"…Are you okay…?"

She was obviously not, the officer knew—he wasn't stupid. Why would anyone who was fine be sitting in an isolated corner, trembling as if she was crying? But as foolish as it was, that was the only thing he could think of saying at that moment to gain her attention.

It did work because as soon as he was done speaking, the blue-haired girl let out a surprised yelp and whipped her head around to face him; she had such a horrified expression that he almost regretted calling out to her.

"… I'm fine…" she answered after calming down somewhat; her voice was barely above a whisper, though her expression softened as she ran a hand across her eyes to clear off the traces of tears.

"I'm fine," she repeated afterward, which he took as more of a reassurance to herself rather than an answer for him; if it was, it didn't do much.

"…Now that I can see you more clearly, I think you're not. You have been crying," Kido said flatly, and the girl instinctively bowed her head to hide her face and avoid eye contact.

"I'm fine," she repeated the same line—with a hint of stubbornness he did not expect from her—and went a step backward, seemingly ready to run. "Sorry…I…I will be on my way…"

He was not about to let her go while she was distressed like that, however.

"Wait, Helena-san. I know you don't know me…but…well…can we talk? I want to know more about you," he said, slapping himself mentally afterward as he realized how trite his words must've sounded. Despite that, it appeared to work as she stayed though she still refused to make eye contact.

"You know my name already…" she murmured. "You are…the one from the resistance…"

"Yeah, but I haven't introduced myself to you, eh? You weren't there when I introduced myself to the others. Lieutenant Commander Tomoya Kido. It's a plea—I'm honored to meet you, Helena-san."

Helena took a glimpse at the officer as he spoke. Though the introduction was formal, he was smiling, displaying a degree of playfulness and disregard for military bearing unseen in other officers she had met. Somehow, she found it warming, perhaps almost literally, as she felt heat rising up her cheeks.

Helena quickly dismissed the thought. There was never a need for him to be friendly whatsoever; she was fully aware of what she was and why she existed.

"It's USS Helena; you don't have to mind me…We are… I'm a we—"

"…I think just Helena is fine," he interrupted, still smiling, "fewer mouthfuls that way. Maybe we can even shorten it further…"

"But… I'm a…"

"…a girl," he cut her off and was delighted when she finally looked up, incredulous.

"…a girl…?"

"…You aren't…? Could have fooled me, really."

"…No… It's just…sorry," the flustered girl looked away and stayed that way until she heard Kido laughing softly.

"…Oh, don't be sorry. It's better than seeing you sad like before."

"…"

"No, really, I hate it when I see someone being sad, especially when I cannot do anything about it," Kido continued solemnly. "Well, if you want to talk about it, I'm all ears. After all, I'm an appointed liaison to your fleet. Now, if that's okay with you, sit with me for a while."

Helena watched as Kido made himself comfortable on a stack of crates across her. She was initially reluctant; that was their first meeting, and the thought of opening up in such circumstances did not sit well with her. But still, he waited for her with a smile—welcoming and sincere.

Sighing, she finally walked up to him and took a seat as well, though she kept a considerable distance.

Nevertheless, it pleased Kido all the same.

"…This war…will it ever end…?" she began; her voice was soft but still audible enough for him to hear.

"…Well, you see, my people believe that nothing is enduring. So I cannot say when, but it will."

"…"

"Are…you scared…?" he inquired cautiously, and once again, Helena began to quiver, which pretty much already told him the answer.

"I…I… It's…Sorry. I can't…"

"…Well then, if you are, let me just say that most of us feel the same, including me."

"…But…you don't…seem to be…"

"Oh, believe me, I do. But you see," Kido said as he looked up to the tall ceiling, "in Japan, there was a certain famous person who said 'Dai-ichi, dai-man, dai-kichi.' Do one person for everyone and everyone for one person, and everyone will be happy. Sort like 'One for all, all for one' from the Three Musketeers."

He looked back at Helena; just as he expected, she was confused.

