Yuichiro wasn't fond of mirrors. He knew that there were many that considered him attractive, but all he ever noticed were his flaws. His hair that would never stay in place the way he wanted it to. The bags under his eyes from sleepless nights and daytime worrying. His skin had turned a nice shade of light brown from his time in the sun, which was an improvement from the sickly pale he'd been in the city. But did that make up for the loss of his green eyes, one of his features he'd loved the most?

What Yuichiro always avoided looking at was his stomach. His flat, barren womb. It was a constant reminder of the way his body failed him in the worst way possible.

No, Yuichiro wasn't very fond of mirrors. He was never happy with what he saw.

Yoichi used to tell him about the fabled glow carrying omegas had about them. Yuichiro certainly thought that his friend looked brighter than he normally did while he was pregnant, but Yoichi theorized that it wasn't a physical change so much as the happiness he felt radiating from his face.

"You'll know what I mean, Yuu. It's just a matter of time before you'll feel it too!"

Looking at his reflection now, Yuichiro wondered if there was something wrong with him. Where was the happiness Yoichi had promised him?

He'd rushed back to the canteen after Shinoa's revelation, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he grabbed a pregnancy test from the storage room. There were no omegas in the base, but female betas used them too. They weren't as fertile, but on the off chance that they were pregnant…

Yuichiro had heard that a beta from his course of basic training had been given a dishonorable discharge after finding out that she was expecting.

There was no place for pregnancy in the military. Pregnant people were meant to be protected, not carry the burden of being a protector to anyone but their unborn child.

Yuichiro didn't know what he was hoping when he'd taken the test in the bathroom, but the two pink lines confirmed what Shinoa had already told him.

He was pregnant.

Yuichiro was quick to unbutton his uniform and pull his undershirt off in order to study his stomach. It didn't look any different from what he always saw in the mirror, but he knew that there was something in there. Something he'd been waiting for his whole life.

Yet all he could feel was dread.

How was it possible? He'd tried to conceive so many times, under the best conditions the facility could offer. He'd almost been killed for failing. This wasn't…this wasn't supposed to happen. It didn't make sense.

Yuichiro carefully placed his hands over his stomach and his mouth twisted in a bitter smile. He'd dreamed about this moment for so, so long. With how screwed up his life was, it was perfectly fitting that he'd finally conceive at the worst possible time. Just when he thought things might be looking up, fate just had to knock him up while he was in the one place that being pregnant would put everyone he loved in danger.

…what would Mikaela say?

"Ryuu? Are you in there?"

Yuichiro froze. Makoto knocked on the door and called his name again.

"I-yeah," Yuichiro's voice cracked. He hadn't said a word since running out of Goshi's office and his throat was dry. "I'll be out in a minute."

"…are you okay?"

Yuichiro frantically looked around the room, looking for a place to hide the pregnancy test. He couldn't flush it down the toilet and the garbage can didn't have a lid. Maybe he was being paranoid, but he couldn't risk any of his roommates seeing it.

"I'm fine!" Yuichiro snapped as he wrapped the stick in a wad of tissues and stuck it in his pocket. It was gross, but he couldn't think of a better place if Makoto was going to be coming in. He quickly washed his hands and grabbed his discarded clothes before opening the door. Yuichiro expected to be greeted with an impatient frown.

The way Makoto looked at him wasn't exactly impatient, though. There was the typical irritation they always shared for one another, but there was underlying worry in his expression that made Yuichiro pause.

"Did something happen?" Makoto asked, voice gruff as he took a step back to allow Yuichiro to pass. Yuichiro shrugged and crossed the room, setting his uniform on Chess's bed. She'd kill him if she knew that he liked using her bed when he got dressed or needed to sit. He liked to think that it was his revenge for getting top bunk.

"I saw you running up the stairs, you know."

Yuichiro snorted and pulled his undershirt over his head. "Maybe I just felt like stretching my legs."

Makoto watched him critically. "You looked like you were going to cry."

Yuichiro met his friend's gaze and held it for a moment before sitting down on the bed with a long-suffering sigh.

"Why does every little thing I do make you so suspicious?"

Makoto crossed his arms and leaned back against the bathroom door. "You always seem to be involved in something. And if I don't ask, you aren't going to tell."

