From seven years ago, this memory plays into Raphael's mind as he heads to the battlefield to retrieve Claire.
"...Raphael." Claire spoke his name. "It's been a while." She called him out to have a private conversation with him. Though Raphael makes it seem like he's not interested meeting up with her. "What is it?" He asks.
"I, uhm, i-it's nothing... I just wanted to know how you're doing. We barely see each other these days so I..."
"If this is going to be a meaningless small talk then let's stop right here. I'll be going back now." But before Raphael can walk away, Claire immediately grabbed onto his hand tightly. "No! P-Please don't go..."
"What is it this time!?"
Claire gazes at Raphael with a longing expression. "Are you really going to treat me like a stranger now!?... after all these year, can you really treat our bond like it was nothing?..." tears began rolling down from her eyes.
Raphael can't utter a word as he stare at her crying. Deep down, he badly wanted to hug and comfort her, but he kept telling himself that he shouldn't break character at all cost.
"I'm sorry, okay!? I was pathetic... I couldn't be as strong as you... I wasn't cut out to be in the Special Infantry Troop so I got reassigned to a different division. I'm sorry I couldn't fight side by side with you..." she can't help but cry her heart out to Raphael. "But isn't this mean of you!? How can you treat me this way!? We grew up together from the slums, we were like family!"
Raphael looks away as he can't stand to see her cry. "I'm sorry..." he muttered. "...but I think I can't deal with you right now. I've got better things to do."
"Raph!!" She yelled in disbelief. "Even now, all you think about is this damn job as a soldier!!"
"This isn't just some damn job, Claire. We're all fighting for the sake of humanity's future, and that involves us too! This is more important than you think!"
"To hell with humanity's future! If it weren't for this organization, you wouldn't be like this!... they never even cared about our lives before. They forced us to be here, they forced us to work for them!—"
Claire stopped when she noticed how Raphael was glaring at her. "...E.D.L. have given my life a purpose. I'll fight for what I believe in. And if that's how you think, then I suggest you quit now. We don't need someone like you here." He then leaves her behind, making that the last conversation they ever had.
Going back to the present, Raphael truly regrets telling her off like that. But at the time, he decided that it was for the best to push Claire away and tell her to quit. He always thought it will be better off that way so Claire won't have to face the dangers that awaits in the battlefield.
If only she resigned and lived a normal life, perhaps she can live in peace. Maybe Claire might even find someone that can give her a better life, then they would have a child or two and become a happy family. That was all Raphael wished for Claire, to live a life at ease and be happy.
But things took a turn when Claire lost her memories. The once gentle and caring person he knows have become something so powerful and intimidating, it's as if she became a new person. "Claire!!" He yells her name as he made it back to the battlefield.
And the instant he saw her, he was in complete shock to find Claire destroying and ripping enemies to shreds. The enemy's blood is spilling everywhere, and it made her look like some wild beast thirsting for more.
"Claire! Behind you!!" A fellow soldier warned her when a bomb was sent her way.
"Ah shit!" She immediately transforms her shifter into a cannon, the plan was to explode the bomb mid-air so it wouldn't do as much damage upon crashing on ground.
However, before she can stop the bomb from reaching the ground, someone swiftly swept her away. "What the!?"
"Are you crazy!? You can't confront a huge bomb like that!" Raphael scolds her.
"Why the hell did you take me away!? I'm supposed to defend there!!" Then Claire have watched from a distance how the bomb destroyed the spot she was supposed to protect. "Gah!! Look, they're all blown up there now!!"
"Quit squirming around! I'm trying to save you here!!"
"When did I ever asked for your help!? Let go of me you bastard!!"
"Listen to me will 'ya!? I need to get you out of here!!"
"You damn idiot!! Let go of me!!" Claire began hitting him on the head and they started arguing in the middle of a battlefield. Though their argument was cut short when something crashed near them.
"Is that... Guns!?" Raphael noticed that it was Gunther who crashed near them, and he was dealing with an opponent from the I.E.A.
"Aaaarrrghh!!" His opponent struggles to get out of Gunther's grip as he was being choked to death. "Raaaaaahhh!!" And he was finally put out of misery when his neck snapped.
Gunther got up and noticed Raphael's presence. "Raph!? What are you doing here!?"
"I only came here to retrieve something. I'll be on my way now." That was all he said as he drags Claire with him. "Hey! Don't refer to me like some lost object! And let go of me!!" She complained.
"For the millionth time, I'm trying to save you here woman!! I won't let you be on your own in this chaotic place!!"
"I've told you, I DON'T NEED YOU TO SAVE ME!!" And the two started arguing again.
Gunther couldn't ignore them and interfered. "Back off, you're getting in the way of someone on duty!" He yelled, sternly telling Raphael off.
Raphael stopped taking a step forward and glared at Gunther. "Don't poke on someone's business."
Gunther glared right back at him. "What you're doing is a violation! You of all people here should know that better, so leave that woman be and return to the base!!"