Reze: Come on! You're being so slow~

(Y/n): H-Hold on I'm going to trip!

Reze's fingers curled around your arm, tugging into your sleeve as she pulled you forward down a street you had never seen before. Neon signs littered the walls in place of normal lights as the blue, pink and yellow signs lit up the girl's dazzling smile. Finally stumbling, your arm was pulled free from the girl's grip as you tried to wipe your shirt in a vain attempt to soothe some wrinkles. You had not even been allowed to think of changing out of your work clothes as one of your usual café visits suddenly turned into a mystery. Visiting the café wasn't even something your truly wanted to do. Walking into the café had been a simply way to escape the rain on a dreary day and no matter who was your server you shouldn't have been connected to such a random event. But Reze's smile and carefree attitude resonated with your shell-shocked emotional state and seemed to provide a sense of stability. So that one visit turned into two... then three... and so on until now you found yourself walking down a corridor of an strange building being led astray by the girl with a simple grasp on your wrist. 

Gulping softly, your fingers lifted to grip your tie. Loosening the material softly you tried to squint and stare into the darkness of the hallway only to find that all that was illuminated was the room at the end. 

(Y/n): Where are you taking me exactly?

Reze: Somewhere fun! 

(Y/n): You keep saying that but don't we have plenty of fun at the café? 

Reze: If I have to wear a uniform it doesn't count.

The girl spoke quickly and simply, stunning you into silence as you looked down at your own uniform before the two of you arrived at a glass door. With a flourish, Reze pushed the door and the two of you stepped into one of the strangest places you had ever been. Strange electronic music crackled over a speaker as the dim neon lights lit up large devices scattered across the room. Large screens illuminated with pixel characters and titles asking for coins while other machines were simply broken according to their paper signs. At a counter sat an old man reading a magazine, bushy eyebrows almost covering his eyes as he simply regarded the arrival of your two with a grunt.

(Y/n): This place makes my head hurt... 

Reze: Welcome to an arcade! This is the sort of place you take a girl out on a date~

(Y/n): D-Date?! You never said we were going on a date!

Reze: Ah so you're one of those oblivious ones, huh? It's exciting being in a love triangle~

(Y/n): A love wha-

Reze neglected your question as she approached an old rusty machine and pulled some yen from her shirt pocket. It took her a few moments and the blood curdling screech of the old gears turning before Reze returned with a handful of tokens.

Reze: We use these to play games! What are you wanting to try?

(Y/n): Well... You seem to know more than I do so I'll let you lead the way.

Reze let a smirk pull onto her face as she once more gripped you by the wrist and led you off into the strange electronic labyrinth.  Dozens of pulsing and flashing screens of these old games caught your eye as Reze simply led you to and from game after game further and further into the arcade before you two sat before a game seemingly designed for two players.

(Y/n): A fighting game? You wanna fight on a date?

Reze: Oh I thought this wasn't a date~?

(Y/n): I-I'm just following your lead!

Reze: Hahah~ It's a co-op game so it only makes sense. Sure we are fighting against each other but it will be fun!

You weren't quite sure if that logic made sense but Reze had already produced two tokens and slotted them into the machine. Now you were vaguely controlling some guy in a mask as Reze was controlling another guy in a mask absolutely obliterating you. To you it seemed like she was simply buttoning mashing but the combos she was pulling off was enough for you to try and scrape together what knowledge you had skimmed from old gaming magazines to try and win. With a fraction of health left, you decided it was time for a comeback. Combo after combo followed by skillful stun-locking started turning the match around in your favor.

Reze: Getting the hang of it~?

(Y/n): I am!

You caught the subtle smirk that Reze allowed onto her face before she turned to you. You were thrashing her character in the game but she could only admire the smile on your face illuminated by the game's light. You were handsome... But not handsome enough to win~ The girl leaned forward and press a chaste kiss to your cheek. At first you didn't even know what she had done. Your face simply turned to her confused in time for your character's head to be uppercut from his torso and a red sign of victory to flash on the screen for Reze. 

Reze: Seems I'm the victor!

(Y/n): O-Oi! That's cheating!

