Far East Branch Headquarters - Sakaki's Office
The following days had brought some semblance of normalcy back to the Den. Neo had restabilized following Ichiro's return, her mood elevating and with it unfortunately, her troublemaking tendencies. Aggravating as they were however, it was a relief to finally see the New Type returning to her normal self. With her volatility subsided, the doctor had determined that it would be beneficial to introduce her to their resident Aragami child. Initially, Soma had adamantly disagreed. However, after some prodding and reminding him that one of them was going to befriend Shio one way or the other, he had caved, deciding that it would be better her than him.
Soma eyed Neo carefully as they made their way down the corridor. Following her reaction to mere idea of medical treatment, he wasn't entirely certain how she was going to respond to Dr. Sakaki. She hadn't displayed any aggression towards him thus far, but for the most part, he had always remained somewhat in the background of an ever larger threat, like his lab technicians, other doctors, and at one point, his own father. But when faced with Paylor himself, there was no telling exactly what she would do. The New Type was impulsive and could easily escalate from a zero to a ten in under five seconds, so he would need to be on guard and attentive to her body language and movements.
When they arrived at the office, Soma stepped forward, keeping Neo behind him. Pressing the button, he opened the sliding door and peered carefully inside. Considering that this was Paylor's office and not his laboratory, the likelihood of anyone else being present was unlikely. But with her, it always paid to be cautious. Seeing no one other than the doctor himself, Soma entered the office with his purple-haired companion following behind him.
"Hmm? Soma? Ah, and our New Type well. Welcome, welcome!"
Neo tensed slightly under Sakaki's gaze, uncertain of what to make of him. She had encountered this man a few times before and none of them had been particularly pleasant. The only thing that she could gather from him was that he was a wildly eccentric person with a passion for poking and prodding at everything that moved. And that didn't bode well for either of them. Of course, he had yet to poke and prod her, to her knowledge, so she would simply observe him… for now.
Unfortunately, the doctor didn't share her wariness. Rising from his seat, Paylor made his way across the room towards the pair of them with no regard whatsoever to his personal safety. The veteran glared at him as he stopped merely a foot away from Neo, who was now on high alert. He was playing a dangerous game and Soma couldn't tell if he honestly didn't realize it or simply didn't care.
"Hello! I believe this is the first time we have actually spoken, yes? Yes. Of course."
"…"
"Now then, I certainly can't refer to you indefinitely as 'the New Type' as we currently have three of them residing within the Far East Branch. And from what I hear, you are a woman of many names. So tell me. Which would you prefer I call you, hm? Reaper? Neo? Deadeye?"
Her eye narrowed immediately at the sound of her original codename. As a sniper type, it had been given to her upon completion of her training, in reference to her deadly pinpoint accuracy. But no one in this Branch should have known her by that name. With the exception of Ichiro, the only people who would be familiar with it either had access to her files or originated from the West. And were either of those the case… then this man was her enemy.
Soma frowned as he noticed her fingers starting to twitch. It was a habit that he had become very familiar with over her time in the Far East. If Neo was readying her claws it meant that she was either entering attack mode or already in it. And Sakaki seemed blissfully unaware.
"…Neo is fine."
Her response came in the form of a threatening growl, her gaze boring through him with the intensity of an angry predator.
"Excellent! Well then, I am Doctor Paylor Sakaki and it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance… Neo."
"…Paylor?"
The moment he revealed his identity to her, Neo's demeanor changed almost entirely. All hostility faded from her aura and her fingers ceased their movement. Soma's eyes narrowed slightly at her sudden changed. He could see the familiarity in her eyes as his status shifted from foe to friend.
"Indeed. You appear to be in visibly better manner. I assume you have no intention of tearing me apart now, yes?"
"None at all. An ally of Yuki's is an ally of mine."
"Splendid!"
Soma stared at the two of them in utter disbelief. What the hell had just happened? Seconds ago, Neo had been poised to turn Paylor into ribbons… and apparently the lunatic was more than well aware of it. Now, all of the tension had vanished. They almost appeared to be friendly.
Smiling, the doctor turned and made his way toward a doorway at the back of the room. With the atmosphere relaxed once more, he immediately moved on to his following task.
"Now then. I hope that you will offer the same hospitality to our honored guest. Shio, you have visitors."
Without a moment's pause, he pressed the button and opened the door. The little girl wobbled out of her bedroom, carrying a large bucket filled with a disgusting substance that Soma didn't care to know.
"Hello!"
Paylor didn't get his wish.
Neo bristled immediately at the sight of the small child, the venom returning to her gaze. Soma jumped slightly, startled by her aggressive reaction. Did she view Shio, a young girl by appearance, as a threat?
And as Shio stepped forward, he realized that she most certainly did. Despite their similar origins, Neo's senses were far sharper than his. Undeceived by her humanoid appearance, she had recognized this child instantly as an Aragami. And to her, Aragami were the enemy. That was what they had, rightly, trained her to believe.
