Lying straight on the bed, with the flat blanket covering him, Zeke found himself unable to fall asleep.
Mainly because he didn't feel even remotely drowsy.
"Not surprising; given my physiology, feeling sleepy would be the oddity."
Zeke rolled over, sat up, and tugged at his loose and comfortable pajamas. Since sleep eluded him, he decided to get out of bed.
He casually picked up a history book from the table, flipped through a couple of pages but lacked interest in reading further.
Suddenly freed from the nightly routine of managing those two restless troublemakers, Zeke felt somewhat at a loss.
"Hmm, perhaps I should ensure there's always one person staying behind from now on, just to have a more peaceful sleep."
Alone, Zeke chuckled softly, shook his head, and exited the room.
Navigating the quiet corridors, he climbed the stairs, ultimately reaching the familiar observation deck above the clouds.
Siegfried had already retired for the night, and the other girls typically didn't have a habit of nocturnal wandering, so this vast space seemed destined to be Zeke's private moonlit sanctuary—or so it should have been.
"Hm?"
Standing near the unguarded staircase that seemed to hang from the rooftop, Zeke spotted a small figure leaning against the railing of the observation deck.
Dressed in a nightgown and blue sandals, her waist-length black hair with green highlights gently swayed in the moonlit breeze.
"Can't sleep either?" Zeke asked Wendy matter-of-factly as he approached, almost like finding a kindred spirit.
"Yeah, I just can't slee—what are you doing here?!" Initially lost in thought, Wendy was startled by Zeke's sudden question, her voice cracking at the end.
Zeke curiously looked down at her.
"Whether Herrscher or Fusion Warrior, people like us typically don't feel drowsiness. Not being able to sleep at night and coming out to enjoy the scenery, what's so strange about that?"
"Well...I guess you're right." Wendy scratched her face with her left hand, revealing a windmill held in her right—a simple plastic toy with shimmering material on its spinning blades, creating a captivating sight under the moonlight.
Rubbing his chin, Zeke recalled a memory: during one team outing for bonding, he had noticed Wendy's eyes light up while gazing at these windmills at a street stall. On impulse, he bought one for her.
As Zeke reminisced, Wendy studied his current appearance, her cheeks inadvertently flushing slightly.
Dressed casually in simple light gray pajamas and black slippers, he looked quite homely—an uncommon sight for her. Witnessing Zeke's neighborly demeanor under the moonlight felt akin to an ambiguously intimate rendezvous between a couple.
Wendy's heart began racing uncontrollably.
With only inches apart and just the two of them, Zeke naturally noticed Wendy's unusual state. He took a few steps back.
"I should probably go back to sleep."
"...Is it that unbearable to be around me?" Wendy tilted her head, her flirtatious mood dissipating, replaced by sheer determination in her eyes. Then, tears welled up uncontrollably, reflecting her hurt feelings.
"I..." Zeke opened his mouth but hesitated, finding no words to respond.
There was certainly no dislike involved—not just towards Wendy, but none of the girls surrounding him could ever evoke such negative emotions. They were all wonderful individuals; their appearances, resilience, and kind hearts made them precious treasures deserving of utmost care.
However, Wendy had developed inappropriate feelings for him.
Zeke sighed, stepped forward, and snapped his fingers.
"Snap!"
With a crisp sound, a gust of wind arose, and multiple spinning pinwheels materialized around them, emitting dazzling multicolored glows that captivated their eyes.
"What's this?"
Wiping her eyes, Wendy sniffled and looked at the swirling pinwheels surrounding her, then glanced down at the toy pinwheel twirling in her hand, suddenly bursting into a giggle.
"Pfft! You, you're quite unique with your ways to cheer people up, aren't you!"
"Just a spontaneous idea. Don't cry in front of me; it gives me a headache."
"Hmph! Who do you think is at fault here?! Stupid jerk! Wooden blockhead!" Wendy sniffed again, suppressing her tears, and kicked Zeke lightly on his shin.
For Zeke, it was hardly noticeable, and unusually, he had no inclination to retaliate. Instead, he rubbed his temples, sounding exasperated:
"Knowing I'm a jerk and a blockhead, can't you still change your mind? There are plenty of exceptional men out there, or if not, there are also many outstanding women."
"What do you mean 'plenty of outstanding women'?! You pervert!"
"Lovers have freedom, after all. As long as they don't cling to me, even for Honkai Beasts, I could help sort out any details."
"Get lost! Sick freak!"
"Seems like you're especially rude to me, though?"
Zeke stared wordlessly at Wendy, who looked back defiantly with unyielding dark green eyes devoid of any remorse.
After a moment, Zeke's lips curved upward, and Wendy broke into a joyful smile as well.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Wendy turned alongside Zeke to face the bright moon overhead, laughing brightly:
"Ahh! I feel much better now!"
"I don't quite understand it all, but as long as you're not crying, that's fine."
"Typical straight man! At times like this, shouldn't you be asking why I'm upset?"
"Not bothered," Zeke replied, adopting a cold demeanor, as if handling official business.
Wendy paid no heed to his deliberate attempt to maintain distance. Leaning on the railing, she fiddled with her toy windmill, her long hair gently swaying as she spoke:
"I'm a girl too, you know? Seeing how close you are with Kiana, Bronya, Sin, and others while deliberately keeping me at arm's length—it naturally makes me sad. But Seele already has enough emotional struggles; usually, my focus is on taking care of her, so I have to suppress my feelings. Only when we're alone like this can I let off some steam... And just my luck, Mr. Scumbag had to stumble upon me! Hmph!"
Wendy rolled her eyes at Zeke.
He pondered for a moment with his head bowed.
It was true that compared to Wendy, who tended to hide her vulnerabilities, Seele was an open book—a child incapable of concealing her emotions. Her joy and sorrow were unmistakable, causing her sisters around her to eagerly attend to her even at the slightest hint of distress. As a result, Zeke had faced numerous confrontations from Kiana and Bronya over this matter.
The perceived neglect towards Wendy wasn't due to any lack of affection; they all grew up together after all. Even Bronya, who cared most deeply for Seele, held strong feelings for Wendy as well.
In essence, it seemed like—
"The loudest kid gets the candy?" Zeke mused slowly.
Wendy blinked, contemplating this notion with a peculiar expression before nodding.
"Not entirely accurate, but there's some truth to it, right? It's not that Seele intentionally cries; she's just incredibly innocent. Ultimately, though, it's still your fault, you damn scum."
"Enough is enough. Keep attacking me, and I won't be pleased either."
"Don't get too full of yourself, you deadbeat— Ahh!"
A glowing blue chain wrapped around Wendy's ankle, suspending her upside-down in mid-air, swaying and spinning with the wind.