The rented apartment.
With a soft click, the front door swung open.
"Xio, you seem really happy." Reclining on the sofa, Fors watched her friend take off her coat after coming through the door and asked in mild puzzlement.
Although Xio was usually quite energetic, it was rare to see her radiating such a lighthearted air. Even her steps were springier than usual, and she hummed an unfamiliar little tune as she hung up her coat.
"Did something good happen?" Fors asked curiously.
"Oh? Do I look happy?" Xio stopped and touched her cheek, sounding a little confused.
Your happiness is practically spilling over... Even that tuft of hair on your head is bobbing happily! Fors complained inwardly, feeling helpless.
"So you're not denying that something good happened?" Fors narrowed her eyes. "And you came home later than usual today~ Did you go to see someone?"
"I was working overtime at the Umbrella Company."
Xio walked over to the sofa and flopped backward onto it without the slightest concern for appearances, stretching luxuriously.
"Is your work that demanding now?" Fors felt a little sorry for her hardworking friend.
"No, I stayed voluntarily. I wanted to get some work done ahead of time." Seated on the sofa, Xio looked slightly tired, but her voice brimmed with enthusiasm.
"Actually, here's what happened..."
She sat upright and, with an excitement she herself had not noticed, briefly told Fors how Lorne had given her the Sequence 7 potion formula.
"I see. No wonder you're so motivated today..."
After listening, Fors said in mild surprise, "I didn't expect Scott to find you the Sequence 7 potion formula so quickly!"
"Actually, I was surprised too. I only mentioned it to Scott in passing, but he really went and took a risk to find it for me..."