Whispers of the past

Consumed by love

-- flashback --

The soft glow of the evening sun filtered through the curtains of our small bedroom, casting a warm, golden hue across the room. Soshiro and I lay side by side on the bed, our fingers intertwined as we stared up at the ceiling, lost in the comfort of each other's presence. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of us in our little sanctuary.

"Do you ever think about the future, Soshiro?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. It was a question that had been on my mind for a while, one that I had been too afraid to ask until now.

Soshiro turned his head to look at me, his dark eyes softening. "All the time," he replied, a small smile playing on his lips. "I think about it a lot."

I turned on my side to face him, propping my head up with my hand. "What do you see?"

He took a deep breath, his gaze drifting back to the ceiling. "I see myself in the Defense Force," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination. "I want to protect people, to fight against the kaiju. It's something I've always felt called to do."

I nodded, understanding his passion. Soshiro had always been brave, always the one to stand up for others. "I know you'll be amazing," I said softly. "You have the strength and the heart for it."

"And what about you, Y/N?" he asked, his eyes meeting mine again. "What do you see?"

I hesitated, my thoughts swirling. "I want to study astrophysics," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly. "I want to become a scientist, to explore the stars and unlock the mysteries of the universe. I wouldn't be able to be in the Defence Force... I'm scared."

Soshiro's brow furrowed. "Scared of what?"

"I'm not strong enough," I confessed. "I see the kaiju, and I feel so helpless. I'm afraid I'm too weak to fight them, to make a difference."

He reached out, gently cupping my cheek. "You're not weak, Y/N. You're one of the strongest people I know. And you don't have to fight kaiju to make a difference. Your mind, your curiosity—those are your strengths. You can make a difference in your own way."

I leaned into his touch, my heart swelling with love for him. "Thank you, Soshiro," I whispered. "You always know what to say."

He smiled, his thumb brushing softly against my skin. "It's the truth. You have a brilliant mind, Y/N. The world needs people like you to push the boundaries of knowledge and explore new frontiers. Just because you're not on the front lines doesn't mean you're not fighting your own battles and making a difference."

His words wrapped around me like a warm blanket, easing my fears. "I guess I just need to believe in myself more, I'll be a great cientist, can you imagine our kids, a fighter as a father and a cientist as a mother" I said, my voice steadier now.

"Well that means you could never leave my side." he said, his gaze steady and reassuring. "No matter where life takes us, we'll support each other."

I nestled closer to him, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. "Promise?"

"Promise," he replied, kissing the top of my head.

We lay there in comfortable silence for a while, the future feeling both distant and close. I could see the determination in Soshiro's eyes, the fire that burned within him. And in that moment, I knew that no matter where our paths took us, we would always support each other.

Later that evening, I found myself in the kitchen, talking to my mother as she prepared dinner. The comforting aroma of her cooking filled the room, and I felt a sense of warmth and belonging.