"State your purpose."
Her tone was like ice that had never melted for ten thousand years, and Rope's heart seemed to skip a beat as well.
"Speak."
Hoshino lowered her head, her lips drawing closer and closer to Rope's ear. Her steady breath brushed against the inner side of the rabbit ear, making Rope unbearably ticklish. But both her hands were pinned down. Bronya's restraining technique was like that of a seasoned mercenary—there was no way to escape.
She could have kicked Bronya in the back, but that giant robot was glaring at her from behind. Rope did not dare make a move.
"Your leg?"
After that intimate contact, Rope had already noticed something wrong with her leg.
Hoshino's gaze darkened. She released Rope's hands and walked off into the distance on her own.
"Wait!"
Rope hurriedly scrambled up and chased after her. She did not know what had gotten into her. Despite the oppressive presence of the giant robot, she ran over and grabbed Hoshino by the arm, stopping her.
What was wrong with her?
Before the thought could even form, her body had already made its choice.
Rope held Hoshino's hand, but her mind had fallen into a vast blank. She did not know what she was doing. Even for following her in the first place, Rope had no defensible reason.
Hoshino turned around at just the right moment and stared at Rope with Bronya's trademark icy gaze.
She naturally caught that subtle emotion.
Hoshino really wanted to laugh.
But as Bronya, she could not laugh.
Hoshino could only straighten her expression and continue staring coldly at Rope until the latter felt utterly ashamed.
"Why are you following me?"
"The shrine... is a good place. Why not stay at the shrine?"
"Mm, not a bad question."
Hoshino released