"What that means is, if you are there for everyone—your friends, anyone you care about— and let them be there for you, you can do anything. That's what I'd always tell myself whenever I find myself wavering, and suddenly nothing is scary in this world. And the way I see it, you can do that too. You are not alone."

Helena closed her eyes instead of answering.

Perhaps he's right, she told herself. I'm never alone. I have my friends and my sisters.

When she opened her eyes again, Kido could see the determination amidst the unshed tears.

"I can do it," she said, as much reassurance to her as it was to him.

"I'm glad," breathing a sigh of relief, Kido replied just as Helena rose from her seat and walked up to him.

"…Thank you, Lieutenant Commander," she offered. Meanwhile, Kido was happy, not because she thanked him, but because she finally smiled, even if only a little. It was captivating, so to speak, that he failed to respond right away, and when he realized it, he almost slapped himself right there.

Kido really hoped he wasn't staring and making her uncomfortable—because he was unsure whether he did or not. After a moment of awkward silence—which Helena apparently bore very patiently—he finally managed to speak.

"Um, yes, I'm happy to hear that…um, so…are you feeling better? At least for the time being?"

"Yes…I am."

"Great. Now, why don't you go back before everyone starts worrying, eh, Rena?" Kido suggested, only for her to look at him with an expression best described as a blend of confusion and disbelief.

"…Rena…?"

"Well, you see, it's easier to say on my tongue. Though if you mind, I will not do it again," Kido said, scratching his cheeks nervously as he surmised she wasn't too happy about it—purposefully omitting the fact that he just thought the name suited her, and he likes it. His concerns dissipated when he saw her smiling again, this time more earnestly.

"I don't mind," she said, "in fact, I might like it."

There should be no way she could still be alive, not after that hail of gunfire that took advantage of her exposed position. Even as they retreated from the battlefield, the Sirens were determined to cause as much damage as possible.

She knew she should have died, yet, against all odds, she found herself still alive, as she could feel everything, sense everything.

She could feel the searing pain in many parts of her body, along with the feverish heat.

She could smell the sickly stench of blood mixed with antiseptics and a slew of other things she could not describe, all of them telling her that she's been cared for.

"Helena…"

She could also hear—albeit faintly—the sound of her name being spoken.

Recognizing the voice, Helena turned to its owner, wincing because of how painful that simple move was.

Through eyes half-open, she could see him, the person who had just murmured her name in such a pained tone—one of the officers in Mikasa's resistance force, Commander Kido, standing before her. A toppled chair lay just nearby.

Before she knew it, he was already at her side.

"Commander…"

Her attempt to call him back was all but for naught, with her voice coming out weaker than even a whisper. Nevertheless, he looked overjoyed, even when he seemed to be on the verge of crying at the same time.

"Helena," he spoke her name again; his hand reached forward, but almost immediately, he withdrew it, using it to wipe his tears away instead.

"I…Haha. Sorry that I'm showing this conduct unbecoming of an officer. I… I'm just glad we found you," he managed to say after swallowing multiple times and seeing Helena frowning. "I'm glad I decided to look for you. I wanted to tell you everything, but…for now, just rest more, okay? I will tell you everything later."

Helena thought about it for a while. She was indeed curious but realized she was in no condition to object, so she gave him a slight nod. He responded with the same gesture before turning and walking away.

As she drifted back into unconsciousness, the last thing Helena saw was Kido looking back over his shoulder, returning the smile she tried her hardest to give.

...----------------...

Helena could still recall them clearly—the memories of watching all her allies leaving in a hurry after that battle while she held onto a piece of wreckage, too weak to call out to them—even if she could, she knew it would be in vain.

After that, she remembered nothing else.

"I think it's better that way," said the ship's medical officer, Lieutenant Ishihara, when she returned for examination and asked what she could remember. Helena wordlessly agreed to the statement as the Lieutenant proceeded to perform her routine, replacing bandages and administering a dose of ********.

Thanks to the medication, Helena found it easier to move and look around, even though she was already familiar with the surroundings—the cramped medical bay of destroyer Asahi. The few remaining cots were vacant, and she felt oddly relieved.

