Dinner and Warmth
For the first time in days, the group sat around a warm table:
Fresh bread.
Hot stew.
Roasted vegetables.
Candles flickering gently.
Ren stuffed his face like he hadn't eaten in two weeks.
Lira hummed happily.
Haruto finally smiled again.
Nova warmed her hands over the table fire.
Mira walked around the tavern, pretending not to care, but every time one of the kids laughed, her eyes softened like she'd melt into a puddle.
Sataro sat stiffly at the corner of the table, tense and quiet.
Mira noticed immediately.
⸻
Mira Pulls Sataro Aside
"Tall emo boy.
Outside. Now."
Sataro blinked.
"…I'm not emo."
"Sure, sweetheart. Move."
She grabbed his sleeve and dragged him to the back hallway before he could protest.
⸻
Sataro's Suspicion
"What do you want?" Sataro asked, arms crossed.
Mira leaned against the wall, expression sharp.
"You don't trust me."
"You're the head of an assassin guild," Sataro replied.
"I'd be stupid if I did."
Mira smirked.
"Fair point."
"Then why bring us here?" Sataro pressed.
"Why risk yourself? Your guild? Your whole city?"
"Oh," Mira said with a wicked grin,
"let me show you something."
Before Sataro could blink—
FWIP—
Mira vanished.
Then reappeared behind him, whispering in his ear.
"You blink too slow."
Sataro stepped back, shocked.
He hadn't—
He didn't even see her move.
Mira cracked her knuckles.
"Relax, sunshine. If I wanted you dead, you'd already be in ten pieces."
Sataro exhaled slowly, tension easing.
"Okay… point taken."
⸻
Mira's Soft Core
Mira's tone softened — just slightly.
"Listen, kid."
Sataro raised an eyebrow.
"I'm older than—"
"Shut up. Kid."
Sataro shut up.
Mira pointed toward the dining room where the children were laughing.
"There is NOTHING in this world I love more than children.
Nothing. Not money. Not power. Not even my guild."
Her eyes hardened.
"If ANYONE touches these kids…
or says a mean word to them…
I will carve out their eyes and wear them as a necklace."
Sataro blinked.
"…Okay."
"GOOD," she said with a proud nod.
"Now sit."
Sataro opened his mouth.
"Sit before I kick your spine through the wall."
Sataro sat.
⸻
The Talk Sataro Needed
Mira crouched in front of him, arms on her knees.
"You've been acting like a cold, heartless mess lately."
Sataro looked away.
"I have responsibilities."
"Bullshit," Mira snapped.
"You're scared."
Sataro froze.
"You lost someone.
You almost lost your brother.
You're terrified of losing the rest.
So you're acting like a brick wall."
Sataro didn't respond.
Mira poked his forehead.
"Don't become that.
Kids need strength, yeah—
But they also need someone who loves them."
She leaned close.
"You don't get to be an emo depressed bitch.
Not while those kids need you."
Sataro's eyes widened.
That… actually hurt.
But in a good way.
Mira stood and dusted her hands.
"There. Therapy session over.
Go flirt with your girlfriend."
"She's not—"
"Shut up and go."
⸻
Sataro Softens
Sataro returned to the table.
Nova looked up.
"Oh, look who came back from being interrogated."
Sataro sat beside her.
"…She's not that bad."
Nova choked.
"Mira?
Not that bad?
Are you okay? Do you have a fever?"
He shoved her shoulder lightly.
"Shut up."
She smirked.
"There he is.
The guy I like."
Sataro turned red.
"Nova."
"What? I'm flirting. It's allowed."
He looked away—
but didn't move.
⸻
Night Falls
After dinner, Mira clapped loudly.
"Room time, gremlins."
She led them down a hallway of doors.
"Haruto — this one.
Lira — this one.
Ren — this one."
Ren peeked inside his room.
"Holy crap, this is nicer than my old house!"
"It better be," Mira grumbled.
Sataro raised an eyebrow.
"There should be one more room for me."
Mira grinned devilishly.
"Oh, there is."
She opened the last door.
Inside:
One room.
One bed.
Two pillows.
Nova blinked.
"…You're joking."
Sataro blinked.
"…Absolutely not."
Mira pushed them both inside.
"Congratulations! You're roommates."
"We're not—!" Sataro protested.
"Nope!" Nova snapped.
Mira winked.
"Don't do anything I wouldn't—
Actually nah, do whatever you want. Just don't break the bed."
Both of their faces turned BRIGHT red.
"MIRA—!!" Nova yelled.
Mira closed the door in their faces and locked it.
"Goodnight, lovebirds!"