Inside the Space Station.
Bai Ming and Asta walked one behind the other. The distance between them wasn't particularly intimate, making it hard to think of them in terms of any deeper relationship.
"This space station is truly enormous." Bai Ming, walking ahead, couldn't help but exclaim.
"Station Director, do you manage such a huge station all by yourself normally? It's so many levels deep, it looks massive."
"Please, just call me Asta. 'Station Director' is too formal." Asta smiled. "And it's not actually just me. Arlan and many other staff assist me with daily operations, so it's not as terrifying as it seems. And besides—" Asta looked at Bai Ming, a triumphant sparkle in her blue eyes. "—there will soon be one more person to help me, won't there?"
"That's true!" Bai Ming nodded thoughtfully. "That's good! More hands make light work!"
"That's what I think too," Asta said, still smiling. "But speaking of that, Bai Ming, do you only have a general impression of the space station? Nothing more specific?"
"Well, since you ask…" Bai Ming scratched her cheek. "I actually have quite a few questions for you."
"Is that so?" Asta nodded. "Then ask away. I have time to answer right now."
"It's just…" Bai Ming walked over to a railing, looking out at the interior of the space station that had resumed its normal operations. "Why are you willing to stay here?"
"Willing to stay here?" Asta walked over to stand beside Bai Ming.
"Yeah!" Bai Ming turned, leaning back against the railing with her hands resting on it. "You're so wealthy, you could go play anywhere without a problem, right? Even without that kind of desire, you don't need to work yourself to the bone like this, do you?"
Bai Ming still remembered Asta's proficiency with the station and her determination to stand with the station during the Doomsday Beast's invasion. Honestly, at that moment, Asta seemed less like a legendary heiress and more like a captain—an old captain determined to go down with her ship.
"Wealthy?" Asta looked at Bai Ming with slight surprise. "Spending a few hundred million a week counts as wealthy?"
Hearing that, Bai Ming nearly lost her balance. "Asta, a few hundred million is a lot! Don't treat money like it's nothing!"
"My apologies." Asta gave a serene smile. "I've never been sensitive to figures like that. After all…" She looked up through the semi-transparent glass ceiling at the cosmos beyond the station. "For the stars, numbers in the billions are very common. Distances, predicted celestial body counts within a galaxy… they often reach that scale."
"Eh?" Bai Ming blinked her golden eyes. "Asta, is that why you're not sensitive to numbers?"
"One could say that," Asta replied. "Bai Ming, do you find it strange?"
"Strange? Not exactly," Bai Ming muttered. "If anything, I should apologize to you."
"Apologize?" Asta looked at her. "Why?"
"Because I used to think you were just some impersonal, ultra-rich heiress…" Bai Ming waved a hand. "But it seems that's not the case at all!"
"That's not really your fault." Asta pulled out her phone, swiped her finger across it a few times, and then showed the screen to Bai Ming. "The things I buy… are indeed a bit numerous."
"Uh—" Looking at the shopping list that showed (1/9999) pages, a few beads of cold sweat formed on Bai Ming's forehead. "A 'bit' numerous…? This is like buying out the entire online store…"
"Arlan says the same thing," Asta said with an awkward smile. "So I've tried my best to suppress my shopping urges. I only allow myself to spend ten million a week now."
"…That's still a lot."
"It's alright." Asta took Bai Ming's hand. "In the future, you can spend it for me. That way, I won't have as much money to buy things myself."
"Eh——!" Bai Ming looked at Asta, who was holding her hand, her expression first one of surprise, then gradually shifting to cautious inquiry. "R-really? I can spend money for you… to curb your shopping habits?"
"Mhm." Asta nodded. "That's exactly what I mean."
"This…" Bai Ming rubbed the bridge of her nose. "I never thought I'd encounter such good fortune in my lifetime… This must be the result of my lifelong accumulation of good deeds! Alright!" Bai Ming nodded very seriously. "I'll work very hard to spend money for you! You can count on me, Asta!"
"That would be wonderful." Asta placed a hand over her chest in relief, then asked, "By the way… Bai Ming, you mentioned earlier that you had something to give me? What is it?"
"Oh, right!" Bai Ming lightly smacked her own forehead, sticking out her tongue. "I got so caught up in asking questions, I almost forgot the main thing."
