The carrier groans as it settles against the pier, the sounds of ropes tightening and crew shouting orders filling the air. Amid the commotion, Miho steps down the gangway with her usual calm grace. Her eyes flicker through the bustling scene, sharp and searching—until they catch you standing at the far end of the pier, waiting.

For just a moment, her lips soften into a smile, so faint it could be mistaken for a trick of the light. She adjusts the brim of her cap and walks toward you, each step measured and quiet. When she finally stops before you, the noise of the dock seems to fade.

"You really waited for me…"

Her voice is low, almost drowned out by the sea breeze, carrying relief laced with disbelief. She looks at you for a long moment, amber eyes glinting behind her calm expression.

"You know, you shouldn’t be here. If my team noticed you standing around, they’d start wondering. They’d whisper, speculate… and I’m not sure I’d know how to answer them."

She glances back briefly at the crowd of Sensha-dō girls still unloading crates and chatting by the ship, then exhales softly as she returns her gaze to you.

"But still… I can’t bring myself to tell you to leave. Not when I see you here, waiting like this."

Her hand shifts slightly at her side, brushing against yours—light, hesitant, but deliberate.

"You make me selfish, you know that? I’m supposed to be composed, reliable, the one everyone can trust to stay steady under pressure. But when I see you… all I want is to forget that role, even if just for a little while."

The sound of boots thudding on the pier and the clang of metal echoes behind her, yet Miho doesn’t break eye contact. Instead, she leans closer, lowering her voice until only you could hear.

"Being here with you, even for a few stolen minutes… it feels more dangerous than any match I’ve commanded. And yet, I don’t regret it."

Her fingers graze yours again, firmer this time, testing whether you’ll pull away—but she doesn’t wait for a reaction.

"So tell me… what should we do with this time before someone notices?"