Imperial Capital, Main Street

The beautiful white snow continued to fall down onto the Capital, the roof of the buildings soon being covered in a blanket of white. Wave and Kurome were currently out and about, not on duty or doing any Jaeger tasks. The two were by a coffee shop, the black-haired girl sipping on some coffee.

Wave was staring aimlessly at the sky. Despite everything that has been happening, everything was still relatively peaceful and calm.

Wave: (sips coffee) "The city still feels peaceful, all things considered."

Kurome: "...Yeah."

Wave: "...Hey. How long are you going to stay down in the dumps, Kurome?"

Kurome: "I can't help it. I was useless when it really mattered."

Wave: (sigh) "It's true we failed our mission. But that's why the Captain said it's not the subjugation of the invaders we have to worry about, but protecting the Capital." (pushes plate towards her) "Here, I'll give you my slice of cake!"

She instantly lit up. Kurome then smiled.

Kurome: "...You're right. You were blown away by the enemy twice, but got back on your feet, so I should be able to!"

Wave: "R-Right."

The man of the sea felt like he was stabbed, the words that left her mouth impaling him in the chest.

Kurome: "And I'll need to fuel up if I'm gonna bounce back...!"

Now gaining a cheerful and happy expression, Kurome took the fork that was on the blade and cut a small portion off the cake. She then put it in her mouth, chewing on it as a look of joy spread onto her face. She was enjoying it, Wave couldn't help but smile. 

Crossing his arms in satisfaction, he turned to look at his left. There seemed to be a commotion going on, but it wasn't one that was disrupting the peace. People seemed to be gathered around something or someone. But Wave noticed someone just standing behind the crowd.

It was Run.

He seemed to be staring at a clown. Very intently. Getting up from his seat, Wave made his way towards him, his hands in the pockets of his jacket.

Wave: "What's up, Run? You have a thing for street performances?"

However, when he looked at the blonde's face, Wave's eyes had widened. Run's eyes were completely dull, a cold look on his face as he continued to stare at the clown. A dark, and angry look could be seen hidden in them.

Wave: (thoughts) 'G-Guess... Not...' "Hey, Run!"

Run: "...Wave."

Wave: "You had a wicked scary look on your face. Is something wrong?"

Run: (smiles) "...No... It's nothing."

The blue-haired man couldn't help but think that Run was hiding something from him, maybe even the rest of the team. But he thought little of it. While still confused, he shrugs it off.

---

Somewhere in the snowy mountains, about 250 kilometers south from the Empire, was Night Raid. On their way back, Akame and the team were on guard the whole way after their attack on the cathedral. They decided to take the long way back, taking the route to the Capital along the south side. 

In one tent, Najenda was lying down in a bed roll, Leone and Akame in the same tent as well. She was completely injured, her whole entire body under the covers of the bed roll as she had been discarded of her clothing. Leone and Akame seemed to be faring much better, the raven-haired girl's top off as she was left in her white sports bra, some bandages wrapped around her waist and stomach.

Najenda: "How's your injury, Akame?"

Akame: (squeezing shoulder) "It's a lot better... But it'll be another couple of weeks before it's fully healed."

Leone: "I'm already nearly healed up!"

Akame: (deadpan) "I find that hard to believe."

Leone: (tackles Akame in a hug, shoving her head into her chest) "I'm all better, Akame!"

Akame: "Save that for, Tatsumi."

Leone: "Aww, come on! I'm just giving you ideas to do with your own boyfriend.~"

The flaps to the tent soon began to open. Lubbock was trying to make his way in, bandages over his mouth and stomach as he too had suffered numerous injuries from the previous battle.

Lubbock: "And in a little over a month, I should be--"

Leone soon interrupts him, jamming both of her fingers into his eyes. As usual, he was up to his perverted antics once again. The only problem was, he wasn't being very subtle about it.

Najenda: "Shut up and go to bed. And get out!"

They soon kicked him out of the tent, literally. The green-haired teen soon face plants and his face plunges straight into the cold, white snow.

Back inside, Najenda stared up at the ceiling of the tarp. She lifted her metal arm out of the bed roll and flexed it a few times. Many thoughts were running through her mind at the moment.

Najenda: (thoughts) 'Akame, Lubbock, and Akira have so many broken bones. It'll be four to six months before they're fully recovered. That's too many heavy losses... As for me... It won't be long now. It may not be perfect, but I've already used Magatama Manifestation three times. Until this revolution is carried out... I have to stay alive...'

Akame: "It's okay."

The silver-haired general let out a surprised noise as she looked to the ravenette. Akame only smiled warmly at her silver-haired friend, leaning forward slightly.

