Skadi, I Have a Girlfriend Now

He knew Exusiai definitely hadn't gone out just to buy milk tea, but that was fine. He wouldn't pry into what his girlfriend needed to do. Leaving each other some personal space was essential to maintaining a relationship—Mizuki had read that in a book this morning.

Incidentally, Croissant had sold him that book, How to Hold Your Sweetheart's Hand Tight, for ten bucks. Apparently, it was quite a bestseller.

The wait was rather long. Mizuki took out his game console, intending to pass the time playing games until Exusiai returned. They would be heading back in another hour, and Ch'en and the people from Rhodes Island would be coming to visit that afternoon. Since it concerned Mizuki's identity, Exusiai wouldn't delay.

But just as Mizuki took out his console, a can of soda was held out beside him.

"Um... what a coincidence. Running into you even here."

As she spoke, Texas naturally took a seat beside Mizuki.

Actually, she was lying. She had been secretly observing him for nearly ten minutes and only came out after Exusiai left.

"Thanks. Why are you here, Texas?"

Mizuki accepted the soda. Texas thought for a moment, then took a brand-new handheld console from her bag—exactly the same model as Mizuki's.

"I saw you playing this these past few days, and it looked pretty fun, so I wanted to try it. Um... want to play together?"

"Sure!"

Mizuki naturally welcomed having someone to play with. Texas was rather pleased as well. Well, buying something she normally would never touch hadn't been a waste.

Sure enough, playing games was the way to raise Mizuki's affection for her.

Elsewhere, Exusiai looked at Lee before her. After glancing around and confirming no one had followed her, she finally relaxed.

"Mr. Lee, did you bring it?"

"Mm. It wasn't too difficult. The information you wanted is all on this USB drive..."

Lee was just about to hand over the drive when five or six lush green leaves drifted down from a tree and landed squarely on Exusiai's head.

Tsk. That was no good omen.

Playing games with Mizuki was quite interesting. Texas found that his expressions were much more animated when he played. A small mistake would make him pout slightly, but when he pulled off a smooth combo, Mizuki would smile adorably, with a hint of smugness.

Yet none of that was unpleasant. It only made people want to reach out and poke his cheek or rub his head.

Texas couldn't help looking at the hat on Mizuki's head. That deep-blue soft cap, paired with its black decorative cord and the rest of his outfit, made him look somewhat like he was wearing a sailor uniform. And black stockings, no less. Not to mention his exposed shoulders, underarms, and delicate collarbones.

How had I never noticed Mizuki dressed so seductively before?

She couldn't help taking a few more looks. Only now, sitting this close to him, did Texas realize just how alluring Mizuki's outfit was. Yet he had indeed covered himself quite tightly, and there was really nothing inappropriate about it. At most, the blue finger sleeves at the tips of his fingers looked a little strange.

"Mm? What is it?"

Mizuki noticed Texas's gaze and turned to look at her, though his hands never stopped moving. Texas was curious how he could still play so well without looking at the screen at all.

"Nothing. I was just thinking you're really good, Mizuki. I haven't played much, so I'm kind of holding you back."

They were playing a co-op stage-clearing game. Although Texas was excellent in every respect and had outstanding reflexes, she genuinely didn't seem very skilled at games and had made many mistakes.

"It's simple. Come on, I'll teach you."

That's exactly what I was waiting for you to say.

Texas quite legitimately moved much closer to Mizuki, practically leaning against him. Her nose was far keener than Exusiai's, so naturally she could smell the strange floral scent on Mizuki. It was different from the one that morning.

Her poor gaming skills were obviously an act. Texas hadn't played many games, but the game Mizuki had chosen wasn't especially difficult either—just the sort anyone could play after getting familiar with the rules. But if she didn't act a little bad at it, how could she create an opportunity? Croissant's How to Hold Your Sweetheart's Hand Tight had made it very clear: when dealing with boys who liked games, she had to stay within appropriate limits, avoid making him find her annoying, and let him gain a sense of accomplishment from her. For example, she could ask him for guidance during a game.

"Like here, you can jump over this way. Most enemies will spawn from the other side."

"Mm. Then how do you perform that move?"

"For this, turn the left stick halfway, then press... Mm, give me your hand."

Seeing Texas's expression plainly say, "My brain understood, but my hands didn't," Mizuki felt he might not have explained it clearly enough. So, he decided to teach her hand in hand.

This wasn't the first time Texas had held Mizuki's hand. It felt just as it had before—very soft. Mizuki's hands had no calluses at all, and his skin was better than that of any of the girls at Penguin Logistics. Considering what Eis had said, though, that wasn't hard to understand.

"Is this still inconvenient?"

"No. Are you uncomfortable?"