There was a sharp reply waiting impatiently on his tongue but Yuichiro bit it back. When they first met he wouldn't have hesitated to tell Makoto to mind his own business and even get in a fight, but now…

They were friends, weren't they? Hadn't he just promised himself to trust his friends more? If Makoto was in trouble, he'd expect the beta to come to him for help. Why couldn't he do the same?

Makoto was right, though. He always did seem to be involved in one intrigue or the other. If he was his own friend he'd probably be rolling his eyes at all the drama he attracted. Who wanted to help someone who was always getting into trouble?

"…I'm sorry," Yuichiro said quietly, looking down at his boots. "I don't want to be a burden."

He didn't look up as Makoto pushed away from the door and walked over to the bed, settling down next to him. There was an uncertain hand on his shoulder and it felt strange but Yuichiro appreciated the gesture nonetheless.

"You're loud and annoying, but I wouldn't call you a burden," Makoto offered. Despite the dubious compliment, Yuichiro found himself smiling.

But when he raised his head and turned to look at Makoto, the beta didn't return the smile. He looked startled.

"Shit, Ryuu, I'm just teasing. I didn't mean to—"

"What are you talking about?" Yuichiro's brows furrowed, but the way his vision wavered was just as much of a telltale sign as the sudden wetness rolling down his cheeks.

He was crying.

Yuichiro raised his hand and stubbornly rubbed the tears away as Makoto looked at him with open concern. He hated this- this weakness that ate away at everything he had. His failings marred his past and were going to rob him of his future if he didn't do something soon. His pride should be the least of his worries, but he couldn't help but resent how vulnerable he felt. How he hated the pity in Makoto's eyes.

Maybe the first step was acknowledging it. All of it.

"…I'm scared," Yuichiro admitted, his voice a low whisper. His eyes burned. "I'm scared, and I don't know what to do."

The hand on his shoulder tightened its grip.

"Is it Commander Shindo?"

Makoto's words were short and clipped and Yuichiro's eyes widened at the hardened expression on the beta's face. He narrowed his eyes when Yuichiro didn't immediately answer.

"That sonofabitch," Makoto swore and stood up. "I knew he couldn't be trusted! What did he do?"

"Nothing! He didn't do anything!" Yuichiro scrambled to his feet as well. "It's not him, Makoto."

"You don't need to protect him!"

"I'm not!" Yuichiro insisted as he grabbed the beta's arm. "I'm serious! He has nothing to do with it!"

Well, that wasn't very true, was it?

"Not…not directly. I mean, it is rather direct but I swear he isn't the actual problem—"

Makoto cleared his throat.

"You're rambling, Ryuu. Just tell me."

Yuichiro bit his lip. He could still take it all back or make something up. He still had the chance to keep his secret to himself. Did he even trust Makoto with something like this?

Looking into the beta's eyes, he realized with a start that yes. Yes, he did.

"I'm pregnant."

A beat of silence. Makoto's face, which had been scrunched up in confusion, stretched in a large smile.

"Hah hah, very funny. Now tell me what's wrong."

Yuichiro pursed his lips and repeated himself.

"I'm pregnant."

Makoto shook his head. "Look, if you don't want to tell me, you don't need to lie. Just say that you want me to back off and I will."

"I'm not lying!" Yuichiro snapped. He dug his hand into his pocket and pulled out the pregnancy test, still partially wrapped in tissue paper. He held it out for Makoto to see the twin lines himself.

Makoto wrinkled his nose. "I don't know where you got that, but the joke's starting to get old. I was just trying to help you!"

"For the last time, this isn't a joke! If you want to help me you can start by taking me seriously!"

"How can I take this seriously?" Makoto huffed, raising a skeptical brow. "The only way you're pregnant is if you're an—"

"Omega," Yuichiro said quietly.

"But that's not possible," Makoto interjected.

Yuichiro didn't say anything. He gave the beta a tired smile and sat back down on the bed.

Makoto's face paled.

"…shit."

Makoto remained silent as the words tumbled from Yuichiro's mouth, slow and deliberate. Yuichiro tried not to look at the beta as he told his story, but every now and then he'd glance up and catch one of his reactions. Anger, fear, confusion. Yuichiro thought that it would be difficult to open up like this and to share what was becoming a series of rather unfortunate event, but he'd been wrong.

