Mira POV
Current Location: Yamagata Prefecture
Strolling along the streets, I passed clusters of pedestrians moving against my direction while I sipped a shake. It was just after noon, and the nearby eateries and restaurants buzzed with people.
"Well, I might grab a bite too," I muttered, tossing the plastic cup once I finished my drink.
I'd probably just head to my that shawarma place. I had eaten plenty of rice for breakfast, so I could always save that for later tonight.
As I debated where to go, a small sound caught my attention.
Lowering my gaze, I spotted a tiny, furry fella wearing a collar. A dog sat patiently while its owner chatted with someone nearby.
"Arf!" the Shih Tzu barked the moment it noticed me staring.
We locked eyes.
Outwardly, I remained calm. Inside, though, excitement surged like a storm I could barely contain.
"What is this impossibly adorable creature gracing my path?!" I shouted in my mind, fighting the overwhelming urge to scoop it up and hug it right then and there.
I shook my head, snapping back to my senses.
Maybe a little scratch wouldn't hurt, right?
"No. No. Don't do it," I told myself, as if repetition alone could anchor my resolve. I looked away from the dog… then sneaked another glance.
Those eyes shimmered.
"Yeah, that's not going to fool me," I scoffed, turning on my shoes and continuing toward my intended destination.
…..
…..
…..
.....
"Who's a good girl?"
I grinned as the Shih Tzu happily accepted my affection and pats.
Alright. I lost.
Why was I even pretending to resist?
There was no way I'd betray those pleading, puppy-dog eyes. I'm not heartless enough to walk past a face like that.
I managed to have a short conversation with the dog's owner and her friend while I continued patting the little fella.
Deciding not to linger any longer, I stood up and said my goodbyes to the two women and the Shih Tzu. I also managed to snap a picture of the dog.
Staring at the photo, I opened my messages and sent it to a certain woman who would absolutely love what I had just captured.
Mira: [Yo, look what I got]
Mira: [Image690.jpeg]
Mira: [Cuteness has invaded the city]
I was about to slip my phone back into my pocket when a reply popped up almost instantly.
"That was fast," I murmured to myself, glancing at the sender.
Ren: [Not fair!]
Ren: [I wanna do that too]
Ren: [૮ – ﻌ –ა]
Mira: [It felt so good patting her, you know]
Mira: [૮ ᴖ ﻌ ᴖა]
Ren: [Must be nice~]
Mira: [Are you still at Kantei, Ren?]
Ren: [Yeah. With the Chancellor of Germany and the Prime Minister of Italy visiting, I've got to do my part.]
Mira: [Good luck with your work]
Ren: [૮ – ﻌ –აᶻ 𝗓 𐰁]
After that, I slipped my phone into my pocket and turned left.
She really was busy. The Supreme Commander, that is.
A few minutes later, I stopped in front of a familiar shop I often visited, my eyes drifting upward to the sign.
Wrapzilla Wraps-a-Lot
I stepped inside. The place buzzed with life, people crowding the tables, voices overlapping in lively chatter. Ignoring the noise, I headed straight for the counter.
"Quite noisy today, owner," I said with a smile, leaning my elbow against its edge.
A Turkish woman looked up, immediately recognizing me. Her face lit up.
"Mira my friend!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "Here for the special beef shawarma as usual, my friend?"
I nodded.
"Yeah. Double that. And add some French fries too," I said, pulling out my wallet.
This place truly made the best fries. Not just shawarmas, though those were dangerously delicious as well.
"With the super-duper spicy garlic sauce," the owner added, flashing a playful grin.
"You know me, boss," I chuckled, handing her the money.
"As you know," she said, nodding proudly to herself, "our shop offers the best shawarma cause—"
She leaned closer over the counter, eyes gleaming with theatrical confidence.
"We are ZA BEst in Za East! MUAHAHAHA!"
I laughed, and we sealed the declaration with a quick high five.
Man, I really love this place and its cheerful owner.
"Just wait over there for a moment," she said, gesturing to the side with an innocent smile.
Then, with a swift shift in both expression and language, she turned toward her husband, speaking rapid Turkish to relay my order.
He responded with a silent nod, calm and precise. There was something almost lethal in the way he moved, like a trained assassin disguised behind an apron. His utensils caught the light, flashing briefly as his hands worked their quiet magic. Slice, fold, wrap. In no time, the shawarma was complete.
"Here you go, my friend," the owner said warmly, sliding over my fries and the two shawarmas.
I was already turning away when she suddenly called out.
"You forgot Za Coca-Cola, my friend!"