Reze: Seems like a win-win to me... Even if you lost~

(Y/n): Look can we do something else? This video game thing is complicated.

It took the girl a moment before her eyes finally landed on the next task of your "Date".  You trailed after her as she arrived at another strange machine. This one was a large square mostly made of glass with various goods inside being tormented by a giant set of metal hooks. You moved up next to her as she slipped in some coins and the claw-like metal started to move.

(Y/n): What's this weird hook thing?

Reze: It's a claw machine. You use the claw there to reach down and grab the thing you want~ I'm aiming for the little cat plush.

You pressed your face against the glass before your (E/c) gaze landed on what you assumed she was talking about as the claw attempted to and failed to pick up a strange blue ball with a happy cat face on it.

(Y/n): You failed.

Reze: Thanks for the reminder... These machines are usually designed to fail.

(Y/n): Then why are you even trying to play if it's designed to fail?

Reze: Cause it's fun~

Watching Reze attempt to grab the cat once more was somewhat amusing. Her scrunched up face as she concentrated her hardest on trying to grab the cat plush was in a way adorable. It was different from Kobeni's adorable as you were half-certain Kobeni was just spazzing out at any given moment. Reze seemed calm and collected if not a little mischievous. It only took another moment before her attempt failed and she hung her head with an annoyed sigh.

Reze: One last chance... Wanna try? You just use the joystick to hover over it and press the button.

(Y/n): Sure, I'll try.

And with that you entered into the grandest battle so far! The metal talon sweeping through the battlefield like a bird of prey ready to vanquish those foolish enough to be near the top of this pile of plushie corpses. With the firm press of the big red button, the talon descended upon the cat plush ready to claim it's prize. The talons separated and gripped tightly around the cat plush before reeling it back into the sky.

Reze: You actually got it! It's a straight shot from here!

Reze's encouragement guided you as you desperately watched the claw stop and start returning to base. A sense of pride filled you as on your very first attempt at this strange machine you were going to accomplish what so many have failed to do in a 1,000 attempts! Getting a plushie from the machine! In a few short moments, you prize would be sitting in your hands and Reze would be smiling from receiving-

It dropped.

The claws parted at the last moment just enough for the plushie to slip through and land onto the pile though much closer than before. A strange sensation filled you as a small injection of adrenaline had your eyes wide as you watched the cat roll with it's face staring up at you with a blank smile and bright white eyes. Even in all your battles and encounters this emotion wasn't something you could describe but it prescribed it's solution as more... active...

Reze: Cheap machine... Let's just go-

Reze's eyes widened as she was cutoff, her jaw dropping as she watched you pull your fist back and punch straight through the glass with a blank expression on your face. Calmly you lowered your hand and grabbed the plushie before pulling your bloody and glass-strewn hand out of the machine to offer it to the girl. 

(Y/n): You give gifts on a date, right?

Reze: H-Hah... Well yes~ but they usually don't come with a side of vandalism.

The girl reached forward and took the plushie into her arms, smiling down on it brightly despite it having a few drops of your blood and a shard of glass sticking out of it. In the bright light of the claw machine, Reze seemed almost angelic with her deep blush and happy smile. The world could crumble now and you would feel nothing... except maybe for your hand... Reze lifted a hand from the plush and let her finger's trail against the crevice in your face. Her soft-looking lips parted to say something but you were now distracted by the broom cracking into the side of your jaw. Stumbling into the machine, the old man from the counter glared at you with the fury of an old warrior. 

Reze: Run!

Reze declared as she sprinted toward the exit. The old man raised his broom once more and went to strike you again though you managed to dodge out of the way of this strike. Following after Reze, the two of you sprinted out of the arcade and down the corridor while breaking into a laugh. Bystanders be thinking the two of you crazy for throwing open the shop door and sprinting down the street. Your legs carried you down the street away from the shop and the wrath of the old man until it seemed safe to rest. The two of you now rested before an alleyway as your hand rested against a wall.

Reze: You're crazy~ You know that?

(Y/n): Maybe~ You seemed crazy to keep trying that claw machine.

Reze: Yeah but I didn't K.O it when I got mad!

