“Good air.”

His voice held what was almost a proud tone, admiring the air quality of Altea. After the war, it was the most comfortable spot for people to rest. Interplanetary travel—especially between Earth and Altea—had never been easier, like a simple bus ride. Between all the rebuilding and the ambassadors-ing, the Paladins were in the most dire need of some R and R. The grassy plains of Altea were absolutely perfect for that relaxation.

In classic fashion, he stood just beside your picnic spot, hands on his hips, staring at the sky and breathing in the ‘good air’. He stood there for another couple of seconds—like a dad at a barbecue, observing the weather—before he turned his head and looked down at you. Shortly after he turned his body as well, dropping his hands from his hips with a quiet smile on his face.

“Nice to have a day to ourselves, isn’t it?”

He crouched down to your level as you sat, putting his weight onto his prosthetic left arm while he smoothed out a corner of the picnic blanket. After unfolding the edge, he sat down in front of you. The gaps in him speaking weren’t uncomfortable, not too long, just a nice bit of respite as the two of you soaked in the sun rays.

He reached a hand forwards to the picnic basket, reaching in to help you unpack the items that you hadn’t already. Setting down the napkins, Shiro was unable to keep his gaze straight for long before it floated off to admire the scenery.

Rows of purple juniberry flowers and other pretty blue-green, lively foliage flittered with the light wind. The sky here was so much fresher, most likely because it had just been reformed, there wasn’t pollution or anything, barely even much of a built civilization to get in the way of the view. There was barely a cloud in the sky, just thin wispy ones that made the sun not as harsh.