The soldiers headed toward the helicopters and military trucks with quick, coordinated steps. The helicopters' blades cut through the air with force, while the vehicles' engines roared in anticipation. The recruits, along with a few veterans, were positioned in the trucks, their weapons tightly gripped in their hands.

During the drive to the forest near the wall, the tension was palpable. The recruits tried to hide their nervousness, but the closed environment of the trucks only amplified the unsettling silence. Even the usually confident veterans seemed more serious.

Takemichi, sitting near the side, glanced sideways at Rem, who maintained a serene and impassive expression.

"Is she scared? That calm expression doesn't seem like someone who's nervous... But what if she's faking it?" — Takemichi thought, trying to decipher her thoughts.

As if she felt his gaze, Rem turned her face toward him and gave him a look of disdain, as if to say without words that he was not worthy of even looking at her.

Takemichi rolled his eyes and turned his face away, muttering softly to himself.

"She really is hopeless..."

The vehicles continued until they reached the edge of the forest, where they stopped in a strategic formation. The trucks were positioned a considerable distance apart, ready to evacuate in case of emergency. The helicopters hovered a little further away, but close enough for quick support.

The soldiers got out of the vehicles with their weapons in hand, taking up positions.

"This area is ours," one of the leaders shouted, his voice firm. "We will clear it. Other teams will take care of their respective areas. But listen carefully: if you realize that you cannot handle it, retreat immediately. Do not try to play the hero!

"Yes, sir!" — everyone responded in unison, veterans and recruits saluting.

Formed in rows, they advanced into the forest, their steps light so as not to make noise. Every sound was analyzed carefully, their eyes alert for any movement.

Then came the first sign: the rustling of leaves above.

The noise grew, now accompanied by vibrations in the ground. The footsteps of something large and heavy were approaching.

— That's it... — the leader began, swallowing hard. — There are too many of them. Let's retreat!

The leader's terrified look was enough to spread panic among the soldiers. Veterans, who should have been the pillars of calm, began to run, followed by Rem's friends and Kay's father, without hesitation.

Rem and Takemichi, however, remained paralyzed.

"Why won't my legs move?!" — Takemichi thought, trembling.

"I have to run! I have to run!" — Rem tried to convince herself, but her body didn't respond.

The noise grew louder, and the trees began to fall as the ghouls approached.

The leader used the radio, his voice trembling:

"Fourth squad reporting! Movement of several ghouls in our area. We are retreating!"

The answer came immediately:

"You too? We found several ghouls in our area. The forest is infested! Return now!" — the captain ordered over the radio.

As the other soldiers quickly retreated, Takemichi and Rem stood rooted to the spot, terror gripping their bodies.

Then, a colossal ghoul appeared from among the fallen trees. It watched the two as it slowly advanced, knocking down more trees with its weight.

"Idiot, move!" Takemichi screamed mentally, trying to force his body to react.

"I have to run! I have to run!" Rem repeated to herself, fear tightening her chest.

When the ghoul came within a few meters, Rem trembled so much that her sword slipped from her hands. Her eyes squeezed shut, waiting for the blow that would cut her down.

The sound of flesh being cut echoed through the air, but the blow never came.

Opening her eyes, Rem saw the ghoul lying on the ground, with a large wound in its torso. Trembling, Takemichi held his bloody axes, breathing irregularly.

"Why are you afraid?" — he said, without turning around, his voice cracking as sweat ran down his face. — That ghoul didn't even have tentacles. Why is my rival afraid of such a weak ghoul?

Despite his confident tone, Takemichi's body was shaking so much that his bravado seemed more comical than heroic.

Rem looked at the dead ghoul in disbelief.

— "He killed it!" — she thought, surprised.

— How long are you going to play the scaredy cat? — Takemichi continued, still without turning around. — Get up! That way, it'll be more fun to beat you later.

Rem gritted her teeth, irritated by his tone.

— "This guy annoys me... but I owe him one."

She picked up her sword from the ground, took a deep breath and stood up, her gaze returning to determination.

Takemichi, still shaking and not daring to look back, began to feel something different in the air. A subtle but powerful change, as if the atmosphere around him had transformed.

"What was that change?" he thought, finally gathering the courage to look over his shoulder.

What he saw made him even more confused. Rem was smiling. It wasn't the mocking smile she usually had, but something confident and, to his surprise, playful.

