[Yuu Kannagi]

Another day, another mission done. Yuu Kannagi had just arrived at the lobby after a quick subjugation mission. Nothing too big for him to handle. He wanted to follow Lindow's orders, and dying isn't one of them.

'Finished. Now to get a nice drink.' Yuu thought, a small smile on his face. Only to encounter a scowling Kota Fujiki.

"Hey there." Yuu greeted, holding his arm up, Kota immediately brightened up as he saw Yuu. "Yuu!" He exclaimed before looking over his shoulder. Sure enough there were two men casually jabbering about how a god eater should not run away from an aragami— Seeming like they care but only an idiot won't notice the malice within their tone.

"I'd bet those two are the type to bully rookies! I'd hate to go on a mission with them!" Kota grimaced, disgusted with the sight of the two young men who had found their unfortunate prey— a young woman with lavender hair.

"You have to earn your keep. You can't keep relying on us forever." The blonde haired man dressed in pink berated the woman who looked pitiful— Two veterans are being such assholes to her.

Yuu knew that It was plainly wrong to bully a new recruit. Nobody came out of their mother's womb killing aragami, genders aside, a normal human being needed to respect their fellow kin.

Before Yuu can even step forward to defend the fellow new recruit, he heard a crisp "What the fuck—" from them. It seemed that he and Kota were not the only ones bothered.

Two figures— a young man and a young woman dressed like elegant nobles looked down on the crouching bully, who was now groaning in pain, clutching his stomach as the mysterious noble duo pulled the lavender haired woman away from the vicinity.

"Woah!" Kota exclaimed in a hushed tone. Someone finally did what the oppressed new recruits wanted to do.

Yuu silently looked at their retreating figured. Hell, even the maroon-haired boy was scared shitless— that kick seemed powerful.

"Those two are awesome!" Kota cheered in front of Yuu. His scowl now replaced with glittering eyes filled with admiration.

"What's awesome?" A smooth voice asked behind them.

"Kazama-san! You won't believe this. Those two over there were bullying a woman. Then suddenly, two noble-like young man and woman rescued her! It was so epic! One of them even kicked him!" Kota gestured to Karel who was doing his best to recover from the immense pain.

Kazama's forehead scrunched up slightly— but it did not lessen his glamour, of course. "....What were they wearing?" The brunette man silently prayed it's not his children.

"Oh! They looked like nobles!" Kota answered enthusiastically, not noticing the change of expressions on Kazama's face. Yuu has noted that it seems like he is quite troubled, Terrified even. "Oh.. Okay. Where did they go?" Kazama asked, struggling to retain his remaining calmness.

"Over there! They were in a hurry-- Captain Kazama where are you going-" Kota answered enthusiastically before getting cut off by Kazama's sprint.

Yuu only tilted his head in confusion. What just happened?

--

It was time for Yuu to take himself on a mission once more. But he wasn't alone this time. It turned out that he would be partnered up with Soma, and a man named Eric der Vogelweid.

As soon as the names were given. The people within earshot of the news were giving him a look of pity. But the blonde recruit was focused on what's in front of him. He wanted to grow strong, and whatever rumors say, it's just rumors.  Yuu promptly stuffed earlier's events into the back of his head. Mission first before his curiosity after all. 

The mission area, named: the Factory ruins was anything but damp. And foggy. 

Although the rookie Yuu was quite enthusiastic with the mission, Soma couldn't care less. If anything. He wanted to get out of there as soon as possible. Eric was loud enough, and this time he's not just facing Eric. But also that new recruit, 'Troublesome.' Soma grimaced at the memory. His scowl seemingly permanent on his tanned face. 

"Come on, Soma! When will that recruit come here? It's been ages!" Eric gestured at the tanned male who visibly ignored him.

"Still won't talk? Come on, man loosen up once in a while!" The redhead did his best in starting up a chat with Soma. But unfortunately, the young man was deep within his thoughts, until footsteps echoed on the concrete.

Eric immediately glanced back, and Soma had followed suit. Soon enough, Yuu Kannagi stepped out from the shadows as he made his way forward towards the males. Instantly, Eric's energy spiked up as he sped towards the young man, waving his hand as the other clutched his god arc.

"Hey! Are you the new rookie we've been hearing so much about?!" He grinned, waving a hand through his spiky red hair as he greeted Yuu. But before the rookie can reply, the redhead continued "I'm Eric. Eric der Vogelweid!" he grinned, a domineering aura of confidence was exuding from him as he continued speaking. "I suggest you take you cues on me, and learn to battle gloriously for humankind!" He ended his speech quite flamboyantly, confidence was oozing out of his words.

Yuu smiled as he introduced himself. "Nice to meet you. My name's Yuu Kanna-"

The young recruit's introductory speech was cut off as a yell pierced through the silence in the ruins. "Eric! Above you!" Soma yelled as he sprinted forward, god arc in his hand as an ogretail did maul the redhead from above, crushing the young man with its weight. 

Yuu could only watch in shock, and horror as the said ogretail opened its large mouth, and sunk its teeth on the fallen redhead. Blood spraying on the vicinity. For the first time in his life, The blonde recruit saw someone get eaten in front of him, a person he was just speaking to a while ago.

"Don't just stand there!" Soma's shout had awakened Yuu out of his frozen stupor as he swung down his buster blade towards the godforsaken fiend. Ending its life as quick as it ended Eric's.

--

Death was inevitable in their line of work. Everyday, casualties get reported. But never in Yuu's life did he thought that he'd be on the front row in seeing Eric getting devoured by that ogretail. Thinking about the blood, his corpse, and his friendly advice, Yuu felt sick to his stomach. He could have had done something-

he could have had smacked the ogretail immediately before it can bring its jaws down onto the fallen redhead. For God's sake, he's in front of him. But what? He froze. He froze in the most crucial of times where he could have had saved him. He could have had, but he couldn't. Wasn't he supposed to be a God eater? Someone who protects?

He can't even protect his comrade from an ogretail no less.

Seconds turned into minutes as Yuu's breakdown continued. He could have had done something. Why? He just stood there like a statue as Eric got eaten. 

Guilt clouded the blonde man's once clear eyes. His carelessness and inability to act costed him Eric's life.

"Welcome to this God awful workplace." Soma's expression only held his same glare. 'Why wasn't he affected?' Yuu thought, not even bothering to reply as he glanced at Soma.

"My name's Soma. Not that you need to remember that." The white haired teen gave Yuu a frosty stare. "Sorry to break this to you but this kind of thing happens on a daily basis here." He continued, as if seeing Yuu's guilt within his forest green eyes.

'I know.' Yuu thought, glancing back at the dead aragami and the remainder of Eric before a sharp swish of a sword sliced through the air.

"What did YOU think it was going to be?" Soma asked, not bothering to sugarcoat his words.

"Just kidding.. Time's up. Let's go, Rookie." the corners of Soma's mouth twitched into something akin to a smile as he turned around and left.

Yuu closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths as he walked forward. He couldn't even take the time to appreciate the white haired man's joke. His head was spinning, from shock, horror, and fear. He didn't want that to happen again.

He didn't want another Eric getting mauled.