It was with a mild sense of disappointment that Zero noted that the fragment of his memory that the mistletoe ripped out hadn't even been one he'd lost. It remained clear in his mind, disgusting and vivid, as though it happened yesterday. He felt a bit more rotten inside for being reminded of how violating his capture had been, and so much angrier. A severe look of displeasure stained Zero's face as Kiyotaka spoke the scientist's name with a tone of bewildered recognition.

As a general rule, the reploid's expression was almost always stern or stoic, even in the heat of battle. This was probably the first Kiyotaka had seen pure hate in his eyes, sharp and burning - the kind of hate that was almost murderous.

And what of Kiyotaka's own memory? Emotions that weren't his own swirled in Zero's head - betrayal so painful it left him numb, until helpless, desperate despair ripped his heart out and murdered it. That kind of ordeal was nothing a normal high school student went through, he was certain. What kind of hell had Kiyotaka been through? And that bear... it'd been a robot of some kind...

Perhaps Zero's expectations of most humans was pretty low, but it did surprise him that the student didn't bear more resentment towards machines, all things considered. Then again, maybe he didn't know Kiyotaka's mind that well at all.

Scowling, this time it was Zero's turn to look away first. "Yes. It was."