Saying this, Bai Ming looked left and right, seemingly dissatisfied with their current location.
"Bai Ming, what's wrong?" Asta asked proactively. "Do you have something in mind?"
"Well…" Bai Ming leaned close to Asta's ear and whispered, "Um, can we talk somewhere else? This isn't a very convenient place."
"This… Alright." Asta took Bai Ming's hand. "Let's find another place to talk."
…
A Corner of the Space Station.
To be precise, it wasn't just a corner, but a dead-end alleyway formed between two rooms. Asta and Bai Ming were now here.
"Why come to a place like this…?" Asta asked, taking in the surroundings. "It feels… like we're doing something very strange."
"Uh—" Bai Ming gestured with her fingers. "In a sense, it is a bit strange…"
"Mhm…" Asta patted Bai Ming's shoulder. "It's alright. Then let's find a way to make it less awkward. As long as we're willing to try, there's always a solution."
"Asta, you really are a good person." Looking at her, Bai Ming couldn't help but praise her. "But I still need to say what I have to say first. Otherwise, it really will be strange!"
"Go ahead." Asta's eyes held a starlight-like sparkle. "I'll listen very carefully."
"It's just…" Bai Ming reached out and gently pushed Asta against the wall.
"Asta, in a moment, I'm going to give you something. Don't be in a hurry to doubt me. I promise it's definitely not a bad thing! It's just that the method might be… a little unconventional!"
"This…" Asta looked at Bai Ming's hands resting on the wall on either side of her ears, her face flushing slightly. She had prepared herself mentally to some extent, but she hadn't expected Bai Ming to get hands-on so quickly. And in a place like this… But—it didn't feel bad.
Asta studied Bai Ming before her. Even though their genders might not be the most compatible, being pinned like this by Bai Ming in a deserted alley made Asta's heart race just as fast, as if it might leap out of her chest at any moment. That feeling said it all—she didn't care about the gender issue at all. She was surprised at how easily she'd accepted it.
Asta couldn't help but smile.
Seeing that smile, Bai Ming grew a bit flustered. "I-it really isn't okay, is it?! Then let's just forget it. Pretend I never said anything."
"No." Asta shook her head. "It's fine."
"Eh?" Before Bai Ming could react, Asta had already risen onto her toes and kissed her.
She was a head shorter than Bai Ming, but at this moment, she took the initiative. Faced with this, Bai Ming was momentarily surprised but quickly got into it, reclaiming the dominant role. She wrapped her arms around Asta's waist, her hands naturally clasping together behind Asta's back. Asta, balanced on her toes, was gradually pressed back down by Bai Ming's weight.
In the end, Bai Ming controlled the entire situation. She kissed Asta, letting their lips feel each other's sweetness and warmth. If anyone had passed by at that moment, they would have surely filled the space between the two beauties with a long, imagined history of roses in their mind.
Asta leaned fully against the wall behind her. Her hands, usually used for commanding, now rubbed against the cold metal surface. With her eyes closed, she was like a fish caught by a fisherman. But Asta found she didn't dislike being that fish—she had taken the bait willingly. And Bai Ming's lips were more than enough to make her lose herself in them. It was a difficult feeling to shake off.
Who knows how long they kissed before Bai Ming finally released Asta. Both their faces were slightly flushed, warm breath mingling between their lips, tracing the simplest of silver threads.
Asta wanted to say something but felt that silence spoke louder than words here. And it was indeed a bit awkward… Being kissed breathless by another girl was somewhat embarrassing.
However, in stark contrast to Asta's heart-pounding state, Bai Ming, though also breathing heavily, wore a relatively calmer expression. The roles of attacker and defender had swapped after that deep kiss.
Bai Ming spoke up at this moment. "Asta, don't you feel something… appearing on your back?"
"Something appearing?" Only when Bai Ming mentioned it did Asta realize she had been so absorbed in the kiss that she'd completely ignored everything else. Now, calming down, she did feel a faint warmth emanating from her back.
"What… is this?"
"It's a Stigmata." Even blushing, Bai Ming gave Asta a serious explanation. "It's something that can protect you."
Bai Ming wasn't talking nonsense. She had kissed so deeply precisely because she was afraid the Stigmata wouldn't properly transfer to Asta. It was the Stigmata named [Rowland (B) ★★★★]. This Stigmata could provide one powerful protective barrier when its wearer was sufficiently healthy. Bai Ming had once survived a direct hit from a Trampler's attack thanks to its protection.