"...Not really."

Texas thought about it and decided it would be better to take things slowly. Raising affection wasn't something she could expect to accomplish overnight. After all, Mizuki and Exusiai were currently dating. What she was doing was more or less putting horns on her best friend's head.

Still, Texas actually wanted to know what it felt like to sit on Mizuki's lap. Exusiai had said it felt quite comfortable today, but no matter how long Texas thought about it, she couldn't remember when Exusiai had ever sat on Mizuki's lap. They were always together, after all.

No, wait. There did seem to be one possibility—last night. But if it had been last night, then Exusiai sitting on Mizuki's lap meant that they had... damn it!

Texas suddenly realized her guess might be correct, and her face instantly turned much redder. Then wouldn't her wanting to sit on Mizuki just now have meant...

"What's wrong?"

Mizuki noticed that Texas's face had suddenly become much redder and couldn't help feeling puzzled. It wasn't as though they had never held hands before.

"Nothing. Cough, cough. Let's practice more after we get back. You..."

"What are you two doing?"

Exusiai's voice came from behind the bench, cold enough to nearly hit absolute zero. Texas, whose face was still somewhat flushed, instantly shuddered. Damn it, she had been so immersed in being with Mizuki that she hadn't noticed Exusiai approaching at all!

"Hehe. From so far away, I saw the two of you sitting together. Anyone who didn't know better would think you were a couple."

She sneered, nearly crushing the milk tea in her hand. She was smiling, but Exusiai's expression looked like she was about to pull out her gun and unload a full magazine into someone.

For a moment, Texas didn't know how to explain that she had merely been sitting with Mizuki and playing games. Then again, her intentions probably hadn't been entirely pure to begin with.

"Xiao Le, lower your head a little."

"?"

Though she was still angry, Exusiai lowered her head upon hearing Mizuki's words.

"Chu~"

Mizuki lightly pecked Exusiai on the cheek and used his invisible tentacles to remove the six green leaves from her head. He couldn't figure out how those leaves had ended up there.

Exusiai was a little embarrassed after being kissed, but there was no way she could say she had calmed down just like that. She could only wrap her arms around Mizuki's neck from behind the bench, flaunting her claim over him to Texas.

Though she didn't think Texas was likely trying to steal her man, seeing Mizuki teaching Texas how to play games hand in hand from afar had still made her jealous.

"Why did you take so long?"

"Couldn't be helped. The milk tea shop I like is a little far away, and there were quite a few people there too."

Since Texas was her best friend, Exusiai couldn't possibly get into a conflict with her over something like this. It also wasn't easy to complain to Mizuki about being jealous right now, especially after he had just kissed her.

"Shouldn't we head back soon? I'm guessing Chen and the Rhodes Island people will be arriving at our place before long."

They had done enough shopping today, and Exusiai was a little tired. Besides, after seeing Texas and Mizuki sitting together and chatting so happily, she had lost interest in continuing to browse around. She had also eavesdropped on their conversation. There really hadn't been anything flirty—it was just that they had been sitting too close together, which annoyed her.

"Mm, let's head back together."

Texas returned to her usual cold expression, making one wonder whether the person who had been laughing and chatting with Mizuki just now had been someone else.

She walked ahead of them, deliberately not disturbing Exusiai and Mizuki as they walked side by side. That behavior also dispersed much of Exusiai's slight resentment toward her.

As though to show that she and Mizuki were the real couple, Exusiai took the initiative to link arms with him.

"Xiao Le, I suddenly realized something."

Mizuki held his milk tea, letting Exusiai cling tightly to his other arm.

"What is it?"

"Xiao Le, you seem even cuter than usual when you're jealous."

"What are you talking about?!"

Exusiai couldn't help poking Mizuki in the waist. This guy always said things like that. Damn it, she liked hearing them too, and Mizuki never sounded fake when he said such things.

He has Exusiai wrapped around his finger with just a few words. Mizuki is terrifying.

Texas sighed inwardly, but she also envied that sort of relationship. Mizuki wasn't saying those things just to make Exusiai calm down or to please her. He was simply speaking what was on his mind.

If she were the one standing beside Mizuki, what would that be like?

"Lungmen... Hehe, I'm really looking forward to this."

Looking at the bustling city before her, Ho'olheyak couldn't help licking her lips as she dragged her suitcase toward the inspection checkpoint.

After receiving her new mission, Ho'olheyak had rushed from Columbia to Lungmen without stopping for even a moment. She was deeply curious about this target. Someone who had caused the Melnade Foundation and Columbia's military to fall out was supposedly just a cute, frail, seemingly helpless Aegir. How interesting.

