Phantoms

"Ne, dai-senpai."

"Hm..?"

"Did you just wrinkle your nose?"

Now that's surprising, Mikasa thought as she sniffled and rubbed her nose. Zuikaku, of all people, didn't strike her as the most observant type, but perhaps she was mistaken.

"Ah, so you noticed, hm? It's not like I could help it..."

Relieved that Mikasa took the question she blurted out without thinking well, Zuikaku went on.

"Sorry. It's just a coincidence...if I may ask—why did you do that? There's nothing stinky around here, isn't it?" Zuikaku inquired. As far as she could tell, there were only blooming flowers there.

"You see, my dear, I've lived through so many battles, and there would be no way they wouldn't affect you somehow."

Zuikaku nodded. To any warrior, that would be an unbreakable truth. There would always be phantoms lurking behind and refusing to go even when the dust of conflict had long settled. And Mikasa, the great veteran who had lived and fought much longer than any of them—she would be no exception. She would know it all too well.

"You know, many times I could still smell them...the gunpowder," Mikasa inhaled the spring air. What should've been a pleasant scent quickly became that of acrid sulfur and charcoal, unnatural and metallic. Sometimes, they would mingle with that of brine or the charred flesh—of her own and her fallen comrades. At least this time, they didn't.

Shaking her head, she smiled when she noticed Zuikaku had become worried.

"It's alright. I can live with this so long as there is peace. A small price to pay, if I may add," she said, rubbing her nose again. It was easier to bear than being haunted by screams and blazing guns or the specters of the dead.

She didn't expect to find Zuikaku bowing at her as soon as she finished speaking.

"I, I didn't know before. But now that I know, I just want to say...it is truly an honor to have fought alongside you!"

Mikasa shook her head and chuckled.

"Don't say it as if I'm the only one to be haunted by these ghosts," she whispered, hands cupping Zuikaku's face. "We're all kindred spirits...so the honor is also mine. And...just as I have opened myself up to you...I hope you would do the same, should you need it."

Zuikaku looked up, and Mikasa could see the hopeful glint in her eyes.

"...Then, if it's alright, may...may I borrow your shoulder for a while?"

"Of course. Be my guest," replied Mikasa as she pulled the girl into a hug. Around her, the fragrance of flowers settled in.