Skadi, I Have a Girlfriend Now

"Okay."

Exusiai skipped away to call the others to dinner. She felt nothing but happiness, along with a little pride. Mizuki really could do anything, making it impossible not to wonder what he had done before.

In the wilderness elsewhere, Rhodes Island's convoy came to a stop. Kal'tsit leaned against a vehicle, holding a cup of coffee as she looked toward Lungmen.

Lungmen—though it traveled across Ursus territory, it belonged to ancient Great Yan. Too many things had happened around this city, and it had changed hands several times.

"Dr. Kal'tsit, what are you looking at?"

"Nothing. Just some information."

Kal'tsit answered casually, then looked through the report in her hands. The sender was An Xin, head of the Rhodes Island Lungmen Office and also an officer in the Lungmen Guard Department.

According to the report, someone named Mizuki had appeared in Lungmen carrying Rhodes Island elite operator credentials. However, he was said to have lost all his memories and knew nothing except his own name.

Kal'tsit remembered every elite operator of Rhodes Island. They were people who could be trusted completely, mostly veterans of Rhodes Island. Their evaluations considered not only combat ability, but also trustworthiness. Yet Kal'tsit had only one impression of Mizuki: Skadi had once asked Rhodes Island to search for someone with the same name.

So the question was, why did Mizuki have Rhodes Island elite operator credentials?

Let's Be Lovers Starting Tonight

Late at night, Mizuki still lay awake in bed, flipping through the comic book from last night. The chandelier cast a fairly soft light.

He wore only a shirt, several buttons loosely fastened, exposing a large expanse of pale skin and delicate collarbones. It was hard for anyone who saw him to look away.

It was not because he had any strange preferences. He simply kept the humidifier on while sleeping and liked the damp feeling.

However, this peaceful time did not last long. Someone knocked on his door again.

"A-Neng? Come in."

Sure enough, it was Exusiai. She was still wearing the same outfit as last night. Her white shirt faintly showed the black garment underneath, but compared to yesterday, she looked much more natural.

"How did you know it was me?"

"Instinct, I guess."

As Mizuki spoke, he moved aside and gave Exusiai room beside him. She did not stand on ceremony, throwing herself onto his bed, arranging a pillow, and leaning against the headboard. She gently rested her head on his shoulder as they read the comic together.

She even unceremoniously took one of Mizuki's earbuds and put it on.

"Mm, it's so small. I can't see very clearly like this."

After all, it was not one of those large compilation comics. Leaning against Mizuki's shoulder, Exusiai could not read it comfortably.

"Then why didn't you buy another copy during the day?"

"Come on, that wouldn't feel the same. Reading it together like this feels like sneaking snacks during class when we were kids."

Adjusting her posture slightly to make herself more comfortable, Exusiai no longer resisted physical contact with Mizuki at all. It was not like they were doing anything, and she liked him. He was her man now, too. This much was completely acceptable.

"I don't get it. But didn't you buy earplugs? Did you lose them again?"

Mizuki remembered that Exusiai had come out last night because she had lost her earplugs, then somehow ended up in his room. But she had bought new ones today, so there should not have been a problem.

"I didn't lose them, but... ugh, it's all Croissant and Sora's fault. Those two are way too nosy."

Exusiai had the urge to bury her face in the blankets. In another sense, she felt like her sisters had excluded her.

"Nosy?"

"Yeah. Those girls, seriously. They weren't even working overtime today, yet they followed us around. Croissant said we looked like a couple madly in love. How do we look like that?"

As she spoke, Exusiai rested her head on Mizuki's shoulder and took the comic from him.

Sitting this close, the area where their bodies touched grew larger. Their legs were pressed together. Even with the air conditioner on, Exusiai could feel that Mizuki's legs were a little cool. It made her want to touch them a couple of times. They were probably as smooth and soft as his hands.

"What are couples supposed to be like?"

"Emmm... I've never dated either, but I guess it's the kind of thing you often see in TV shows and novels."

Exusiai thought for a moment, then started counting on her fingers.

"Things like shopping together, listening to music together, grabbing something to eat, playing games together. If they're a little more intimate, they'll stick close to each other. They can also accept each other's differences."

Perhaps because they were about to sleep, the music in Mizuki's earbuds was fairly soothing. It was not the kind Exusiai liked, but she thought it sounded pretty good. She could give it a try later.

"Do couples sleep together?"

"Really intimate ones..."

Exusiai suddenly realized something was off. The distance between her and Mizuki could no longer be described as merely that of a couple. Compared to what Croissant and Sora had said, they were going even further.

"Ah, seriously... forget it. Couple it is, then. You had my first time anyway."

After stiffening for nearly a minute, Exusiai gave up trying to hide it and hugged Mizuki's arm tightly. Her feelings for him still could not be called deep love, because they had spent too little time together. But there really was something there.

