The gentle breeze drifting through the half-open window carried a faint chill, brushing against the curtains and stirring the silence of the living room. It was soft at first, almost a whisper, but the moment Tenka's voice slipped through the air, the wind seemed to strengthen, as if nature itself leaned in to listen.

Her words weren't many. But depending on context, on timing, on the fragile thread of emotions holding the room together… they were enough to stop a man's heart.

Kentaro froze. His brain locked up, his chest thudded like a frantic drum line, and heat crept up the back of his neck.

"W-what is it, Tenka?" His voice was quieter than usual, stripped of his usual sarcasm, softer than even he expected.

He slowly sat up, eyes finding hers.

Her crimson gaze, normally sharp enough to cut through steel, was different tonight. Softer. Heavy. Instead of piercing, it wavered, as though she carried something she didn't want him to see. Something guilty.

But before he could press further, she turned away. Without a word, Tenka rolled onto her back, shifting closer to the edge of the futon. Kentaro blinked, confused, until she tapped lightly against the empty space beside her.

His breath caught.

The futon wasn't small; it was one of the Halcyon-grade ones, large enough to comfortably fit two people. Still, the gesture, the faint blush colouring her cheeks, the subtle way she refused to look at him, it all hit him harder than any of her kicks ever had.

Kentaro's heart kicked into overdrive.

There had been times, years ago, when he and Tenka had been forced to share a space like this, when they were younger, before Halcyon, before Alberlines, before the world got so complicated. Back then, it was innocent. Childish.

Now…? Now they weren't kids anymore. And the closeness felt entirely different.

But strangely enough, it wasn't uncomfortable.

A small, almost involuntary smile tugged at Kentaro's lips. He rose from the couch, legs shaky, and slid into the futon beside her. Warmth greeted him immediately, the lingering heat from where she had been lying, enveloping him as though it had been waiting.

For a while, neither spoke. The silence wasn't empty; it was thick, brimming with words neither dared to say. Kentaro lay stiff, staring upward, determined not to move. If he glanced at her, if he said the wrong thing, he risked breaking this fragile atmosphere.

So he waited.

His thoughts whirred like a storm. Why now? What does she want to tell me? What could make her act like this…?

The soft breeze caressed his ears, lulling him into a strange half-dream state. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier, every blink longer than the last.

Just as sleep threatened to claim him, he whispered her name.

"Tenka…"

And then, he felt it.

Her hand.

It closed around his arm. Gentle, hesitant, but firm enough to jolt him wide awake. His heart leapt straight into his throat.

It was a gesture Serica, Aria, or even Yura might've made before, clingy, childish, shameless in their affection. But this? This was different. This was Tenka. The Tenka who always kept a wall up, who acted more of a commander than she did as his friend, thanks to Halcyon.

And now she was holding onto him like this.

"T-Tenka, y-you okay?" His voice cracked as warmth spread where her fingers pressed. Her body shifted closer, her chest brushing lightly against his arm.

Kentaro stiffened. They weren't as full as Serica's, not as shapely as Yura's, but that didn't matter. They were still her, still real, still something his nineteen-year-old, never-had-a-girlfriend brain wasn't remotely prepared for.

Through the silver wash of moonlight, he caught it, the faint blush dusting her cheeks.

This wasn't the unshakable commander. This was Tenka stripped bare, vulnerable, human.

Kentaro dared not move, afraid that even breathing too loudly would shatter the moment.

Finally, her voice broke the silence.

"I'm sorry, Kentaro." Her tone was so soft, so fragile, he swore she might break down into tears. "I know you must've been thinking about the Tokyo incident… and what you did back then."

Kentaro's chest tightened.

Tokyo. The chaos. The choices he made. The same conversation that Yura had tried to have with him earlier. He had almost managed to shove it out of his mind thanks to Shaula's antics, but hearing it now, from Tenka, brought it all crashing back.

And yet… why did her voice sound like it was splintering?

Why did it sound like she was the one carrying guilt?

"Yeah," he said softly. "I remember. And… I haven't told you about Serica's Bloom yet. About what happened."

Tenka shook her head. "Before you tell me about Serica's Bloom, let me tell you something first. About your power. About what we've learned."

Kentaro swallowed hard and nodded. She didn't need his words; she knew he was listening.