"Thank you," turning back to the medic, Helena uttered her raspy gratitude in Japanese, using what little she knew about the language. She looked momentarily surprised but then laughed a little.

"You don't need to do that; I can speak English just fine."

Helena managed a weak smile at that. "I know," she began but paused to let out a cough. "It's just that…I thought you'd appreciate it."

Lieutenant Ishihara let out a more prolonged laugh in response, and Helena was unsure if she was incredulous or touched.

"No wonder the Commander went out of his way to get you back, even begging for Mikasa-dono to let this ship look for you," she said as she disposed of a pile of dressing soiled by blood and fluid from the metal basin. "But yes, I appreciate that."

"…The Commander did what…?"

"Well, I'm not in the position to tell you, so why don't you wait for him to come by? He should be here within minutes…"

As if on cue, the door opened, and Kido walked in. Lieutenant Ishihara immediately stood at attention and saluted, receiving one in return. When Kido noticed Helena was awake, he went over to her at a considerably more relaxed pace.

"Lieutenant Ishihara told me yesterday that, for now, your condition is stable," he said as soon as he reached the bedside.

"Yes, but remember she still needs extensive examination. I'm not a KANSEN expert, so it would be in her best interest that we reach an allied port as soon as possible," the Lieutenant interrupted.

"You have done all you can, and rest assured, we are going at full speed towards one, and—" a brief tug on his sleeve brought Kido's attention back to Helena. Lieutenant Ishihara smiled at that and excused herself, though Kido barely heard what she'd said and failed to respond.

"…Honolulu and my sister…and the others. Are they…alright?"

"…They have made it out safely, though with a few injuries here and there. Nothing major, I heard."

Her sigh of relief was muted but still audible enough for Kido to hear. She was clearly elated, and Kido gladly smiled along.

"Well then. Would you like something to eat? Or drink? You haven't eaten anything since we saved you, have you?" he offered, only for Helena to shake her head.

"Sorry, Commander. I… don't feel like eating right now," she declined, though not without some guilt. While it's true she probably would need some nourishment, the revolting scent of the room convinced her that whatever food she took would not last long in her stomach, and she'd rather not trouble anyone with cleaning.

"Oh, okay. Anything I can do for you, then?"

Helena looked away and stared into the barren ceiling; unlike the rest of the room, there was nothing there that gave her unease. There are many questions she would like to have an answer for, but as she pondered, one of them kept forcing itself to the forefront of her thoughts.

"Why…did you come back for me?"

Helena immediately regretted the question, feeling as if she was being ungrateful, but Kido showed no signs of being hurt by it. Or if he did, he did an excellent job at hiding it.

"Remember what we talked about some time ago? About how you always adore the sunrise…?"

"Y-you…remember that?"

"I remembered everything. You said the reason is that it gives you hope. I…could never forget that. So…I thought…Even though we were told to retreat…I wanted to bring you back so that you can see them again…"

Kido wasn't all that surprised when Helena broke into tears. After all, she had been looking like she was holding them back. Still, he loathed the sight. It made his heart clench and his chest ache so much that he had to turn away.

"Why? for someone like me? I'm a—" She managed between her fleeting, modest sobs.

"A real person. I've said this before, and I'll say it again. You are your own person, and no less. Don't forget that," Kido replied with absolute finality.

The room went quiet after that; from the corner of his eyes, Kido could see Helena with her head lowered, still trembling. After much reluctance, his hand moved to hold hers, and the shaking gradually ceased. Unbeknown to him, however, now her heart was racing.

"Thank you…for saving me, Commander. I… I'm sorry it took me so long to say this."

"Hey, if anything, I'm glad because you are safe now, and…" Kido glanced outside the porthole just near the cot, "…you get to see this once more."

Following his gaze, Helena could see the daybreak's roseate hue as the sun rose in the far distance, bathing the waters with its light. It was a perfectly ordinary morning—just as she liked it.

