In the study, two figures worked late into the night by lamplight.
Zhao Si found a hint of that feeling of staying up all night to avoid failing a class.
He had never worked this hard even at his old job.
Every questionnaire on the long table was laid out neatly.
Both Zhao Si and Malenia were writing furiously.
There were two copies of every questionnaire and test, one for Zhao Si and one for Malenia.
Both of them had to fill out forms and answer questions.
Neither had much experience with dating or romance.
Miquella had truly gone to painstaking lengths for this day.
"Senior Sister, do we really have to fill out this many documents?" Zhao Si's pen scratched across the parchment.
His pen flew across the page, swiftly filling in answers to the questions.
"My brother said that love is emotional and impulsive, but getting along well requires reason," Malenia answered without looking up. "If we only obey our desires, we're no different from livestock, and love wouldn't be so precious."
"That sounds pretty reasonable." Zhao Si nodded. "But, Senior Sister, this is actually the first time I've confessed my feelings to someone."
"It's my first time having someone confess to me, too." Malenia's pen paused before she resumed writing swiftly.
"I see." Propping his cheek on his left hand, Zhao Si looked at Malenia.
It felt especially strange.
They had just finished a confession beneath the cherry tree, yet before they could do anything, they were here grinding through questions.
They might have been the strangest couple in the world.
There were no heartfelt declarations, nor any great emotional upheaval.
It was a particularly unusual state to be in.
The two of them had gone from comrades-in-arms all the way to family.
The stage of earth-shattering