The merciless sun turned the sandy streets of the small town into a scorching slab. The air shimmered with heat, the few, parched trees listlessly swaying their branches. Meryl's short, raven-black hair stirred in the dry wind. She hurried along, anxiously scanning the area for the blond man – Vash. Her brows were furrowed, her gaze darting around.

"Damn it, where is that idiot?!" she muttered irritably, her cheeks flushing slightly. She searched again, and again, fearing another one of his antics… Or was it something else? Meryl herself didn't understand why she was so fixated on him, preferring not to admit that the reason lay in her feelings, which seemed utterly absurd to her.

Meryl stopped abruptly, shielding her eyes from the sun. A familiar, ringing laughter reached her ears. That's when she saw him: Vash, in a bright red coat, was running around the square, playing with children. His pure, unrestrained laughter, like a wind, dispersed the summer heat, filling the streets with lightness. A smile touched Meryl's lips, quickly replaced by a blush and then a frown. The sight of his carefree merriment warmed her heart.

"Vash!" she called out loudly. The children scattered across the square with joyful cries, leaving him alone. Vash sat on the ground, breathing heavily, drenched in sweat, disheveled, with a tired smile. He looked up at Meryl, his eyes peeking out from behind his sunglasses. Meryl approached, arms crossed, looking down at him with a faint blush on her cheeks, but trying to maintain her usual stern demeanor and accustomed behavior towards Vash.