"Playing the hero, are you?" she said, walking slowly towards him. "Do you really want to touch my body that much, mister pervert?"

Takemichi's face instantly turned red. His expression of confusion replaced fear, as he stammered without knowing what to say.

"W-what?! What kind of thing is that to say now?!" he protested, embarrassed.

Before he could react, Rem grabbed his hand firmly and brought it straight to her chest. Takemichi froze, his eyes wide as he tried to understand what was happening.

“Now we’re even,” she declared, with a serious expression, but quickly walked away. “And just to make it clear, I’m not going to thank you.”

Takemichi remained motionless for a few seconds, confusion dominating his thoughts. Then, he finally processed the situation and crossed his arms, his face still red.

“What the hell?! With that outfit, you can’t feel anything!”

Rem stopped, looked at him and laughed sincerely for the first time.

“What bad luck, Mr. Hero. I didn’t feel anything either.”

She turned around and drew her sword, still laughing softly, leaving Takemichi irritated and confused.

“What are you doing?! There are so many ghouls!” Takemichi shouted, alarmed, seeing Rem standing in front of a horde of creatures.

Even surrounded by ghouls, including some with threatening tentacles, Rem didn't seem to show an ounce of fear. On the contrary, she exuded confidence, as if she were a completely different person.

"What happened to her?" Takemichi thought, confused and unable to take his eyes off her.

"You idiots, get out of here!" Kay's father shouted, approaching with the leader and some veterans.

"Wait!" Takemichi said. "I want to see what's going to happen."

The soldiers who arrived looked at the scene, noticing the body of a slaughtered ghoul and Takemichi's axe stained with blood.

"Did Takemichi do this?" some thought, surprised.

"Rem, get out of here!" shouted one of her friends, desperation evident in her voice.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Rem completely ignored the warning. Without saying anything, she dropped the sheath of her sword on the ground and started running towards the ghouls.

"Is she... smiling?" — exclaimed the leader, startled by the savage expression on the girl's face.

The forest seemed to grow quieter as Rem advanced. The first ghoul, one without tentacles, was cut in half with a single precise blow.

She then dodged the attack of another ghoul, spinning in a graceful movement and decapitating it before it could react. A third ghoul tried to hit her with its tentacles, but she jumped back and, in a fluid movement, plunged her sword into its torso, eliciting a scream of agony from the creature.

Rem's blows were precise, fast and lethal. In a matter of seconds, all the ghouls before her were lying on the ground, dead.

Rem stood still for a moment, panting, but with a victorious smile on her lips. She turned to Takemichi, her eyes shining with confidence.

"Did you see that?" she said provocatively. "If you really want to be my rival, you'll have to..."

"Look back!" — Kay's father shouted, pointing.

Rem's eyes widened, sensing danger, but she didn't have time to react. One of the fallen ghouls, with its last breath, launched a tentacle straight at her back.

Before the blow could reach her, Takemichi suddenly appeared, cutting the tentacle with his axe, the impact raising sparks.

— You're going to owe me again! — Takemichi said, with a smile on his face.

Rem looked at him, clearly surprised, but quickly regained her composure.

— I was going to dodge! — she protested.

— Do you happen to have two personalities? — Takemichi said, exasperated. — You don't even seem like the same old person!

Rem just gave a mischievous smile and walked past him, while the group tried to process what had just happened.

— Don't think so highly of yourself, I've got six ghouls in front of you! You only killed one! — Rem said, with a defiant smile on her face.

— Terror of the ghouls... this girl has a natural talent! — thought the leader, impressed by Rem's skill.

Takemichi, with a defiant expression, raised his hand and pointed to the forest, smirking.

— Seven to one! It's still close, so let's decide?! — he exclaimed.

— Fine by me! — Rem replied, her voice playful, as if it were a game.

The two of them followed in the same direction, keeping their distance from each other, heading towards the areas that the other squads were supposed to clear.

“Wait!” the leader shouted, running after them.

But neither Takemichi nor Rem hesitated and continued moving forward without looking back.

A few minutes later, they both came out of the forest, finding all the snipers pointing their weapons at them.

“Calm down, I’m done!” Rem said, her suit now completely stained with blood.

Takemichi, with an expression of slight exasperation, looked at the snipers and corrected Rem.

“Correcting, we’re done. I killed seven less than you, but I killed more with tentacles!” Takemichi said, with a forced smile.

