And yet, another chapter. Darn I'm on a roll.

But first I'm gonna respond to this story's reviewer, which comment piqued my interest, Ms. Or Mr. (or sis or bro, my bad) . She was wondering why this fic had only so few review, which was true, even if it was decent in her (or his) opinion. Well, I guess because this fic isn't so famous like other games. According to the statistics, 80% of 's occupants are females and the fact that this game (or anime) doens't really suit most females made this fandom not quite famous as others. Even if there were male authors or readers of this fandom, I believe there would be so few. And those statements, my lovely readers, is my interpretation of why many good stories in this fandom don't receive much attention, and by so, reviews or favourites.

And please do tell if this fic's becoming a crap. Though I really don't want this baby to turn to one.

Enjoy and pardon my typo or grammar.

Realization

The Den, Afternoon

A God Eater in blue uniform was talking to her friend and classmate. Her usual behavior was energetic enough but this time she was even more. "You hear the rumor yet?"

She was practically brimming when she said that, holding herself to sit graciously, not to jump around the veteran floor.

"Uh… No? Is that what everyone was talking about?" her friend responded a few meter away in front of the vending machine. His clothe was all green and his hair darker than the girl. "What was that all about anyway, An? Everyone seems so… giddy and restless since this morning."

"God, Fred, you're missing the hottest issue in the Den!" Finally the girl called An, short for Anette, couldn't contain the excitement in herself anymore and jumped from the seat only to tell her rookie friend this 'hottest issue in the Den'. The boy somehow kept his cool and kept drinking his cola. "Apparently, Riitsu-senpai got together with Soma!"

Suddenly, this Fred boy spurt his cola comically. Luckily the brown liquid didn't hit the vending machine or his friend, all spilled down the floor.

"Wh-?" Fred coughed many times because his favorite beverage went down the wrong hole, but he still tried to finish his sentence. "N- ugh, ahem, no way! That can't be happening!"

"Why? I know it's a rumor but what if it's true? Or maybe… you have a crush for Riitsu-senpai?"

"Are you- burp – kidding me? Of course I have! She's beautiful, funny, a blessing on the battlefield, the most caring leader Fenrir could ask for! She's as strong and soft like Vajra's mane yet she exterminate aragamis as graceful as Sariel! And, and, her smile! Her smile lights a spark on me, a spark stronger than Dyaus Pita's electrocity ball! How could I possibly not have a crush on her?!"

After he literally screamed the last sentence, and confession, Anette and Frederico, the new new-type recruits heard a loud thud coming from Soma's room. They thought it was a warning from Soma to shut the hell up so they lower their volume and take the conversation to another section with Fred still continuing his list of why his majestic Riitsu should be nominated as a goddess and how she should not be wasted on someone like Soma.

Much to their ignorance, that loud thud wasn't Soma threatening them to leave. It was the sound of a lump of living meat called Soma that hit the metal flooring. The buster-blader boy's interrogation with Lindow last night somehow took a great toll on his mental state that he decided to sleep through the day, yet fate decided to give him a rude awakening.

'What the? Me? Got together with her? Where the hell is this rumor coming from?' Soma recalled this hot issue Frederico and Anette talked about and somehow a little piece of his mind told him: Hey, that's not a bad idea. I'd love it, actually, but he battled it mentally and fell off his bed as a result, face first. No way he could get back to dream world after kissing the floor like that.

With a frown on his face, Soma stood up, looking at the clock in his terminal which showed number 12:08 PM. No wonder he felt hungry, breakfast time was long ago. Soma quickly changed into his trademark jacket and shirt, took his sanitary tools and head down to the community bathroom, getting ready for the day. The next thing he did was going to the mesh hall cafeteria for a late breakfast-early afternoon meal.

Along his way, he heard the same things that Anette and Frederico talked about: The damn hot issue or gossip or whatever that was about him and his reckless leader hooked up with each other and being lovey-dovey. With his heightened hearing, Soma could hear many 'spices' people add to the gossip which made the latest version of the gossip came straight outta drama TV.

"What were they doing in Forgotten Carrier?"

"Oh my! They were making out?"

"I heard he kissed her when she was sleeping."

"He confessed sweetly and she said yes!"

"She was purposely seducing him! How else they would end up together?"

… and many other 'spices' that would blow your mind.

He was fine with the rumor of him being a God of Death, but this was an entirely another matter. Usually Soma could just ignore the rumor but somehow this one bothered him more than he thought it would be, more likely because it ticked him that some of them made her sounded like a cheap woman. She was more than what they made her sounded like. She was more… graceful and playful like a Sariel, sometimes weak like a wounded Ogretail, and her smile… God, her smile… Frederico was right… Soma remembered her smiled she had when everything was fine. Her smile electrocuted him, as powerful as Dyaus Pita's attack.

Great. Now he'd become a fanatic like Frederico. Get a fucking grip Soma.

