For the first time since awakening in this strange world, Yuriko Misaki opened her eyes to sunlight without the sound of explosions. No alien ships blotting the sky. No screams echoing through burning streets. Just the warmth of morning spilling across her borrowed room inside the Rangers' safehouse.
It felt… strange. Almost too quiet.
She sat up, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Is this what peace feels like here?
The answer came with a knock at her door.
"Yuriko?" Emma's cheerful voice called. "Are you awake? Gia and I were thinking… maybe today we could all do something normal. Shopping. You've been fighting nonstop since you got here. You deserve a break."
Yuriko blinked. Shopping? It had been so long since she had done anything so simple, so ordinary. Back in her world, days had been filled with battles, strategy, and sacrifice. Yet something about Emma's voice made her chest soften.
A moment later, Gia appeared at the door with her usual calm expression, arms crossed. "We're going whether you come or not. So… better get dressed."
Yuriko couldn't help but smile.
---
The city mall buzzed with life—families strolling, music playing from open shop doors, the smell of fresh pretzels wafting through the air. Yuriko followed Emma and Gia through the crowd, her eyes wide with quiet wonder.
"Feels overwhelming, doesn't it?" Emma said, noticing Yuriko's expression. "After fighting nonstop, coming here almost feels… unreal."
"Yes," Yuriko admitted. She touched a rack of brightly colored scarves, marveling at their softness. "Where I come from… I never had time for this. Peace always felt so far away."
Gia gave a small smirk. "Well, welcome to Earth shopping culture. Loud music, bright lights, and way too many choices."
Emma nudged Gia with her elbow. "Oh, come on. Don't act like you don't enjoy it."
Yuriko found herself laughing softly, the sound surprising even her. She hadn't thought laughter would come so easily again.
---
They passed a small souvenir kiosk filled with trinkets—keychains, charms, stuffed animals. Yuriko slowed, her eyes drawn to something small and simple: a tiny keychain shaped like a snowman, its round body painted white with a smiling face.
She reached out, lifting it carefully. The cold metal pressed against her palm, oddly comforting.
Emma tilted her head. "You like that one?"
Yuriko nodded slowly. "It reminds me… of winter. Back home, after one battle… Stronger and I walked through falling snow. It was quiet, and for a moment… it felt like the world could be kind again."
Her voice trailed off, caught between memory and longing.
Without another word, she turned to the vendor. "I'll take this."
The snowman keychain jingled softly as the clerk handed it to her. Yuriko attached it carefully to her belt, the small charm swaying as she walked. For her, it wasn't just a trinket. It was a tether—something fragile but grounding. Proof that joy could still exist, even after everything.
---
The three of them spent the rest of the day wandering the mall. Emma tried on jackets, Gia tested the weight of a new pair of boots, and Yuriko—quiet but smiling—listened to their playful banter. For once, the air wasn't filled with the scent of smoke or fear. Only perfume, food stalls, and laughter.
As the sun dipped low, painting the sky in orange and pink, they walked home together with shopping bags in hand.
No monsters attacked. No Armada ships appeared.
Just a day of peace—something Yuriko hadn't realized how much she needed.
She touched the snowman keychain again, its tiny smile reflecting the fading light. For the first time in a long time, Yuriko felt something stir inside her.
Not just the will to fight… but the will to live.