The words came easy, flowing seamlessly one after the other as he challenged what Makoto knew to be a flawless system. He'd been cautious at first when he mentioned how Shiho had told him that he was scheduled to be euthanized. Yuichiro prepared for the beta interrupting him and denying that the Board was capable of such a thing.

That never happened, though. Makoto was the picture of an attentive listener and by the time Yuichiro was done, his friend was sitting on Shusaku's bed opposite him. His hands were clasped on his lap and he was staring ahead unseeingly.

"…and that's it," Yuichiro lamely finished, stashing the pregnancy test back in his pocket. He offered Makoto a nervous smile. He'd never verbalized his story like that and it felt rather…liberating. Sure, he'd shared the very beginning with Shinoa, but a lot had happened since he'd told her. What was nice about being with Mikaela was that he didn't need to be told- he was a part of it all. He simply knew.

But this…this was nice, too. Now he could only hope that he'd been right to trust.

"I want to be mad," Makoto finally spoke up. His eyes focused and he met Yuichiro's gaze unflinchingly. "I want to be angry with you for not telling me sooner. But honestly? I probably would've done the same thing."

Yuichiro blinked.

"I mean, yeah, I wish you'd trusted me with all of this earlier on and that I could've helped you with a bunch of stuff but that's on me, isn't it? You can't just force someone to open up to you. I guess I'm just glad that you're doing it now."

No, no. That wouldn't do. The last thing Yuichiro had meant to do when telling his story was to make his friend feel like he'd failed him somehow. Jaw set, he stood up and went to grab Makoto's hand. The beta offered no resistance when he was pulled to his feet.

"It had nothing to do with you," Yuichiro insisted. He didn't need to be gentle with his words around Makoto and that was one of the things he liked the most about his friendship with the beta. They could insult each other as much as they wanted as long as they got their point across.

"It's me, okay? I'm paranoid. The only reason I even told Shinoa was because she overheard me and Mikaela. If I had my way I'd never tell anyone. But now…I'm stuck. And I'm scared."

Makoto's eyes briefly wandered down to Yuichiro's stomach before grimacing.

"You're really pregnant, huh?"

Yuichiro let go of the beta's hand and nodded.

Makoto gave a low whistle and squeezed his shoulder.

"Well, at least you've got people to help you now. You aren't alone anymore. Speaking of which, have you told the sire yet?"

Yuichiro was just starting to cheer up when Makoto mentioned Mikaela. His eyes grew wide with the realization that he still needed to tell him

Makoto lowered his hand with a smirk.

"Sharing the news with your friends before your mate? That's harsh, buddy."

"Shut up! It's not like it was intentional! You were just in my way!"

Makoto laughed and started towards the door.

"Wait! Makoto?"

The beta paused and turned.

"Yes?"

"Please…"

Makoto's expression softened. "Hey, relax. I won't tell. I've got you covered."

Yuichiro smiled ruefully and nodded. Maybe one day he'd be able to come clean to everyone. But for now…for now he was taking it all step by step. Opening up like this was taking its toll and he felt rather drained.

He'd tell Mikaela tomorrow.

.x.

Yuichiro knew that no one could scent his pregnancy at such an early stage unless they were intimately close, but that didn't stop him from dousing himself with some of Shusaku's cologne. It wasn't exactly his style but he vowed to find a scent he could wear every day until he figured out what to do. No amount of artificial scent would help once his pregnancy reached its second trimester but for now it helped ease his anxieties.

There was nothing he'd rather do than lock himself up in some room until he gave birth, but since that wasn't an option, Yuichiro would have to brave the outside world. For now that meant taking the base's local bus line to the farthest edge where the new recruits were trained.

To see Mikaela.

Yuichiro had told the alpha that he wouldn't be visiting him but well, this was something that couldn't wait. At least that's what he told himself when he got off the bus and looked at the familiar gate to the training grounds.

He hadn't been back there since his own training had ended. Yuichiro timed his visit so that everyone would be in the rec hall eating lunch when he arrived. He didn't want to draw any unneeded attention and Yuichiro knew from experience that new recruits gawked at anything new and unfamiliar.

