The station lights dimmed slightly.
Aurius station orbits the same way.
Orders.
Footsteps.
Noise layered over noise.
But one sector—
was quiet.
Restricted.
Sealed.
Akane walked alone.
Assigned mission.
No explanation given.
Just coordinates.
And one line:
"High-priority assets, don't fail"
He didn't ask questions.
He never did.
The doors ahead slid open.
Soft.
Controlled.
Inside—
a single room.
White.
Minimal.
And at the center—
someone stood.
Still.
Facing away.
Akane stepped in.
The door closed behind him.
A soft hiss.
Silence.
"You're late"
Her voice.
Calm.
Clear.
She turned.
And for a moment—
everything stopped.
Hoshimi
No alarms.
No systems.
No war.
Just—
her.
Akane didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Not because he didn't know what to say—
but because-
He caught something.
Unexpected.
Unfamiliar.
He frowned slightly.
"Ammunition all stored safety"
That was his response.
Flat.
Professional.
Hoshimi blinked once.
Then—
a small smile.
"Is it your first time meeting a girl?"
Akane didn't react.
"Second actually"
she tilted her head slightly.
Studying him.
Not his armor.
Not his weapon.
Him.
"You... Don't hesitate"
A pause.
"Even if you didn't understand it"
Akane removed his helmet.
"Understanding isn't needed"
"Only completion matters"
Hoshimi's smile faded—
but not completely.
"That sounds lonely"
He didn't answer.
Didn't need to.
Silence settled between them.
Not awkward.
Not heavy.
Just—
there.
Then—
"What's your name?" she asked.
Akane paused.
Just slightly.
"Akane"
She nodded.
"Cool name"
The name stayed.
For no reason.
It shouldn't have mattered.
But it did.
Akane looked at her again.
Longer this time.
Not analyzing.
Not calculating.
Just—
looking.
"... How about yours?"
"... Hoshimi" she said.
A faint edge in her voice.
"…But I'm not just that."
Akane didn't respond.
But something shifted.
Small.
Barely noticeable.
"What are we even doing here" he asked.
Hoshimi smiled again.
This time—
softer.
"Not yet"
Silence again.
But this time—
different.
War still existed outside that room.
Orders still waited.
Missions still continued.
But for a moment—
none of it mattered.
Because something had already started.
Neither of them understood it.
Neither of them acknowledged it.
But it was there.
Quiet.
Unavoidable.
The door opened again.
Two soldiers came inside.
Voices outside.
Reality returning.
Akane turned slightly.
"What are you guys doing?, anyways missions starting" a soldier said.
Hoshimi nodded.
"We were just greeting each other"
A simple line.
But something about it—
stayed.
Akane looked at her once more.
"What are we waiting for?, let's start the mission"
for the first time ever for akane.
His heart fluttered.
Not forced.
Not expected.
Just... Happened.
To him... It felt... Unreal.