Far East Branch Headquarters - Sakaki's Office

Four members of the First Unit stood in Dr. Sakaki's office, brought together for an emergency meeting. In the center of the room sat the topic of their discussion, wobbling slowly from side to side. It was afternoon in the Far East and Paylor had taken it upon himself to summon all available members, minus Utsugi, for an important task. Neo of course, hadn't answered the call, under the assumption that Soma would likely be present and she had been correct. Standing near the back of group, the veteran stood impatiently waiting for the doctor to get on with his announcement.

"Sorry for summoning you in haste, but you see… I have a problem. And it is well beyond my experience as a man of science."

"Eh?" Kota tilted his head inquisitively at the doctor's unusual remark. Dr. Paylor Sakaki was probably one of the smartest people he had ever met in his life. What would any of them possibly be able to assist him with?

"Would you mind helping to… dress Shio?"

All four members stared at him, mouths agape. Alisa had Kota had both been present for the initial discussion, and both had agreed with him that Shio was in dire need of a wardrobe change. However, neither one of them had expected him to ask them to do it personally. Astonished, Sakuya addressed the doctor curiously.

"Sorry, once more… You want to dress her?"

Paylor nodded enthusiastically, gesturing to the swaying child on the floor.

"I've tried endless approaches, each a tragic failure. She does not seem to be privy to my fashion sense."

"No, no, no! No more scratchy and coarse!" Shio complained, shaking her head vigorously in defiance. She didn't like the itchy fabric and she didn't want anything more to do with it. Apparently, human garments were problematic for her delicate skin.

"As I said. So, lacking other operatives of note, I decided to seek help from the branch's ladies."

Kota stared at him in utter confusion. Last time he had checked, he certainly wasn't a lady. As such, he hadn't the slightest clue why Paylor would call him into the room. He had interrupted his television program for this?

Beside him, Soma exploded.

"So then why the hell did you summon me? Damn you, old man."

Turning, Soma stormed out of the room in a huff. He wasn't in the mood for this nonsense. He was tired from lack of rest and emotionally drained from dealing with Neo… or more specifically, not dealing with her at all, as she was still avidly avoiding him. He strode down the hallway towards the lift, his patience exhausted. Behind him, Kota quickly followed.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm gonna be next to useless. My style is unique and Bugarally was getting good. Peace!

As the gunner disappeared through the office door, Sakuya rolled her eyes.

"Ugh! Stupid boys. Well I'll see if I can dress her in something a little less… rags… Come on, Shio. Let's try some stuff!"

"What are we gonna try?"

Shio climbed to her feet and strolled towards her, a fascinated expression on her child-like face. It seemed that Sakuya had piqued her interest.

"Doctor, we're gonna borrow this back room for a while. We'll find something she likes. Alisa, would you mind helping out?"

"Not at all."

. . .

Far East Branch Headquarters - Training Room

Soma exited through the metal doors as the elevator reached his destination. Having been thoroughly irritated and having his break time interrupted, he was ready to let off some steam. To do so, he had made his way to the place he usually went whenever he needed to vent some frustration. He didn't have the energy to take on a horde of actual Aragami at the moment, but he could sure as hell decimate one in the training room.

"… completely insane."

"Huh?"

Rounding the end of a hallway, he slowed his pace to a stop. He had been planning to unleash hell upon a pack of holographic creatures but it appeared that the room was already in use, occupied by a small group. More accurately, the room itself was being used by a single person. The remaining three stood by the open doorway, watching her from afar.

In the center of the room was Neo, the mischievous New Type he'd once called his ally and friend. Her damaged clothing was damp with sweat, sticking slightly to her frame as she leaned slowly back and forth. Her God Arc lay at her feet placed perpendicular to her arms and legs… and she was using it as a stabilizer. Her feet pressed lightly against opposite ends of the handle in a full split as she leaned her body to the side, placing her shoulder against the ground. The state of her garments made it evident that unlike the other three, Neo had already completed an exercise routine. And from the looks of her stretching, she was about to begin another one.

From the doorway, three of his least favorite people spoke quietly amongst themselves: the bully, the coward, and the Casanova. Their words were spoken softly as they observed her from the sidelines, but Soma's ears could still detect them. And if he could hear their conversation, he was certain that Neo could hear them as well. But if she did, she gave no indication, continuing the thorough warming of her muscles as though none of them were even there. What on earth was she getting ready to do?

