Kai's Visit – Honoring a Promise
The morning sun filtered through the base's windows, casting golden rays over the silent team. Kai, however, wasn't in the common room. Instead, he stood outside, helmet tucked under his arm, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. His breath fogged in the crisp air as he glanced at the crumpled slip of paper in his hand—the address Crimson had scribbled for him before that final, fateful mission.
"Guess it's time," Kai murmured, stuffing the note into his pocket. Beside him sat a carrier, inside which rested a black cat with soft green eyes. The name tag on its collar read: Whiskers.
The journey to the outskirts of the nearby town was quiet—too quiet. His footsteps echoed against the pavement, each one heavier than the last. Eventually, he stopped in front of a modest house. The paint was chipped, the garden overgrown, yet warm light glowed from within. He took a deep breath, clenched his fist to steady his nerves, and knocked.
Moments later, the door creaked open to reveal a woman with tired eyes—eyes that had seen too much grief—and a little girl peeking from behind her leg. The child's hair was the same shade as Crimson's, her gaze holding an innocence untouched by the weight of the world.
"Mrs. Crimson..." Kai's throat tightened. Keep it together. "I—I'm Kai. Your husband... he was my best friend."
Her lips quivered into a faint, bittersweet smile. "We know... we heard about what happened. I was hoping—" Her voice broke, and she swallowed back a sob. "He promised he'd come home."
Kai nodded, guilt and grief warring in his chest. "He wanted me to check on you. Said... you deserved to know everything firsthand."
The little girl stepped forward, clutching a stuffed rabbit. "Is Daddy really gone?" she whispered.
Kai knelt down, his heart breaking. "Yeah... but he loved you more than anything. He never stopped talking about you."
Reaching for the carrier, Kai opened it. Whiskers padded out, meowing softly before brushing against the girl's legs. Her eyes widened. "A kitty!" she gasped, scooping the black cat into her arms.
Kai smiled through the lump in his throat. "Your dad picked him out before... everything. Said you wanted a cat for your birthday. His name's Whiskers."
The girl hugged the cat tightly, tears streaming down her face as she whispered, "Thank you... I love him so much." Whiskers purred, nestling into her embrace.
Invited inside, Kai spent hours recounting stories—how Crimson cracked jokes in the worst situations, how his laugh echoed louder than gunfire, how he never let the darkness steal his light. There were tears, but laughter too—the kind that tugged at old wounds and stitched them anew. Whiskers curled up between them, purring contentedly as the girl clung to the cat like a lifeline.
As dusk painted the sky in amber hues, Kai stood to leave. Mrs. Crimson embraced him, holding on as if letting go would break her apart. "Thank you... for bringing him back to us in some way. You gave my daughter something to hold on to."
Her daughter waved, Whiskers perched happily in her lap, nuzzling her cheek.
Walking away, Kai glanced up at the emerging stars. "You did good, buddy," he murmured. Rest easy.---
Kazuki's Reflection – Echoes of Memories
Back at the base, Kazuki found himself alone in the training room. The overhead lights hummed softly, their pale glow illuminating the worn mats and scuffed walls. His rifle lay beside him, untouched. His gaze drifted to the floor, seeing not the present but flashes of the past—Crimson's grin, the shared banter, the inside jokes only they understood. Memories flickered like a broken film reel: quiet moments between missions, laughter over bad coffee, Crimson teasing him for being too serious.
He remembered the time they'd gotten lost on patrol, Crimson insisting they were headed the right way—until they ended up in a muddy swamp. "Admit it, Kaz, I just wanted to see you face-plant," Crimson had joked, laughter echoing under the canopy of trees. Kazuki smiled faintly at the memory, the ache in his chest deepening. You were the heart of this team, he thought. And now it feels quieter without you.
Kazuki's fingers traced the scratches on his rifle, each mark a reminder of a battle survived. How many of those did we walk through together? His throat tightened. "Damn it, Crimson... Why'd you have to go and pull some hero crap?" The words hung in the air, swallowed by silence.