(Y/n): Says the fighting game cheater!

The two descended into more laughter as Reze curled her fingers at you to follow her. She descended into the alley with a grand smile and you couldn't help but follow her further on this crazy journey. This date was actually really fun. But you couldn't help but let your mind drift to others. Reze was incredible and this date was fun but what would it be like with say... Power? Or Makima? Power could care less about human tradition but wouldn't mind destroying things. Makima was a mystery that you couldn't pin down but Kobeni also seemed the type to enjoy this type of date... minus running from an angry old man. Himeno might have liked it too...

Reze: You ok?

(Y/n): Hah? O-Oh yeah I'm fine. Thinking about some things.

Reze: Well I hope you're thinking about our date. I had a lot of fun with your today, (Y/n). I've enjoyed my time with you all so much...

(Y/n): I am thinking about this date. I wasn't so sure about it at first but I had a lot of fun. Why don't we go on a second one of these dates?

Reze paused for a moment as a thoughtful look crossed her features. It seemed so different from her warm demeanor It felt cold and calculated despite the smile on her face.

Reze: That won't be possible I'm afraid. But... I guess I can reward for helping me have so much fun today~

Reze took a few steps closer, clutching the cat plush against her cheek as she gazed up at you. After so much time you actually managed to guess what she meant as her hand raised to run along your bruised jaw. The two of you met in the middle in a gentle kiss. There was a passion on Reze's end that you could tell was being tempered. For your part it was a warm kiss that energized your body with a sense of strength and pride. The respectful kiss lasted for a moment before the two of you pressed in closer, letting passions fly for a moment longer than they should as the cat plush was nearly squished between the two of you. The kiss developed from gentle to passionate to plain hunger. Reze and you both craving this affectionate touch for different reasons. All too soon, however, the kiss ended with Reze's lips hovering just before yours. 

(Y/n): One more date... just one more...

Reze: I can't (Y/n)... But I have one last thing to ask...

(Y/n): Anything...

Reze's hand lifted and glided up your chest. You expected it tot run up your neck but instead her soft finger's departed from your clothed chest. You couldn't see it as she pressed forward one last time, her finger curling around a ring on her choker as she spoke out her request. 

Reze: Please don't resent me...

CLICK

A drunk stumbles into an alleyway with a intoxicated grin on his face. He nearly plants his face into a wall before fumbling with his jeans in need for the bathroom. He barely even registers the sound of clattering bottles and plastic shuffling. 

???: B-Bwhh... Can't hold mhy... Liquor like I used to... Man I'm old...

A bottle shatters as a foot stamps down on it.

???: H-Heh? Oi... Move on ya pervert! Can't you see I'm attending to business'?! 

The drunk mumbles softly as he returns to his "business" before the sound of shuffling feet settles behind him.

???: Will you fuck on?! I-I'm just trying to piss! What gonna call the... C-Cops...

The male turns around with an annoyed glare only to see the person behind him soaked in blood. His shirt and tie ruined from the sanguine liquid but even worse was the shape of his face or... lack of one. In fact the person standing before him didn't have a head at all. His neck looked like a gory frayed knot leading to no head whatsoever. The drunk screamed out in surprise and free and he fell into the puddle of his own creation, staring up at a a walking corpse holding what appeared to be an old butcher knife. The drunk began praying to save himself from what he saw as some grim reaper but the corpse had no intentions to even bother with him. Simply choosing to walk toward the exit of the alleyway as it's neck began to twitch. This corpse had a very different target in mind and was only being kept alive by a few simple facts. This supposed corpse belonged to a fiend, a creature with enhanced regenerative abilities. Even an injury like this was manageable with enough blood to kickstart the process. And when your left in the garbage of a butcher shop there is plenty of blood to take in to start this process even if slowly. And finally this corpse despite lacking a brain knew something instinctually. It wanted to know why it was betrayed. It wanted to know that it wasn't wrong and that something could be done to prevent where this story would end. This sense of bargaining was keeping the corpse walking forward... but something else was tightening it's grip around the butcher's blade in it's hand.

A feeling of pure RESENTMENT...