The inn at Ymir, a tranquil evening. Snow fell gently outside, and the warmth of the hearth filled the halls with a cozy glow. Class VII was using the brief downtime to rest and regroup before their next operation.

Laura had been heading back to her room after a quiet dinner when she paused, spotting a familiar figure slouched against the wall further down the hall.

Fie.

The silver-haired girl was fast asleep, her arms loosely crossed, her head tilted awkwardly against the wall. Her small form seemed even smaller like this, and her posture looked anything but comfortable.

Laura stopped, frowning slightly as she approached. Fie's breathing was steady, her chest rising and falling in rhythm. Though she was clearly at ease in her sleep, Laura couldn't help but shake her head with a small smile.

Why here? Laura thought, glancing toward the nearby door. It was their shared room, only a few feet away. She could've been in a proper bed.

For a moment, Laura considered waking her, but something about the peaceful look on Fie's face made her hesitate. She crouched down, brushing a lock of hair out of Fie's face and letting out a soft sigh.

"Well," Laura murmured, glancing at the girl's uncomfortable position again. "I suppose I'll have to intervene."

Carefully, Laura slipped an arm under Fie's knees and another around her back, lifting her as gently as possible. Fie stirred slightly but didn't wake, her head resting against Laura's shoulder.

Laura carried her toward their room, moving quietly through the hall. Though Fie was light, Laura was surprised at how naturally her presence felt nestled in her arms. She glanced down at the sleeping girl, a fond smile creeping onto her lips.

"Honestly, Fie," Laura whispered, her tone teasing. "You could've just gone to bed."

As they approached the room, Fie's eyes fluttered open. At first, she blinked groggily, her expression blank as she tried to process her surroundings. Then, as her gaze focused on Laura's face, her cheeks turned the faintest shade of pink.

"Hey…" Fie mumbled, her voice heavy with sleep. "What's this?"

"You were sleeping in the hallway," Laura explained simply, her tone calm but lightly amused. "It didn't seem comfortable, so I decided to bring you to bed."

"Oh." Fie blinked again, clearly processing Laura's words at half-speed. She tilted her head slightly but made no effort to move. "Thanks, I guess."

Laura chuckled softly. "You're welcome."

Fie shifted slightly in Laura's arms, trying to act as though the situation didn't faze her. "I could've walked, you know," she murmured, but her voice lacked conviction.

"Perhaps," Laura replied, catching the faintest tremor in Fie's tone. She noticed the quickened rhythm of Fie's breathing, subtle but unmistakable, and felt the faint thrum of her heartbeat against her own chest.

She's flustered, Laura realized, her smile softening. How rare.

They reached the room, and Laura gently set Fie down on one of the beds. Fie immediately pulled the blanket over herself, sitting up slightly as if to regain some sense of composure.

Laura reached out, smoothing the blanket over Fie's shoulders. "There. Much better than the hallway, wouldn't you agree?"

Fie shrugged, though the faint pink in her cheeks betrayed her. "Yeah. Sure. It's fine."

Laura's smile deepened. "Good. You should rest properly. We've had a long day, and there's more to come."

Fie glanced up at her, her sleepy green eyes softening as she murmured, "You didn't have to do all that, though."

"Perhaps not," Laura said gently, "but I wanted to."

Fie opened her mouth to respond but stopped, her gaze dropping to the blanket as she muttered, "Thanks."

Laura leaned down slightly, brushing a lock of Fie's silver hair back into place. "Sleep well, Fie," she said softly.

With that, Laura quietly left the room, leaving Fie to drift back into a peaceful sleep, this time in the comfort of a proper bed.