He really didn't want hundreds of eyes watching him as he made his way to the offices.

A wave of nostalgia hit him as he passed by the tents. How many nights had he spent in that large one over there, wishing he had more hours to sleep? And the showers- shit, those were really gross. He'd never forget his mortification at being caught fighting naked with Makoto that first night.

His mind helpfully supplemented that the one who'd caught them was Lacus and Yuichiro had to forcefully push those memories away. His squad commander was in most of his memories of basic training and his actions had soured each and every one of them.

Yuichiro bit his lip. Lacus's lasting damage went far beyond unwanted advances and threats.

By the time Yuichiro reached Mikaela's office he decided not to let Lacus continue to ruin his life. This moment belonged to him and Mikaela alone. No looming shadow had the right to take it away from him.

He knocked on the door a couple of times but there was no answer. When he tried the handle the door opened and Yuichiro let himself in. He was surprised that Mikaela hadn't locked it, but maybe he didn't have anything worth hiding in there.

The office looked exactly like it did the last time Yuichiro was in there. At the time he'd been a nervous wreck pretending to be a clueless beta. He'd sat down in that chair next to Mikaela's desk and denied that he had any relation to the commander's omega.

Yuichiro wore a wry smile as he sat down in Mikaela's chair, opposite from where he'd been told to sit all those months ago. From refusing to admit that he was Mikaela's omega to telling him that he was carrying his child. How the tables had turned.

Growing a little bored of swiveling around in the chair, Yuichiro decided to do some snooping to pass the time. He gave a cursory sweep of the desktop and aside from a list of names, Yuichiro found nothing very interesting. He read the list of who he assumed to be the new recruits to see if he recognized any of them, but none stood out to him. It was a little disappointing but Yuichiro conceded that it was probably for the best.

The next place he searched were the drawers. The last time he opened Mikaela's drawers in his apartment he found a photo of the alpha and his previous omega. Yuichiro wasn't so sure if he wanted to see the deceased omega again and considered leaving the drawers alone, but his curiosity got the better of him.

The first drawer was full of office supplies- the usual pens, staples and sticky notes. Yuichiro shrugged and tried the second drawer. This one had a few documents and Yuichiro pulled them out to get a better look. While he moved them to the desktop, however, something small and colorful fell to the floor.

Yuichiro leaned down and picked up what turned to be a photograph. At first glance he thought he had stumbled upon yet another photo of Kota, but as he took a closer look he realized with a start that the boy in the picture was him.

He hadn't posed for any photos recently, but judging by the state of his uniform and the other soldiers around him, the snapshot was taken during basic training. It wasn't a very flattering photo, to be honest- his hair was a mess and there was dirt all over him. The shot wasn't good either, taken on the sly from an awkward angle.

But his smile was visible as he was bandaging Shinoa's arm in what had to be one of their first aid sessions. The photo had crease marks where it had been folded and the left corner was torn. Yuichiro could only guess at how many times Mikaela had held it.

It was silly of him to be embarrassed- Mikaela was his mate, after all. But Yuichiro couldn't help the pleased flush at the thought of the alpha keeping a picture of him in his desk. He made a mental note to pose for a proper photo that Mikaela could keep lying around if he insisted on having one.

Maybe he'd even get one of Mikaela for himself.

"Yuu?"

Yuichiro looked up from the photo to find the alpha standing in the doorway, wide blue eyes staring at him from across the room. He offered Mikaela a wide smile as he waved the photo, beckoning him closer.

"Surprise inspection! I never knew you were so sentimental, Mika."

The alpha closed the door behind him and approached the desk, setting his weapon down on the chair and leaning forward with his arm raised. Yuichiro was certain Mikaela was trying to snatch away the photograph, but the alpha's fingers circled around his wrist instead and pulled him closer. He closed his eyes as Mikaela pressed their lips together in a fleeting kiss.

By the time they pulled back, the photograph was no longer in his hand.

"You cheated!" Yuichiro gasped, reaching up to try and take it back. But no matter how far he stretched, Mikaela held it just out of his reach. "You're playing dirty!"