She had originally intended to give it to March 7th, but she'd never found the right opportunity. Now, thinking about it, perhaps giving it to Asta was also a good choice. After all… she would genuinely risk her life for this space station.
"Something that can protect me?" Asta felt the Stigmata gradually manifesting on her back, but there was no trace of panic in her eyes. Ultimately, it was still something Bai Ming had given her. After a kiss that deep, how could it possibly be a trick?
But— "Is that so?" Asta wrapped her arms around Bai Ming's neck. "I'm really touched by your sentiment. But… I don't think it's necessary."
"Not necessary?" Bai Ming looked at Asta, puzzled. "Why do you say that?"
"Because you'll be staying at the space station. With you here, I don't think anything will go wrong. So, this kind of protection isn't really needed."
"Eh——?" Hearing Asta say this, Bai Ming was taken aback. Then, looking at Asta, she said softly, "Um, Asta… I can't stay at the space station."
"…" "Why?" Asta gazed at Bai Ming. "Didn't we just agree you'd help me spend money? If you don't stay at the space station, how will you help me spend it?"
"Eh?" Bai Ming's eyes turned into dot-like circles. "I can help you spend money even if I'm not at the space station… I'm very good at that."
"Then can't you stay here and spend it?"
"…I can't." Bai Ming's voice was full of apology. "I'm a temporary cleaner for the Astral Express. How can I stay at the space station? I have to leave with them."
"Then don't be a temporary cleaner." Asta looked at her. "Come work for me. Stay by my side every day, be my bodyguard. I'll take care of you. I'll give you as much money as you want to spend."
"Asta, I really appreciate your kindness." Bai Ming met Asta's gaze. "But… I still can't stay."
Asta was silent for a moment. "Is it because of March 7th?"
"…" "Mhm." Bai Ming nodded. "I have to leave with her."
Even after confirming this, Asta still didn't give up. "Tell me, Bai Ming, do you really like March 7th that much? Is there some absolute reason you have to do this?"
"Reason?" Bai Ming shook her head. "There's no reason. Hating someone might require a conflict, but liking someone doesn't need a reason. Because liking someone is just liking them, isn't it?!"
"…" "Are you sure you're not just liking her chest and her butt?" Asta asked pointedly.
"How did you know?!"
"Your hand… is currently inside my skirt." Asta said with mild exasperation. "That's how I know."
"This! I can explain! The atmosphere just felt right! But regardless of the groping—" Bai Ming looked at Asta. "Asta, I actually like you a lot too~ A girl like you would make a super girlfriend! It's just…"
"It's just that you like March 7th more, right?"
"Sigh…" Asta sighed, her face still faintly flushed. "It's so frustrating. I did everything, but I still lost?"
"Don't be like that! I'll come back to visit!" Bai Ming hurriedly said.
"Really?"
"Really!I promise!"
"Alright then. I suggest you take your hand out from under my skirt now." Asta looked at Bai Ming. "Otherwise, by the time the Astral Express leaves, you might really end up staying."
"Eh?! Didn't you say the docking platform wasn't fixed yet?"
"You're underestimating the station's technical capabilities.The platform was probably repaired the moment I ended that call."
"Wh-what?! Why didn't you say so earlier?!" Bai Ming panicked.
"Because I thought you would stay. Who knew it was all for nothing? Don't think I did it on purpose. If I had, I wouldn't be telling you now."
"Then I have to go now!"
"Wait a moment." Asta reached out and pulled Bai Ming back, then slipped a card into her coat pocket. "There are some Credits on here. Use them on your journey."
"But I—"
"No'buts'." Asta cut her off directly. "If you take my card, I'm your creditor. I have the right to call on you anytime, anywhere."
"Mhm!" Bai Ming nodded. "I understand! You're the second person I like most!"
"That kind of title is rather painful to hear."
"Hehe~" Bai Ming kissed Asta once more. "Don't be mad at me. I'll come back to see you! Oh, right, Asta, do you have Herta's contact info right now?"
"I do."
"Please give it to me!"
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A/n: Hey over on my patreon there are currently two for the time being exclusive books which are
Zenless Zone Zero: Loving Daily Life Starting in New Eridu
patreon.com/deadlygoober