Reine

"Just that?" Kotori looked a little surprised. After thinking for a moment, she pulled a Chupa Chups from her pocket and popped it into her mouth, readily agreeing.

"Mm-hm, that's right." Qian Huanyue smiled at Kotori. As she spoke, she took another Chupa Chups from Kotori's pocket and put it into her own mouth.

The movement was smooth and effortless, as though it were her own pocket.

"Then I'll contact Reine..." Kotori raised her hand, intending to activate the communicator in her ear, but just as her finger touched the headset, she froze. After a brief pause, she shifted her gaze aside and gave a light cough. "I'll handle this myself."

Today, Reine had taken a day off for the first time in ages.

As the commander, Kotori was naturally glad to see her have more private time of her own.

With that thought, she put away her communicator and decided not to disturb that rare moment of leisure.

"Okay, Huanyue. If you don't mind, Ratatoskr could try examining your body... It won't take much time," Kotori said, her expression growing more serious as she secretly watched Huanyue's face.

Good. She was smiling as usual.

Qian Huanyue blinked, rolling the Chupa Chups around in her mouth as sweetness spread between her teeth.

She muttered softly, "I don't really like examinations..."

"But I trust you, little Kotori."

Kotori curled her lips upward and gave a soft snort. "Got it, got it. I won't disappoint you, Sister Huanyue~"

Rinne opened her eyes.

An unfamiliar ceiling, unfamiliar light, unfamiliar scent—everything was so unfamiliar that it left her dazed.

She lay on a soft bed, her consciousness seeming to have just surfaced from the depths of a vast ocean. Only now had she regained some clarity.

"Oh, you're awake."

A voice that sounded