The streets of Naruhata had grown quieter after the Christmas holidays. Snow blanketed the rooftops like a soft, white sheet, and the bustling holiday rush had given way to a pleasant calm. Dextra, taking a moment to relax, stood in front of a small, tucked-away café nestled in a side alley. A modest sign above the entrance read: "Hop & Snuggle Bunny Café." This wasn’t just any café it was a place he had carefully chosen to surprise Mirko with something special.
He vividly ed a conversation from a few weeks ago. They had been sitting, exhausted but content, on a rooftop after a long patrol. The moon was bright, and the city below seemed peaceful. It was one of those rare quiet moments when Mirko, usually loud and unstoppable, let her guard down a little. She had casually mentioned that as a child, she’d had an albino rabbit named Shiro. For a brief moment, her face had taken on a soft, almost nostalgic expression before she quickly masked it with her usual confident grin. But Dextra had noticed that small glimpse of longing.
As a hero, you were often bound by duty, and for someone like Mirko, who roamed all across Japan, visiting family was a rare luxury.
"Come on, Glowstick. Where’s this super dangerous villain you called me about? I’m getting cold standing around doing nothing!" Mirko’s sharp, familiar voice yanked him out of his thoughts. She stood with her arms crossed, looking at him with an amused expression. Her long rabbit ears twitched slightly in the wind.
"No villain today, Mirko. Just adorable bunnies," Dextra replied with a grin, pushing open the door. "I set up something special for you. You’re gonna love it."
Mirko raised a skeptical eyebrow but followed him inside, her curiosity piqued.
The interior of the café was warm and cozy, the air filled with a faint scent of hay and fresh herbs. Large, cushioned seating areas were scattered throughout, and a variety of rabbits hopped freely between the guests, small ones, big ones, fluffy ones, and even a few albino rabbits with bright red eyes.
For a moment, Mirko froze. Her crimson eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of the animals. An albino rabbit hopped straight toward her and stopped at her feet, its small ears twitching curiously. Slowly, she knelt down, her hands resting on her knees, and observed the creature with a mix of surprise and gentle delight.
"You… planned this?" she asked, her gaze still fixed on the rabbit. Her voice was quieter than usual, almost soft.
Dextra flopped onto a beanbag chair casually and shrugged, though he felt a wave of relief that his surprise seemed to be going well. "Well, I figured you could use a break. You’re always on the move, always working, there’s never time for moments like this. And, well… I ed Shiro. Thought you might like it."
Mirko looked over at him, and for a brief moment, a hint of gratitude flickered across her face before it was replaced by her usual grin. "You’re such a sly Glowstick. But…" She settled onto a couch and carefully picked up one of the rabbits, which curled up in her arms without resistance. "...this isn’t half bad."
Within minutes, Mirko was surrounded by a small group of rabbits, all drawn to her like moths to a flame.
"Whoa! They’ve accepted you as their leader!" Dextra laughed heartily. "What was it again? Usagi-yama?"
"Don’t push it, rookie," Mirko shot back with a smirk, but her tone carried an unfamiliar warmth. She leaned back, still holding one of the rabbits in her arms, and for a moment, she looked completely at peace, a rare sight for the usually high energy hero. "But… okay, I’ll it it. You know how to treat a bunny lady right."
The two spent the next few hours in the café, surrounded by the gentle rustling of rabbits and the soft laughter of other guests. Mirko remained surprisingly calm, clearly enjoying the company of the animals. Dextra watched her from the corner of his eye, satisfied that his plan had worked. It was one of those rare moments when they could both just be human, free from the weight of their responsibilities as heroes.
When they finally left the café, the night was clear and still, the snow crunching under their boots. Mirko stopped for a moment, her hands on her hips, and looked at Dextra.
"Hey, Dextra. Tha- Whoa. You’re pale as a ghost!"
Dextra, slouching slightly, muttered, "Man, I’m wiped…"
Mirko laughed loudly and gave him a light punch on the shoulder. "That’s right, without your gadgets, your quirk’s as useful at night as a flashlight in daylight. Okay, let’s get you home before you keel over, Glowstick."
With that, she grabbed him and dragged him along like a sack of potatoes, earning a few amused looks from clueless ersby.
That Winter Night, under the twinkling stars, Rumi Usagiyama couldn’t stop smiling, all thanks to a fluffy albino rabbit and the bond growing between an aspiring hero and his mentor.
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