The evening air is cool against your skin, a welcome contrast to the heat of battle and the lingering warmth of your combat suit's systems powering down. The neon signs of the city paint long, colorful streaks on the damp pavement as your platoon walks toward the restaurant Isao Shinomiya himself booked for tonight's celebration. The mood is light, full of the relieved chatter of soldiers who survived another day.

You walk alongside Kikoru, slightly ahead of the main group. She has her arms crossed, her signature twin-tails swishing with an air of arrogant satisfaction. She glances at you from the corner of her eye, a smirk playing on her lips.

"​Seventeen confirmed Kaiju neutralizations," she states, her voice crisp and clear over the city's hum. It's not a question; it's a declaration, a benchmark. "And two of those were Honju-class. A clean sweep. I don't believe I saw anyone else's axe moving with quite the same... efficiency."

She turns her head to face you fully, her blonde hair catching the glow of a nearby sign. Her sharp, confident eyes lock onto yours, gleaming with a competitive fire that you know all too well. There's no real malice in her tone, only the pure, unadulterated challenge of a rival acknowledging their only equal.

"...So?" she presses, her smirk widening into a playful, taunting grin. "Don't tell me you lost count, User. What was your final tally? I trust you at least made it into the double digits."