As the boys continued their discussion, Neo finished limbering her body, rose to her feet, and made her way towards a console on the wall. Soma couldn't see what she was doing from his position, but apparently, she was making preparations. Returning to the center of the room, she brandished a small remote control that she had collected from the main terminal, pressing a few buttons and activating the simulation.

Surrounding her, Aragami of various types began to appear, ranging from the aerial Zygote to the landlocked Cocoon Maiden. Soma recognized this routine, as he done it himself many times before. The enemies would appear, attacking from all angles and all sides at random intervals, keeping the God Eater in nearly constant motion. Designed to keep a person on their toes, it was challenging and fast-paced, making it an excellent choice for honing one's adaptability.

Pressing a few more buttons, she activated the speakers in the room. With her music playing, she began her training session. Curiosity getting the better of him, Soma silently made his way toward them, approaching the open doors. Whatever she was doing was likely going to be highly entertaining.

And he wasn't disappointed. It was by far the most interesting form of exercise that he had ever seen, but certainly very Neo. The music was quick but not overwhelmingly so, and her weapon became an accessory to her performance as she moved to the tempo. He could see her body dancing to the music, her hips swaying and her feet moving. Her arms however, danced to a similar but different tune, whirling her scythe around her like an over-sized dancer's baton.

Her God Arc sliced cleanly through the incoming enemies, without allowing a single one to pass beyond her blade's radius. She moved across the ground, destroying Maidens and avoiding their spikes. She slayed incoming Zygotes and Ogretails, a smirk appearing on her face as she got into her groove.

And the best part of it all was that she didn't miss a beat.

The echoing screech could be heard under the drums as a swarm of Zygotes began to appear from the sides, rushing toward her. The simulation had shifted, focusing the battle on aerial assaults. As they approached, he had expected her to change forms, using her deadly accuracy to destroy her incoming targets… but she surprised him. It seemed that her goal for today's session was melee combat as she was determined to slay each and every adversary without shifting her blade.

Flipping her weapon, she slammed its handle into one of the holes in the metal floor, locking in place. Then, she channeled her power into her God Arc, extending the reach and doubling its length. With her vertical tool secured, she gripped the handle and lifted off of the ground.

It was the most exotic and terrifying display he had ever witnessed. Her body twisted, spun, and flipped as she rotated around her makeshift pole. Well-placed kicks and swipes pelted the Zygotes, tossing them away like soccer balls and sending them crashing into the floor, the walls, and occasionally, each other. What was frightening was the power of her strikes, with most of the creatures splattering upon impact as they hit the ground. Combining destruction and dance, she had become a hypnotic display of murderous intent.

And it was beautiful to watch.

He was very impressed by her proficiency in combat of so many areas, finding creative ways to use almost any tool to her advantage. And the level of focus needed to maintain her God Arc's extension and keep her balance, using her very body as a weapon, was truly astonishing. He had no idea that she could battle so effectively as a single unit. He didn't realize that she could move her body in such entrancing and exciting ways. He didn't realize that she was so flexible…

Wait, where was his mind going? Something was wrong with him today. Perhaps he was more exhausted than he originally thought…

As her simulation and music came to an end, the blonde-haired God Eater voiced Soma's private thoughts as though he had read his mind.

"Damn… Bendy, isn't she?"

"Ugh… I just don't get you sometimes." The bully grumbled, admonishing his blonde teammate, who simply shrugged his shoulders.

"Power is sexy. Tough girls are hot. What's not to understand?"

"No, really. I genuinely want to know. What the hell's the matter with you?"

"What can I say, I like a challenge. And this one is really making me work for it."

"She nearly killed you. No lay is worth that much."

"She did not. She just… wore me out. A lot."

"And that wasn't enough?! What did you guys even do anyway?"

"We just went on a few missions."

"A few? You nearly collapsed."

"Would you calm down? What are you so worried about?"

"Your health, you dimwit! Something that you obviously aren't concerned with."

"Gunter… I have to agree with Otto on this one. What exactly are you hoping to accomplish? I mean, there's gotta be like, over 100 girls in headquarters. Why are you so fixated on this one?"

The coward regarded his friend curiously, seemingly taking the other's side on the matter. It wasn't that he had anything against Neo in particular. The woman just made him really, really nervous. He had seen very well what she had tried to do to his hot-tempered comrade, and that was with her guardian present to stop her. With one misstep, she would tear Gunter to shreds.

"She fascinates me. I've never really met someone like her before… besides, the harder a woman is to get, the more rewarding. This one is well worth the effort."

His friend simply shook his head. He really was an idiot.

