One Month Later [3/3]

Momousagi and Shiya were ultimately different.

As the proud flower of Marine Headquarters, she was a little thin-skinned, reserved and arrogant. Any teasing had to be kept in moderation.

Especially now that they were on the phone rather than alone in a room together, she had even more pride to preserve.

So.

After simply teasing her a couple of times, Noah did not pursue the matter any further. Instead, he began chatting with Momousagi about what each of them had experienced over the past month or so.

The two of them had a tacit understanding. Neither interrupted the other; whenever one spoke, the other listened quietly beside the receiver.

Though they were separated by thousands of miles, Noah seemed able to see the heavy snowfall and mist-shrouded frost-covered trees on her end. The little bunny, who had never liked wearing too many clothes, was rubbing her hands with cheeks red from the cold, yet still smiling sweetly as she waited by the Den Den Mushi.

There was simply too much to talk about... Before he knew it, he had lost track of time.

It was not until Onigumo had waited on the other end of the deck for quite some time, his stomach growling with hunger, that he finally could not take it anymore and roared angrily:

"Hey, brat, how much longer are you going to chat? Hurry up and settle this mess! We still need to turn around and head back to base!"

Only then did Noah snap back to his senses. He turned and gave him an embarrassed, apologetic smile.

Meanwhile, Momousagi on the other end merely snorted. Her right index finger lightly tapped against the railing as her eyes narrowed into a dangerous curve.

That voice sounded awfully familiar. Onigumo, was it...

She would remember that.

"Let's