“It’s not my fault that the ghouls with tentacles were on the side you were going, but a ghoul is a ghoul!” — Rem replied in a joking tone.

Although she still had that mocking smile, Rem seemed different in combat. She was moving faster, her reflexes sharper, as if she were instinctively adapting to combat. Takemichi watched her, but with one thought clear in his mind:

— In comparison... she really is better than me!

He tried not to show signs of frustration, but something inside him couldn't help but wonder how far he would have to go to reach her level.

The group around them still watched the two with expressions of surprise and disbelief. Some soldiers whispered, while the leaders exchanged worried glances.

— You two are completely crazy! — Kay's father said, approaching Takemichi, holding him by the shoulder. — Leaving formation to hunt ghouls on your own? That could have gotten you killed!

— But it didn't, so don't worry so much. — Takemichi shrugged, trying to appear unconcerned, although he was still clearly tired from combat.

The leader took a deep breath, clearly irritated.

“You may be skilled, but if you continue acting like this, you will end up putting the others at risk. The next time one of you breaks formation without orders, I will personally ensure that both of you are punished!”

“Yes, sir,” the two said in unison, although their voices were clearly unconcerned.

The situation was resolved, and the squad began to regroup. Soldiers checked the bodies of the ghouls, others helped load supplies and equipment onto the trucks. Takemichi and Rem, however, kept to the side, each tending to their weapons.

As he cleaned his blades, Takemichi glanced at Rem from the corner of his eye. She looked different. That confidence she exuded on the battlefield was something he had never seen before.

“You really are something…” he muttered to himself.

“Are you admiring me again, mister pervert?” Rem said, not even looking at him, but with a mocking smile on her face.

Takemichi turned his face away, red with anger.

— I'm not, you crazy woman! I was just thinking about how annoying you are!

Rem giggled and continued to take care of her sword.

— Great. Keep it up. The angrier you get, the more fun it will be to beat you.

— Now you recognize my strength? That was faster than I expected! — Takemichi said, with a provocative smile.

— Don't think so highly of yourself! — Rem retorted, crossing her arms and staring at him.

Two months later, barracks, Takemichi's room

— What? What did you say? — Takemichi exclaimed, surprised.

— I'm leaving the army. Unfortunately, this is my limit with you guys. — Kay's father announced, with a calm but emotion-laden look.

— But why...? Is it because of your girlfriend? — Takemichi asked, intrigued.

— That's right! She's pregnant. — Kay's father smiled, proud.

— Are you serious? — Takemichi leaned forward in disbelief.

— She wanted to keep it a secret, but it’s the truth. I’m going home. I’ve already talked to the captain.

— That’s great news! It’s a shame you left just when you were losing your fear of fighting.

— Fear? Never! If you’re going to leave them alone, I’ll fight anything!

— “Them”? Is it a girl? — Takemichi’s eyes widened.

— It’s still too early to tell, but I hope it’s a little boy.

Takemichi stood up and hugged Kay’s father.

— I’m happy for you. I… I would go home too, but…

— Rem is the girl you’ve been waiting for. Try not to take too long. — Kay’s father hugged her back.

— We don’t have that kind of relationship!

— You’re the only one who brings out that other side in her. But listen, I’ll come back sooner, but when you become captain, come home. And even if Rem becomes captain first, come back to visit.

“I’ll be the captain! I’m almost there!”

“Of course you will, my friend. Take care.” Kay’s father picked up the bags and walked to the door.

“You too.”

When the door closed, Takemichi looked at the now empty bed. A feeling of emptiness and sadness overcame him.

“Don’t be depressed! He’s going back to his family. That’s a good thing!” Takemichi said, trying to cheer himself up.

Leaving the barracks, he walked to the courtyard and watched the helicopter take off.

“What’s with that asshole face?” Rem came up behind him, jumping on his back.

“It’s you!”

“There’s a beautiful girl hugging you and you react like that? You want to get hit?”

“What’s with that ‘crush’?” a female voice said behind them.

Rem immediately backed away.

“You scared me!” she complained.

Lily, a recruit and Takemichi's childhood friend, giggled.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. You guys were so distracted!"

"What do you want?" Takemichi asked.

"Is that how you treat your childhood friend?"

"One of your childhood friends is leaving now." Rem pointed to the helicopter in the distance.