"Even if that were the case, which it isn't, that doesn't mean you should keep pushing your luck. Neo aside, now you have Hamasaki to worry about. He threatened Amamiya over this girl. What the heck do you think he'll do to you?"

"Yeah, he did. And it got him thrown in a cell."

"That isn't the point! He won't stay down there forever, you know…"

"Look, I already had a talk with Hamasaki. She's not his girl. And if he's dumb enough to let a woman like that get away, then that's his problem. But since he is, I'm going for it."

Otto shook his head as Gunter began to walk away from them. He was beyond help. Soma watched incredulously as the Casanova brazenly approached Neo, who was still inverted on her pole. Apparently, one beating wasn't enough for him, and he was ready for round two.

"You really are something, aren't you?"

Neo titled her head to look at the blonde man approaching her. It was him again. What did he want this time? Loosening her thighs, she slowly slid down her handle, until they were eye-level. Looking at him from an upside-down viewpoint, she raised an eyebrow at him.

"If this about my use of the training room, you can tell your friend where to shove it."

"Eh, Otto? Don't mind him, he's always been a bit ill-mannered. I keep telling him he needs to be nicer to ladies, but -"

"What is it you want, Gunter?"

"Just to talk. You know, I heard you were a dancer, but I didn't realize you were so talented. I'm impressed."

"I like to dance. Is there a problem with that?"

"Not at all. I happen to enjoy it myself actually. And I have to say, I really enjoyed your performance."

Intrigued, Neo righted herself and slid until her feet touched the floor. Shrinking her scythe, she dislodged it and looked up at him.

"That so? What kind?"

"Well, there's Waltz, Latin, and Soca to name a few…"

Neo snickered at his list, earning a confused look from the man in front of her. The first one made sense, but the other two…

Smirking back at her, Gunter regarded her with an inquisitive gaze.

"What? Was it something I said?"

"Perhaps. It's an interesting combination of styles. You originate from Germany, correct?"

"My father was German, yes, but my mother was Caribbean. She enjoyed music as well. I guess that means we have something in common."

Was…?

"I see."

Neo eyed him suspiciously. She wasn't entirely certain she believed his claims, but she couldn't deny his heritage. Despite his blonde hair and green irises, his skin was tanned, suggesting another form of descent. Regardless of the validity of his skillset, his story made her slightly sympathetic. From the way he spoke, it sounded as though his parents were no longer with him. She had lost Hiroyuki in the wilderness and that had devastated her. And while she had never met either one of her birth parents, she had seen through another the pain of losing them.

"Are you familiar with any of those?"

"Latin."

"So you've never danced Soca or Waltz?"

"Never."

"Well, I'd be happy to show you a thing or two."

"Confident words."

"I'm confident in my skill."

"Prove it."

"… Eh?"

"Your words mean little to me. You've shown yourself proficient on the battlefield. Now prove yourself on the dancefloor."

"… Does that mean you'll go out with me again?"

"Later."

Lifting her weapon, she moved around him and walked away. Having let off some of her energy, she was ready to relax. Perhaps she would go visit Ichiro for a while… or better yet, raid his dessert ration. As she strode from the training room, she shot a chilling glare to his two companions. Both remained silent as she passed them by, having no wish to agitate her further. To Soma, she spared not even a glance, striding past him as though he weren't even there.

Sighing, the veteran watched as she vanished into the lift, likely to go see her remaining friend. It seemed that there was no repairing the damage that he done to their relationship… and that thought hurt him far more than he could have ever expected.

"I… don't believe it."

"You gotta hand it to him… Gunter really does have a way with women, huh?"

"Yup. And it's gonna get him killed."

Soma's mouth twitched as he vaguely heard Gunter's friends converse amongst themselves. He wasn't so certain that their friend had a snowball's chance in hell with his volatile teammate, but he wondered whether he should keep an eye on him. Even if Neo no longer had any care for him, he still cared for her.

Hm?

His phone buzzed in his coat pocket, interrupting his troubled thoughts. Someone was sending him a message. Retrieving his device, he took a quick look at the screen.

Urgent! Shio is gone!

The message was signed Paylor Sakaki. Of course. Unsurprisingly, his plan to dress up the Aragami child had not gone as planned. And now he would be forced to aid in the search. It seemed he was going on yet another retrieval mission.

"Damn it all!"

Storming toward the lift, Soma startled the men behind him, who hadn't even realized he was there.

. . .

Tranquil Temple

Stomping through the snow, Soma wandered his way through the frozen streets. Unable to burn off any of his frustration, he was in an exceptionally foul mood. He was growing tired of the endless cascade of troublesome events, and he was even more tired of being forcibly dragged into them. Why couldn't people just leave him alone?

