At the stroke of midnight, the bright moon hung high in the sky, quietly looking down upon St. Freya High School.
The bell tower was bathed in the clear moonlight, emitting a pure and limpid glow.
Bronya no longer tossed and turned, unable to sleep as she used to.
Now, whenever she wanted, she could enter Ye Feng's world at any time.
By closing her eyes and silently chanting "Lincoln, Big-head Stalin," she could feel her consciousness travel through time and space.
Of course, this wasn't some "necessary incantation"; Bronya just liked to shout it, thinking it was cool.
Just like "Project Bunny, FIRE!"—she could still fire without shouting it out loud.
---o---
A party was being held here.
Don't misunderstand, it was a very normal party. Everyone was dressed, attending in formal wear.
The hall, like that of a royal court, was brilliantly lit, the crystal chandelier overflowing with radiant light.
At the end of the red carpet, a magnificent backless evening gown made even Little Bug look elegant and beautiful.
Mei was wearing a shrine maiden's outfit.
A traditional shrine maiden's uniform, loose and flowing, sacred and elegant.
Mei wore a white top with long sleeves and a scarlet hakama skirt that fell to her ankles. Her waterfall of hair was tied at the end with a white ribbon. Amidst the lively banquet, her cherry lips glistened with a faint sheen.
"Hi, Mei ♪"
A flawless pink figure approached, her fair arms behind her back, dancing through the magnificent hall like a cheerful elf.
"Ely."
Mei's figure was slender, her temperament possessing the gentle beauty and grace of a Far Eastern woman. After putting on the shrine maiden's uniform for serving a god, she seemed even more ethereal and otherworldly.
"Wow, Mei, you look so beautiful today. I've never seen this style of clothing before."
"Thank you. You look very beautiful today too, Elysia."
"Mmm~~ Mei, have you forgotten?"
"Forgotten?"
Elysia held up a fair index finger and winked playfully. "Call me 'Ely.' We're such good friends now."
"Ely."
"Mhm! Hearing Mei call me that really does make me feel even happier. 'New Year's Day' is a very important day in this era, isn't it?"
"It is. Did you not have a holiday like this back in your time, Ely?"
"We had similar festivals. Ah, by the way, where were you last night?"
Mei's face flushed red. "I was just in the dorm."
"Of course I know that, you were sleeping in the dorm. Sigh, I wanted to find everyone to hang out, but Hua doesn't remember me, and when I went to Chiyou Islet, Danzhu and Cangxuan were also sleeping. Waaaaah~~ I was so lonely."
"Umm..."
Not far away, a dark and sharp gaze was fixed in their direction.
Watching Mei and Elysia's intimate display, the sausage in Kitty-Kiana's hand no longer seemed appetizing.
Little Bug put down her food, walked over, and said with her arms crossed, "Of course Mei crossed over into the new year here with Ye Feng."
"Crossed...?"
Hearing Kiana's words, Mei's toes clenched in her geta, the arch of her white-socked foot tensing into a tight, ripe curve. The girl in the shrine maiden outfit said nervously:
"Kiana, what nonsense are you talking about. I-I didn't cross over..."
"?"
"Oh?"
Kiana and Elysia's gazes simultaneously focused on Mei.
The pure and easily embarrassed Mei suddenly felt as if she were being stared at lewdly, as if her shameful state on the altar last night had been seen by everyone.
Mei's face grew redder and redder, and she could feel her cheeks burning hot.
Big Duck Duck watched from the side, an inexplicable ripple spreading across her silver-gray eyes. She picked up a nearby glass of red wine and drained it in one gulp.
"...Bronya."
Ji Lin approached gracefully. She wore a golden-orange court dress and a dangling hairpin, her waterfall of black hair swaying gently with her steps.
"Ji Lin..."
Looking at this dignified, elegant woman filled with classical charm, a complex emotion flashed through Bronya's heart.
Back at the company, it was this classical, chaste, and beautiful wife who had frantically craved her husband's body, even resorting to blackmailing him with a video.
Now, as the two met, an awkward atmosphere spread through the air.
After a moment of silence, Bronya spoke first.
"The Bronya knows that was just a 'simulation' and won't take it seriously."
Although she said this, Ji Lin's gentle yet crazed infatuation was still deeply imprinted in Bronya's mind. It didn't feel like an act at all.
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency. This servant..."
Ji Lin glanced secretly at Ye Feng, who was walking towards Mei.
"This servant is his servant and cannot disobey his orders."
Having received Ye Feng's "special pardon," Ji Lin, who had lost a bet to him, was no longer forced to call him Master.
She had lost the bet fair and square, so there was nothing to complain about.
But the title of "Master" might expose her in front of Cangxuan—that the servant in the "naked stocking balaclava" at the library that night was their gentle and steadfast friend.
Even Ji Lin, who was so wary of Ye Feng, had to thank him for his consideration on this point.
After the two talked for a bit, the awkwardness didn't completely fade, but they could at least manage a greeting the next time they met.
After Ji Lin left, Big Duck Duck scanned the hall. It seemed to be full of familiar faces.
Not just real people, but NPCs as well.
For example, at the Principal's table sat three white-stockinged lolis with strikingly similar faces; the blindfolded, white-haired female sword immortal seemed to be her husband's master, and she was with a fox-like girl, and there were many others...
"Sister Bronya, there you are. Seele has been looking for you for so long... This place is so big, and the layout is so complicated."
A girl as blue as the ocean approached, the long train of her formal dress trailing on the floor, yet remaining unstained, possessing a clear and pure beauty.
"...Sister Bronya, does Seele look strange in this dress... Seele was already wearing it when she 'woke up,' and can't change out of it..."
"Not at all. Seele is very beautiful."
A faint smile curved Bronya's lips. Seele's arrival was like a fresh sea breeze, smoothing her slightly furrowed brow.
Bronya looked again in Ye Feng's direction, but he had disappeared at some point. Looking closely, it seemed Sister Mei was gone too.
"..."
Seele looked at Big Duck Duck and asked with concern, "Sister Bronya... um, what are you thinking about?"
"N-nothing."
Seele lowered her head slightly, then looked up again with a clear smile. "Sister Bronya, Seele will always be by your side."
"Eh? Mhm, the Bronya too. If Seele has any troubles, you can come talk to the Bronya anytime."
"...Mhm."
Seele's little hand clenched slightly.
But why won't Sister Bronya talk to Seele about her problems?
Seele is grown up now. Seele can protect everyone too.