Honestly, Exusiai did not like things being this way. What kind of relationship was this? Getting on the train before buying the ticket. The key was that she had been the one to get on the train. Croissant had said that night, she had gotten drunk and pinned Mizuki down. What a mess she had made for herself.

But did she like Mizuki? She really did. Setting aside his looks and competence, his personality was great too. What kind of person would not like a gentle, considerate, adorable boy? She certainly liked him a lot.

However, in Mizuki's understanding, that first time became another way of saying first kiss. In that case, although it had been a misunderstanding and not something he had intended, he really had taken it from her.

"Sorry."

"Don't apologize. Apologizing won't change what happened."

Leaning lightly against Mizuki's shoulder, Exusiai knew very well that she had come here not only because she could not stand Croissant's gossip. More than that, she needed a clear answer from Mizuki—a clear attitude.

Exusiai knew Mizuki had been passive from beginning to end, so she had been at a loss before, unsure what to do. But Croissant and Sora's teasing made her realize something: what exactly did Mizuki think of her?

"You're a wonderful person. If we had enough time, if we had more time together, I feel like liking you would be the most natural thing in the world."

"But we've only known each other for a week—no, not even three days. Who starts a relationship after three days? This isn't some novel."

The time was too short. That was what troubled Exusiai. It was not that she had never imagined how she might fall in love with someone, but she had never imagined it happening like this. That conflict made her try hard to like Mizuki while subconsciously trying to keep some distance from him.

"Then how about starting now?"

Mizuki closed the comic and placed it on the shelf. Then he met Exusiai's eyes and, when she instinctively tried to look away, reached out to steady her head.

"A-Neng feels uncomfortable because we haven't known each other long enough, but we still have a long future ahead of us, don't we?"

"We can slowly make up for what we lack now. That'll be enough."

Mizuki's gaze and smile were both sincere. Exusiai could tell he was not lying. He really thought that way.

"But... um, do you like me?"

Exusiai asked hesitantly, then quickly added.

"My personality is honestly kind of terrible. I love sleeping in, I'm lazy, and I like high explosives. In three years, I blew up seventeen schools, thirty-five streets, and fifteen public buildings. Honestly, even my parents said they'd sooner believe I'd blow up the Pope's Hall one day than believe I'd find a boyfriend."

"Then should we blow up the Pope's Hall first?"

Mizuki blinked playfully, his smile seeming completely serious. The mood shifted at once, and Exusiai hurriedly shook her head.

"No, no. The Pope's Hall is an important institution in Laterano. Blowing it up would cause huge trouble. Besides..."

"Besides?"

"Besides, I already blew it up once before coming to Lungmen."

Scratching her head in embarrassment, Exusiai found the scene from back then rather amusing whenever she remembered it. It was because she had always been such a troublemaker that she knew, pretty as she might be, finding a man would probably not be easy.

Yet now, heaven had actually sent one right to her doorstep. Truly, it was the Lord's blessing.

"Mm, honestly, the way I like A-Neng is the same as the way A-Neng likes me. And..."

"And?"

"And I think blowing up the Pope's Hall would be fun."

Mizuki used those words, smiling, to express his feelings. He admitted that his feelings for Exusiai had not yet reached the level of lovers either, but if they started living as lovers from today onward, their feelings would gradually grow.

Meanwhile, in Laterano, Ivan XI, the current Pope, suddenly felt that the seat beneath him was somewhat dangerous. The last time he had felt that way was when Exusiai left Laterano and caused that enormous incident.

Texas Is Such a Good Sister!

"Mizuki, it's time for us to leave. This is the only way I can think of now."

By the sea, Mizuki walked side by side with the hooded Doctor. They left footprints across the beach. Through his connection to the Brood, Mizuki could accurately judge where there were fewer Seaborn and lead the Doctor into the deep sea.

The world was undergoing drastic changes. The Doctor's and Mizuki's terminals kept ringing as one piece of bad news after another arrived.

A tide of Terrorfish advanced toward the land. Iberia's Inquisition fleet had been wiped out. Deep Sea Cultists were launching massive attacks on Iberia's Sal Viento. Kazimierz's Grand Knights and Leithanien's Golden Law Guards had joined together, determined to buy everyone time to retreat.

Ursus's Internal Guards had prepared for the worst. Great Yan was doing everything it could to ensure the evacuation of its people.

But the Doctor and Mizuki both knew none of that could stop the Seaborn's advance. Ishar-mla had returned to the Brood, and the Seaborn's rate of evolution was beyond imagination.

What worried the Doctor and Mizuki most were the Abyssal Hunters who had entered Aegir aboard the Stultifera Navis. Going home had only been a trap, as the documents and letters Mizuki found proved.