Making his way towards the center of the area, his eyes drifted toward the massive structure that had earned the city its name.

Of course she's in there…

Changing direction, Soma walked briskly towards the massive temple, keeping his head on a swivel for any emerging threats. As he climbed the stairway, he sighed with aggravation. Why did those two enjoy this place so much?

"Hey… Are you in here, Shio?"

"Nope. Not in here!"

Unamused, Soma rolled his eyes at her childish response. He wasn't in the mood for games at this point. And as this was his third search and rescue mission in less than two weeks, he was more than ready to simply drag the Aragami back if he had to.

"All right, playtime's over. We have to go back to the Den."

"I don't wanna wear the scratchy thing…"

Why am I not surprised?

"Heh… Still an Aragami, just moving on instinct."

Shio flinched slightly behind her hiding place, startled by the bite in his tone. He was very upset and she didn't know why. Was it her fault…?

Slowly, her white face peeked from behind the statue, eyeing him cautiously.

"S-Soma?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you still mad at me? You were… You were really mad before…"

Soma shook his head.

"Yeah… It wasn't you. Okay?"

Shio frowned at him, sadness washing over her as she noticed his furious eyes and clenched fists. Something was definitely bothering him.

"But… you are mad now. Soma, be honest. I did something that's bad, didn't I?"

Soma's words escaped as a low rumble. His eyes growing dark as his mind drifted to Neo's pained expression.

"No, you didn't… I'm the one who's bad…"

"Mm… I don't wanna be scratchy to Soma… I did something wrong, didn't I?"

You didn't do anything wrong… I did.

A bitter laugh escaped from his lips as he looked up at the child. Gazing down at him, he could see the pain in her expression and hear the dejection in her voice. She actually felt remorse for her actions. And at that moment, Soma realized that she was growing. She was evolving and changing, becoming more human with each passing day… while he remained the same. She was moving ever-forward, while he was standing still. In truth, he wasn't angry with Shio. She had done nothing to earn his ire. His rage was not directed towards her at all. He was angry with himself.

"Listen to you. Come so far… If I could live for a minute like you… Forget myself and forget all of this for even just a minute… Heh… I'd probably like it too much."

"S-Soma?"

"Hm?"

"Do you taste good? I don't know if you do…"

Soma paused, staring blankly at the curious child watching him from the elevated platform. Then, he began to laugh. She had spoken so casually, her expression filled with genuine interest. And her question was so absurd that it caught him off guard, and he wasn't sure how to respond.

"Hehe… Well, okay. I guess there's only one way to find that out, isn't there?"

Her innocent smile reminded him of someone from a time long passed. She was so inquisitive and so eager to learn. She blurted out questions and thoughts with no regard for anything other than the answer, and she saw the world through a wonderous lens. Neo had been like her once… before humans abused and exploited her for their own personal gain. And when they had no further need of her, they tried to dispose of her, no different than used garbage. Perhaps he wasn't entirely human… but the more time he spent around the two of them, the more he began to wonder if maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

"We are close. Closer than I thought. Simply by virtue of being two of the only beings in the world like us."

"So Soma, Neo, and I are the same!"

"Only because we're stuck and lost…"

"Then let's go find ourselves!"

This kid…

"Come on with that…"

Shio hopped down from her perch and made her way towards him. Her bouncing steps reminded him so much of her. Even their height was nearly the same. He averted his eyes, looking instead out of the doorway into the snow. He worried that if he watched her smile long enough… he might even return the gesture.

"Shiiiiiooo! Come on out, Shio!"

Kota's voice rang through the area, echoing off of the damaged buildings. It seemed that they had finally found them. Looking at the child at his side, a thought crossed his mind.

"You know what, Shio? It's a vaccination to them… but those guys? They have to inject themselves with Aragami cells, just to have the hope of surviving… Heh… They're even more lost and afraid than we are…"

"Yes. They are lost and afraid. Like us. They are like us. Our 'friends'… I feel it…"

"Maybe they are… Come on, let's head home now."

Reaching for his phone, he sent a quick message to the others, apprising them of their location. Beside him, Shio beamed at him. He had called her his friend.

What the…

Overwhelmed with joy, Shio reached forward in an gleeful attempt to embrace the moody veteran… and he wasn't happy about it. His cheeks burned as he fought her off, holding her at arms' length as she tried desperately to hug him. What was it with those two and always trying to touch him?

She really was just like Neo.