"I'm not the one who broke into an office," Mikaela said with a smug smile as he tucked the photo in his breast pocket. He chuckled as Yuichiro sat back down in his chair with a dark look.

"I didn't break in. You left the door open."

Mikaela shrugged and seated himself on the edge of the desk.

"Details. Now, to what do I owe this pleasure? I didn't think I'd see you this week."

It took Yuichiro a moment to realize that he was smiling again. He was happy. It felt like he hadn't been so giddy in a very long time. Maybe it was because the handsome alpha sitting in front of him was his. Or maybe it was their bond relishing their physical proximity.

Perhaps it was his pregnancy, making him feel safe and cared for now that he was near his child's sire.

In the end, the reason didn't matter. What was important was that Mikaela was finally there, with him.

"I missed you," Yuichiro admitted, curling up in the chair. Mikaela practically glowed as he stood up and circled the desk, opening his arms in invitation. Yuichiro didn't think twice as he scrambled out the chair and into Mikaela's hug.

Mikaela's arms closed around him in a snug embrace and he pressed his lips to Yuichiro's brow. "I missed you too," he murmured, squeezing him. Yuichiro returned the hug as good as he got.

Being in his alpha's arms made all of his worries fade away.

"There's something I need to tell you."

Mikaela's grasp loosened and he stepped back, arms still around Yuichiro's waist. With a mischievous grin he turned them around and sat down in the chair all while dragging Yuichiro along. He pulled Yuichiro into his lap as if he weighed nothing more than a sack of flour.

Yuichiro shouldn't have been so surprised, though. After the heats they spent together, he was very much aware of the raw strength his alpha possessed that allowed him to take Yuichiro in rather…creative positions.

Yuichiro wrapped his arms around Mikaela's neck and shifted so that he was seated comfortably. With Mikaela's firm chest in front of him and his hands supporting him from behind, Yuichiro felt safe.

"There. Now that we're settled, what did you want to tell me?"

Yuichiro paused. He'd thought of many different ways to tell Mikaela, but now that they were face to face, he wasn't so sure how he wanted to go about it.

"Yuu…?"

"Have you been feeding enough?" Yuichiro cut him off abruptly, settling on a more roundabout way to deliver the news.

Mikaela's gaze immediately dropped to Yuichiro's throat. That told Yuichiro everything he needed to know.

"Just because I'm here doesn't mean that you can't feed from the blood donations," Yuichiro chastised as he unbuttoned his collar. "You don't have to limit yourself to feeding only when we're together."

He was ignoring the obvious and his words were a clear directive to Mikaela not to mention the other omega he probably fed from waiting for him in the city. They'd never really addressed the nameless omega and Yuichiro had no intention to bring them up right then.

Fortunately, Mikaela took the hint.

Yuichiro tilted his head back and dug his fingers into Mikaela's hair as the alpha nuzzled his neck.

"There are unassigned alphas who need them more than me," Mikaela's words tickled his skin. "Besides, the only blood I crave now is yours. No one else even comes close."

Yuichiro's cheeks flared as Mikaela dragged his tongue up the column of his throat before sinking his fangs into his skin. He gasped at the prickle of pain and waited for the pleasure to wash it away.

Losing track of time was a common side effect to feeding. Both alphas and omegas were known to lose grasp of reality as they were connected in such a primal way. In fact, it was one of the reasons the Board used to explain the use of the suppressants they mandated during heats. The couple could not be trusted to know when enough was enough.

It took an experienced alpha with discipline to tell when he'd had his fill and to pull away. Mikaela fed from him multiple times since they'd mated but that didn't make the act any less intimate. Any less risky.

Yuichiro used to think that the best way to go was through a feeding while the endorphins clouded your mind as you faded into darkness. After his near death experience with Lacus, however, Yuichiro decided that being fed on wasn't the best way to spend your last moments.

He couldn't be sure how much time had really passed, but Yuichiro felt that it was distinctively shorter than usual. As he blinked through his haze he realized that Mikaela's now-red eyes were openly staring at him.

Oh, yeah.

"Is it true?" Mikaela's grip tightened. It was a silly question as Yuichiro's blood was more of a guarantee than any of his words, but Yuichiro acknowledged the alpha's need for a verbal confirmation with a cautious smile.

"I'm pregnant."

