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SHEATH YOUR BLADE.

The sun was just beginning to set over the Tachikawa Base, casting a warm, golden glow across the sprawling grounds. The day had been long and exhausting, filled with drills, strategy meetings, and the ever-present tension that came with being part of the Japan Defense Force's Third Division.

But for Vice-Captain Soshiro Hoshina and Platoon Leader Farrah, the day was about to take an unexpected turn.

As Hoshina walked through the base, his usual confident stride carrying him toward the mess hall, he noticed something out of the ordinary. Near one of the storage buildings, a small movement caught his eye. He paused, squinting slightly to get a better look.

There, huddled together in a small group, were three tiny puppies. Their fur was dirty, their eyes wide and curious as they sniffed at the air, clearly out of place in the military environment.

"What the..."

"Well, what do we have here?" Hoshina muttered to himself, a grin spreading across his face. He approached the pups slowly, crouching down to get a closer look. "How did you little guys end up here?"

The puppies looked up at him with a mix of fear and curiosity. One of them, a scruffy black and white pup, took a tentative step forward, sniffing at Hoshina's outstretched hand. The Vice-Captain chuckled softly, his normally stern expression softening as he gently petted the brave little pup.

As he was about to pick up one of the puppies, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning his head slightly, he saw Farrah approaching, her smooth brown skin glowing in the evening light, her long dark curls bouncing with each step.

"Vice-Captain, what are you doing over here?" Farrah asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. Her sharp features softened as she noticed the puppies huddled at Hoshina's feet.

"Farrah," Hoshina greeted, standing up to face her. "It looks like we've got some unexpected guests."

Farrah's eyes widened as she looked down at the pups, her heart instantly melting at the sight. "Oh my goodness, how did they get here?"

Hoshina shrugged, his grin widening. "No idea, but they look like they could use some food. I was just about to head to the mess hall. Care to join me in finding these little ones something to eat?"

Farrah hesitated for only a moment before nodding. "Absolutely. We can't just leave them hungry."

The two of them made their way to the mess hall, the puppies trailing behind them, their little tails wagging as they followed their newfound friends. As they walked, Hoshina glanced at Farrah, noticing the way she occasionally looked back at the puppies with a soft smile on her lips.

"They're adorable, aren't they?" he commented, breaking the comfortable silence between them.

Farrah nodded, her expression thoughtful. "They are. It's strange, though. How do you think they got inside the base?"

Hoshina chuckled, his foxy grin returning. "Who knows? Maybe they've got a mission of their own."

Farrah laughed softly, shaking her head. "Only you would think of that, Vice-Captain."

They reached the mess hall and stepped inside, the warm smell of food greeting them. The hall was mostly empty, with only a few officers lingering over their meals. Hoshina and Farrah headed straight for the kitchen, where they were met by the cook, an older man with a kind face.

"What can I do for you, Vice-Captain, Platoon Leader?" the cook asked, wiping his hands on a towel.

"We've got some hungry mouths to feed," Hoshina said, nodding toward the door where the puppies had just trotted in, their noses twitching as they sniffed at the air.

The cook raised an eyebrow, but when he saw the puppies, his expression softened. "Ah, I see. Poor things. Let me see what I can rustle up."

As the cook busied himself in the kitchen, Hoshina and Farrah found a quiet corner of the mess hall to sit down, the puppies settling at their feet. Farrah reached down to pet one of them, her fingers gently scratching behind its ears.

"You're really good with them," Hoshina observed, watching her with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Farrah smiled, glancing up at him. "I've always loved animals. They're so pure, so trusting. It's hard not to feel protective of them."

Hoshina nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I get that. They just want to be loved and cared for, just like anyone else."

Before long, the cook returned with a tray of food—bowls of water, some leftover chicken, and a bit of rice. "This should do the trick," he said, setting the tray down on the floor.

The puppies immediately perked up, their noses twitching as they caught the scent of the food. They approached the bowls cautiously at first, but soon they were eating eagerly, their tiny tails wagging with delight.

