Winning Over Sigelika...
Augusta?
Let's forget about it for now, it doesn't matter.
As the saying goes, things will work themselves out in the end. Despite his indecisiveness, Lu Guan still chooses to leave the future to his future self.
After all, his strong-willed mindset wouldn't allow him to think about Augusta while trying to win over Sigelika... Besides, he hadn't even had any contact with Augusta, and things were still far from settled!
[Augusta]
[Current favorability: 6]
[Impression of the host: You guys are really perverted!]
"... What's going on?" Lu Guan's lips twitched. Why did Augusta have this strange impression of him?
Lu Guan considered a possibility: the illusion Dania created with the Void Matter Bubble was unlikely to be able to stop Augusta, who was Tunneler Resonator. In other words...
Could it be... that she saw me and Dania doinb together?
Before he could think about it, Lu Guan felt a delicate yet strong little hand tug at his sleeve.
"S-senpai," Sigelika pursed her lips, a slight blush rising on her face, "Would you like to go to the training grounds together later?"
"Training ground?"
"Because... I also want to become as amazing as my seniors!"
"As good as me?"
"Hmm... I heard from Yaya that you single-handedly repelled the Tacet Discord of Nihility!" Sigelika explained, "Although... I probably couldn't do that, I also want to be able to stand beside you, like Yaya..."
"Sigelika..." Lu Guan patted her head, feeling the warmth of the girl's hair, and said earnestly, "You don't need to compare yourself to me... After all, everyone's path is different..."
"Hmm...｡°(°.◜ᯅ◝°)°｡" Hearing this, Sigelika looked a little disappointed. "If you're not willing, senpai... then forget it."
"It's not that I'm unwilling, Sigelika." Lu Guan shook his head and patted her shoulder. "Don't you think you're putting too much pressure on yourself?"
"You have to study hard for your grades, spend time honing your resonance abilities, and practice your combat skills in the training ground from time to time..."
Life is not short, so you don't need to compress your time so much. Sometimes, proper relaxation is also very necessary.
"... Relax?" Sigelika lowered her head, carefully choosing the word, then muttered softly, "But you yourself have never relaxed..."
"Uh...?" Lu Guan was puzzled. He felt that he had been quite relaxed lately, living a completely ordinary student's daily life...
"You've looked so tired these past few days..." Sigelika whispered, "You must have been working really hard behind the scenes, right?"
Lu Guan's expression immediately became extremely interesting.
The naive Sigelika thought that Lu Guan's listless appearance all day was due to his hard work at night...
In reality, Dania's daily tasks wouldn't have any substantial impact on Lu Guan, but if Lu Guan showed signs of being full of energy, Dania might suggest an extra round...
So his constant half-dead appearance actually had a little trick up his sleeve, which Sigelika never expected to misunderstand.
"Well... there's more to it than that..." Lu Guan sighed, rubbing his forehead. "How am I supposed to explain this situation to you every day..."
"No need... I understand!" Sigelika shook her head, stopping Lu Guan from saying anything more. "Senior, you should remember to get some rest!"
Sigelika! What do you know?
Lu Guan was internally screaming, although he could tell from her facial expression that Sigelika probably hadn't thought of it that way...
But why does the line "Senior, remember to get some rest!" sound so awful?!
Knowing that continuing this topic would kill the conversation, Lu Guan quickly looked for an opportunity to change the subject.
"Um... what are Sigelika's hobbies?"
Admittedly, Lu Guan could use the [Bond: Peerless Best Friends] affinity boost to seek a breakthrough with Dania, thereby quickly raising Sigelika's affinity to 100 points...
But this is... the mindset of a slave to points!
If you use this kind of almost bug-exploiting behavior to finally win over a girl, what's the difference between that and skipping class?
What kind of strategy guide is it if it doesn't involve emotional investment? Lu Guan actually wanted to use this system as a support tool rather than exploiting near-bug-like bonds for cheating...
Therefore, he must at least try to turn the tables and regain Sigelika's last bit of goodwill in his own way...
That's why he played the Dania defeat cutscene; after all, he couldn't very well refuse his girlfriend's demands, could he?
Dania, having suffered a defeat, certainly wouldn't issue another challenge anytime soon, giving Lu Guan time to actively pursue Sigelika. As for the age issue, Sigelika is already an adult!
Moreover, she's actually bigger Carlotta, so theoretically she can't be considered a legal loli; she should be called a legal teenage girl!
"My interests... I actually quite enjoy observing animals... especially birds flying in the sky..."
Upon hearing this, Lu Guan seemed to have some deep-seated code activated, and blurted out. "So... why can birds fly?"
"Birds... why can they fly?" Sigelika shook her head. "I'm not really sure... I think... maybe it's because they have their own goals?"
"Perhaps it's about crossing continents, flying from one pole to the other; or perhaps it's about traversing storms to find the land they desire."
"They aren't born knowing how to fly, so they all have to go through a first time—the first time bravely leaping from a great height, letting the wind ruffle their feathers..."
"I admire their courage and freedom, which is why I enjoy observing birds..."
"Yes..." Lu Guan said with a smile, "Even birds in flight need to land and rest from time to time, how could you not understand this principle?"
Sigelika pondered for a moment, "Does that mean... rest is also an important part of growth?"
"You're putting too much pressure on yourself. Talent is both a gift from fate and a mental shackle..."
Lu Guan said calmly, "True strength isn't something that can be cultivated overnight; a balance between work and rest is essential to better develop one's talents..."
"I can go to the training ground with you, but you have to promise me that you'll relax a bit after training..."
"Mmm!" Sigelika nodded like a chick pecking at rice, replying with a smile, "Then let's set off now, Sen~!"
"Hiding his girlfriend's best friend behind her back..." Augusta sat at an outdoor café table, watching Sigelika and Lu Guan's departing figures, her eyes filled with a strange expression. "I never imagined that the Aleph-1 would be this kind of person in private..."
"That's so true; you can know a person's face but not their heart..."
Unbeknownst to Lu Guan, Augusta's favorability rating had quietly decreased considerably...
Lu Guan's dormitory.
Dania slowly awoke.
She sat up and subconsciously touched her lower abdomen.
The warm and satisfying feeling she experienced last night was something she had never felt before while eating... It was so sudden it made her a little uneasy, yet also inexplicably reassuring...
She blushed and muttered to herself, "Really... so sudden... didn't even give the girl any time to prepare..."
"However, he also possessed a unique charm..."
The girl slowly got out of bed and walked barefoot on the floor. Soon she found a note on the table next to her.
"Little peach..."
"I've arranged your leave... Take a good rest these next few days..."
"There's your favorite cake in the microwave... Remember to unplug it after you're done..."
"And remember to wear shoes!"
"I know... It's so annoying. I'm not a child anymore, do you have to give me such detailed instructions..." Dania said, but she couldn't hide the smile on her face.
"Since you've been so considerate, I'll let you rest for a few days and give you a break..."
All those flashy, cheap women out there, how can they compare to me with the meticulous care he shows me?
With that in mind, Dania immediately decided to finish her cake and then go to the library to find Nastassja, and maybe take a nap while she was there...
As for Sigelika... she really didn't want to go looking for her.
After all, Nastassja wouldn't insist on doing much outdoor exercise herself, but Sigelika would always enthusiastically drag her along to participate in some outdoor activities...
And lately, Sigelika's gaze towards her has always carried a strange sense of guilt. Is it just her imagination?
Dania shook her head, deciding to enjoy the food first and not think about it too much for the time being...
Sigelika can't possibly raid our base at this time, can she?