But then again, she was the first person to show him the beauty of living to him when all he felt was fear of losing and hatred to his father. She was the first person crazy enough to invade his personal space and asked him of what he wanted to be, instead of believing he was a God of Death, other than Sakuya, Lindow, and Tsubaki, but they were all on other level. Her level was… high enough to the point where his heart would skip a beat with just a glimpse of her eyes.

Oh God… He was becoming sappy. Oh hell with being sappy, if it was for her, he didn't mind being pathetic either.

Wait a minute… He knew what these symptoms were… Could he be… could he be in love? Sure, Soma was arrogant, full of himself, loner, and stoic, but that didn't mean he was an idiot. He knew whatever the hell he felt, he was just never bother to show it to others. But this… these feelings for her… it was so strong he couldn't even contain it anymore. Maybe it was about time to tell her a piece of his mind to his leader.

While he was getting in the short line for his meal, the platinum blonde looked around for any signs from his teammates, or Riitsu at that. He wanted to ask how she took the gossip and maybe had a four eyes conversation with her, but his unit members were nowhere to be found. Maybe they went on their mission already? Oh well, he could always ask Hibari to track her bio signal.

Suddenly the speaker announced a summon, Hibari's voice rang throughout every hallways. "Attention to God Eater Soma and God Eater Riitsu from the First Unit, you are expected in Doctor Sakaki's lab as of 1400. I repeat, God Eater Soma and God Eater Riitsu from the First Unit, you are expected in Doctor Sakaki's lab as of 1400. Thank you."

A rare smirk curved on his lips. "Nice timing, Doc."

Dr. Sakaki's Lab, Afternoon

"I see you're here 126 seconds earlier than I expected," said Paylor Sakaki, looking as sly yet innocent as ever. The old man sat on his desk, busy typing whatever mad research he did this time. Then he gave the female God Eater in front of him his attention. "I have an important mission for you today, but first let me congratulate you for finally… getting yourself a romantic partner."

Sakaki's words totally caught her off guard. "D-doc?! You too?! Where in the world did you hear that rumor?" Her face that once showed dignity, power, and bravery instantly turned red. Her posture that was straight now emit nervousness.

"Let's say I have my own information network. And though I'm a bit skeptical about it, I'm sure you both can make each other happy."

"D-doc! I'm telling you we'r-"

"But I must warn you not to engage in any… ahem, romantic intercourse activity while on a mission."

Even if it was a… fetching way to put it, Riitsu was a young woman already, though still a bit innocent on a side, but she understood what her superior meant. She understood it so well and combined with her good visual imagination, she couldn't help it when her brain produced an image where she and Soma making out and vice versa on top of rubbles of a ruined temple.

That damn visual image surely was too much for her that some red liquid started to run down the brunette's nose. "Doc," said Riitsu as calm as she could while pinching her nose. "We're not in that kind of relationship… It's a misunderstanding."

"Is that so? Well, if you say so, it seems I got the information wrong this time. My apologies."

This time? What the hell did that imply? "It's okay as long you get it, Doc. Uuuh, so what's the mission this time? And where's Soma? He's late."

"Oh don't worry about him. He came before you were here and I briefed him, so he's much likely on his way to the field now," explained Sakaki. Somehow the stargazer detected a dejected looking on the First Unit leader's face, like an abandoned puppy. Like a professional God Eater she was, the expression was quickly changed with her serious-leader expression. "Your mission this time is to extract a core from an ice-type Fallen Kongou on City of Mercy. But this time, I require the core to be extracted while the Kongou's oracle cells are still active."

Understanding what that means, she gasped. "But doesn't that mean we have to extract the core from living Fallen Kongou?"

"Absolutely correct. That is why I send you and Soma on this mission. I believe with your speed and fire affinity you can lock Kongou's movement and Soma with his strong power can extract it through Kongou's thick hide in one swoop. If you do it with perfect coordination, I believe it's possible. Do you accept this mission?"

She fell silent. All she ever did was killing aragamis, not dissecting it like a giant lab rat. Surely this new superior of hers had a creative way to use his God Eaters and aragamis. Whatever his current experiment was, it better to be the greater good of humanity else she would strangle him for giving her this kind of mission. "I accept," the girl said while saluting Doctor Sakaki. "Then, I'll be taking my leave."

"Thank you very much. You have my gratitude."

"Whatever, Doc… Just… try not to blindly believe in rumors again," she lazily responded his thank-you. Sometimes she was gratified that the one who took the role as acting leader of the branch was Sakaki. If it was Tsubaki, no way in hell she would let her mouth loose like this time.

Creeck, shuuhs… The door to Sakaki's lab closed as the First Unit leader walked passed it. The mad scientist continued his typing activity again, but muttered something as he correct his eyeglasses position. "According to my prediction, that rumor won't be just a rumor anytime soon. Oh well, best of luck you two."