"You got something on your mind?"

Kido looked up as soon as he heard the question. The asker, Mikasa, was standing before his desk smiling tenderly, and he smiled back—even if moments before, she had just slammed her hands on it to gain his attention and nearly caused him to slip off his chair.

The war's end definitely had been a boon to her, for she now could show the lighter side of her more, and by asking that question, she was showing him her playful—or rather, her motherly self.

"Oh, well, you see, Mikasa-dono, it's nothing important, really…"

He paused as he found Mikasa wagging her finger very close to his face, tongue clicking.

"Son, I know this face you're making. I've seen it before. If you could tell me at that time, why couldn't you this time?"

Kido sighed. Mikasa indeed had a point—He realized he was certainly making the same face when he was about to beg her to let him mount that rescue mission.

"Well, I certainly won't force you to say it, but if you want to, I'm all ears. Maybe I could help."

Kido couldn't shake the feeling that Mikasa was already aware of what was troubling him, and she simply wanted him to open up as a mother would. Maybe she thought it could make it easier for him, and he soon decided that telling her would probably be for the better, and it wouldn't hurt.

"...She's not coming back, isn't she?" Kido whispered after collecting his thoughts.

It probably wasn't a question that needed answering. Deep down, Kido was already resigned to the fact that she did not need to return. The conflict was over, and he knew she was safe—even if they should be separated by that vast distance.

"How would you feel if she's not, son?"

Kido looked up again.

"At the very least, I could say I'm happy she's back at home, safe and sound," he muttered. That thinking would always comfort him to a degree, so he smiled a little. "But often I couldn't help but think…what if she's staying? Or…what if I would never see her again? It's those kinds of thoughts—but I will move on, Mikasa-dono. I just need…time."

"Attachment begets regret; this is a sad truth of this world. I could only hope you wouldn't be caught up in it," Mikasa shook her head before slipping a sealed envelope onto the desk.

"Well, I was about to give you this earlier," she said as Kido looked at the article questioningly.

"And this is…?"

"An invitation; Admiral Roberts of the Allies will be hosting a gathering of sorts in their headquarters at the Imperial Hotel tonight. They wanted me to come. And since you've been my faithful aide throughout the war, I would like you to join me. After all, I'd need someone to drive Hiei and me there."

Kido stared at the envelope for a while. That sounded like a distraction he sorely needed, so he nodded. Mikasa seemed relieved at the reaction.

"Good. Be on time, and wear your best," she said before turning to leave.

"...Before you go, I would like to thank you, Mikasa-dono," Kido told her as she was about to open the door. She looked back and returned the smile.

"No problem."

...----------------...

"It's been a while…Lieutenant Commander," she offered, followed by a slight bow.

"Ye-yeah; um…I…I'm glad you're well," Kido stuttered back.

"It's all thanks to you," she continued, this time softer. "I'm forever grateful."

"Oh, no, it's nothing, really."

She said nothing after that—at first. She glanced aside, one hand covering her lips, which she soon removed to reveal a smile.

The smile was unlike everything he had ever seen from her. Nothing was hidden behind it—no burden, no pain, no fear. Just one so earnest that Kido found himself unable to take his eyes off it, not even when his heart suddenly felt like someone had attached a great weight to it.

"It's all thanks to you that I could smile like this. You showed me I could. I'm not scared anymore, and that's why…"

She paused for a deep breath, and Kido took the chance to do the same, though the act had little effect on him.

"…Could we share a dance?"

...----------------...

It was an utterly surreal feeling for him to follow Helena's lead and take the floor with her just like that after accepting her invitation without thinking. He didn't even notice an intoxicated Mikasa leading a flustered Hiei along after she had failed to find a willing partner.

Helena was not the most graceful dancer, but her sure steps assured him she wouldn't embarrass them both by stumbling anytime soon. Kido did his utmost not to either as he moved along with her, with what little he knew about western dances.

Never once did her content smile falter, no matter how red she was. Now that she had shown her wonderful, newfound courage, she no longer seemed so small.