The door creaked open. "Talking to ghosts now?" Leon's familiar voice carried a mixture of humor and concern. Arms crossed, he leaned casually against the frame, though his eyes betrayed sympathy.
Kazuki shook his head. "Just... remembering." He paused. "Feels like if I forget the little things, then he's really gone."
Leon walked over and sat beside him. "Memories aren't chains, Kaz. They're... reminders. Proof that he mattered." He nudged Kazuki's shoulder. "And hey, he'd probably haunt you just to call you a sentimental sap."
Kazuki chuckled under his breath. "Yeah... that sounds like him." His smile faded into something softer. "I just... miss him."
Leon nodded. "We all do." They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of grief shared between them.
Kazuki glanced at his rifle again, then up at the ceiling. "Promise I'll keep laughing at your dumb jokes... even when they aren't funny," he murmured.
Sometimes, holding onto memories was the only way forward. And sometimes, it helped to have someone beside you to carry them.---
Nami's Struggle – Facing Fear
Outside, beneath the sprawling branches of an old oak tree, Nami sat with her knees drawn to her chest. Autumn leaves drifted down, carried by a breeze that seemed to echo the turmoil swirling inside her. Battles never scared her—it was losing people that carved unseen scars.
Boots crunched on fallen leaves. Yano appeared, settling beside her without a word. They sat in silence until Nami whispered, "It hits you, you know? How fast it all... ends."
Yano glanced at her. "Yeah."
"I act tough, crack jokes, but inside... I'm terrified," Nami admitted, voice cracking. "What if I'm next? Or worse—you? Kazuki? Kai?" Her gaze dropped. "How do you fight knowing it could be the last time you see your friends?"
Yano thought for a moment. "Fear means you care. It means you have something to lose. But it also means you fight harder to protect it."
A tear traced down Nami's cheek. "Doesn't make it hurt less."
"No," Yano agreed softly. "But facing it together... that helps."
They leaned against each other, hearts heavy yet bound by shared pain.
Yano's Confession – Fear of Loss
Later that evening, the common room buzzed with quiet conversations. Yano stood, clearing her throat. "Can I say something?"
Chairs scraped as everyone turned to her. Her hands trembled, but she pressed on. "I heal people... but I can't fix everything." Her voice wavered. "Every mission, I worry—what if I can't reach you in time? What if I lose you?" Her gaze swept the room, resting on each face. "I joke. I smile. But inside, I'm terrified of ending up alone again."
Kai stood first, wrapping her in a hug. "Not gonna happen."
Kazuki nodded. "We've got each other's backs. Always."
Nami squeezed her shoulder. "You're not alone, Yano."
Tears spilled, but Yano smiled through them. "Thank you. Really."
Sometimes, words were enough. Sometimes, just standing together was everything.
Bond Reaffirmed – United They Stand
Night cloaked the base as the team gathered outside, a small fire crackling between them. Stars scattered across the sky, distant witnesses to their grief and resilience. Flames flickered, casting amber glows on faces lined with exhaustion and determination.
Emjay broke the quiet. "We've lost people. We'll lose more. But what matters... is why we keep going."
Kazuki tossed a twig into the fire. "For those who can't."
Leon stretched, smirking. "And to piss off the enemy."
Laughter rippled through the group, a balm against lingering sorrow.
Kai raised his can of soda. "To family. Not by blood, but by choice."
Cans clinked, sparks dancing skyward like fleeting wishes.
For a moment, war felt distant. Here, they weren't soldiers—they were friends, survivors, a family forged in fire and loss.
Emjay glanced around. "Whatever comes next... we face it together."
A chorus of agreement followed.
And as the fire crackled, as laughter mingled with quiet reflection, they found something they thought war had stolen: hope.
Tomorrow would bring battles. Heartbreak. Hard choices.
But tonight? Tonight was theirs.
And that was enough.