Shio tilted her head curiously towards his companion. Utterly oblivious to the danger she faced, she continued forward. Her eyes regarded her quizzically as she approached them. Neo hissed threateningly as she drew near, and inquisitive as she was, child ignored her warning. Soma stepped slightly forward, prepared to intercept her should she lose her patience.
Then something strange happened.
The two stared intently at one another. Their bodies stood eerily still as each girl sized up the other. Shio tilted her head slowly to the side, observing the New Type. Mirroring her movements, Neo leaned as well. They spoke no words, yet somehow they were communicating. What was going on?
Slowly, Shio reached out her hand. Neo reached forward as well, gently brushing their fingertips together. At her touch, her blue eye slowly closed and her expression softened. Her snarl fell, her lips returning to a straight line. In front of her, Shio did the same, enjoying the contact. Soma hadn't the slightest clue was happening between them, but the message was clear: peace. Neither woman meant any harm to the other.
Slowly, Shio opened her eyes and smiled at the New Type standing before her.
"…Friend."
Neo's eye slid open, regarding the child calmly. Then, she separated their hands, lifting her own to the left side of her face. She loosed her ties and pulled the eye patch away and sweeping her fingers through her violet hair. Her bangs brushed to the side, revealing her matching golden eye. And matching meeting Shio's gaze… she returned the gesture.
It was the strangest thing that Soma had ever seen, but in a way, it was fascinating. It didn't appear that the two of them had resonated, but it was clear that they had shared their thoughts and feelings with one another. As the Ogretail conveyed its intentions to others of its kind, Shio had done the same… and Neo had responded.
Finally, Shio spoke again, hugging her bucket to her chest.
"Hungry."
"Very."
At her affirmation, Shio reached forward, offering her a core from her pale. And Neo gratefully accepted, plucking one from the pile. Smiling, both girls devoured their pulsating organs without a care in the world. Soma watched in stunned silence as Paylor observed them with keen interest.
"Hm…"
Turning, he strode quickly to his computer and began typing rapid keystrokes. Soma raised an eyebrow as he muttered quietly to himself as he logged whatever it was he was recording, the words 'kindred' and 'reciprocity' reaching his ears. Following his ramblings was pointless, as he knew no more now than he did a moment ago. Instead, he turned his attention back to the pair who had apparently moved while his attention was diverted. They sat in the center of the floor, quietly devouring their food.
The events of this day had confounded him and this was by far the craziest of them all. But at the very least, he could tell that the two of them were going to get along.
. . .
Far East Branch Headquarters - Lobby
The lobby was moderately active that evening. Following their mission in the Sunken Grid, the guys had returned to base and gone their separate ways. Utsugi had disappeared to find Major Amamiya and give his mission report. Soma had gone to locate Neo per Sakaki's request. The remaining two had hung back. The pair stood side by side, leaning over the railing and watching the other God Eaters go about their business.
"World's kinda sorry now, isn't it? I mean… it's so dark."
Ichiro lifted an eyebrow at Kota's sudden assertion. Eternally optimistic, it was unusual to see him looking so downtrodden.
"How do you mean?"
The gunner sighed, a wistful expression dawning on his face.
"A long time ago, before the Aragami appeared, it was beautiful. It was… right, ya know? No daily life and death struggles or giant monsters." Looking sideways, he noticed the amused look on his comrade's face. He had seen right through him. "Okay, I really don't know. I'm just quoting stuff I read on Norn."
Ichiro chuckled at Kota's sheepish admission. He found it entertaining that he had spent so much time researching the better times, not that he could blame him. Naturally, he had no more firsthand knowledge of the pre-apocalyptic era than his teammate did. He only had stories and recollections passed on by his father and research materials.
"Have you seen those videos they have from pre-Aragami times? They Rock! Someone uploaded all these old TV shows. I've been marathoning this one called Bugarally. It's like the best show!"
"Oh yeah, I've seen some of those. There's a lot of music in there as well. I haven't had the opportunity to watch many of them, but I'm sure people used to enjoy them. You know, before."
Kota nodded sadly.
"Yeah. Everyone must have been so happy back then. None of this paranoia. After work you'd head home and hug your family. They'd be so psyched to see ya. You'd tell stories at dinner and the whole table would laugh at jokes. You'd stay up and play games. Then when you finally went to sleep, you'd only worry about tomorrow's dinner and tomorrow's games. And then you'd close your eyes and tomorrow would come, just as easy as that."
Ichiro nodded, listening intently to Kota's ministrations. It sounded like a pleasant existence. Certainly not one that he had ever known.
"No one ever thought the future would be like this. No one thought they'd be afraid. But… it's not like we can see the future. They sure heck couldn't. There's no one to blame for the world we have now…"
"No, definitely not. I don't know who first discovered the Oracle Cell, but I'm sure they didn't foresee this outcome. They're an incredibly versatile organism… capable of providing renewable energy, compounds… life. But I'm sure no one knew it would turn out like this."
"Right? It's so crazy… I've been thinking about the past a lot. If the Aegis project goes through, maybe we can have that back. No more fear or fighting, just some measure of joy in our lives."
"I hope you're right, Kota… I hope you're right."