"It's wonderful, isn't it? That the conflict is finally over?" Helena murmured as they circled around the floor, ending the silence that had long lingered before as they danced on.

"So much to be done, still—but yeah, the conflict is over, and it's wonderful," replied Kido. Even with that in mind, he laughed along with her.

"I'm glad I could see it," she continued; as she did, Kido found her looking at him intently, and the meaning behind the words immediately dawned on him.

Helena showed no overt reaction to the hands tightening around hers, and Kido could only hope she didn't notice how his eyes began to water.

"...I'm…happy you could," Kido managed. He was indeed happy for her—so much that even if this meeting were short, he would have no regrets. Even if he couldn't say what he truly wanted to say, those words would be enough.

The revelation seemed to have caught Helena by surprise, but soon Kido could hear her relieved sigh.

"Is that…so? I'm glad to be here, then…" she giggled as the music began to wind down, and people were moving away from the floor. Yet she remained there, only smiling as if she was waiting.

It was as if she was saying,

"Take me."

Kido dismissed the thought as wishful thinking. But he stretched out a shaky hand anyway.

The hand stopped shaking the moment she took hold of it.

...----------------...

Kido soon found himself with Helena in the hotel's courtyard. She'd mentioned, just before, of wanting to be outside for a moment, which he readily obliged to.

There was nobody there but them. Kido found the quiet a welcome change from all the din—judging from Helena's serene countenance, he figured she felt the same.

Lights were few and far between, but the moonlit sky, and its constellations, were more than enough to make up for it.

Looking up, Kido saw that the moon was beautiful, and he couldn't help but wonder—if he mentioned it, would she catch on to the words' other meaning as well?

Ultimately, he decided against it, even after he convinced himself she most likely won't. Some things are better left unsaid, after all.

"So bright…"

"Yeah, it is."

"And the moon…is beautiful, isn't it?"

Kido couldn't quite hold back his laughter over that remark. That was what he had thought of saying, spoken without any hidden meaning behind them.

"Lieutenant Commander?"

"It's nothing," Kido told her when he noticed his laugh had left Helena bewildered, "you're right. It is indeed beautiful."

"When I was recovering, I couldn't see it. But now…" Helena murmured, eyes shut, "I see a light. A light that won't go away even when I close my eyes like this."

The smile accompanying the words was ethereal. Kido was adamant it wasn't an exaggeration. Had he continued to neglect breathing upon seeing it, he would undoubtedly die. But that was indeed the face of someone who had found something they could hold onto for the rest of their life. Even if they had to be separated again, he would cherish the smile forever.

"And that's…good. I'm glad to hear that, Helena. You're…you're free now. You can begin again. Now you can live without doubts. Without fear…"

"…Not without you."

Kido's entire train of thought, which he had devoted to finding words to encourage her more, came to a complete stop the moment Helena opened her eyes to meet his.

Her gaze, glassy through tears, was resolute despite that. His mind, which had momentarily turned a void, now had become clear through her words as if they were engulfing light.

"Helena…then…will you stay…?"

The last vestiges of his doubt crumbled when she nodded.

"…Did you know? That light…I realize it now…I found it in you. So yes, Lieutenant Commander…I will stay. I want to stay by your side."

Having said that and only receiving a hearty laugh as a response hardly affected Helena. He had always been looking for her happiness; she had realized that long ago. And now, she could tell how overjoyed he was to hear what she had wanted to say for a long time. She had made him happy, too—and it won't be the last time she did so.

"Thank you…Thank you," Kido gasped amid the gradually waning laughter. He was tearing up a little. He decided there was no need to hide them anymore and said what he, too, had wanted to say for a long time.

They soon found themselves in each other's arms, sharing small laughs and tears, affirming their mutual wish—to be connected.

"…Well, I guess this means…it's us who will begin again…from here," Kido finally whispered. He could tell Helena was nodding because her forehead was against his chest before she moved even closer.

"Yes…from here on."