章 23: Friends, always
The stars dotted the darkening sky as Alaric and Mikasa made their way back home, the forest alive with the soft sounds of the evening. A light breeze rustled through the trees, carrying with it the faint smell of pine and damp earth. Mikasa skipped a little ahead, her earlier exhaustion forgotten as she hummed to herself, pausing every now and then to look back and make sure Alaric was still following.
Alaric, hands in his pockets, walked a few steps behind, watching Mikasa's carefree movements with a slight smile. He still couldn't believe that he had found someone like her, someone who could make even the quietest parts of the day feel lively.
"You better keep up, Alaric, or I'll leave you behind!" Mikasa teased, turning back to stick her tongue out at him.
"Me? Left behind?" Alaric chuckled, picking up his pace to catch up. "I'd like to see you try."
She grinned, and for a moment, they both broke into a run, laughter echoing through the trees. They darted around roots and low-hanging branches, neither of them wanting to be the first to slow down. But finally, as they neared the clearing just before Yuuta's house, they slowed to a walk, still out of breath but smiling.
When they reached the door, they both paused, looking at each other with that silent understanding they'd started to share. Tonight had felt different. Special. And neither of them wanted it to end just yet.
Mikasa reached for the door, pushing it open quietly. Inside, the house was warm, the faint glow from the fireplace casting a soft light across the room.
Alaric laughed softly, though he kept his voice low out of habit. "I think we wore them out just by being gone so long."
They stepped inside, the warmth of the home wrapping around them instantly. Mikasa slipped her shoes off and motioned for Alaric to do the same. He followed her into the main room, where they sat down by the fading fire, neither of them in a hurry to end the night.
"You know," Alaric began, glancing over at her, "today was... good. I mean, it's been a while since I've had a day like that."
Mikasa nodded, her eyes soft as she looked into the flickering flames. "Me too. I usually play by myself or help out around here, but it's different with someone else."
They sat in silence for a while, the crackling of the fire filling the room. Alaric glanced around, his gaze lingering on the simple furnishings, the neatness that only came from a family's touch. He felt a strange sense of calm here, a feeling he had been searching for without even knowing.
After a moment, Mikasa turned to him, breaking the comfortable silence. "Are you really going to stay here, Alaric?" she asked, her tone almost tentative.
Alaric met her gaze, considering the question. He knew that part of him still felt the pull to wander, to be alone. But another part—one that was steadily growing louder—wanted to stay, to see where this path with her family could lead.
"Yeah," he said finally, nodding. "You can't get rid of me now."
Mikasa smiled, a genuine, warm smile that made him feel grounded, like he had made the right choice. She reached over and gave his hand a quick squeeze. "Good," she whispered, as if sealing a promise between them.
The two of them watched the fire for a little while longer, their quiet laughter and whispered stories filling the room until their eyes grew heavy. Eventually, they stood and said goodnight, each of them retreating to their own small corner of the house.
As Alaric lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, he couldn't help but feel a small flicker of excitement about tomorrow. The promise of new adventures, new memories to share with Mikasa, made him close his eyes with a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time.
Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever paths he would have to walk, he knew that for now, he had found a place to belong. And that, he thought as he drifted off to sleep, was enough.
—-------------—
Days slipped into a rhythm at the Ackerman home, each one blurring into the next as Alaric and Mikasa grew closer. Their friendship blossomed naturally, woven together by countless shared laughs, quiet talks, and the carefree spirit of childhood.
Every morning, they'd set out together, sometimes to gather firewood, other times to explore the dense, shadowy woods around the house. Mikasa loved to lead the way, insisting she knew all the best paths, but Alaric had quickly learned she often just guessed. He couldn't resist poking fun at her whenever they wound up lost, watching her cheeks redden as she stammered out an excuse.
"Lost again, are we?" Alaric teased one afternoon, raising an eyebrow as they stood in the middle of a sun-dappled clearing, surrounded by towering trees.
Mikasa huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm not lost. I just… took a scenic route."
Alaric smirked, trying to hold back his laugh. "Oh, sure. And the scenic route always involves wandering around for an extra hour?"
She nudged him playfully, unable to keep a straight face. "I'd like to see you do better, Mr. Know-It-All."
They laughed together, the sound carrying up into the trees. Alaric felt something warm and light in his chest whenever they shared moments like these. It was as if, little by little, Mikasa's presence was pulling him away from the heavy thoughts he carried, grounding him in a world where things were simpler, where worries seemed small and laughter came easily.
The days passed with Mikasa's endless curiosity and Alaric's steady patience balancing each other perfectly. She'd ask him questions about everything, from what he thought the clouds were made of to whether he believed in legends about hidden treasure buried in the forest.
One morning, as they gathered berries for Kurumi in a sunny patch just outside the house, Mikasa's gaze turned curious. "Alaric, where did you live before coming here?"
Alaric hesitated, glancing down at the berries in his hand. "I... traveled around a lot. It wasn't as nice as this," he said carefully, not wanting to lie but not ready to tell her the whole truth, either.
Mikasa studied him for a moment, her dark eyes thoughtful. "Well," she said, popping a berry into her mouth, "you're here now. And you're my friend, so you're not going anywhere, right?"
Alaric chuckled, feeling an unexpected warmth from her words. "Guess not," he replied, giving her a small smile. "Looks like I'm stuck with you."
She laughed, and the sound felt like sunlight breaking through clouds. He didn't have the heart to tell her just how much her words meant to him.
As the days turned into weeks, their routine grew familiar. They spent hours together, running through the woods, whispering jokes only they understood, and bickering over silly things, like whose turn it was to fetch water from the river or who got the last bite of Kurumi's freshly baked bread. The little disagreements always ended in laughter, each of them finding joy in the simple, ordinary moments they shared.
One evening, as they sat side-by-side by the fire, Mikasa nudged him gently. "You know," she began, gazing into the flames, "I think you're the only one who can make me laugh like this."
Alaric glanced at her, surprised. Her expression was sincere, and he could see the honesty in her eyes.
"Well, I guess I'm just that funny," he said, pretending to be smug.
She rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. "Don't let it go to your head."
But Alaric knew, in that moment, that their friendship was something special, something he hadn't expected to find in this world. And as he leaned back, feeling the warmth of the fire and the comfort of Mikasa's presence beside him, he realized that maybe, just maybe, he could find a new life here—one filled with laughter, friendship, and the kind of moments he'd thought he'd never have again.
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