"Hey, Avita, you're back from the mine?" Akali hurried over, looking excited, then glanced at Tibbers beside her and made a face at him. "What's this, Tibbers? Has Avita dragged you into helping with her experiments again? She's working you too hard, making you work even at lunchtime. I told you to join my team ages ago, but you wouldn't. Regretting it now?"
Tibbers gave a wry smile. He had finally worked up the courage to tell Avita how he felt, only for Akali to interrupt him.
It would probably be difficult to summon that kind of courage again.
"No regrets. I like the director...'s research into refining magic crystals. I think it has more potential than the Magic Array Resonance Technique," Tibbers said, covering for himself.
"Are you saying the Magic Array Resonance Technique I'm researching has no potential?" Akali immediately raised her voice. "Let me tell you, the President himself told me this research had tremendous potential! How dare you look down on it?"
"No, no, no, that's not what I meant. I just prefer the director's research topic," Tibbers said, waving his hands repeatedly.
"Hmph. I don't think it's the research topic you prefer. It's Avita, isn't it?" Akali said, giving Tibbers a sidelong look.
Tibbers immediately flushed. He was about to protest when Avita raised a hand to stop him.
"That's enough. Don't try arguing with Akali about these things. It's pointless." Avita smiled, glanced out the window, then said to Tibbers, "Akali's right. It's lunchtime, and I shouldn't keep you here working. Go and eat."
"But these..." Tibbers pointed at the large pile of magic crystals on the table.
"I can handle these without your help."
Hearing the firm note in Avita's voice, Tibbers left the laboratory, looking a little disappointed.
Once Tibbers had closed