Entering Lungmen required inspection and queuing. Ahead of Ho'olheyak stood an Aegir woman carrying a greatsword, her silver hair gathered into a bundle at the ends. She seemed rather anxious and had brought very little luggage.

"Miss Skadi, please obey the city's rules. I hope you won't use that greatsword."

Although they were both members of Rhodes Island, An Xin wouldn't show favoritism. If Wei Yenwu hadn't previously ordered that requirements could be specially relaxed for Rhodes Island personnel, Skadi's weapon would have been subject to restrictions as well.

"I understand."

Skadi nodded, unable to stop herself from tapping her foot. She only hoped the inspection would end faster. It was already afternoon, and she desperately needed to enter Lungmen. She had to see Mizuki—she couldn't wait another moment!

"Then you may enter."

An Xin stamped Skadi's entry permit, watched her hurry away, then turned to the next person. Ho'olheyak was still dressed in her usual outfit, which made her figure look even fuller, though she couldn't possibly be called fat. Not to mention that chest—one Exusiai hated so much she wanted to shoot it flat.

She was an uncommon sort of woman, but An Xin instinctively felt that she was dangerous.

"Ma'am, please present your identification and place your luggage over there. We have female officers to inspect it. We hope you'll cooperate."

"That's quite considerate."

Ho'olheyak wasn't worried in the slightest that they would find anything. Her staff had long since been entrusted to a Lungmen sleeper agent and smuggled inside. If an elite agent of the Melnade Foundation couldn't even get into a city, that would be a real joke.

But haven't I heard the name Skadi somewhere before?

Thinking this, Ho'olheyak took the letter of introduction Emperor had given her and entered Lungmen with her luggage.

"Is it going to rain again tonight?"

An Xin couldn't help looking up. The air felt somewhat stuffy, and dark clouds covered the sky. It seemed that it had rained every night since five days ago, even though it had been sunny just moments earlier.

Elsewhere, Mizuki instinctively looked toward Lungmen's entry checkpoint, a trace of confusion flashing through his eyes.

"Huh?"

"What's wrong?"

Exusiai looked in the direction Mizuki was staring and saw only a bridal shop. She immediately thought of something, widened her eyes, and looked at him as if saying, You've already thought that far ahead?

"Nothing. Let's go."

The Penguin Logistics outpost was just ahead. Mizuki had texted Ch'en, so she definitely knew the location.

The three returned to the outpost and found Ch'en already seated on the sofa. Beside her sat another Feline woman.

She was a woman who looked difficult to get along with at first glance, her expression even colder than Texas's. She had white hair and wore a green off-shoulder outfit.

The moment Mizuki saw her, he froze in place. When Kal'tsit saw Mizuki, surprise also flashed through her eyes. She hadn't expected him to truly be the Mizuki Skadi was searching for.

"I never expected the younger brother Skadi has been looking for all this time to be in Lungmen."

"You're... Kal'tsit!"

The name flashed through his mind, but Mizuki failed to grasp the fleeting spark of inspiration. He was merely puzzled as to why he knew that name. No, wouldn't it be stranger if he didn't? Though he had lost his memories, his operator credentials proved that he had indeed once been a member of Rhodes Island.

Now everyone fell into confusion, including Kal'tsit herself. She was certain she had never met Mizuki before. There was no error in her memory storage system, especially not concerning an existence as unusual as Mizuki.

Yes, unusual. Kal'tsit could clearly sense Mizuki's abnormality. M3, hidden within her spine, was warning her. Mizuki was far more threatening than he appeared, and even more astonishing was the immense vitality within him, so vast it was nearly impossible to measure.

If an ordinary person's vitality were counted as one hundred, then Mizuki's started at a billion. How could such a level of life force possibly be contained within a body that could be called so small?

"Wait, you know each other?"

For some reason—perhaps Texas had stirred up her vigilance earlier—Exusiai now felt as if everyone she saw was planning to steal her man, including Ch'en, who was sitting over there.

Of course, she couldn't say that aloud. She simply clung to Mizuki's arm without letting go, looking from side to side.

"No, we don't know each other. I don't remember ever meeting Mizuki. Rather, if he truly were a member of Rhodes Island, his sister wouldn't have needed to go through so much trouble to find him."

"You know my sister?"

For the moment, Mizuki put aside the matter of why he knew Kal'tsit's name. Hearing that she had news about his sister immediately excited him. The name Skadi felt familiar to him, as though he had dreamed of it many times. The instant he heard it, it sounded deeply familiar.

It was impossible for Mizuki not to care about a sister he had no memories of. He had come from nothing and knew nothing of his past. When he learned he still had a sister, he hadn't even known whom to share his excitement with, since he and Exusiai hadn't established their relationship at the time.