Hoshina and Farrah watched them in silence for a few moments, their hearts warmed by the sight. It was a simple moment, but it carried a deep sense of satisfaction and contentment.

"Looks like they're happy now," Farrah said softly, her eyes never leaving the puppies.

"Yeah," Hoshina agreed, leaning back in his chair. "And I have to admit, I'm pretty happy too."

Farrah looked up at him, her gaze curious. "Oh? And why's that?"

Hoshina met her eyes, his grin softening into something more genuine. "Because I got to spend the evening with you, feeding these little guys. It's not often we get to do something like this. Makes all the hard work we do feel worth it."

Farrah felt a warmth spread through her chest at his words. There was something about Hoshina—his playful charm, his confidence, the way he could make even the most mundane tasks feel special—that made her feel at ease, made her feel like she could truly be herself.

"I guess it does," she replied, her smile matching his. "It's nice to have a break from the usual routine."

They lapsed into a comfortable silence, simply enjoying each other's company as the puppies finished their meal. Once the bowls were empty, the pups began to explore their surroundings, their curiosity leading them to sniff at every corner of the mess hall.

Farrah laughed as one of the puppies tried to climb onto her lap, its little paws scrabbling at her knees. She scooped it up, cradling it against her chest as she scratched behind its ears. The pup let out a contented sigh, its eyes closing in bliss.

"You know," Hoshina began, his tone teasing, "if you keep that up, you might just have to adopt that one."

Farrah looked down at the puppy in her arms, her heart melting. "I wouldn't mind that," she admitted softly. "But I'm not sure how I'd manage it with all the work we do."

"Well," Hoshina said, leaning forward with a conspiratorial grin, "if you ever need a babysitter, you know where to find me."

Farrah laughed, the sound light and genuine. "I might just take you up on that, Vice-Captain."

Hoshina's grin widened. "I hope you do."

The sun had long since set by the time they decided it was time to find a place for the puppies to sleep. They couldn't leave them in the mess hall overnight, so after a brief discussion, they agreed to take the pups to one of the storage rooms that wasn't in use.

Farrah carried the sleepy puppy in her arms while Hoshina gently herded the other two toward the door. The puppies followed obediently, their little legs stumbling slightly as they walked.

Once they reached the storage room, Hoshina found some old blankets to create a makeshift bed for the pups. Farrah carefully set the puppy in her arms down on the blankets, watching as it curled up with the others, their small bodies huddling together for warmth.

"They'll be safe here for the night," Hoshina said, his voice quiet as he watched the pups settle in. "We can figure out what to do with them in the morning."

Farrah chuckled, a playful glint in her eye. "Let's hope Captain Mina doesn't scold us. You know she's a cat lover by nature."

Hoshina grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "True, but maybe these little guys will win her over. I mean, who could resist those faces?"

Farrah glanced back at the storage room where the puppies were now fast asleep, a soft smile tugging at her lips. "You might be right. Besides, it's hard to stay mad when there's something this adorable involved."

"Well, worst case scenario, we'll have to come up with a good excuse," Hoshina said with a mock-serious tone. "But I'm sure we can handle that."

"Knowing you, you'd probably charm your way out of it," Farrah teased.

Hoshina feigned a humble bow. "It's one of my many talents."

They both laughed, the sound lightening the atmosphere as they continued to walk through the base. The weight of the day's responsibilities seemed to lift, replaced by a shared sense of accomplishment and camaraderie.

As they reached the exit to the main building, Farrah paused, turning to Hoshina. "Thanks again, Vice-Captain. This was... really nice."

Hoshina nodded, his expression warm. "It was. We should do this more often—maybe even with some ramen next time?"

Farrah grinned, her eyes sparkling with a mix of playfulness and sincerity. "I'll hold you to that."

With a final smile, they parted ways for the night, each feeling a bit lighter and more connected. As Farrah headed back to her quarters, she couldn't help but think about how unexpectedly enjoyable the evening had been.

And as she drifted off to sleep, the image of Hoshina's grin and the warmth of his company lingered in her thoughts, bringing a sense of peace she hadn't felt in a long time.