Maria cracked her eyes open and shielded them away from the sunlight. She glanced around the room and realized she had fallen asleep with Canaan on the couch. The mercenary's arm was still wrapped around her shoulder, and the blonde smiled. Canaan looks so cute when she's asleep.

The blonde quietly slipped out of the embrace. She brushed the mercenary's silver hair and bent over to kiss her cheek. Maria turned away to leave, but a hand gently grabbed hers.

"Maria?" Canaan asked tiredly.

The blonde turned to face her. "Good morning, Canaan," Maria greeted with a beaming face. "I didn't expect you to wake up."

The mercenary smiled. "I just woke up. Where were you going before?"

"The bathroom. I was going to shower and get dressed."

"Oh." Canaan released her grasp.

She probably thought I was going to leave her. "You can shower right after I'm done. I'll leave you some clothes in the bathroom."

"Thanks."

After Maria left, Canaan glanced down at her clothes. She realized she wore the same clothes since she arrived in Japan. I hope I didn't smell like Sham.

Canaan stepped out of the bathroom and was freshly dressed in a loose, camouflage t-shirt and black pants. The clothes fitted nicely and were comfortable enough to move around in. And they smell sweet like Maria. The mercenary stopped her train of thought and sniffed the air. Is that rice? She followed the scent to the kitchen.

Maria was seated on the floor by a low table with bowls of food. A wide smile immediately crept into her face when she spotted the mercenary.

"Canaan! I made breakfast."

Canaan sat down across the blonde. Her eyes widened as she gazed down at the bowl of steamed rice, natto, and delicious miso soup. "Did you make this all by yourself?"

Maria nodded timidly. "I like to cook, but I love baking the most," she replied as she picked up the sticky soybeans with her chopstick. "How about you?"

The mercenary made a funny face as the spoon of steaming soup touched her lips. "I can't cook anything, except cabbage soup which Sh—" I shouldn't tell her about Sham, "…my friend taught me."

How come she never told me about her friend? "What is your friend like?" Maria asked curiously.

"He's more like a father to me actually. He raised me when my family was killed."

"I'm so sorry… Canaan."

"Maria, don't worry. It was a long time ago."

"You still have your friend, right?" Maria asked with a tint of hope in her eyes. "I wish I could meet him."

The mercenary placed the spoon down and glanced at the blonde expressionlessly. "He's dead."

Maria glanced down at her bowl of rice uneasily. Why do I keep bringing up awkward questions? I shouldn't ask Canaan about her past. She went through so much sadness, yet she speaks of them with indifference. I wonder Canaan is hiding her true feelings.

Canaan stuffed the natto in her mouth."Sugoi," she exclaimed changing the tone of the conversation.

Maria looked up at the mercenary.

Canaan grinned at her. "I haven't heard you say that for a while."

The blonde smiled and stuck her tongue at the mercenary. "That's what Mino said." Mino! I have to call him today. An idea appeared. "Hey Canaan, let's hang out with Mino and Ayame later."

"Sure."