"Th-How is it...?"
Yuzu stared at the log entries, where the words 'Bullying' and 'Favorability Increase' were written in plain black and white.
"Wasn't that a dream?"
"Wasn't that just an illusion generated when I broke through to the First Sequence?"
Soga Yura, bound tightly to the throne, had seemed utterly doll-like, showing barely any reaction. Aside from basic physical instincts, her gaze had remained unfocused, fixed solely on the throne of thorns. It was completely different from when Soga Ishikawa Kiyomi had fully descended.
"But..."
The corner of Yuzu's eye began to twitch wildly. She looked at the "Complete Birthday Cake" that had undeniably appeared in her data inventory—identical in its ugly-cute appearance to the one she had painstakingly made last year. Suddenly, the situation felt incredibly nuanced.
The doll seemed to have somehow... turned into a marionette, or perhaps a voodoo doll. The only fortunate thing was that, when facing Yura, she hadn't subjected her to such miserable bullying as she had Kiyomi. She should... be able to stand up after a good rest, right?
However, recalling Yura's frail constitution, Yuzu suddenly found herself questioning that assumption. As for Yura's personal safety, there probably wasn't a need to worry.
Miss Sakura was a Third Sequence Esper. Yura herself was a Third Sequence Mind Control User. Even if she was physically weak enough to struggle with luggage, her mental domain wielded a power beyond ordinary comprehension. At worst, she would merely suffer a momentary embarrassment... that's all.
Why did Yuzu suddenly feel a bit concerned? She felt that what she needed to worry about wasn't Yura's safety. It was the safety of the people around Yura.
She had a feeling that by tomorrow, a new urban legend might be born: on a sunny and breezy afternoon, a large number of people in a certain area suddenly experienced "memory loss." The Phantom Thief of Memories!
"So really..." Yuzu looked at the shining achievement badge for [I Enjoy Eating People in Dreams]. How could Yura, with such a powerful mental domain, appear in her First Sequence promotion scene? And even leave behind a "voodoo doll" effect.
Was it because of the [Seat of Karma]? She got out of bed and stretched her body. Drawing back the curtains, Yuzu suddenly realized that the sky outside had already been thoroughly dyed in the deep hues of night. She suddenly began to worry about whatever stamina Yura had left.
Just then— Knock, knock, knock. Yuzu's hospital room door was gently rapped upon.
"Who is it?"
"Me." A girl's voice, cool yet apprehensive, rang out. "Kujou Katora."
Looking at the dark sky outside, Yuzu suddenly realized. She had a date with Katora to watch a late-night movie tonight.
This was why noble 6-star Operators were so troublesome. In the game, it was simple: you just needed to gift a movie ticket. But in reality, it was completely different—you at least had to accompany Katora through the entire film.
Watching a movie took at least a few hours. Look at the little rabbit next door. You just had to take the little rabbit to the commercial street and buy a strawberry cream crepe. You could even order it to-go and bring it back to her.
For a moment, Yuzu didn't know if she should say 6-star Operators were high-maintenance, or if the little rabbit was just too easy to care for. After all... among the 6-star Operators, there were also oddballs like Yura.
Yuzu estimated that no matter what gift she gave Yura, the effect would likely be of legendary "Orange" quality. She opened the door.
And her eyes immediately lit up. Standing hesitantly before her, Katora was wearing a rare sight: a formal dress that closely resembled a cheongsam.
The reason she could only describe it as "resembling" one was that Yuzu had never seen a cheongsam with such a massive cutout on the side of the waist. The petal-like cutout curved almost dangerously close to the lower abdomen. Even though the opening was backed by black silk mesh, revealing not a single inch of skin, Katora's toned obliques and the faint traces of her ribs were revealed in exquisite detail.
The chest was the same. If one looked closely, the cutout was so large it looked more like a cheongsam-style tube top paired with a detached mandarin collar. The girl's impressive curves drew Yuzu's gaze.
Although, due to Katora's habit of wearing a full-body black stocking suit underneath whatever she wore, the fabric of the cheongsam—scant as it was—didn't actually expose much skin. But... Yuzu had to admit it. It was lewder. Honestly, it was even more provocative.
If this were in the game, this skin would undoubtedly be slapped with a "Limited" tag and easily fetch a hundred bucks. Katora held her breath slightly, watching Yuzu's reaction with nerves.
Given Katora's aesthetic sense and habits, she naturally wouldn't have bought such clothes herself. This was a dress that her adjutant, teary-eyed for the sake of her future livelihood, had used Katora's bank card to buy.
Of course— Katora wasn't a mean person. If... Yuzu really liked it. Next month, she would add a bonus to her adjutant's salary. Though the salary itself was already forfeit. Who told her to interrupt Katora's good time earlier today?
"H-How is it...?" Nervously tugging at the hem of the slit on the other side of the cheongsam, Katora looked at Yuzu anxiously. To be honest... when she first saw herself dressed like this in the mirror.
Katora was so ashamed she wanted to let the Hound of Blood eat the mirror. But thinking that tonight might be the last time she saw Yuzu for a while, she had shyly come over anyway.
The "Eye of Insight" incident had temporarily come to a close. It was time for Katora to return to her days of slacking off in the Fourth Action Division.
In the [Operator Development] interface, the chibi version of Katora, also dressed in the new outfit, was constantly emitting small pink hearts.
"It looks very good~"
Thump-thump—
Her heart accelerated. Hearing just that one sentence from Yuzu, Katora immediately felt that her adjutant's bonus for next month was secured.
"Wait for me a moment~" Yuzu gently closed the door. "I'll change my clothes." Crimson eyes watched the door close, seeming to shimmer with anticipation.
Actually... she wouldn't have minded if Yuzu hadn't closed the door. To prevent the awkward situation from last time happening again, Yuzu had specifically checked what movie they were watching tonight.
—A horror movie. That was good. Katora would probably get excited straight away.
For some reason, Yuzu suddenly thought of Yura. Watching a horror movie with Yura would be out of the question.
Her courage was, in fact, pathetically small. When it thundered during their childhood, she would run over barefoot, teary-eyed, and knock on her door.
"Forget it..."
Shaking her head, Yuzu tightened her grip on Katora's hand.
The person she was accompanying tonight was Katora. She waved her hand, preparing to wipe away the [Operator Development] panel.
And then... she suddenly froze. Yura's operator chibi had also appeared at the entrance of the movie theater.
And... the [Develop] icon above Yura's head. It lit up.
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