High Attack, Low Defense

"Dr. Ratio, let me tell you a little secret."

The Trailblazer's clothes were soaked, rising and falling with the ripples on the water's surface.

For some reason, the Trailblazer wasn't calling Dr. Ratio 'Professor' anymore, which suited him just fine.

Being addressed as 'Teacher' or 'Professor' all the time made him feel like there was a distance between them.

Just calling him by his name felt a bit more intimate.

Dr. Ratio reached out, his fingertips lightly tracing the plaster head, his nails occasionally clicking against it with a crisp sound.

"What is it?"

He'd suddenly put on the plaster head, but it definitely wasn't because he was embarrassed. Definitely not because he didn't want the Trailblazer to see his expression.

"Actually, the Express Crew is going to warp to Omphalos in a couple of days. They say it's really dangerous, Professor.

If something goes wrong, this might be the last time we see each other.

So, even though I did that kind of thing to you, you're not going to be angry, right?"

Omphalos?

The Veritas Doctor narrowed his eyes slightly.

He'd never heard of it before. It must be a world that even [The Trailblaze] hadn't ventured into.

The difficulties and dangers within were probably far more treacherous than the Trailblazer's smiling tone suggested.

He sighed, closed his book with his left hand, and gently tapped the Trailblazer's head.

"Don't talk such nonsense. 'If something goes wrong'? How dare you say such self-cursing words? You're not allowed to be my student, Ratio's student, anymore."

Stelle quietly lowered her head.

"Even if you didn't do that, I wouldn't be angry."

Seeing Stelle looking dejected and silently lowering her head, Dr. Ratio added very quietly.

The Trailblazer quickly glanced up at him.

When had Dr. Ratio become so agreeable?

She secretly called out to the Aeon of Elation in her heart.

[Stelle: Aha, what's my progress in capturing Dr. Ratio now?

Aha: It's been 100% for a while now.

Stelle: 'Been'?

Ah, yeah, actually, even before you started pursuing him, his affection for you was already at 50%.

Stelle: ??? Dr. Ratio is unexpectedly high attack, low defense!

Aha: Or else why do you think he was giving you one-on-one free lessons before? Don't think that a professor who offers fifty-two courses at the university has nothing better to do!]

Eh...?

No wonder.

At this moment, all the fragmented clues in her mind connected!

Stelle had been suspicious for a long time.

All those companions, Stelle had to get up early and work late doing daily tasks to earn Stellar Jade, buy tickets from Pom-Pom, and then use the tickets to invite companions onto the train.

But only Dr. Ratio.

He didn't let Stelle spend any money. Only him, only he came for free!

Wasn't that enough to prove something?!

So that's how it was, so that's how it was!

But, when was it?

The Trailblazer couldn't figure out if it was the first time she saw Dr. Ratio's plaster head in the Seclusion Zone, or when she was being jointly interrogated by Asta and Screwllum.

When exactly did she catch Dr. Ratio's attention?

It didn't matter anymore.

There was no point in exploring these things now.

The Trailblazer felt both slow and suddenly grateful that she had confessed her feelings to Dr. Ratio before going to Omphalos, which was completely sealed off from the outside world.

She suddenly got up and pressed her hands on Dr. Ratio's collarbones.

Actually, she had originally wanted to grab his collar.

But unfortunately, Dr. Ratio didn't have such a thing right now.

Dr. Ratio blinked in confusion, wondering why the Trailblazer was suddenly so excited.

"Dr. Ratio, I like you too! Muah muah muah!"

As the Trailblazer spoke, she reached out and yanked the plaster head off Dr. Ratio's head!

Meeting the man's shocked gaze, she began to nibble at him with righteous indignation.

[Dr. Ratio: What? What do you mean 'also' likes me? I haven't said a word this whole time!]

Ratio thought that, although he didn't know what the Trailblazer was thinking in her head, she was actually self-seducing, and even succeeded.

But fortunately, the result was good.

Remembering his initial decision to board the Express for free, his gaze couldn't help but soften.

Ratio reached out and grabbed the Trailblazer by the back of her collar, lifting her up like a kitten.

The Trailblazer nibbled wildly, her lips already a little red.

Two glistening drops of water remained on them.

Dr. Ratio's eyes were tender, and without the plaster head obscuring his face, his expression was magnified several times in the hazy, watery vision.

Inside the bathtub, water splashed and flowed with a rushing sound.

The rising hot mist in the air grew even thicker.

The Trailblazer couldn't quite remember what happened after that.

She remembered soaking in the bathtub for too long, and being vaguely hauled ashore by Dr. Ratio.

She pulled back the curtain, threw her soaked clothes into the washing machine, wrapped herself in a bath towel, and stumbled out of the bathroom.

The effects of inhaling the hypnotic flowers were now kicking in.

The Trailblazer went straight to the big bed, burrowed under the covers, and fell into a deep sleep.

And when Dr. Ratio came out of the bathroom, this was what he saw.

The lights in the room were already off, and the Trailblazer was curled up into a small ball, the blanket rising and falling with the rhythm of her breathing.

She was clearly sound asleep.

Dr. Ratio's lips curled into a smile. He didn't linger, grabbing the document signed by the Trailblazer from the table and preparing to leave.

Before leaving, he gently tucked the blanket around the Trailblazer.

His fingers lingered briefly at the bedside table.

Then, he turned and strode away.

On the bedside table, a cute little yellow duck, with wide, round eyes, was staring adorably at the sleeping Trailblazer.

Good night, the little duck seemed to say.

How should I put it?

The Trailblazer isn't Ratio. She doesn't usually spend a lot of time in the bathtub.

So he can soak in the water for a long time, but she can't.

Therefore, Stelle exited the Elation state as soon as her head hit the pillow.

In a nutshell: the Aeon of Elation was too tired and went on strike.

In her dream, Aha was still reliving the whole process with the Trailblazer.

[Aha: Oh, I was watching you and Dr. Ratio nibbling on each other from a third-person perspective, you have no idea how Elating it was!

Stelle: Considering how hard I worked, it wouldn't be too much to give me a hundred scripts, right? Give them all to me now.

Aha: Don't be so impatient. I'll give them to you when you're about to board the Omphalos. I'll only give you one.

Don't underestimate this one. You have to focus on quality, not quantity. This one is a condensed version.

No nonsense, all substance! You'll definitely like it.]