Kota smiled, happy to have a mutual understanding. Hamasaki was so easy to talk to. He didn't judge him for his hopeful thoughts, nor did he tease him for his grandiose wishes. He simply listened, offering an ear to those might need it.
"Oh hey, did I show you this yet? It's a good luck charm. My little sister made it for me."
"Heh heh." He snickered at the miniature cloth version of Kota's head with button eyes and his signature beanie. It was actually kind of adorable.
"It's pretty cute, am I right? She's talented."
"She most certainly is."
"I gotta make sure to stock up on presents for her the next time I head home."
"You should. I'm sure she'll be happy to know that you're thinking about her."
It brought him joy to see Kota speak so lovingly about his family. Ichiro had lost his own mother at an early age. After her death, his father had become absorbed in his research and as an only child, he never had any siblings. Were it not for Neo, his days would have been dreadfully dull and lonely. But he didn't envy him. He was happy for him. That he had family to call his own was a blessing.
"Hey, Ichiro."
"Hm?"
"Thanks again for helping me out back there. I seriously thought I was done for."
"Don't mention it."
Kota offered a jovial smile to his comrade, which he happily returned. He really was extremely grateful for his assistance during their mission. In truth, he was happy to have him return to the fold. As a person, he provided a safe space. He was a source of comfort for all, gentle and kind, assuming that they didn't bother Neo. In combat, he proved an invaluable asset, either as an agitator, a defense unit, or otherwise.
When he was in danger, Hamasaki had rushed to his aid without a second thought, holding his shield until its final charge and even offering his body once it had failed. It was one of the reasons he had respected him so much as a leader and even more so as a friend.
He was truly selfless, always placing others' safety before his own. At first, he had assumed his protection applied only to Neo. But through countless missions with him, he realized that that was simply a part of who he was. He had the spirit of a guardian. It was his nature. At that thought, he was suddenly reminded of an earlier inquiry.
"Hey… do you mind if I ask you something a little personal?"
"Not really. What is it?"
"About Neo…"
"What about her?"
"It's just… you guys are so close. Are you sure you're not…?"
Sighing, Ichiro shook his head.
"Yes, Kota. Neo and I are very close, it's true. But I assure you, that is all there is to it. Nothing more, nothing less."
"Well, why not?!"
"…Excuse me?"
"I just don't get it. I mean, you've known each other basically forever and you guys have a ton of chemistry. And I'm gonna be honest with you… it's pretty obvious you like her."
"…Huh?"
"Dude, come on. I've seen the way you look at her. Your whole demeanor changes when she walks into a room. You can't stay mad at her, no matter what trouble she gets herself into, not to mention you. And even though you play it cool, I see you stealing glances at her every so often. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not an idiot."
Ichiro gaped at him, dumbfounded. He couldn't exactly deny his last statement. Much like everyone else in the Den, he had assumed Kota, sweet as he was, to be kind of an airhead. He hadn't realized that he was paying such close attention to the people around him. He always seemed to be in a different world than the rest of them, but perhaps he was more attentive than he let on.
"Look, all I'm saying is, you like her, she likes you… Why haven't you ever gone for it? I mean, what gives? Are ya scared?"
Ichiro fell silent. His eyes darkened slightly, staring pointedly to the floor below.
"…You really want to know?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, if you wanna tell me of course. I won't pry if you don't, but I'm genuinely curious."
"All right, Kota. You win. The reason I never tried… well, really, I guess it's because I couldn't."
"…Uh, what?" Kota stared at him, a clouded look in his eyes. He was clearly confused.
"You're at least somewhat familiar with Neo's… condition, right? Her mental state." As Kota nodded, he continued. "So that means you probably know about her programming. Her cognitive trigger and what it does to her mind."
"Cognitive what now… Oh, you mean Reaper's Recorder?"
Ichiro laughed.
"Yes, Kota. Reaper's Recorder."
"Yeah, that is wild. It's what makes her follow orders, isn't it?"
"More or less. And you've seen what happens to her under its effects."
"Yeah. It makes her like… ridiculously obedient, right? She'll do basically anything you ask her to."
"Right, and that's exactly the problem. With no will of her own, there's no way I could possibly do something like that. Nor would I ever want to."
Finally, Kota understood. Ichiro was right. Up until fairly recently, Neo had remained, for the most part, an empty shell of a person. She displayed none of her own desires, simply following commands with little regard to anything else. And knowing that, Hamasaki had chosen not to pursue her so as not to take advantage of her. Any answer she gave would not have been her own. It made perfect sense to him… and it was a testament just how much he actually cared about her.
"Well… she doesn't seem to be that way now, right?"
"No, not anymore. At this point, she's free to do as she pleases. For better or for worse."
"So then… what's stopping you?"
"…"
He paused for a moment, his eyes widening slightly as realization hit him. He hadn't really given much thought to the matter. For the most part, he had simply accepted that Neo would never be his and was content to remain by her side for as long as she had left. And with being stranded without communication, wandering lost through the wilderness, returning to the Den, and keeping up with Neo's constant shenanigans, it hadn't really crossed his mind. Kota was right. What was stopping him at this point?
… Absolutely nothing.