Miss Riddler just wants to level up in peace.

There were quite a few people today, so naturally, Kiana and Ziyao were sitting very close together, since there weren't enough empty seats.

"Idiot Kiana, eating too much of this will make you feel hot and bothered."

So, Ziyao got another serving of green vegetables in her bowl.

Today is a celebration banquet, and the ban on drinking alcohol has been lifted.

Himeko would occasionally urge Ziyao to drink, as she had finally met someone who had also been a corporate slave and could drink, and she felt a strong connection with her.

The dinner was lively, and everyone was very happy.

Only Mei's world is complete.

Not long after finishing the last dish, she found that the seats next to Ziyao were all taken, so she could only sit between Himeko and Theresa.

Seeing the girls so close together, the cold dish without vinegar seemed to have turned a little sour.

stare......

The atmosphere was getting lively when Theresa stood up and told everyone something.

Starting the day after tomorrow, Ziyao will participate in the Valkyrie assessment as a student and study together.

"Huh? Does that mean I can't drink with Nightingale anymore?"

Himeko said dejectedly.

"Of course, Himeko, you should also restrain yourself. This stuff is bad for your health."

"Nightingale teacher...are we going to be classmates?"

Wendy wondered, since the girl was about the same age as them, it didn't seem strange.

But usually it's the students who become the teachers; it's rare to see the other way around.

No wonder Ziyao mentioned earlier that she should take her to visit the academy in a few days. Is that what she meant?

"Bronya will tutor Nightingale."

Bronya accepted the idea immediately, finding it somewhat novel.

It's not the only one.

Then, something else happened that caught everyone off guard.

Ziyao explained herself and revealed her real name.

"It really was an alias?!"

Even Theresa was surprised.

Whose name will be a bird?

Ziyao made a joke for the first time in a long time. It was obvious from the sound that it was a code name, and very few people would choose such a name.

"..."

Mei's gaze sharpened.

She felt slightly uncomfortable that a secret only she knew had been made public.

The girl's pretty face puffed up slightly, and the vinegar bottle was overturned on the ground.

Ziyao noticed the girl's gaze and suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Did that idiot Kiana already know all along?"

Kiana was not surprised that Ziyao had concealed her real name.

Bronya, with her keen observation skills, inquired, suspecting the two were dating, but unable to provide any evidence.

"H-How is that possible? I just found out myself."

Feeling a little guilty, the girl quickly changed the subject, "By the way, according to the time, shouldn't we call Ziyao 'junior sister'?"

"It's shameful to change the subject, and Ziyao is in the same grade as us."

"No, Bronya, you're overthinking it...!"

“…”

Time passed quietly, and the banquet came to an end amidst laughter and joy.

Kiana and the others have prepared a new game; we'll play it later.

After all, it's good to rest after dinner.

Mei said she wasn't feeling well and would rest for a while tonight.

Ziyao took a fragrant bath and changed into a white dress.

This outfit is a set of pajamas that I bought specifically from the system space. I never expected girls' clothes to be so soft.

After a light nap of half an hour, the door was opened.

"Click."

The visitor closed the door behind him and locked it.

The latch engages and locks, securing the handle completely.

"Mei...?"

Waking up from a light dream, Ziyao was a little confused.

The girl stretched out her hands, and Ziyao, without thinking too much, instinctively hugged her.

Just as she was about to ask, their cherry lips met, and Mei expressed her purpose through her actions.

The two embraced and kissed, exchanging their feelings.

"How about it?"

After a long while, the girl tore off the silver thread and asked earnestly.

The overflowing emotions were hard to bear, and fragments of the past kept surfacing.

Mei finally understood why she couldn't help but get close to Ziyao.

This is not just fate, but also a bond formed through their life-and-death friendship.

"Barely passable."

With her hands supporting her on the bed, Ziyao's pretty face flushed with an alluring blush, like a sunset half-wet in water.

My whole body went limp, only my mouth remained stubborn.

The air was filled with the sweet scent of a young girl, and the clock on the wall was stopped at the seventh hour.

"Hold on...."

Pushing Mei away, Ziyao didn't like being too passive.

"Is it not allowed...?"

Mei's voice carried a hint of melancholy. No matter how much she longed for it, she would not go any further unless Ziyao agreed.

"Of course, but—"

Ziyao held up one finger, "First, you need to have healthy relationships, and then proceed step by step."

"Thinking about it carefully, haven't we even been in a relationship?"

Mei belatedly realized, "Hmm... then why don't we start dating now?"

"Who starts dating without confessing their feelings? So, you see..."

So-called love is based on the feelings between two people, supplemented by any form of contract, and then constitutes a legitimate relationship.

For example, they may have feelings for each other, but they are not lovers.

Only when one party expresses their feelings and the other party agrees can a contract be formed both verbally and in fact.

As the saying goes, "If the name is not correct, the words will not be proper; if the words are not proper, things will be difficult to do."

It would be strange to skip these steps and go straight to the last one!

How is this any different from what people in brothels do?

It's probably just that there was no monetary transaction involved...

"I understand."

Mei nodded, then knelt down seriously in front of Ziyao.

Holding the girl's hand, she said she would always protect her and that her feelings would never change.

So Mei decided that she would start pursuing Ziyao from tomorrow.

His expression was so sincere that Ziyao suddenly felt a little embarrassed, and her face turned slightly red.

"Alright... whatever you say."

I left the air conditioner on yesterday, which caused me to catch a cold.

For a moment, it was hard to tell whether it was the fever from a cold or the joy and shyness of being confessed to.

Outside.

Kiana came and invited the two of them to come and play in the living room.

She was a little confused; Ziyao seemed a bit strange.

The girl leaned against the wall with one hand, her face flushed, as if she had a fever and was feeling unwell.

Ziyao said that Mei was not feeling well and was resting inside, and she also wanted to rest for a while.

"Did you catch a cold...?"

The naive Kiana didn't suspect much and believed the girl's story.

She expressed her desire to go in and see Mei, but Ziyao brushed her off.

"It's alright, we're all Valkyries, how could we be afraid of a little cold?"

He took Ziyao's hand; she was the star of the day, how could she leave without permission?