"There's a weird ninja in my room!" Kay suddenly said, completely changing the subject.
"A n-ninja?" Mira stammered, trembling.
"Why are you shaking? Scared? That's strange... I thought you loved ninja stories," Kay said, raising his eyebrows in curiosity.
"K-Kay!" Mira called out abruptly.
"Yes?" Kay responded promptly.
How am I supposed to tell him? I'm not even sure that's what I want... I mean, look at him! He doesn't even notice... Mira thought, her heart racing and her mind confused.
Unaware of the storm of emotions in Mira, Kay leaned in and gently pressed his forehead against hers.
"You don't have a fever... but you've been blushing all day. I thought you were sick," he said with a worried expression.
Mira froze completely, unable to react.
"Game over!" Sarah whispered from a distance.
"That was a direct hit to the heart!" Thais laughed, enjoying the scene.
"Hey, Mira, want to take a walk around the base with me?" Kay asked casually.
"A walk?" Mira repeated, still stunned.
"Yeah, I haven't toured the base yet," Kay said with a relaxed smile.
Mira glanced at the girls, who gave her encouraging thumbs-up.
"Okay..." she replied, trying to hide her nervousness.
They walked away together, leaving the other girls smiling, satisfied with how things were unfolding.
As they strolled side by side through the base, Mira tried to stay calm, though her heart raced every time she glanced at Kay. Around them, soldiers enjoyed their break after lunch, laughing and chatting in small groups, creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Kay carefully observed the base's details, impressed by the soldiers' organization and movement.
"This base is really well organized," he commented, scratching his head with a somewhat carefree look.
Mira smiled and took the opportunity to start a conversation, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"Yeah, I was a bit overwhelmed by everything too," she said, trying to sound calm. "Kay, I wanted to ask you something..."
"Shoot!" he said, curious, watching the soldiers around them.
"Have you ever thought about... someone special? Like, loving someone?" Mira asked, trying to hide the anxiety in her voice.
Kay frowned, surprised by the question, and looked at her sincerely.
"Loving someone? Don't you know? I love you!" he said genuinely. "But why do you want to know?"
Because I want to be that special someone for you... Mira thought, hesitating to say it aloud, diverting her gaze with a shy smile.
"You love me?" she said, laughing nervously.
Before Kay could reply, an alarm sounded, grabbing everyone's attention at the base. They turned and saw Takemichi beside Drax, looking ready to give important instructions.
"We just received word of an attack in our region! Get ready!" a voice announced over the radio, echoing throughout the base.
"They probably won't call the recruits," Mira murmured.
"Let's keep going," Kay said, unconcerned.
"Right!" Mira replied, trying to keep her tone steady.
The courtyard erupted into chaos. Soldiers rushed to the warehouse, grabbing weapons and gear. Nervousness was evident on everyone's faces.
"Right after lunch, those damn ghouls!" Maycon grumbled, gripping his weapon tightly and clearly irritated.
Kratos approached, eager and hopeful.
"Can we go with you?" he asked.
Maycon shook his head firmly.
"Not this time. The recruits don't have weapons or suits yet. You'll have to wait until you're properly equipped."
Kay and Mira exchanged looks, feeling a mix of frustration and anxiety. The idea of others heading to the front lines while they stayed at the base made them restless.
The sound of helicopter rotors echoed through the yard, and Kay climbed the watchtower for a better view, observing five helicopters landing to pick up groups of soldiers lined up to board quickly. Other soldiers climbed into military trucks headed for the battlefield.
"Such enthusiastic people!" Kay remarked with a smile.
"I don't think we should stay up here... Let's get down before someone notices us!" Mira said, worried.
"Too late for that," a female voice said behind them. It was Captain Yumi, with a serious expression.
Mira quickly snapped to attention.
"It was hard convincing Takemichi to let me in, very hard, you know? And when I finally get here to see you, Kay, I find you here... with another woman!" Yumi said angrily, glaring at him.
"You're a captain. Aren't you going to join them?" Kay asked casually.
