Responsibility, Growth, and Love

The performance was so awkward that even Bronya turned her head away.

The meaning was obvious.

Stop reciting it.

Zhao Bai had recited lines from The Godfather, hoping to give Bronya some extra gravitas. Instead, it had the opposite effect. Forcibly reciting movie lines with no one to play along only led to unbearable awkwardness.

Seele hid off to the side, but Bronya naturally hadn't forgotten about her.

Thump~

The punishment she had been waiting for finally came: a flick to the forehead, neither gentle nor harsh. Bronya's index finger tapped her brow, and Seele couldn't help closing her eyes.

"Ugh—"

"Seele, is there a problem?"

Bronya asked. Seele fidgeted as she spoke. "Seele hopes... Sister Bronya can punish Seele a little more."

The atmosphere immediately became a little awkward.

Zhao Bai knew that Seele felt a bit guilty over the emergence of her second personality, so it was understandable that she would think this way. But with that wording, paired with Seele's flushed face, she was practically a walking generator of suggestive situations. Even Bronya was stunned.

"That won't do, that really won't do."

Zhao Bai hurriedly spoke up to defuse the situation.

The small airship cruised along. After gradually slowing down, it was caught by Hyperion's electromagnetic guidance system and uncontrollably drawn toward the mothership, like a crow returning to its nest—though judging by the size difference, it looked more like a person swallowing a quail egg whole.

"Teacher Himeko!"

Himeko had been waiting for their return. Every one of them was full of energy, without even a trace of listlessness. The only one who seemed off was the little girl standing to the side with a flushed face. Himeko remembered her name; she seemed to be Seele, Bronya's younger sister.

She was the rather shy type.