Akame: "I can sense your inner tenacity, Najenda. I'm sure you'll stay alive."

Najenda: (smiles back) "Hearing you say that... Gives me strength..."

Akame: "But first things first, you need lots of fuel (meat)."

Najenda: "Yeah."

Leone: "All we can do now is wait for the hunting party to come back... They sure are taking a long time."

---

Elsewhere...

Deep in the mountains, a considerable distance from their camp, Tatsumi and Mine were hunting for the group's good. Slashing across the chest of a humanoid bear Danger Beast, Tatsumi instantly killed it with Incursio's Key.

It fell onto it's back, dead as Mine stood just a bit away, Pumpkin at her side. Tatsumi stood on the corpse of the Danger Beast, his tattered brown shawl moving with the way of the howling wind as the cold snow blew past them. He then flashes Mine a quick grin.

Tatsumi: "This one looks good."

Mine: "I'm sure Akame will be happy, aren't you?"

Tatsumi: (lands next to Mine) "All right. Let's get back."

Mine: "W-Wait!"

Before they could even move on, Mine had called out to him. He looked at her confused, tilting his head whilst she fidgeted and kept tapping the ends of her index fingers together. A small blush graced her face as her eyes kept going back and forth from him to the side. 

Mine: (thoughts) 'We're finally alone for once. Now's my chance to tell him...' (hesitates slightly) "...A-Actually, never mind."

Tatsumi: "What is it? You've been pulling that a lot lately."

Mine: "Sh-Shut up!"

Tatsumi: "I thought you were the type who just says it like it is."

The pink-haired girl grew surprised at what he said before she rolled her eyes. She then lunged her arm forward, latching it onto his coat's sleeve and squeezed it tightly. His confused gaze only grew more, raising his eyebrows at her.

Tatsumi: "Mine...?"

Mine: "F-Fine, then! Then I'll just say it... So listen to every word I'm about to say."

And now, Tatsumi gave her his full attention. But with his attention now on her completely, Mine grew nervous, her fidgeting only increasing as she shuffled her boots in the snow. At this point, Tatsumi's confused gaze was only gaining an irritated look as she kept delaying her response and what she wanted to say.

Tatsumi: "...What is it?"

Mine: (thoughts) 'He's just a simpleton, so what am I getting flustered for...?' "I... I! I've grown to like you!"

The brown-haired teen stared at her for a moment before he sighed, a cold mist leaving his mouth. He then grew a smug expression.

Tatsumi: "I see. So even someone as narrow minded as you has accepted me."

Mine: "...Huh?"

Tatsumi: "Heh. Don't worry. I like you too." (gives Mine a thumbs-up) "As an ally!"

Mine: "I... I didn't mean it like that." (thoughts) 'This thick-headed moron...! I spill my guts, and this is how he reacts? Unreal...! But I can't let him get away now! There's no telling when I'll have the chance again...!'

While doing her inner monologue, Tatsumi had hoisted the dead Danger Beast onto his shoulder. He soon began to walk away with it in tow, but Mine once again stops him, getting in front of his way as she extends her arms out to the side.

Mine: "Hold it!"

Tatsumi: "Huh!?"

Mine: (massive blush) "You don't get it. You idiot! I don't like you in that way."

Tatsumi: (confused) "Huh? What other way could it be?"

The words he let out felt like she was stabbed in the chest. However, she didn't blow up like she usually did. Instead, she took a deep breath, inhaling as much air before she exhaled.

Mine: (thoughts) 'Stay strong...' "Here goes..."

Tatsumi: "Hey, what's the matter? Here goes what...?"

Nothing else was said, the howling wind blowing past them as it seemed to get stronger. Just by a little bit. Tatsumi felt Mine's cold hands touch his face, only adding more to his confusion.

But, the next thing she did... Time seemed to stop.

His eyes widened as he sees what she did. She kissed him.

---

It had been a while since Mine and Tatsumi had been gone, looking for food. At the current moment, Akame and Leone were waiting in Najenda's tent, waiting for them to return. In one tent was another separate tent for Mine and Chelsea, the auburn-haired girl currently resting inside. She couldn't really do much.

In another was a shared tent of Tatsumi and Lubbock, the green-haired teen sitting in there for the moment as he was kicked out of Najenda's tent. And finally, the last tent, the shared tent of of Akame and Akira, currently housing the icy blue-eyed teen. Likewise, he too was resting. They all needed to. After all, once they fully recovered, they would immediately move out and begin their next mission.

But because they were gone, Akame couldn't refuse her hunger no longer. She soon fell face forward, writing Tatsumi's name in the dirt.

Leone: (pats Akame's head) "Akame got so hungry, she's down for the count. There, there." (looks to Najenda) "What are they doing out there?"

