As Jiang Lianqiu walked through Starport while maintaining a synchronized rhythm with Hoshimi Miyabi, she soon arrived at an empty alley.
Yet after waiting several minutes, nothing unusual happened.
"Where are you?"
...Something went wrong. I can't get there.
Only after testing it did Jiang Lianqiu discover that he could not use the method that had previously allowed him to travel to Su Shang's side to reach Hoshimi Miyabi.
After comparing it with Su Shang's situation, he quickly came to a conclusion.
I understand now. The connection between us isn't deep enough. I entered this state with someone else before too, and after our connection became close enough, I found a way to reach her side.
"Someone else? Who?"
You don't know her. She isn't in your world. I'll introduce you if I get the chance.
Hoshimi Miyabi's pupils narrowed slightly.
Another world...
She continued adjusting her breathing, trying to focus her attention on herself, then cautiously took another two steps.
This time, things were much better than before. Even without him maintaining synchronization, she no longer tripped over flat ground.
"Training..."
What?
"A wondrous form of training. I never would have imagined it."
Hoshimi Miyabi clenched the hand that was not holding her sword.
"I've decided. Next, I shall train under the premise that 'an alien gentleman has appeared in my brain.'"
...As long as you're happy.
There was a trace of amusement in Jiang Lianqiu's voice.
Hoshimi Miyabi tilted her head slightly upward, resting her hand against her lower lip. Her brow lowered, the fox ears atop her head stood straight, and she assumed a thoughtful pose.
"Alien gentleman, could I ask you to try interfering with me?"
*?*
"I need to train and hone my concentration."
I can, but on one condition.
"Reasonable."
Call me something else. I already told you my name.
Being called "alien gentleman" every other sentence felt far too awkward.
"Fine, Qiu."
*????*
No, wasn't jumping straight from "alien gentleman" to "Qiu" a little too fast?
Hoshimi Miyabi ignored him and devoted herself entirely to her training.
She began pacing back and forth through the alley, constantly walking, stopping, raising her hand, then lowering it again.
Seeing that this training fanatic had entered the zone so quickly, Jiang Lianqiu simply sat down in Starport as well and devoted a sliver of his attention to her.
The next second, Hoshimi Miyabi fell flat again...
How about we give up?
Jiang Lianqiu tentatively suggested it. After his tests with Su Shang, he understood the various traits of Five Senses Linked all too well... 0
Perhaps because his mental strength was too powerful, the slightest interference on his end would immediately make the linked person's body stop obeying her.
Hoshimi Miyabi, her forehead reddened from the fall, stubbornly climbed back up and shook her head. "No. On the path of training, if one does not advance, one retreats."
But at least change locations? We're outside. It doesn't look good for a Void Hunter like you to trip over flat ground every two steps...
"Reasonable." This time, Hoshimi Miyabi readily accepted the advice. "Once I return home, the training shall begin."
As the Hoshimi Family's heir apparent—and the daughter of Seiken Soichiro, the head of the Hoshimi Family—Hoshimi Miyabi only needed to make a phone call before a dedicated driver from the household arrived near the plaza.
After getting into the car, Hoshimi Miyabi leaned back against the seat, closed her eyes, and focused solely on Jiang Lianqiu's side.
(What are you doing?)
I was originally going to meditate, but after discovering a few days ago that I could contact you, I decided to try it today.
(A few days ago... Four days ago?)
Hoshimi Miyabi recalled the strange sensation she had suddenly felt that night while in her family's dojo.
It should have been then...
(At the time, I was also training by 'maintaining a kneeling posture for five hours without moving at all.')
(You made me fail my training, Qiu 2.2.)
In Starport, Jiang Lianqiu's phone suddenly chimed with a message notification.
He could not help but complain about the Mech Servant's technology. Human phone signals were stronger four hundred light-years away than they were on Earth...
Taking it out, he saw that it was a LINE message from Eriri.
"School's over! I'm heading home first, Brother Qiu!"
A message from Utaha Kasumigaoka soon followed.
"I need to discuss revisions for the second volume with my editor, so I won't be coming over today."
Attached was a selfie of Senior deliberately pulling open the collar of her school uniform, taken at an angle that pushed the limits of suggestiveness.
"Is it already this late?" Only after skillfully saving the photo did Jiang Lianqiu realize how late it had become.
Just then, Belfast came up behind Jiang Lianqiu and respectfully asked, "Master, would you like to have dinner here directly?"
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