God Eater: Infinity Paradise

45. Icy Damsel

"Doc, is it alright if I ask to see the scans from before?"

She still isn't okay, to be honest, but Yuka can't keep herself holing up inside her room when there are lots of other things that need more of her attention. These include IRIS, Rebellion and of course... "I heard he got back," she said as the doctor rose from his seat and went for his storage of records.

"He did," Paylor answered, pulling out the required folders and handing it over to the blonde. "In fact, he sent Utsugi to a confidential mission about an hour ago."

"What do you plan to do with... Shio?" She then asked. "If he finds out, we all are in deep trouble." Though 'being in trouble' with the man in question is far from her concerns right now.

Paylor pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Well, I have my ways. This room is isolated from any department of the branch. It runs in its own communication and infrastructure system." The doctor smiled at her. "Unless something unplanned comes up, Shio is safe here. By the way, I've added the most recent scans in that file, and I recommend you take a clear look at them."

"I will. Thank you, Doc. I'll be on my way."

"Yuka." Her steps came to a halt, just as she was ready to open the door, the folder tucked under her arm. "Had there been any changes... to your plans?"

A small bitter smile found its way to her lips. "Don't worry about my plans, Doc. Rest assured, I'm still on your side. I'll help you keep Shio safe, no matter what."

Stupid.

Without even looking back, she strode for the section elevator, not bothering to lift her head up. She bumped shoulders with a few passing God Eaters and mumbled a sorry to them before slipping into the confinement.

Why the hell do you feel like crying again? That's stupid. Stupid, stupid.

The elevator began to move downwards and it didn't even take long for it to open again. As soon as the doors were no longer in the way, Yuka bolted out of it. "Oi," a voice came as she passed, but even him was paid no attention—almost as if he didn't exist at all. She pushed herself forward, until she was within the safety of the four corners of her own room.

A deep breath and a shake of the head, she walked towards one of her drawers. She slid the folder in and secured it with a lock. That should do it. She could do the reading later when all her assignments are finished. Besides, with the Director back at the branch, there are a few more other things she should put her focus on.

"Sestra, is it true that Utsugi rejected your leave of absence?" Alisa asked, outraged, as soon as she saw her clamber down the elevator to join them in the lounge. "That's very rude of him! I think you deserve that leave."

She chuckled in response and pulled her back to her seat. "He has a point though," she answered, taking a single chip from the plate on the table. "Self-isolation wouldn't be very good for me. It would just stress me out more than help me. It's kind of him to say that, but he being straightforward is equally savage too."

That was the conversation Soma caught up to when he arrived at the lounge, and for some reason, it made his ears burn.

"Oh, Lenka!"

He hissed.

"I haven't thanked you for the other day!" Yuka smiled. "It really helped and I had fun too." Her words ended in a wide, toothed grin, and Alisa looked back and forth from the blonde senior to their unit captain.

The younger male made a small smile. "I'm glad you're feeling a whole lot better." To their confusion, he didn't sit in with them, and instead headed for Hibari.