Hoshiguma held the unconscious Ch'en. Only after quite a while did she realize that what had seemed like an intimate, ambiguous gesture had actually been some sort of deadly chokehold. When Ch'en finally, delirious, began slapping the floor wildly, Kallen relaxed and tossed her aside.
"Ch'en, wake up."
"That woman's monstrous strength... My God."
Ch'en's body was already exceptionally strong, but it still was no match for Kallen. The latter could even shove aside a charging Honkai Beast with her bare hands.
Her steps were unsteady, and her cheeks were flushed red from lack of oxygen.
"Get me out of here, quickly."
Ch'en waved weakly. Hoshiguma hurriedly helped her onto the back seat of the motorcycle, and they sped away from the shrine.
Cool gusts of wind blew against her face. She greedily drew in breaths, and only after a long while did she finally recover. A faint look of concern appeared in Ch'en's eyes as she patted Hoshiguma's shoulder in front of her.
"What is it?"
"It's common knowledge that Yae Sakura went off on assignments with Penguin Logistics. All the shrine's work is handled by Saint Kallen. Why do I feel like she's been acting strange lately? So cold, like she's angry at someone."
"They're women."
Hoshiguma did not care in the slightest. "There are always days when they get emotional for no apparent reason."
"Not that kind of emotion." Ch'en pondered for a long while. "Hoshiguma, do you think Yae Sakura and Kallen might be very close, and she doesn't want Yae Sakura getting too close to Penguin Logistics? So she's feeling something like jealousy?"
Hoshiguma sighed. "Old Ch'en, get a grip. Being this gossipy isn't like you."
"Perhaps."
Ch'en felt a little melancholy. Perhaps the scent of the girl's legs still lingering at the tip of