"No. This kingdom is under Takemichi's supervision. If I interfered with the ghouls, it would be a disgrace for the Sixth Squadron!" Yumi answered firmly.
"So, what did you come here for?" Kay asked curiously.
Yumi was shocked by the question, unable to believe it.
"Kay, be more sensitive!" Mira whispered awkwardly.
Yumi took a deep breath, clearly shaken.
"After all these years, I find you and... you don't remember me? Baka! Idiot!" she said angrily before turning and walking away quickly.
Kay watched her leave, shaking his head.
"Strange girl..." he murmured, confused.
Mira sighed, exasperated.
"She looked really sad. You don't remember her at all?" Mira asked, furrowing her brow.
"No..." Kay shrugged.
"You don't remember many people either. Go apologize and ask where you know her from!" Mira suggested, gently pushing him.
Kay looked at her, then at the path Yumi had taken, sighing reluctantly.
"Okay, okay," he finally replied, forcing a smile.
Determined to resolve the situation, Kay walked away. His mind buzzed with memories he couldn't access. What had happened between them? Why didn't he remember her?
Kay turned a corner of a base building and saw Yumi standing with her arms crossed, looking toward the horizon. She seemed lost in thought.
"Yumi!" he called hesitantly.
She slowly turned, her eyes softer than before, but still shadowed with frustration.
"What do you want?" she asked, trying to sound indifferent but unable to hide the pain.
Kay took a deep breath, searching for the right words.
"I... I just wanted to apologize. I didn't remember you, and I didn't mean to be insensitive," he said, looking intently at Yumi.
To his surprise, Yumi looked confused. She took a step forward, her expression softening.
"You really don't remember?" she whispered. "I... I've always admired you, Ka-chan."
"I remember some things... but many people from my childhood, I can't..." Kay said.
The Past
The sun began to set on the horizon, painting the sky orange and purple. Yumi was visiting Kay's village, drawn by its tranquil beauty and the local legends. Her guards stayed alert nearby, but the mood was light. Suddenly, a ghoul emerged from the darkness.
Screams echoed as the ghoul attacked, Yumi's guards scattering to protect her. One was quickly knocked down, panic rising. Yumi froze, terrified, adrenaline rushing.
Before the ghoul could strike again, a figure appeared like lightning. Rem, Mira's mother, fired with impressive precision. The gunshot echoed, and the ghoul collapsed lifelessly. The tension vanished instantly.
Kay arrived, his fierce gaze scanning the scene. He was angry—not because he was late, but because he hadn't been allowed to fight the ghoul.
"What happened here? Why didn't you let me fight?" he demanded, frustrated.
"Because you're too young to take that risk!" Rem replied, eyes locked on his.
Yumi gasped, still in shock. The relief of being alive hit her like a wave, and she fainted, sliding to the ground.
The argument heated but stopped when they noticed Yumi unconscious. Rem's relief quickly turned to worry.
"Let's take her home," Rem said, lifting Yumi into her arms.
At home, Rem carefully placed Yumi on a bed. Kay watched.
When Yumi finally awoke, she sat up quickly, a scream caught in her throat. What she found was Kay staring intensely at her, his face a mix of concern and irritation.
"You..." Yumi stammered, crawling across the bed, fear on her face. "Who are you?"
"I'm Kay. You were attacked!" Kay said.
Yumi looked at him, confused, trying to process everything.
"I just wanted to see the village. I didn't know it was so dangerous here," she said, voice trembling.
"Dangerous?" Kay laughed sarcastically.
The tension in Kay's face softened slightly. He couldn't deny feeling partly responsible. If something had happened to her, it would weigh heavily on his conscience.
"Just..." he said, voice gentling.
"Kay, we need to talk," Rem interrupted, pulling him aside.
The two adults whispered. Kay's brow furrowed as he listened, thoughts racing.
After a moment, Kay turned back to Yumi, who was still trying to recover.
"Yumi... I want to protect you. You can stay here. I promise," he said, sincerity shining in his eyes.
Yumi smiled, the first real one since the attack.