“Negotiations are only done when the two parties have something that interests one another,” sternly stated Nakatani, finally breaking the dead silence that had installed itself inside of the locked auditorium. “In our case and your case, what sort of things could we have that are said interests? And I will say right away that we will not provide you with weaponry nor will we let you run around free in the world. I hope you’re aware of that when you call this a ‘negotiation’.”

“We don’t need you to give us any of the two,” said M1, slowly lifting his hands and arms from around M0’s waist, a mischievous smirk on his features as he did so.

“…!” When M0 appeared right in front of his seat out of thin air, Nakatani couldn’t help but reflexively push his body backwards as much as he was able to while sat down, his back stabbing into the hard backrest of the wooden chair.

“We can easily get any of them whenever we want,” added M0, outstretching his closed hand over the table and then opening it. The metallic clanks of bullets hitting and rebounding on the wooden surface of the table echoed in the silent large room. “Hence, that is not what we want out of you.”

“…What is it that you want, then?” cautiously asked Nakatani, his eyes quickly switching around between M0, who was still standing in front of his table, and the soldiers keeping guard on the locked doors, who frantically inspected the unexpected lack of bullets inside of their firearms.

“Recently, a portion of this military base underwent a construction period, where some buildings were built and adjustments to it were made, correct?” asked M1, once again lifting his arms slightly in the air so that M0 could once again magically pop up sat down on his lap. “We want that whole area.”

“Excuse me?” interjected Nakatani, trying to not let his jaw hang wide open at this shocking interest that the six – now seven – super soldiers displayed. Weaponry, freedom, money, so on and so forth, would have been far more logical requests in this type of circumstances but… a piece of land and the buildings in it?

“According to human standards, we’re ‘homeless’ right now,” explained M0, comfortably nestling his back against M1’s chest. “For our mutual security, I think a location inside of the base would suit both of us. Because all we need and all we want at this moment is a new ‘home’. We’re not returning to any lab anymore. That’s why… we just want a place to stay, all seven of us. The rest is something that can be sorted out as time goes by. It’s… Um, what did you call it before, M1?”

“Mutualism,” said M1, delivering a quick peck to M0’s cheek. “Both parties gain something from the other throughout their interactions. You get to have everything that is inside of this external hard drive and we get to have that piece of land, as you called it, for our exclusive use. Always underneath your close watch, I guess. Maybe better than mutualism, the word ‘neighbours’ would suit this better. We’re purchasing that land, in a roundabout way, since the contents of this external hard drive could be sold for quite a lot if shown to certain human organizations.”

“So you want to buy that piece of land from the Japanese military by using information as a coin?” repeated Nakatani, this time using his interpretation of what both M1 and M0 were saying. When he obtained no answer other than a dead serious stare from all seven super soldiers, he couldn’t help but sigh. “If it’s not naivety, then it’s just plain stupidity. What makes you think that we would be interested in whatever is inside of that external hard drive? Do you think that the territory owned by the Japanese military can be sold just like that? We—“

“If you don’t want to address it as a ‘purchase’, then it can easily go by the name of ‘renting’,” interrupted M1, his mischievous smirk growing just a fraction. “And if you aren’t interested in the contents of this external hard drive, then why did you ask me all of those questions about our nature earlier? All the answers to those questions are right here. I wonder if you, Nakatani Shuukyuu, can also befall under the category of ‘tsundere’?”

“Mizusaki… I’ll smack you if you laugh right now…” softly whispered Miue to the soldier sitting next to him, whose body was violently shaking around as he clutched his mouth shut through the means of his hands. He was starting to get the impression that he would have to smack the rest of his squad because even the usual poker face Eki was having some troubles with keeping his passive expression in check.

“From what I learned last night, that’s not how being a ‘tsundere’ works,” intervened M4 for the first time since they stepped inside of the auditorium, a sour look on his features. “That’s simply being a ‘sore loser’ and not admitting that this negotiation is the best type of outcome that they could have asked for. Humans and their worthless pride…”

“The reaction you had when Mitsu-san appeared and then when she revealed the existence of this ‘external hard drive’ tells us that you’re interested in what is in it,” continued M0, expressionlessly looking straight into Nakatani’s eyes. “You’re familiar with her good results in her job here at the military base. You know of what she’s capable of doing. So you know that everything that’s stored in there is worth much more than a small portion of your ‘home’. But if you don’t want to share your ‘home’ with us, then we don’t see the need to share ourselves with you, either. We’ll leave and continue to search for a more welcoming ‘home’ for us to stay at. In whichever side of the world it may be at.”

“We’re not very picky with our food~” added M2, softly nibbling at the tip of his thumb as he spoke. “Food must also be good in other countries, right? Right?”

“They don’t even realise our worth,” said Mitsu, neatly taking a seat in between M3 and M0 (and M1). “After I spent so many years by their side, I’m honestly disappointed in the Japanese military. I agree with M2, other countries would give us our deserved treatment much better than the reception you’re going through here. Let’s go on a holiday, M0~”

“So? What will your decision be?” asked M1, comfortably leaning his chin back on M0’s shoulder. “I think our side has unanimously decided that if your answer is a ‘no’, then we’ll take our leave from Japanese territory on a whole. What is the unanimous answer from your side?”

“…” For a good couple of minutes, Nakatani remained completely silent, simply closely observing the seven super soldiers in the centre of the large auditorium. A soft smile then popped up on his lips, as he straightened his sitting position on his chair. “Yes, we have ourselves a deal.”

