They All Said This Wasn't the Life Simulation Game!

Mobius's dangerous serpentine eyes narrowed slightly. Finally, she let out a sigh that sounded almost amused, waving a hand dismissively and clearing the path for him.

"Go find your little girlfriend~ Of course~ When you see her, don't be too shocked, okay~"

"And... let's look forward to it together~ about your surgery, little white mouse~ After all... I specifically requested to be your surgeon~ Heh heh~"

"..."

Xi Wang ignored her and didn't have the time to correct her description of his relationship with Sakura. He simply quickened his pace, entering the experimental area ahead.

Chapter 25 Sakura: Ears... Do you like them?

"Physical fitness has significantly improved. Weaker than Kevin and Elysia, but stronger than the Doctor's... Overall strength improvement is relatively not obvious, but mobility has significantly increased. It suits you quite well, Miss Sakura."

Klein recorded Sakura's physical condition as he spoke.

"Are you getting used to the new weapon? Although Miss Vill-V said that this blade largely followed the design of [Ice Lotus Sky], it's still a brand-new weapon."

"It's very good, or rather, it feels very natural. As expected of Miss Vill-V."

Sakura held the Katana, which was as thin and transparent as ice, and lightly twirled it. The air around the cold blade condensed into a few small ice flowers. As they were about to fall, they were lifted again by the slight breeze generated by the twirl. Only when Sakura sheathed it did the tiny ice flowers gently fall, quickly turning into small water stains.

"That's good... As for the side effects on your body... do you feel any impact on your actions?"

"Not really, just that my hearing has become more sensitive, feeling like... I've grown a pair of extra ears?"

"Will there be any adverse effects? Like receiving too much sound?"

"Not for now."

"Alright, then today's testing will end here. We'll test other things tomorrow... Once everything is completed, you might need to carry out some missions."

"I understand... Hmm?"

Sakura nodded. The pair of slender ears that had grown due to the surgical side effects suddenly perked up, and her entire body stiffened slightly.

Clearly, she had already heard familiar footsteps and knew who was coming.

"Ah... Mr. Wang, you're here."

Klein shifted slightly to the side and saw Xi Wang approaching, speaking in his usual tired tone.

She always seemed to be sleep-deprived. Is her workload that heavy? Mobius's situation seems much better than hers... Oh, Mobius is a [Fusion Warrior] now, so they can't be compared.

"Please rest assured, Miss Sakura's physical condition is good, and the fusion with the [Hypervariable Factor] is proceeding smoothly."

Even Klein had heard about the peculiar relationship between the two, so he spoke first.

"Today's tests are also completed. The remaining tests will be conducted tomorrow... After Miss Sakura's specific test results are out, she will likely be reassigned to missions, and perhaps you two will be working together again."

As Klein spoke, he tidied up the surrounding documents, gathered them, and slowly left, adding one last remark.

"The experimental area will be idle for a while... It's fine as long as you don't stay too long."

"...Mm."

Xi Wang nodded, indicating he understood. Klein also nodded in response and left with the documents, leaving them space.

Soon, only Xi Wang and Sakura remained.

"..." x2

A familiar silence settled, making both of them a little uncomfortable.

Sakura stood with her back to Xi Wang, her body stiff, but she didn't turn to face him.

Xi Wang looked at Sakura, sensing the change in her overall aura... she had become more dangerous. But this was meaningless to him. His gaze was fixed on the pair of slender ears on top of her head.

"...Let's sit for a bit."

"Okay."

Finally, Sakura spoke first, gesturing to the chair against the wall. Xi Wang readily agreed.

"..." x2

However, after sitting down, they fell into silence again.

Sakura opened her mouth several times, as if wanting to say something, but she didn't know how to begin.

Xi Wang waited for Sakura to explain the situation.

"...Since it's come to this, I don't care about anything else."

Perhaps because he understood Sakura's personality too well, or perhaps he didn't want Sakura to dwell on it too much, Xi Wang spoke.

