[Hōzuki Mizuki]

As the snowy terrain fell behind them, the tranquil quiet of the winter forest settled back into place, broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot. The earlier chaos now seemed like a distant memory, though Mizuki’s mind replayed the encounter with the trap and Ren’s decision to shield them. A faint smile tugged at their lips as they glanced at him. He carried himself with an ease that seemed to shrug off the danger they’d faced, though Mizuki couldn’t help but feel a flicker of irritation beneath their amusement.

"Maybe this is why your stories are so interesting, you put yourself in harm’s way unnecessarily," Mizuki said, their voice half serious as they scolded him. They paused, their gaze sharpening slightly. "But seriously, Ren, don’t make a habit of throwing yourself into harm's way like that."

Mizuki’s mind wandered briefly to their water-based abilities, the flexibility of their liquid form, and how they could have probably utilized water to deflect the needles. Ren’s actions, while commendable, felt unnecessary. Unfortunately for Ren, he seemed to be unaware of everything that Mizuki could do, and as a result he put himself in harm’s way. If they worked together in the future Mizuki would have to show him what they could do so Ren didn’t jump in front of any more traps.

As the gates of Kirigakure came into view, Mizuki’s thoughts shifted back to the present. The sight of home brought a sense of relief, but also a renewed focus. The mission was nearly complete, and they had scrolls to deliver.

"Back in one piece," Mizuki murmured to themselves, their gaze sweeping over the mist-shrouded village ahead. They raised a hand in greeting to the gate guards, offering a nod as they stepped through the threshold of the village. With the scrolls secured in their pouch and their thoughts already turning to their next assignment, Mizuki resolved to let the day’s events settle in the back of their mind—for now. There was always something to learn from every mission, even when the path back home was quiet.


Gurē Ren

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