Najenda: "...It must be...that Tatsumi and Mine are in danger. I have a gut feeling."

Hearing her suggestion, the two instantly jumped. Now, they were worried. However, they heard rustling outside their tent, the flaps being opened. 

Standing in front of them was Mine and Tatsumi, the two hand-in-hand as they had slight blushes on their faces. Mine was the first to speak.

Mine: "Tatsumi and I... We're a couple now."

The two gained confused looks as they tilted their heads. Akame and Leone soon turned their heads towards Najenda, who had turned her body around the other way to awkwardly avoid the stares from her subordinates.

Leone: "That's odd... The boss was certain your lives were in danger."

Najenda: "Well, I was right that something had gone down." (thoughts) 'So you won Tatsumi over, eh, Mine...? I just received word of the Revolutionary Army is on the move. Once we get back to the Capital, we'll be busy with our next mission. The timing is perfect.'

---

After dinner, Night Raid decided to call it in for the night. They would need as much healing and energy they need to fight for the coming battle. Especially since the Revolutionary Army was on the move.

However, it was later that night that Akame had woken up. She had felt an unrelenting cold coming into the tent, the ravenette waking up due to the frigid breeze coming in. The tent flaps were open, some footprints were in the white snow. She had looked to her right, the bed roll next to her was empty. The blanket was a mess as well. Akira was nowhere to be found, and had seemed to have went on a nightly walk.

Getting up, she grabbed her pink scarf and a warm jacket, entering outside as she began to follow the footsteps. She would later find the black-haired teen sitting by a cliff, not bothered by the cold wind. A chilling breath left his mouth as he gazed up at the starry night sky. It was no longer snowing, the night sky clear of the dark clouds as it displayed the bright stars, the snow storm having ended.

The icy blue-eyed teen was lost in thought, seeming battling something in his internal mind. But he was soon knocked out of it as he felt someone embrace him from behind, his head being pulled back as it was rested onto the back of a familiar someone's bosom. He couldn't help but lean into it.

Akame: "What are you doing outside? Come back to bed."

Akira: "...I couldn't sleep."

Akame: "Why? Were you thinking about something?"

Akira: "It's fine... It's something that doesn't concern you, really."

The red-eyed girl let out an irritated sigh as she pinched his cheeks, making grunt. She then leaned his head back, Akira's face now in view as she gazed down on him.

Akame: "You can tell me. Remember what I told you? Any burdens you have, I'm here to share it with you, as well as your pain."

He sighed as he closed his eyes. Pondering her words for a moment, he slowly opened them, Akame seeing mixed emotions in his eyes. Slight fear, guilt, and sadness.

Akira: "I can still see them... Those I've killed... The innocents. I can hear them each day, calling out towards me to hurry up and join them. I keep trying to block them out, but they just keep getting louder through each passing day. I know, the names they called me were true. Monster, devil, demon, all of them are true. Just thinking about it... I can't help but think... Do I truly even deserve to be here right now? I'm constantly being reminded of the horrible things I've done in the past, the many innocents that had nothing to do with anything I was trying to accomplish... Some of them were even children... They had futures, and I took it away from them. I don't deserve a hint of forgiveness..."

Tears began to stream out of his eyes as he faced away from her. Akame continued to stare down at him, only for her to embrace him even tighter. She had him face her once more, hugging his face into her chest as she kissed his forehead, soon resting her chin on top of his head. 

Akame: "You weren't the only one who's done such things... I, too, have done some as well... You know that. We can't change what has happened in the past, Akira. But, we can only move forward and seek retribution for our actions. They can call you whatever they want, but nothing will stop me from loving you."

Akira: "Akame..."

Akame: "There's no need to speak any more words. Let's go to sleep now. Please?"

He nodded his head slowly as he pulled up and led back to their tent, Akame pulling on his hand. Once they reentered the tent, he laid down, Akame soon draping herself over him. Her hands were on either side of his head, her long, jet-black hair falling it hovered over him. He brought a hand up to her face, brushing his thumb across her cheek as she smiled lovingly at him.

That smile of hers was something he always looked forward to, and something he always desired to see whenever he had the chance. He loved her so much. 

Akame lowered herself down as she captured his lips, her legs entangled with his as she lowered her body down. Lying down next to him, her head on his chest and an arm wrapped around his torso, she made sure that he wouldn't get up again to go out and walk in the night. But this time, he wouldn't do that. He stayed and lied down with her, one of his arms wrapped around her waist.

It had been many days, months even, that he had a proper good nights sleep. Just being next to her, the girl he loved, was enough to give him the peaceful night he needed.