what they mean now...So thank you, Hachibara. Because even though I would do it all over again to save Rush, you really made me rethink about what kind of hero I should be. Not only that but even when you've been mad at me or hated me this whole time, you still...you still were nice to me, even if you didn't have too. I appreciate that." and Hachika just stares at him before she's all: "That was a good apology, Takayama-san. But I'll need to see action to back it up. Can you follow through on your words?"

and Akio grins happily before he's all: "You bet I can!" and his enthusiasm really matches with Hachika's usual one so she can't help but smile back and she's all: "Alright then...We can try and start over."

Lonan, over the comms: "LET'S GO, THEY OVERCAME THEIR DIFFERENCES!"

Marcos, over comms as well: "Finally."

Tommy, also on comms: "GUYS, SHUT UP."

and Hachika just giggles while Akio is blushing and Rush is making fun of him and being all: "HAHA, THEY HEARD YOU."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the island, Kanami is setting up a trap for Hachika because Hexel was able to uncover a mission in which Hachika will be assisting a recently added member of AWOL on a reconnaissance mission so Kanami went by herself and intends to use her Dominion Driver to control the island (which perfectly fit the size of her Hiveworld Protocol Radius) but then she gets a weird feeling and she's all: "General Hexel, are you sure it's just me alone in this area?"

Hexel: "Scans are showing null. You are alone, Your Radiance."

And Kanami frowns but then from behind her, Kai (in his human form but with Kaiju features like horns, some parts of his skin fades into black scales that make him look otherworldly but still handsome, and his spikes on his back make him look all the more terrifying.

Kai: "You shouldn't trust your machines so easily-" and then Kanami just immediately draws out her royal scepter and slashes it at Kai, her Venom Lash destroying the trees while Kai light slips again but a little further back from Kanami.

Kanami: "It's you again..." and then she tightens her grip on her scepter and narrows her eyes, "What are you? "

Kai: "Better question: why aren't you running?"

Hexel, his voice breaking up: "Your majest- bzzzt, your majesty-....Kanami! Can you-" and Kanami just frowns because she can sense Hexel trying to open a portal but she won't LET HIM BC THIS GUY TARGETED THE HIVE LAST TIME, so why wouldn't he do it again?

Kanami: "Because I have questions for you and I demand an apology for the rude introduction! My Swarm Riders did nothing to you but you attacked us, why? Why are you here? What were you trying to accomplish when you tried to take my strength? Where do you come from?" and then they start to circle each other, like predators who are sizing one another up as Kai scoffs, "You talk to much. All that useless buzzing...like a little bee."

Kanami: "This little bee has a lot more sting to her and you know it. Unless our last fight concussed you that much-" and then she grins a bit smugly as she's all: "In that case, I'm still not sorry."

Kai: "I can't tell if you're being incredibly brave or incredibly arrogant right now."

Kanami: "I'd suggest a rematch so I could show you but I have more important matters to attend too...But first, why are you here?"

Kai: "Why do you care?"

Kanami: "Someone important to me is on this island. If I find out that if you're here to hurt them, then I can't let you just walk away from me."

Kai, whose been watching and "hunting" Akio, immediately knows that Kanami isn't talking about Akio so he's all: "...I am hunting for a man, he is a host to something I am trying to kill. I assume the girl with him is who you're referring too?"

and when Kanami nods, Kai just thinks thoughtfully before he's all: "...I'm a hybrid. My father was a human and my mother was a cosmic Kaiju...a being descended from an old God long ago. I use her powers to hunt down and kill Ultras....I also kill anyone who tries to stand in my way." and Kanami stands tall before she's all: "I could care less for that rookie that's with Hachika, he just my Swarm. And I will kill anyone who threatens harm to my hive or my big sister!"

Kai: "So we agree on something. Good...Why not team up? We can separate the two of them and both get what we want." and Kanami narrows her eyes and is all: "You wish to become allies? Why?"

Kai: "Because I'm also curious about you. Except I don't figure people out by asking useless questions. I watch them and I observe them."

Kanami: "Then watch all you'd like, I agree to your terms, but I can promise you right now that I'm a very simple person: I love my family. Everything I do and everything I stand for is for them." and Kai chuckles and he's all: "We'll see, little bee."

AND LIKE, WHEN THEY TEAM UP TO FIGHT EACH OTHER, AKIO IS WANTING TO RUSH IN AND RUSH IS ALL: "C'MON, AKIO, LET'S GET A REMATCH!" BUT HACHIKA IS ALL: "WAIT, DON'T ENGAGE. He has Kanami with him! Even if he's already intimidating, she might activate Hiveworld Protocol or something if we get too close within her range. We don't need to be heroes right now, we need to hold out until the team arrives."

Rush: "What!? Did you hear that? She wants us to NOT fight the Kaiju?!" but then Akio stays silent and he's all: "Hachika's right, Rush. We need to think smart about this. Kanami is no joke and this is the 2nd time we fought this thing."

And so Rush shrinks back down next to Hachika and Kanami and Kai are trying to track them down and set traps but Hachika uses her Rider abilities to jam them with honey and Akio is conserving energy in case he needs his Ultraman Rush form. WITH THAT BEING SAID, at the end when AWOL shows up, Hachika gives Akio a pat on the back and says: "Thanks for not rushing in." and Akio smiles back nervously before he's all: "Haha, yeah...thanks for holding me accountable....Soooo, are we starting over?" and Hachika nods: "Yes! I'd like that!"

Meanwhile, Kanami and Kai escape SHIELD capture but then Kanami gives him a communicator and says: "All of my allies have one. I usually order them to be at my beck and call but I can tell you won't exactly bow as easily to me."

Kai: "You're correct." and then Kanami turns to leave and she's all: "I still have more questions for you, if you ever get lonely, feel free to contact me."