"I just want to know, was this request from above?"

It was like the list he was assigned to, although it was said to be "based on voluntary principles," how many people were truly "voluntary" in the end?

...At least he wasn't. He had received the mission to [Participate in the Fusion Warrior Project and Undergo Surgery], and only then did he fill out the [Fusion Warrior Project Application Form], which was theoretically supposed to be filled out voluntarily.

So... was Sakura in a similar situation?

"...Yes."

Xi Wang's hand involuntarily tightened.

"...Not exactly."

Sakura paused slightly, then spoke as before.

"Xi Wang, you must know what we're facing... Honestly, the injury you sustained that time worried us for a long time."

"We need more, stronger fighting power. Even if it means drawing strength from our original enemies, even if it means becoming less than human ourselves, we must do it. Because only then can we protect more people, only then can we... protect those we cherish."

"We have to do this."

She said.

"...So, you participated willingly, right?"

"Yes."

"...I understand."

Xi Wang understood Sakura's meaning, and also why she had undergone the surgery.

She had simply... been persuaded.

"..."

Xi Wang closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing.

Perhaps they had mixed Ling into their rhetoric... No, they must have mentioned Ling, which was why Sakura agreed so readily.

That's right... Only by following their will, becoming a sharp Blade, becoming the so-called non-human, becoming that Fusion Warrior who protects humanity, could they protect the people they cherished.

We... we have to do this.

Yet, his hands clenched involuntarily, as if digging his nails into his own flesh.

"Xi Wang... Don't worry."

A hand like congealed cream gently covered his, and Sakura spoke softly.

"I survived, didn't I?"

"Whether it's for Ling, or for... for..."

At this point, Sakura became a little embarrassed again, a blush rising on her face, matching her cherry-blossom colored long hair.

But no matter what, she couldn't bring herself to finish speaking... It seemed after all this time, Sakura still hadn't improved in this regard~

"Mhm... I know."

Xi Wang nodded and responded to her... but in his eyes, as dark as the night sky, the faint golden flecks seemed to expand slightly.

...And hidden in the laboratory, watching the two in the experimental area through the one-way soundproof glass, a few people...

"Ah! Sakura, go for it! Hurry up! If you go for it, you'll win!"

Danzhu waved her long sleeves, continuously shouting at someone on the other side of the glass... but unfortunately, without pressing the intercom button, her voice couldn't reach them.

"Sigh... Sakura, why are you so disappointing!"

Seeing that Sakura never managed to say the crucial sentence, Danzhu said with frustrated disappointment.

"What a couple of sentimental people, and they're my colleagues too. This is so embarrassing..."

Danzhu rubbed her head in distress, her neatly styled hair becoming messy.

Why is it so difficult to get these two awkward people to speak their minds? Are you two allergic to romance or something? Just staying on the edge and not crossing over, huh?

What? Are you playing some mind game of love too? You don't look like it though?!

Click, click—

"Wait... Cang Xuan, what are you doing?"

"Taking pictures, can't you see?"

Cang Xuan held a camera, which she'd somehow produced from who knows where, and began frantically snapping photos of the two on the other side of the one-way glass.

"I remember there was a chocolate product before. These photos might be usable, maybe we can get some advertising fees back..."

"Won't Brother Xi Wang hit us if he finds out? Besides, will they really use them?!"

"It's fine, Brother Xi Wang won't mind if I act pitiful... If that doesn't work, we can sell them to the Xi Wang Sakura Fan Club. They love collecting this stuff, and it might be enough for a few cups of bubble tea."

"Why is there such a strange fan club!"

"What? If you can ship a couple, why can't others?"

"No, I mean, can you make a few backup copies for me?"

"Very well, 10 yuan per photo."

"You're charging your own sister?!"

"Siblings settle accounts clearly. If it were someone else, I'd charge 20!"

"Are you two, very idle?"

Mobius's voice echoed softly, interrupting their argument.

"If you have the leisure to do such boring things, why not help Klein process some data."