"I should've told you the day we left Tokyo," she continued, her voice trembling on the edge of breaking. "But… I didn't know how to bring it up. It felt wrong. Because of me. Because of my decision, to have you talk to the Alberlines, to get close to them."

Kentaro's brows knit. Her fault? How could it be her fault?

Her next words answered.

"Back then, when you used Serica's Sublimation… you activated something we knew existed. But the consequences… we never imagined they'd be so grave."

Her voice cracked. Warm droplets slid down his arm. Kentaro's eyes widened in alarm. Tenka's crying…?

It hit him harder than any revelation could. The woman who carried every burden, who never flinched, never showed weakness, not even in front of her closest allies, was crying. For him.

His throat tightened.

"Please, Tenka," he whispered, his own voice trembling. "Don't hold back. Tell me."

The room fell into silence again, broken only by the soft rustle of the curtains and Tenka's unsteady breaths.

Her chest rose and fell against his arm, each exhale heavier than the last.

Then, finally.

She spoke.

And the words she released made Kentaro's eyes widen in shock, his heart hammering in raw confusion.

*

Back at the training ground, Kira found herself in a strangely familiar spot, the medical ward. Yet this time, when she glanced down at her body, there were no heavy wrappings binding her ribs, no arm in a sling. She was still dressed in her combat gear, minus the main suit. It felt unusual to be here without fresh wounds anchoring her to the bed.

She sat up slowly, eyes scanning the room. The ward was quiet, empty save for the bed next to hers, where the curtain had been left open on her side. Lying there was Milly, her friend, staring absentmindedly at the ceiling. When she noticed Kira move, her face immediately brightened.

"You're up! How ya sleep?" Milly said, flashing her usual wide grin.

Kira's eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the bandage wrapped around Milly's forehead. "Good… but what about you?" Her voice was as flat as ever, but beneath it, there was a flicker of worry.

Milly only raised a thumbs-up, her grin unfaltering. "I slept well. I still can't believe we got to fight Akio!" Her words practically squealed with excitement, like a fangirl who had just met her idol.

Kira couldn't help it; a small smile tugged at her lips. Seeing Milly act so normal despite everything put her a little at ease. "Yeah… me too. That was an experience I'll never forget," she admitted quietly.

"Mm-hmm." Milly nodded in full agreement.

Before either could dive into the details of their respective battles, the curtain on the opposite side of Kira's bed was drawn back. Both girls blinked in shock.

"Supreme Commander?!" Milly gasped, sitting up straighter.

And indeed, it was Akio herself, stepping into the ward. Her hair, normally tied back, was now loose, strands of pink shimmering beneath the fluorescent lights. Her presence filled the room like sunlight breaking through clouds.

"Hello, girls. How are you feeling?" she asked warmly.

"Good," they replied in unison, though Milly's voice cracked with excitement.

Akio nodded, her expression soft. "Good." She took a seat on the edge of the bed between them, casual yet commanding all at once. Kira's eyes never left her, sharp and unblinking, as if watching prey through a hawk's gaze. Akio noticed it, of course. She noticed everything. But instead of being irritated, she only smiled at Kira, unfazed.

"I'm impressed with your fighting ability, Mizuno," Akio said sincerely. "You're truly one of the strongest recruits we've had in a long time."

"Thank you. Your words mean a lot," Kira replied, her tone softer than usual.

Akio turned as if to add praise for Milly as well, but before she could, a familiar voice rang out from behind the curtain.

"Miss Supreme Commander! Your ever-so-beautiful face is an honour to behold. I don't mean to sound rude, but-" The shadow of the speaker stepped forward, the voice already unmistakable. "...You did mention something about letting whoever landed a punch join your personal squad, did you not?"

The curtain swished open, and both Kira's and Milly's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Arthur?!" they exclaimed together.

Sure enough, it was him. A bandage clung to his neck as he swaggered toward their spot, his hand brushing his hair back with dramatic flair.

Akio tilted her head, studying him. For a moment, she blinked, almost as if she had forgotten that little promise, before letting out a soft chuckle.

"Hahaha. You, Arthur, are one funny kid," she said, her laughter light but genuine. "It's been a while since a soldier spoke to me in that way. I can't say I dislike it."

Arthur straightened proudly, his chest puffing out.

"And as for the bet… you're right."

She glanced between Kira and Milly, her sharp eyes softening as her lips curved into a grin.

"Well then… what about it, girls? Do you want to join me?"

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