Next morning Julia went to Rik's. She had woken up early, restless, as if she expected something happened. For a moment two deep dark eyes flashed in her mind. She quickly dismissed the thought of him. There was no place for romance in her life. She had to take care of her family, then of her studies, to which, she was sure, she would return once the war was over.

As she headed to Rik, the thought of that man returned, she hoped to find him with Rik. When she arrived, Rik was not there, she waited in an out of sight corner. She felt disappointed for a moment. But what was she thinking? That he'd be shown only for her eyes?

She heard voices approaching ... Rik's shuffling lightly (he had been wounded in the leg and had to leave the army), the laugh, that laugh, and a deep voice.

"Finally a decent breakfast… not the SPAM one, which they give us all the time.

"Don't mention it, TC"

Julia wasn't sure she wanted to stop the conversation and she was just leaving when she heard a voice

"Miss Julia… are you leaving? I hope it's not my fault, once again. " said Tom. She wondered how she had seen her

"It's always your fault Lieutenant Tom"

"We took a step forward ... Now, I'm Lt. Tom ... Tomorrow you'll call me Tom and will ask me for a date."

And he laughed

"In your dreams, Morales"

"They would be good dreams!"

"TM, stop bothering the young lady"

"Sorry TC, this is Julia Hayashi, a friend of Rik's, the girl who nearly fainted in the street ..."

"Miss Julia, this is Theo Conrad, TC"

"Nice to meet you Mr Conrad "

"It's my pleasure, Miss Hayashi. Call me TC, please"

"Well, call me Julia or Jules, TC"

"So I'm the only one you don't call by name? Should I feel offended or special? " and he gave her his cocky smile

"You are overconfident. I should kick your butt "

"And you're definitely a cheeky woman, you'd deserved a lesson" and he seemed very serious.

For a moment he blanched and Tom knew he had exaggerated. She didn't know him and didn't know the deep respect he had for everyone, the ideas of equality and compassion that enliven him.

"Kidding! I did not mean to scare you"

"TM, you exaggerated, Julie doesn't know that we are used to collaborating with female soldiers, whom to be honest are much better than us"

"Sorry again"

"No, it's me..I'm feeling strange these days, as if this world has become so uncomfortable to me.

"And who wouldn't happen to? "And he looked at her with that intense gaze, as if he could read inside her

"Well! No more chatter! Rik, do you have it all? " she said as she looked away

"Sure Jules!" He handed her a cassette with everything he had asked for and something more...Is it for Mrs. Hayashi birthday? "

"Yes! How did you figure it out? "

"That or that of your father ... Consider it a gift"

"I can't!"

You must accept it. I owe a lot to you and your parents! "

"Fine, thank you, Rik!"

They were about to say goodbye to each other when they heard a noise coming from behind some boxes. Tom immediately rushed to where he had heard the noise and found a Japanese descent boy, about 16 years old, full of bruises and scared to death.

Seeing the uniform he prepared to take a blow, crouching, instead Tom knelt.

"Dude, look at me… it's all right. Nobody here wants to hurt you. Be calm!"

He slowly looked up and found himself surrounded by 4 adults, with concerned, curious and friendly looks

The boy looked at Tom, who had held out his hand to him with a friendly, kind look ... he wanted to take his hand, but the fear and pain were stronger.

"I'm afraid the guy is afraid of men in uniform ... let me try," said Julia

"Boy, what's your name? I'm Julia and my friends here are Rik, TC and Tom. They won't hurt you. I promise."

"I don't think you can make any promises," said the guy

"You clearly don't know me ..." and for a moment she seemed stronger and more terrible than all those men

"Ok. Ok. I believe you. My name is Akira Makino ... and I know that you are Mr. Hayashi's daughter. I saw you with your parents"

She knew her parents were important in the community, but being the center of attention of

others, reminded her of that.

"Well, if you know who I am, I hope you want to trust me and my friends"

She offered her hand to him and saw his arm swollen, probably fractured ...

"Guys! The boy needs treatment."

"We should go to the hospital," TC said

"No, no, please. They would like to know what happened ... I would end up interned in a camp ... even if I didn't do anything wrong." said loudly

"Okay. Calm down, Akira. Rik, do you have a place we can go to fix his wounds?" Julia said "I can take care of him"

"Sure! Come with me!"

"Julia ... We help you ..." Tom and TC said

"Don't be afraid, Akira"

"I need bandages, gauze, plaster and Tia with her Kale compress for bruises and wounds"

"Tia? The same Hawaiian woman I met yesterday that I told you about?!" TC said to Rik

"She is a Kumu, a wise woman who practise hula and keep safe hawaiian culture, even if she does not think herself in this manner" Rik answered

Rik sent someone to call her. In the meantime they had moved on and reached the offices of an abandoned warehouse. They made him sit on a desk

"Morales ... Tom ... help me hold him down while I mend his fracture," Julia said

"You'll feel bad, bite this" said Tom giving him the only thing he had, a handkerchief

The boy let out a muffled scream, after which Rik arrived with what Julia had asked for and with Tia in tow, who had rushed to the rescue of her friends.

"Tia, thanks for coming"

"They told me you needed me and my compress, and here I am"

"Look who sees himself, TC ... how are you doing?"

"Better Tia, thanks!"

"And who is this handsome young man? Your boyfriend Jules?"

"Tia! Is this really the time? Anyway, no, he's a friend of Rik and TC, we met yesterday for the first time ..."

"I saved your life yesterday, I'm Tom Morales, nice to meet you"

"You stopped me from falling, now don't be the White Knight ..."

"Will you please think about our young friend, instead of arguing, you two," Rik said

Jules finished medicating the boy with the help of Tia.

"You are very competent! Congratulations!" Tom said to Jules

"Before the attack Jules was studying medicine," Rik said

"I had temporarily leave my studies, to stay here with my parents, but as soon as this war is over I will finish my studies"

" I hope this ends soon. I'm sure you'll be a good doctor "

Jules looked amazed at Tom who returned with an intense look full of admiration.

"Thank you," he said, blushing slightly due to the intensity of that gaze.