Chapter 32: Rebecca and the Female Warrior of Kobato

"What's wrong, Zhang Fan? You seem utterly lost in thought," Jill couldn't help but wave her hand in front of Zhang Fan, who was staring blankly at the dossier. Was he bewitched by something?

"Tomoyo Sakagami? You seem interested in her? She indeed is quite beautiful," Jill commented, following Zhang Fan's gaze to the dossier. She took the file, casually appraising the female warrior, but a tinge of sourness, unnoticed even to herself, crept into her heart.

"No, it's just a bit surprising. I didn't expect a Japanese girl to join S.T.A.R.S.," Zhang Fan shook his head, feeling not just surprised but genuinely shocked.

"What's wrong with being from Japan? Oh, you're Chinese, aren't you? Do you have a grudge against the Japanese?" Jill quickly connected the dots, considering the historical animosity between the two nations. She had seen many Chinese who harbored resentment towards Japanese people - a common occurrence in the diverse melting pot of America.

"It's not about nationality. I'm not one of those fake patriots. It's just unexpected, that's all," Zhang Fan waved off the implication, expressing his disdain more for Korean and Indonesian nationals, whom he found more disagreeable.

"That's good to hear," Jill exhaled in relief, glad to avoid unnecessary complications.

"The passengers are coming out. Let's head over," Zhang Fan noted, spotting a crowd emerging from the airport exit. Without realizing it, he took Jill's hand and walked towards the crowd. Jill, though slightly surprised, did not pull away. She wondered why she allowed this familiarity, pondering over it internally.

Observing the young man before her, Jill noted that despite his ordinary appearance behind glasses, his defined jawline and facial features suggested there was more to him than met the eye. Who exactly was he? This moment sparked a deep curiosity about Zhang Fan in her.

"They're out!" Zhang Fan exclaimed, his attention fixed on the exit, excited to finally see Tomoyo Sakagami in person. Unaware of Jill's scrutiny, he was completely focused on the task at hand.

Jill came back to her senses, her cheeks flushing slightly with embarrassment for having stared at Zhang Fan for so long, an unusual occurrence for her.

"Hello, I'm Zhang Fan, a member of S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team. I'm here to welcome you both. I'm delighted to have you join our S.T.A.R.S. family," he greeted as Rebecca and Tomoyo, who seemed to have already met, walked out together. Jill joined in the welcome, introducing herself as well.

"I'm Rebecca Chambers, reporting for duty. Pleased to meet you both," Rebecca, a lively and outgoing girl with chestnut hair and a charming face, typical of a popular campus idol, now found herself in the battle-hardened environment of S.T.A.R.S.

"Hello, I'm Tomoyo Sakagami. It's a pleasure to meet you," Tomoyo greeted with a graceful bow, her demeanor warm and inviting.

After introductions, Zhang Fan drove the three ladies back to the police station, now familiar with the route. As for Jill, she briefed the new recruits about Raccoon City and the S.T.A.R.S. team, a role Zhang Fan had wished a beauty like her had played for him.

"By the way, Tomoyo, did you attend Kobato High School?" Halfway through the drive, Zhang Fan decided to probe the identity of this 'Female Warrior of Kobato.' If things were as he suspected, Tomoyo might also be a player in the God Game. Their potential collaboration or conflict in this mission hinged on this subtle inquiry.

"No, I... Wait, you know about Kobato High School?" Tomoyo started to respond but stopped abruptly, realizing that Kobato High School shouldn't exist in this world.

"Just a bit. I heard about it from someone," Zhang Fan replied with a slight smile, sensing an opening. Tomoyo seemed to have almost said she hadn't attended that school, raising further questions in his mind.

"What about you..." Tomoyo began to ask, but then caught the puzzled looks of Rebecca and Jill. Remembering her mission in Raccoon City, she knew she couldn't afford such impulsiveness – she was no longer just a high school student.

"We should have a good talk sometime about Kobato. I've always been intrigued by it," Zhang Fan said without turning back, catching Tomoyo's expression of excitement, hesitation, and confusion in the rearview mirror.

"Sure, let's talk about it when we have time," Tomoyo nodded emphatically, her interest in Zhang Fan growing. He seemed to know something about her world, which shouldn't be possible unless he was a student at Kobato High School – a scenario she found unlikely.

"Really, Zhang Fan? Even Foster's flirting skills can't match yours," Jill interjected suddenly, causing an awkward silence in the car. Why did she associate their conversation with flirting?

"Foster? Oh, right, he trained with you in the Delta Force, didn't he? A fine man," Zhang Fan replied, referring to Forest Speyer, another popular figure in Bravo Team, known for his marksmanship and sense of duty.

"Hmph! Just a playboy. Don't get involved with him, Rebecca, and Tomoyo. Despite his serious façade, he's not very disciplined in his personal life," Jill commented disdainfully. She had little patience for such men.

"Really? But I heard you two got along quite well," Zhang Fan said, surprised by her reaction.