Please note, the YuuNoa and MikaYuu are implied.
(Actually it's more implied that Yuu loved both them? Nah)

It's the end of the battle. Everything is in ruin.

And Yuu is dying. Mika can only cry, holding onto him and keep on calling, "Yuu-chan…" in a broken voice.

Yuu turns his head to his squad, his trembling fingers reaching at Shinoa's and begging her to promise him that she will take care of Mika, because Shinoa is the one Yuu trusts the most.

"Please keep on living."

It was the last thing Yuu can say to his family. His fingers stop caressing Mika's hair.

Shinoa tries her best to keep her promise, to take care of Mika even though it's hard because she also lost her important person, and day by day Mika seems not getting better, he keeps on grieving.

Still, she can't give up.

Mika lost everyone, and her squad lost their family. Grieving as they are, they have the same connection, Yuu, and Shinoa believes they'll become a family someday.

It takes years, rejection after rejection, for Mika to finally open up to her.

They're healing. Kimizuki, Yoichi, and Mitsuba try their best to lighten up Mika, and sometimes, Shinoa can see a sliver of smile on his face when looking at their amusing antics.

She knows, Mika's smiles are still rare, not as bright as when he was with Yuu.

However, she can see why Yuu tried so hard to save him. At the shadow of smile on his face, at his restrained laugh, at his intense eyes when he looks at the world.

Sometimes, Mika will just sit with her, looking at the dusk on the rooftop in companionable silence.

One day, it's hard to look at Mika and tries to remember her promise.

She never forgets Yuu, not even a day by and she still remembers his laugh, his tenacity to protect.

But now, she knows that it's not her promise to Yuu that makes her heart rate elevate whenever Mika smiles at her.

She also knows it's not because Mika's promise to keep on living when he cooks for her.

One time their hands brush and it feels different from every time they help each other to their feet, or when Mika tries to stop Shinoa from burning the kitchen.

Gradually, it was easier to hold hands and keep their nightmares at bay.

It was on the afternoon, a concerned Mitsuba is slurping on her smoothies when she asks, "You know, usually a sulking Mika come to me once a month to drink blood. I asked Kimizuki and Yoichi too, and they said Mika also didn't come to them. Do you know what happens? Is he feeling well?"

Shinoa blinks, "Oh."

She remembered, rooftops in the evenings, and Mika's eyes on her. Those red, beautiful eyes of his.

Is it only her or it keeps getting heated here?

Mitsuba's jaws dropped open. Her empty glass fell on the floor. "What the hell Shinoa? Why are you blushing? Oi, get back here!"

Her feet keep pounding on the pavement. Her heartbeat uneven. She opens the door to the rooftop and the he is, his blond hair is striking in the dusk.

Those blood red eyes of his catch her eyes, "Shinoa?"

Her trembling fingers leave the door handle. She can't feel her feet but they are walking nearer to the sight of small quirks on his lips.

"Are you," Her hands clench. "Are you with me now?"

He said softly, "Yes."

And there it is, the smile she's been waiting for.

They used to hold hands to keep their nightmares at bay, but now it wouldn't be the same.

At dusk, they are holding hands, as a husband and wife.