She tightly hugged Soga Yura's shoulders.
Sakura Mai suddenly didn't know how to comfort this girl.
To be honest... if it were someone else, she might have just slapped her across the face, giving her a physical wake-up call.
But... Soga Yura.
Sakura Mai couldn't bring herself to do it. They had been classmates and best friends for many years.
Moreover... Sakura Mai felt she bore some responsibility for today's situation.
"It won't happen..."
"It won't—"
She could only comfort Soga Yura like this, "You're so tsun... dere."
Sakura Mai hesitated a bit.
Because in her view, Soga Yura's behavior couldn't even be considered tsundere; it was more extreme than 'tsun'.
The 'dere'... was nowhere to be seen.
Although this girl could spoil Yuzu to the heavens behind the scenes, meticulously checking every detail of Yuzu's dorm decor, clothes, bath products, and more.
But... if Yuzu couldn't see it, what was the point?
Spoiling her so much behind her back, yet putting on a sour face every time she saw Yuzu, stabbing at Yuzu's heart time and again—what was the point?
But... seeing Soga Yura crying her eyes out, she could only try to comfort her.
"Maybe Yuzu is just being tsundere too."
"Yu... Yuzu isn't tsundere!" With a whimpering, sobbing voice, Soga Yura hiccuped, "Yuzu is so well-behaved."
"When we were little..."
"When I didn't understand anything yet, Yuzu was already so sensible."
Soga Yura mumbled on and on about Yuzu's good qualities.
It made Sakura Mai want to facepalm.
"Back then, Yuzu held my hand... and said she'd protect me forever..."
The more she talked about Yuzu's virtues, the sadder Soga Yura became, and the breath she had just mustered collapsed all at once.
"Wuu..."
"Wuuwaaaah!!!"
Soga Yura felt that Yuzu would never care about her again.
From now on, in Yuzu's eyes, she would just be... a sister in name only.
Sakura Mai bit her lip, gently patting Soga Yura's shoulder.
"What if..."
"Tomorrow... or in a few days."
"Yuzu will come looking for you."
"No—" Sakura Mai seriously cupped Soga Yura's face, making the girl lift her tear-streaked face to look at her.
"Yura..."
"It's time for you to go find Yuzu."
Soga Yura's pupils suddenly contracted.
Whoosh—
The hourglass in the depths of her crimson eyes wanted to flip.
She curled up on the sofa, shrinking, "I can't..."
"I can't do it."
"Wuu..."
Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura's shrinking form, and suddenly felt incredibly angry.
"What's so impossible!!!" Sakura Mai vigorously rubbed Soga Yura's tear-streaked face.
"How many times has Yuzu come looking for you."
"How many times have you given Yuzu a sour face."
"Eight or nine years, right..."
"At least eight or nine years."
"If it were me, I would've slapped you across the face long ago, you know!!!"
"If it weren't for you acting like a total sister-slave behind her back, I would've thought you'd cut ties with Yuzu, you know!!!"
Sakura Mai roared, forcing Soga Yura to meet her eyes.
The power of "Sword of Will" emanated invisibly.
Sakura Mai's ability "Sword of Will", besides granting her powerful swordsmanship enhancements and mental resistance,
Its derived ability "Morale Boost" could also enhance her teammates' morale.
In the game, it was probably something like "Morale Boost: When Sakura Mai is in the team, all allies' attack power +12%."
Soga Yura bit her lip hard.
"Tomorrow—"
"Tomorrow we'll go find Yuzu together."
"Get things cleared up."
"I beg you, just this once, bring out that energy you have when rolling around with Yuzu's body pillow, okay."
But... recalling Soga Yura giggling foolishly while rolling around with Yuzu's life-sized body pillow in the dorm.
"Never mind..."
"Don't scare Yuzu."
A drop of cold sweat suddenly appeared on Soga Yura's head.
Sakura Mai cupped Soga Yura's face with both hands, their faces drawing very close, closer than anyone besides Yuzu had ever been to Soga Yura.
"So—ga—Yu—ra—"
Sakura Mai enunciated each syllable, "You said... in Yuzu's heart, you're the most important."
"Right."
"Think about it..."
"Yuzu has been hurt by you so many times."
"Behind your back, Yuzu has cried like this many times."
"This time..."
"It's your turn to hug her."
Thump thump—
Soga Yura suddenly raised her eyes blankly.
Whoosh—
The hourglass in the depths of her crimson eyes flipped.
"You don't understand... Mai."
"I want to hug Yuzu more than anyone."
"Time and again..."
"Time and again..."
"Every time I stab at Yuzu, I feel the same pain as Yuzu."
"When we were little, Yuzu could feel my pain."
"Now..."
"It's my turn."
She staggered to her feet, "But I can't."
Her fists clenched tight.
"Mai..."
"I already... don't have the strength to hug Yuzu... don't have the right to touch Yuzu."
She... was so afraid.
Sakura Mai looked into Soga Yura's eyes before her.
She suddenly realized something.
Soga Yura... was "Dominating" herself.
In fact... all along, in front of Yuzu, she had been "Dominating" herself.
As long as she stopped "Dominating", she would uncontrollably pounce.
But she had always suppressed that doting affection for Yuzu in front of her.
Using "Domination" to erect a barrier of thorns.
Behind the "Domination", Soga Yura's heart was also growing in a nearly twisted way.
"Right?"
"Strength?"
Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura before her, her eyes empty and dim.
What exactly was she afraid of.
-
-
Tightly gripping Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi's hand, Su Yuzu held her breath, appearing to leave cleanly and decisively.
She looked at her own [Operator Development].
Unlike Soga Yura's arrogant and cold demeanor in reality.
In [Operator Development]... Soga Yura's chibi figure's mouth had almost turned into a miserable wavy shape.
°.o.(°Д°)°.o.°
The hand gently touching [Develop]... ultimately did not fall.
________________________________________
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