The Two Visitors

Xia Ya's footsteps came to an abrupt halt at the threshold.

The fatigue-dulled look in his eyes suddenly sharpened in that instant, becoming swift and keen as an arrow loosed from its bow.

The exhaustion he had felt was almost completely replaced by sudden surprise and confusion the moment he heard those two voices.

Even through his weariness, his eyes still gleamed with intelligence as they swiftly and accurately caught the two familiar female figures in the room.

Jiliang Yamato and Lacus Clyne.

The two of them should have had residences of their own, or been making preparations for the coming battle elsewhere.

They absolutely should not—and could not—have been in his room.

Why? Why were they waiting for him here?

"...Why?"

Xia Ya's tone carried a trace of incredulous surprise and confusion.

His voice was forcibly restrained, and his brow furrowed despite himself.

Hearing Xia Ya's somewhat stiff yet plainly questioning tone, Jiliang and Lacus felt neither surprise nor displeasure.

Instead, they exchanged a smile, their eyes flowing with a tacit understanding and playful teasing known only to them, along with the sweet, cloying affection they could not conceal when facing the one they loved.

Jiliang's bright eyes blinked, and a mischievous curve formed at the corner of her lips. Meanwhile, an unusual gentleness and ambiguity surfaced in Lacus's intelligent blue eyes.

Jiliang parted her red lips, her voice sweet and soft as melted honey. "Why... and you're still asking why, Xia Ya?"

There was a hint of coyness in her tone, but her eyes held a touch of amusement, as though blaming him for asking a question whose answer he already knew.

"There is only one answer."

Lacus gently took over. Her voice no longer carried its usual solemnity and grandeur. Instead, it became as soft as a