But I Was Here First

Held in Lin Feng's arms, Asta wore a happy, bashful smile on her fair, lovely face.

Her heartbeat quickened, like a fawn racing through the forest, its strides growing faster and faster.

So this is what being in love feels like. It's so sweet, the long-haired, pink-haired girl thought. A crimson blush spread across her cheeks, leaving even her ears feeling warm.

She had staked everything on that confession, yet Lin Feng had returned her feelings. Asta felt incredibly lucky.

"M-Mr. Lin Feng, does this mean you've said yes?"

Still seemingly a little uncertain, the beautiful, pink-haired Asta asked hesitantly.

"Yes... how could I let such heartfelt feelings go unanswered, Miss Asta?"

His broad palm gently stroked her pink hair, and a faint smile graced Lin Feng's lips.

To be honest, although he had expected Asta's confession, it had still come as a pleasant little surprise.

So when it came to love, the lead researcher of Herta Space Station before him was actually such a brave, thoughtful girl.

Sadness and happiness were both contagious, and at that moment, Lin Feng understood what happiness tasted like, too.

"Mr. Lin Feng... how was my confession just now? I spent ages thinking about it..."

Wrapping her slender, jade-like arms tightly around Lin Feng's sturdy body, Asta buried her head in his chest and asked softly.

"Not bad, not bad..."

"What? That's such a halfhearted answer..."

She had planned before acting. Ever since that night, Asta had been restless and had already thought up all sorts of approaches.

Even the words of today's confession had only been settled after she had racked her brains.

There was no helping it. Researching the astronomy of the cosmos was her specialty, but romance and confessions left her at a loss.

"Asta, just call me Lin Feng from now on. Calling me 'Mr.'... feels a little too distant."

"O-okay, Big Brother Lin Feng! Hehe..."

Her delicate brows drew together slightly, and a blush rose on her fair, jade-like face as Asta spoke softly, her voice almost cloyingly sweet.

So Asta's actually this mischievous?

Already fond of her, Lin Feng was a little taken aback, but he did not dislike this new form of address.

"Speaking of which, Asta, there's actually something I'd like to hear you say..."

Remembering something, Lin Feng's lips curved slightly. He brought his mouth close to Asta's ear and whispered.

"Ooh... you're being a little strange today, Big Brother Lin Feng."

"But since it's what Lin Feng wants, I suppose I'll oblige."

"You're so annoying. So annoying, annoying, annoying... hehe, but I like you being annoying like this!"

She pressed her soft, fair body even closer to Lin Feng. Asta's gentle voice echoed in his ear, making him shudder.

"Ahem... that's too sweet. It doesn't have the right feel anymore..."

"What? You're so picky. I'm never saying it again..."

Speaking in a playfully petulant tone, Asta wore a bright smile, as lovely as a flower blooming in the sunlight.

While Lin Feng and Asta basked in sweetness and happiness, a pink-haired head peeked around the far end of the storage corridor. Ripples seemed to shimmer in Sakura's cherry-pink eyes.

"Why... did it turn out like this..."

"Sniff... but I was here first!"

"How could it be her..."

Her rosy lips parted, her voice trembling slightly. March 7th looked utterly heartbroken and dejected.

She had noticed something that morning when Lin Feng had awakened. After all, the delicate perfume on him had already aroused her suspicions.

Over the past few days, she had not had many chances to see Lin Feng, either, and March 7th had grown curious about what exactly was keeping him busy.

So when Lin Feng appeared in the Central Control Zone and met Asta, she had quietly followed them.

Now she finally knew the so-called truth, but that truth was so cruel and cutting.

The girl whose hair was pink like hers, Asta, the lead researcher of Herta Space Station, was clearly the owner of that perfume.

Before she had even made up her mind to tell Lin Feng how she felt, that hateful woman had already stolen the prize.

March 7th had never imagined that this would be the outcome.

"My heart... it hurts so much..."

Biting her rosy lip hard, she felt warm liquid slowly slide down her cheeks. Her fists clenched tightly, and March 7th was devastated.

She had heard Himeko say long ago that love was like poison, that it could hurt so badly it left you unable to breathe.

Thinking about it now, that really did seem to be true.

At that moment, March 7th's delicate body trembled slightly, as though countless sharp shards of glass had pierced her heart.

Tears kept spilling from the corners of her eyes like beads from a broken string, leaving her looking disheveled.

In truth, she and Asta had been quite close. Whenever she had visited Herta Space Station before, Asta would always meet her for a long chat.

Perhaps because they were close in age, or perhaps because they shared the same hair color, a friendship had slowly formed between the girls.

Whenever they talked about exploring the mysteries of the stars, Asta would smile gently and tell her how much she envied her life aboard the Astral Express.

Asta could only gaze up at the cosmos and study it, while she could roam among the stars on endless Trailblaze journeys.

Whenever she visited a planet on a Trailblaze journey, March 7th would send Asta photographs of the local sights and customs she encountered.

That way, it seemed, the girl who was like a dear sister to her could share in her happiness and joy.

"Why... why did it have to be you? Why..."

Her face filled with sorrow and dismay, March 7th clenched her fists tightly, her pupils contracting slightly within her pink eyes.

Although she felt a faint impulse to confront Asta face-to-face, she held herself back.

Once upon a time, she had said that she wanted Asta to be happy.

From what she could see, Asta's confession had clearly succeeded, and she had found the love she had always hoped for. Should she really step forward?

For the first time, I found someone I loved.

And I found a friend for life.

Those two joys overlapped.

And that double happiness brought even more and more happiness.

I should already have had a blissful time straight out of a dream.

And yet, why did it turn out like this...

March 7th did not understand why life was always so dramatic, why unbelievable things would unfold right before her eyes.

Could Lin Feng and Asta have already shared a bond before she had awakened him with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?

But she had never heard Asta mention anything like that before.

Her mind went blank for a moment. Perhaps only when someone else mercilessly took away what she cherished and longed for did she truly understand just how much Lin Feng meant to her.

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