Yuichiro caught the stricken expression on Mikaela's face before he was pressed against the alpha's chest in a smothering embrace. He didn't know what to make of it as he nervously waited for Mikaela to speak.

Mikaela's arms trembled.

"I-I don't understand," he finally found his voice. "I thought you couldn't…?"

"I thought so too," Yuichiro said quietly, taking a deep breath and scenting Mikaela's panic. He'd been prepared for it but it still hurt nonetheless. "I guess the Board was wrong."

"It doesn't make sense…"

As Mikaela's grip weakened, Yuichiro used the opportunity to pull away and reach out to hold Mikaela's face between his palms. The alpha was pale and he looked at him with such fear that it made Yuichiro's heart ache.

"You don't want it?"

It was a question Yuichiro never thought he'd ask but then again, he never thought he'd be in this kind of situation in the first place. His past self would sooner lock him up than let him entertain the idea of ending his pregnancy but things were different now. He didn't have the luxury to carry.

As much as it pained him to think about it, If Mikaela wasn't going to be there to support him through it all, Yuichiro didn't think he'd be able to do it on his own.

His question seemed to catch Mikaela unawares and he blinked, startled. The alpha's face regained some of its color as he leaned forward to press their foreheads together. Yuichiro's breath hitched as Mikaela's fingers wrapped around his wrists.

"God, no. There's nothing I want more than to have a family with you. I love you and I'll love our child just as much."

Mikaela's declaration made Yuichiro feel lighter than he'd felt for days. He couldn't help the large grin that stretched across his face. Mikaela's next words helped ground him.

"If the baby hurts you, though…"

Pain flashed in Mikaela's eyes and Yuichiro flinched. He could feel the distress oozing from his alpha.

He wasn't the best at comforting people, but Yuichiro hoped that their biology would at least help a bit as he nuzzled Mikaela's cheek.

"I'm not Kota," he reminded Mikaela, steady and firm. He couldn't show a shred of doubt. "And there's no reason to think that something will go wrong. Just because it happened once doesn't mean that it will happen again. I want this child. Do you understand?"

Yuichiro's words were meant to reassure Mikaela, but as they tumbled out, Yuichiro realized that he meant them. He'd been shocked and scared and hadn't wanted to become attached to the person only just starting to grow inside him, but…fuck.

He wanted it. He wanted to have this baby. He wanted Mikaela's baby.

It could have been their bond, but Yuichiro liked to believe that it was his words that made Mikaela pull back and meet his gaze, looking the most somber Yuichiro had ever seen him.

"I understand."

As soon as he said it, Mikaela's expression brightened into a warm, hopeful smile that made Yuichiro's chest constrict in the best of ways.

"I can't believe it," he whispered as he placed his hand on Yuichiro's stomach. There was still something reserved about his happiness, but it was more than enough to soothe Yuichiro's doubts for now.

Yuichiro lowered his hands to Mikaela's shoulders and returned the smile.

"Looking forward to being a father?"

The watery smile Yuichiro got took his breath away, just as much as the kiss that followed.

"You have no idea."

.x.

The first month passed before Yuichiro had the time to sit down and really think about the changes his body was preparing to go through. The only difference he saw in the mirror was his neck clearly marked for everyone to see now that he and Mikaela weren't a secret anymore. Yuichiro still wasn't sure how he felt about the purple bruises. Sure, it was nice to know that his alpha cared for him, but did everyone else need to know just how much?

His irrational side, the one Yuichiro was now associating with the pregnancy despite it always having been there, said yes.

The memories that came with the bite marks made them just about tolerable when he caught his customers staring and when his friends made lewd comments.

Shinoa had been the first to point them out and Yuichiro had to wait and see if Makoto would follow. They hadn't really spoken privately since his big reveal and Yuichiro noticed that the beta made a point to look away when they were getting dressed in the morning. He still teased him, but Yuichiro noted the way his vocabulary had grown a bit…tamer. There was something different in the way he looked at him and Yuichiro had no choice but to get used to it.

He supposed that he couldn't expect to be treated the exact same way as he was used to. Not now that Makoto knew that he was an omega. A pregnant one, at that.