"He's going back to my other childhood friend, so it's okay. Oh, the captain is calling you, Takemichi."

"Right now?" Rem complained.

— Hurry up, before I drag you away! — Lily teased.

Rem stepped back, looking at Lily suspiciously.

—So what? — Lily approached Takemichi.

—So what?

—When are you going to make a move on her?

—You too? I told you we don't have that kind of relationship!

—Men... Girls like Rem are fought over. She only pays attention to you. If you keep going like this, others will notice how special she is.

—We don't have that kind of relationship!

—Men!

A short time later, Rem returned.

—Is it over yet? — Lily asked.

—He just wanted to ask something. Takemichi, the captain is calling for you.

—Now me? — he mumbled, blushing.

After Takemichi left, Lily looked at Rem with a sideways smile.

—I think he's starting to open his eyes.

—What does that mean?

—You'll see.

Later, Takemichi returned, but he seemed distracted. Without saying anything, he held Rem's hand and led her to the bench in the courtyard.

Takemichi took a deep breath as he held Rem's hand. He led her to the bench in the courtyard, his steps firm, but his heart pounding.

"Hey! Pulling a girl around without saying anything? That's perverted, you know?" Rem joked, trying to ease the silence.

He ignored her and just pointed to the bench.

"Sit down."

"What? Who do you think you are to give me orders?" Rem replied, but sat down anyway, crossing his arms.

Takemichi stood in front of her, clearly nervous, but determined. Rem arched an eyebrow, surprised by his posture.

"Why did you recommend me for the position of captain?" Takemichi asked, his tone firm, but full of uncertainty.

"I told you, I don't want the job of leading an entire division." — That’s a lie. You’re not the type to run away from responsibilities. Why did you really do that?

Rem tilted her head, confused. Takemichi was different. More serious, more intense.

— Are you mad? I thought you’d like it. Isn’t this what you wanted all along?

— Yes, I did. But not like this. Not with you throwing away what could be yours.

— If you don’t want the position, I can suggest someone else. Maybe Lily? — Rem teased, standing up to leave.

— Wait! — Takemichi grabbed her by the arm. — Stop running away from questions, Rem. Why did you do that?

— I told you! Captains don’t have time for anything, and that doesn’t suit me. I prefer to live as I please.

— That doesn’t make sense! From the beginning, you were the most determined, the strongest! Why are you lying?

— Who do you think you are to question me like that? — Rem retorted, with a slight provocative smile. But there was something in Takemichi’s tone that made her uneasy.

“I’m your partner. And partners don’t lie to each other. Right?”

Rem hesitated. He was serious. For a moment, she felt uncomfortable, as if she couldn’t escape the conversation.

“I wouldn’t lie to my partner. There’s no point in lying to someone like that.”

Takemichi closed his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He knew he had to say it. If he didn’t say it now, he might never get another chance.

“Then in that case… be my woman.”

The sentence fell like a bomb. Rem's eyes widened, completely bewildered.

"What?"

"You heard me. Be my wife."

"Are you crazy?" Rem took a step back, confused and, at the same time, blushing like never before.

"I'm not crazy. Ever since I met you, you've surprised me at every moment. You challenge me, push me to be better. Even in the moments when you're unbearable, I can't help but admire you. And now, after everything, I realized that I don't want to be in this place without you by my side."

"Takemichi... I..." Rem tried to interrupt, but he continued.

"I don't want to compete with you because we're rivals. I want to compete with you because you make me want to be someone you can respect, someone worthy of fighting alongside you. So, yes, I'm saying: be my wife. Stay by my side. Forever."

Rem was speechless. Takemichi's nervousness and intensity completely disarmed her. She tried to respond, but the whirlwind of emotions prevented her.

“This is so sudden! You can’t just… Oh, I don’t know what to say!” Rem said, taking a step back.

Takemichi stared at her with determination.

“If the idea of being my wife displeases you that much, just say so. But don’t run away, Rem. Please don’t run away.”

Rem felt the weight of those words. But instead of responding, she turned on her heel and ran, disappearing into the courtyard. Takemichi stood there, watching her leave, unsure if he had done the right thing or the wrong thing.

He sat down on the bench and sighed, holding his face in his hands.

“I can’t understand her. Why did she help me get this far? Why did she do all this? I don’t get it. Rem… I really don’t understand you.”