“Eh~?” interjected M5, scratching the back of his head as he started to slowly lift his body to a standing position, the other six doing the same as him. “That’s no fun… I wanted M1 to win this time around…”

“I don’t view it as a loss when it comes to M0, though,” pointed out M1, giving one last strong squeeze to M0’s body and one more peck to his cheek before he fully released him and put himself beside him.

“Still…! Oh well~” sighed M5, giving a quick shrug with his shoulders. “I guess we’ll have to save it for another time~ Code name: M5. Mass Murder Machines serial number, humanity rate of 5%. Human kills before escaping the lab: 35,692. Super soldier kills: 0. I’m 18 years old in human age but I’m only 15 years old as a super soldier. My function is infiltration and my human name is Atsumu~ Nice to meetcha, puny humans~”

“Huh…?” interjected some of the soldiers inside of the auditorium, mainly Nakatani and the two squads responsible for the rescue mission to the lab.

“I don’t have that much imagination when it comes to cooperating with humans,” answered Atsumu as he looked over to the two squads and stuck his tongue at them. “Better save my brain cells for the important stuff.”

“Be quiet already, Atsumu,” interrupted M4, rolling his eyes around just the slightest as he adjusted his glasses. “Code name: M4. Mass Murder Machines serial number, humanity rate of 4%. Human kills before escaping the lab: 68,043. Super soldier kills: 0. I’m 18 years old in human age and 17 years old as a super soldier. My function is the sniper and my human name is Azuma. If I hear you calling me a ‘tsundere’ ever again, Mizusaki, I will use you as my next shooting target. I’ve never failed before to hit the mark, just so you’re aware.”

“Ahahahahahahahahaha!” started laughing Mizusaki, finally releasing all of his pent-up laughter accumulated throughout the whole audit.

“Code name: M3,” sluggishly started M3. “Mass Murder Machines serial number, humanity rate of 3%. Human kills before escaping the lab: 99,562. Super soldier kills: 0. I’m 18 years old in human age and… 17 years old in super soldier age, I guess… My function is assault and my human name is Mitaru. If you really want me to defeat you in basketball that badly, Ikusaki, I can do you the favour if you beg me nicely on your knees.”

“Fuck you!” yelped Ikusaki, getting up from his seat with a quick jump. “That was just some newbie’s good luck!! You don’t even know the rules!”

“Like I give a rat’s ass about human rules…” mumbled Mitaru, crossing his arms over his chest as he avoided looking over in the soldiers’ direction.

“There, there, Mi-chan~ No need to get so exalted~” shushed Mitsu, smiling brightly at M3 as she softly patted his arm. “Code name: -M3. Mass Murder Machines serial number, M3’s cloned prototype. Human kills before escaping the lab: 0. Super soldier kills: 0. I’m approximately 17 years old in both human and super soldier age~ My function is support towards the squad members and my human name is, as you all know, Mitsu!”

“Code name: M2…” started M2, still chewing at the tip of his thumb. “Mass Murder Machines serial number, humanity rate of 2%. Human kills before our escape from the lab: 53,899. Super soldier kills: 0. I’m the same as Mitaru in both human and super soldier age… My function is defence and my human name is Tsugi. Eki-sama, I’m hungry!! I want more food!”

“You’ll need to put on a request for extended food supplies, then,” said Eki, softly smiling at Tsugi.

“Code name: M1,” started M1, his mischievous smirk growing a fraction as his grey eyes started to softly glow red. “Mass Murder Machines serial number, humanity rate of 1%. Human kills before our escape from the lab: 54,039. Super soldier kills: 0. I’m 18 years old in both human and super soldier age. My function is commander and my human name is Iru. Good neighbours don’t steal and I believe that ‘adultery’ is inserted in one of the seven deadly sins.”

Why can’t this guy just drop that already…?, inwardly cringed Murayama, doing his utmost to keep his facial expression as passive as he had throughout most of the audit.

“Code name: M0,” started M0 as a finale, his lack of facial expression still showing in his features as always. “Mass Murder Machines serial number, humanity rate of 0%. Human kills before our escape from the lab: 0. Super soldier kills: 2,381. I’m 18 years old in human age and 18 years and 5 months in super solder age. My function is assassination and my human name is— Mmph!”

“I don’t want them calling your name,” said Iru as he tightly covered M0’s mouth with his hand. “They’re not worthy of knowing that sort of thing.”

“…That’s extremely unfair for me, Iru-kun,” grumbled M0 as he softly pulled Iru’s hand away from his mouth. “If you six can use your names already, I should be the same. Please don’t make me an exception without any reason whatsoever.”

“It’s not without a reason,” said Iru, lowering his body just the slightest so he could grab onto the headphones on the floor and gently put them back over M0’s ears. “I don’t think they’re beings worthy enough to know the name I gave you.”

“Does that mean that my naming sense lacks values in regards to your naming skills?” pointed out M0, a small pout showing on his features as he just let Iru do whatever he pleased and put the headphones back on him. He would probably need them soon enough so might as well continue to spoil him.

“No, it just shows that you’re worth more than we are,” explained Iru, softly smiling at M0 as he neatly arranged the headphones over his ears. “And who knows what kind of nasty uses they would give to it?”

“That doesn’t make much sense, Iru-kun,” sighed M0, softly lifting his arms and leading his hands to his head.

The moment M0’s palms touched the headphones and tightly pressed them against his ears, a loud and acute alarm started echoing inside of the auditorium. It deeply startled the soldiers, who immediately got on their guard over the announcement of an incoming attack.

“Didn’t I say so?” softly spoke Iru, a knowing smirk on his lips as his grey eyes, and the eyes of his other six companions, started to brightly shine crimson red amid the confusion settling inside of the auditorium. “What’s the use of explaining something to you if all the knowledge will soon be lost in the midst of a sea of blood?”