To his delight (and chagrin), Makoto eventually joined in on Shinoa's racy speculations. Maybe he realized that Yuichiro was the same as he'd always been, beta or omega, but Yuichiro wasn't about to go and ask. He didn't want to make things more awkward than they needed to be.

Especially when he needed all the support he could get. With Mikaela summoned back to the city for his scheduled visit with the other omega (or the Decoy, as Yuichiro liked to call them), his friends were all he had to keep him from sulking in bed all day.

The bond made their separation all the more painful.

"Why the long face, Ryuu?"

Yuichiro turned to look at Shusaku.

"I'm bored," Yuichiro said. It wasn't really why he was so glum, but he hadn't been lying either.

The afternoon in the canteen was slow during lunch hour when the soldiers had to be in the mess hall. Yuichiro wasn't particularly sure why they were open at all, but he knew better than to ask Shinya. His officer wasn't the one who made the rules when it came to opening hours. He had better luck asking Goshi, and that wasn't about to happen in a million years.

With a pang of guilt Yuichiro realized that in the heat of things he forgot to ask Mikaela about assigning Goshi an additional helper to keep Shinoa company. The current troop in basic training weren't due to finish for another two weeks, though, so he still had some time. Yuichiro needed to write it down.

He leaned back against the counter and sighed. "Need some help?"

Shusaku shook his head from where he was crouching in front of the bottom shelves. Restocking was a pain and Yuichiro had no real desire to organize deodorants on a shelf, but it was better than just standing around.

"No, I'm good. But cheer up! We finally got that chocolate shipment from last week!"

"Really?" Yuichiro perked up. They'd ran out of chocolate bars the previous week and aside from being deprived his favorite sweet, it was tiring explaining to patron after patron that it wasn't their fault that the shipment had yet to arrive.

A new shipment meant even more sorting and stocking, though.

"I guess I'll go out back and get—"

The rest of Yuichiro's sentence was cut off by the sound of a siren piercing the afternoon lull. The sound was grating and Yuichiro's first instinct was to cover his ears. The panic that it stirred made him lower them to be able to hear what was going on.

Shusaku quickly stood up and they looked at each other, mirroring their confusion. What was happening? Where they supposed to do something? Did they need to go somewhere?

Shinya ran into the room. His face was shockingly pale and the frown he wore made Yuichiro want to place a hand protectively on his stomach. If the usually easygoing Shinya was troubled then something had to be wrong.

"Both of you go to the storage room immediately and lock the doors," Shinya barked. He was carrying his gun.

"Wait, do you know what's going on?" Yuichiro demanded, ignoring the way Shusaku was trying to follow their orders and pull him back.

"I don't," Shinya said, his lips pressed in a thin line. "There weren't any drills scheduled for today."

A shiver ran up Yuichiro's spine. That didn't sound good.

"Ryuu, c'mon!"

He started to let Shusaku drag him away when he realized that Shinya wasn't with them. His officer was going in the opposite direction, towards the door. Yuichiro came to a full stop.

"Where are you going?!"

"I'm going out to investigate," Shinya snapped over his shoulder.

Yuichiro ran after him. "You can't go out there alone!"

Shinya paused and turned around.

"You aren't coming with me," he stated. "I need to find Chess and Makoto. Go back with Shusaku and don't let anyone in."

"But—"

"That's an order, Ryuu!"

Yuichiro was saved the need to reply when the door burst open. Shinya immediately jumped in front of him and cocked his gun, but he lowered it as soon as he saw who it was.

"Guren?"

The alpha was covered in dirt and was supporting another soldier, his arm draped over Guren's shoulders. The soldier, a beta Yuichiro didn't recognize was unconscious and his thigh was covered with something red.

With a sickening feeling, he realized that it was blood.

Shusaku ran to them with a first aid kit and helped Guren set the man down on the floor. The moment Guren stood up Shinya grabbed his arm.

"Guren, what the hell—"

"We're under attack," the alpha said shortly, shaking Shinya off and watching as Shusaku was busy sterilizing the wound. Yuichiro blocked out the rest of their anxious conversation as his mind collaborated the yelling and screaming outside with the recent piece of news.

This time, when his hands went automatically to his stomach, he didn't bother lowering them. No one was looking at him anyway.

The siren was still blaring.