I glanced back just in time to see a can sailing toward me. I caught it effortlessly with my left hand.
Taking a seat at a free table, I set down my food and drink. For a moment, I simply stared through the glass walls of the shop, watching people drift past outside like a slow-moving river of strangers.
Then, finally, I unwrapped the shawarma.
Taking a bite, I hummed softly, a satisfied smile tugging at my lips. I continued eating until the wraps were gone, the rich beef and fiery sauce leaving a pleasant trail of heat behind.
With the shawarmas finished, I turned my attention to the fries. Thick-cut and golden, they had that perfect balance, crisp edges giving way to fluffy potato.
"Now this," I murmured, letting out a low whistle, "is what I call a satisfying experience."
I took my time with the rest of the meal, savoring every last bite. Once finished, I gathered myself, offered the owner a grateful farewell, and stepped out of the shop.
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I wandered into a nearby park.
I'd probably just stroll around aimlessly, killing time until boredom nudged me back to Mato. Even if things had been quiet for the past few days on my post, it was always better to be prepared.
Especially with me assigned to handle the Ogre Gate.
"Mhm?"
Something tugged at my attention.
A small crowd had gathered ahead, clustered around something… or someone. Curiosity steered my steps in that direction.
As I drew closer, a voice rose above the low murmur of the park.
♬ˎˊ˗ Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place I've been dreaming of?
Oh simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and need something to rely on… ♬⋆.
Singing.
And what a voice it was.
Clear. Gentle. Arresting.
Without realizing it, I slowed, then stopped among the onlookers.
At the center stood a young girl. A headset rested loosely around her neck, a guitar cradled in her hands. Her eyes were closed, expression serene, as though the world beyond her song had ceased to exist.
An open guitar case lay before her, scattered with coins and folded bills.
It was an English song. Even if I didn't fully understand the language, the emotion carried through effortlessly. Meaning wasn't always in the words. Sometimes, it lived in the sound.
As the final note faded, I found myself clapping along with the rest of the small crowd.
I pulled out three bills and dropped them into the open guitar case.
"That was a wonderful performance," I said.
The girl opened her eyes and offered an innocent smile, warm and unassuming. She gave a small nod, thanking me for listening and wishing me a pleasant day.
For a brief moment, the noise of the park seemed, softer?
Anyway, the girl had genuinely lifted my mood.
Back on track, I spent some time wandering through the park. Nothing in particular, just passing moments, idle steps, the kind of peace that asked for nothing.
At one point, I even stopped to interact with an orange cat lounging on a bench, staring off into nothing like a tiny philosopher contemplating existence. I initially thought it was a stray, but a closer look revealed a collar with a name Reo embedded on it.
"Maybe I should've gone to a batting center," I muttered, boredom slipping into my voice.
A lollipop rested lazily between my lips as I sat on the grass. My gaze wandered across the park, drifting over couples sharing quiet laughter and families gathered around picnic mats.
"Nah…walking is good enough," I said with a faint grin.
Fighting Shuukis was easy. Manageable. Almost routine. But even I had to indulge in moments like this every now and then.
A Chief who thought only about combat would eventually lose her mind.
Even if I wanted nothing more than to wipe the Shuukis from existence, rest was still necessary.
I am only human, after all.
Out of nowhere, a ball came flying straight at my face. Without panicking, I raised my hand and caught it effortlessly.
I looked up at the culprits and saw two boys sprinting toward me, panic written all over their faces.
"Are you okay, ma'am?" one of them asked, worry in his voice. He shot a glare at the other. "I already told you to watch where you're throwing, Philip!"
Philip gave a wry smile and bowed repeatedly. "I know, I know… my mistake, Shotaro."
"It's alright, really," I shrugged, offering a small smile. "Not that big of a deal."
Handing back their ball, the boys mumbled apologies one last time before running back to their friends.
The flavors of youth were still strong for them—savor it, kids. You might not realize it now, but the simple joys you take for granted will feel far rarer as you grow older.
I already knew that. I had grown up the moment I started cherishing a proper night's sleep and craving it more than I cared to admit.
I stood up, brushing stray blades of grass from my clothes, and decided it was time to head back to my dorm. Contentment settled over me like a quiet warmth.
All I could really say was..today had been a good day.
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Author's Note:
I managed to get back into the mood to write.
Anyway, I just wrote a slice-of-life chapter since I don't have the energy to start a new arc yet.
If you're not a fan of this type of chapter like the Tenka one or this current Mira one. I hope you can bear with me ≽^╥⩊╥^≼.