Phantom Awakening

Niko Saga: Chapter 10

The next morning, Kujo was lingering in the Academy courtyard, not quite sure why he'd wandered there. Just as he was about to head back to his dorm, Mira appeared, her expression bright with a mix of determination and mischief.

"There you are!" she called, weaving through the crowd of students and coming to a stop in front of him. "I've been looking all over."

Kujo raised an eyebrow. "Did something happen?"

"Yes. You're coming shopping with me," she said with a smile, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.

He blinked, caught off-guard. "Shopping? Isn't that... a bit out of our way?"

Mira just grinned, looping her arm through his before he could protest. "Exactly. Which is why you're coming. Besides, I can't carry everything myself, and I know for a fact you're not busy."

Kujo opened his mouth to argue but found himself getting pulled along by her energy. Mira's infectious enthusiasm was hard to resist, and though he wouldn't admit it, he found himself intrigued by the idea of spending the day with her, away from the Academy and the usual routine.

They left the Academy grounds and ventured into the nearby village. The streets bustled with people going about their day, vendors calling out their wares, and the smell of freshly baked bread wafting through the air. Mira seemed at ease, moving confidently through the crowd, her arm still linked with Kujo's as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Their first stop was a small bookstore, the shelves packed with dusty old tomes and new, brightly colored covers. Mira scanned the shelves, occasionally glancing over at Kujo with a smirk.

"You read much?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Not really," he admitted, feeling slightly out of place. "But I don't mind."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "You should try it. Might give you something to do when you're brooding on rooftops." She handed him a book, the cover depicting an adventurer exploring a mystical world.

He took it, turning it over in his hands with a faint smile. "I'll give it a try. Just this once."

After the bookstore, they drifted through various stalls, Mira stopping occasionally to admire jewelry, smell flowers, or sample treats from a bakery. Kujo found himself relaxing, caught up in her energy, the lightheartedness of the day a welcome change from the usual intensity of training and combat drills.

As they walked, Mira would occasionally take his hand, pulling him toward something she wanted him to see, her laughter filling the air around them. And with every touch, every smile she threw his way, Kujo felt something warm and unfamiliar stirring within him—a quiet joy, a sense of ease he hadn't felt in years.

By the time the sun began to dip toward the horizon, they'd made their way to a small park just on the outskirts of the village. It was quiet, away from the bustle of the market, with a single bench overlooking a pond. Mira sank onto the bench, patting the spot beside her.

"Sit with me?"

Kujo hesitated, then sat beside her, the faint rustle of leaves and gentle breeze creating a calm he rarely experienced. They sat in silence for a moment, watching the ripples in the pond.

"Today was nice," Mira murmured, her voice soft. "I'm glad you came with me."

Kujo glanced at her, his usual stoicism faltering as he took in the gentle expression on her face. "Me too. It was... different, but good."

Mira turned to face him, her gaze searching his, a small smile playing on her lips. "You know, you've changed since I first met you. You're not as closed off anymore."

Kujo shrugged, but his heart pounded a little faster. "Guess I have you to thank for that."

Her smile widened, her eyes warm as they met his. She leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Well... maybe I can change you just a little more."

And before he could fully process it, she closed the distance between them, her lips brushing softly against his. It was a gentle, tentative kiss, as if she were testing the waters, seeing if he'd pull away. But he didn't. Kujo's eyes fluttered closed, his heartbeat echoing in his ears as he leaned into her, his hand instinctively finding hers.

The world seemed to fade, the sounds of the village and the park disappearing, leaving only the warmth of her touch, the softness of her lips. It was a brief kiss, yet it felt like everything.

When she finally pulled back, Mira's cheeks were flushed, her smile both shy and daring. "I hope you didn't mind."

Kujo looked at her, the faintest hint of a smile breaking through his usual serious expression. "Not at all."

They sat there in comfortable silence, their hands still intertwined, watching the sun dip below the horizon. And in that moment, for the first time in a long time, Kujo felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.