However, Mizuki had also brought hope. Another file, titled "Deep Blue," recorded Bishop Cicero's lifelong research into the origins of the Seaborn, as well as a location. The words Deep Blue awakened the Doctor's memories. He knew they still had a chance to win.

But that chance required someone to make a sacrifice. The Doctor looked at Mizuki, unsure how to continue.

Perhaps Mizuki saw the Doctor's difficulty, or perhaps he knew it would be hard to return once they left. Holding that transparent umbrella, he walked beside the Doctor. The sea wind brushed over them, but apart from each other's voices, they could hear nothing. The sound of waves and wind had both been drowned out. The Great Silence covered the entire planet.

"Doctor, I'll protect you, and I'll obey all your orders. So no matter what happens, please stay by my side. Before I die, I will never let you die."

"Mm. I know."

As they spoke, they walked into the darkness, facing despair and death, facing separation and pain.

Morning light shattered the dream. Mizuki woke again, and the dream blurred as he opened his eyes. He touched the corner of his eye. Tears had soaked his pillow. Fortunately, Exusiai was fine. The light above her head, rather than the sun, had awakened Mizuki.

That was right. Mizuki and Exusiai had slept together last night. When she heard that Mizuki intended to give her the room, Exusiai had firmly refused and said that since they had become boyfriend and girlfriend starting today, sleeping together would not matter. They would probably have to get used to it eventually anyway.

Still, Exusiai had been a little timid, worried Mizuki might do something to her after falling asleep, so she stayed awake until the middle of the night before finally drifting off.

In the end, not only had Mizuki done nothing to her, she was now treating him like a cool summer body pillow. The only thing she had not done was press Mizuki's head to her chest.

And Exusiai's sleeping posture could only be called bold and unrestrained. She had practically wrapped herself around Mizuki with both arms and legs, her feet tangled around his legs and both hands around his waist. Her already loose shirt pajamas covered absolutely nothing right now, revealing far too much.

Fortunately, she had remembered to wear something underneath. Though who knew what she was dreaming about—she was drooling a little.

There was quite a lot to do today. First, he had to go to the Guard Department to submit his self-criticism, and take a crash-course driving test while he was there. Then he needed to buy groceries. Since it was Penguin Logistics's day off, there was no need to work.

Mizuki gently moved Exusiai's arms and thighs aside, slowly got up, tucked the blanket over her, and climbed out of bed.

After he left, Exusiai, who had supposedly been asleep, opened her eyes as well. She had actually woken up early. Although she had gone to bed late last night, perhaps because she had held Mizuki all night, she had gotten plenty of rest. She now felt completely comfortable and light all over.

Mizuki really could be called a gentleman. Even though they had slept together, he had done nothing. Exusiai, on the other hand, had nearly screamed when she discovered that she had pressed Mizuki against her chest early in the morning.

"Looks like I should pay more attention to how I sleep in the future. But... what kind of dream could make Mizuki cry?"

Exusiai could not help feeling curious. Mizuki had probably dreamed of his past. His blank history made people wonder endlessly. What kind of experiences could have shaped Mizuki into the person he was?

Exusiai could not figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it. She got up, went to her room across the hall, ignored Croissant and the others' suggestive looks, and calmly got dressed.

"Hey, Exusiai, how was hugging Mizuki?"

"Not bad. Pretty comfortable. He was cool, but not cold, and really soft."

Exusiai answered unexpectedly calmly. Even she was surprised that she could answer Croissant so seriously.

Clearly, Croissant and Sora were also stunned by her bluntness. But after thinking about it, this was probably how Exusiai was supposed to be—straightforward and genuine, never coy.

Still, seeing the happiness on Exusiai's face, Sora and Croissant felt as though a thick barrier had appeared between themselves and Exusiai. Damn it, was she going to be this smug just because she had a boyfriend?

"By the way, where's Texas?"

"She's already up. She still hasn't paid the fine from last time, so she's going to the Guard Department with Mizuki today."

"She and Mizuki?"

The halo above Exusiai's head instantly brightened a little, her vigilance rising to the maximum. But she quickly felt there was no need. Mizuki and Texas were merely teammates. Their relationship was not as complicated as hers and Mizuki's.

"Yeah. She's the captain, so she's obviously the person in charge. What, are you worried she'll steal the boyfriend you just managed to get?"

Croissant giggled as she leaned closer, only for Exusiai to press a hand against her face.

"You're the one who spends all day gossiping. Worry about Texas? I should be watching out for you instead!"

"Hey, why me? I admit Mizuki seems pretty great and would make a suitable boyfriend, but I'm committed to being single."

"Obviously, because you're friends with a horse-faced girl!"

That sentence made Croissant freeze for a moment. Then she understood and indignantly stomped her feet.

"I object! That's discrimination against us Forte!"

"I was only talking about you!"