What is love?

Shinoa had never wasted much time trying to answer the age-old question. Ever since she was young, any exposure to this so-called "love" was twisted and warped beyond recognition. No rational human being would define any of her experiences as showcasing true love.

Love didn't exist in her family. In fact, their shared heritage was the reason why love was lost. The politics and power struggles involved in the Hiiragi family destroyed any sense of kinship; anyone fathered by Tenri was thrust into a turbulent, dog-eat-dog—or sibling-conquer-sibling—world from birth, which hardly left the opportunity for any sweet sentiments to blossom.

What about Mahiru? She did feel a closer bond with her older sister, up until the point that she lost her humanity and left this world. Undoubtedly, the elder girl trusted her little sister more than the others, and she was protective of her. Was that love?

Surely their tie resembled love more closely than Mahiru's relationship with Guren. Her sister called it love, but did Guren reciprocate those feelings with the same intensity? Did both people have to feel the same way for it to be love? Shinoa was young when she played the role of messenger between the two, so some aspects of their relationship had been too mature for her to grasp. She very clearly remembered how she felt about the situation, though: "grown-up love" was confusing.

What about now? Did she know love now? The petite girl turned to glance at her squad, watching as the assembled soldiers laughed around the campfire and argued over leftovers. Her gaze drifted over each of them in turn, but it lingered on one particular raven-haired fool.

Yuichiro Hyakuya came to the Japanese Imperial Demon Army with only one thought on his mind: revenge. Joy and laughter had vanished from his life. Sorrow and bitterness probably hid tucked away, but anger, hatred, and a need for destruction almost entirely motivated his being. He refused to open his heart to love while he mourned the loss of his only family.

For a moment, Shinoa's eyes grew cloudy and her gaze softened. This ruined, hideous world would have been even more pitiful if Yuu had never found hope and given life a second chance. She had never met anyone who was so capable of loving. He happily embraced the entire squad as his family. He always waltzed around with a stupid smile on his face. His reckless behavior led him into sticky situations, but he acted on behalf of others, not just himself. Every now and then, he would even think before leaping into action, making sure to consider how the consequences affected the people who were precious to him.

How could someone as warmhearted as Yuu find it in his heart to love someone like her? Shinoa wasn't sure if she was capable of love, in the true essence of the word, given her upbringing. She'd never known what it was like to care about someone so much until she was tasked with managing this charming bunch of misfits.

Yuichiro must have noticed her out of the corner of his eye, because he turned away from the scraps on Kimizuki's plate to look back at her. Curiously he tilted his head to the side before flashing her a huge, mischievous grin. Mischievous, but pure. He was concerned. He wanted to know if something was bothering her. Much to her surprise, the young girl's heart skipped a beat.

Did she love him? She couldn't answer that question. After all, she still didn't know what love was. Meeting him had changed her life for the better, though. If anyone could teach her about love, whether it was familial, platonic, or romantic, it was him.

'Love… isn't what I feel when I think of you,' she decided, as an image of her corrupt family flashed before her eyes. Shaking her head, she focused on her teammate's face one more, realizing he was still waiting for her to act. The ashen-haired girl stuck her tongue out at him, followed by a sly little smile of her own.

'Love… is what I feel when I think of Yuu.'