I've already said this isn't a life simulator!

Even the knife she carried added a unique charm to her.

"Go ahead, before that annoying Alicia arrives... Or are you just going to stand here like this? Next to me, this third wheel?"

Mebius spoke again, then sniffed the drink in his hand, his expression darkening.

"I overheard someone talking badly about me behind my back~?"

Gently patting Mebius's shoulder and skillfully dodging the hand reaching for her, Alicia's elfin figure appeared behind her.

"Alicia..."

Mebius's expression worsened.

"Oh dear, don't look so pale! You've come all this way to a ball, why not enjoy yourself?"

"Not interested in."

"Oh? Did you bring Sakura here specifically for the ball? But if I hope she's here, she'll definitely come!"

Do you think I have nothing better to do?

"No, that's not it... Or did you come all this way just to see me? Oh dear~ Being too cute must have its troubles, huh?"

"Listen to me! Alicia!"

Okay, okay~ I wasn't kidding anymore~

She took a few steps back lightly, raised her hands in a gesture of surrender, and then turned her gaze to Sakura beside her, her eyes lighting up slightly.

"Sakura looks so pretty today! She must have spent a lot of time getting ready."

"Actually, it wasn't that long..."

Alicia stepped forward, circled Sakura a few times, nodded in satisfaction, and then hugged Sakura from behind, affectionately nuzzling her face. Their similar pink hairs intertwined, making it difficult to tell whose hair it was.

"Ellie?!"

"Hmph~ Sakura looks so beautiful today, she's stolen everyone's attention~ Even me~?"

"However, this outfit was indeed prepared specifically for someone, wasn't it?"

Alicia blinked and whispered in Sakura's ear.

"........."

Sakura slightly averted her gaze, a blush creeping across her face.

"So cute~ But..."

Alicia smiled, rested her chin on Sakura's shoulder, and leaned close to her. She then looked at Xiwang, who seemed oblivious to their presence but kept glancing their way over, and asked with a smile.

"Nozomi, whose invitation will you accept this time?"

"This is our first dance of the party!"

Alicia skipped and hopped, taking Sakura's hand and standing shoulder to shoulder. With her other hand, she gently lifted the hem of her pure white skirt, subtly revealing the pale purple lining inside. She spoke with a touch of playfulness amidst her elegance.

"Although I'm not as pretty as Sakura, I still tried my best for today's ball~"

So, who should we choose this time?

"........."

As Alicia asked the question, Xi Wang's expression froze instantly, and then visibly became conflicted and embarrassed, his brows almost twisting together.

"Wuhu——"

Someone whistled cheerfully, and when they looked up, they found that many people were staring at them, their eyes fixed on Xi Wang with a mocking gaze—ah, just as they thought, the usual program of every ball has begun!

Countless people awaited Xi Wang's choice, as it was a major source of amusement for them. Only at this moment could they see Xi Wang, who remained unfazed no matter what strange or unusual mission he received, reveal his awkward side. This was a major anecdote and a regular source of amusement among the Moth Chasing the Flame, and one that was not to be missed.

"Ha ha……"

Even Möbius, who was sipping his drink nearby, couldn't help but laugh at the sight, especially at Xi Wang's almost contorted expression... Although it wasn't the first time he'd seen it, he still found it hilarious.

"Hmph~"

Perhaps feeling that this was enough, Alicia happily shook her head and gently pushed Sakura forward half a step.

"I'll let you off the hook for today~ I don't want to be a girl that people dislike~?"

"But, the last dance of the day is for me, okay?"

"……it is good."

Xi Wang nodded in agreement, then gave a graceful bow and extended her hand to Ying, extending an invitation.

"Enjoy it while you can~ You won't get to have it next time~!"

Alicia whispered in Sakuraji's ear.

"Alicia..."

"Hehe~"

Alicia stepped back lightly, turned around, and didn't look at Sakura's helpless gaze. Sakura knew there was nothing she could do with Alicia like this. She glanced at Mebius again and, seeing that Mebius didn't seem to care, slowly unfastened the knife from her waist, put it aside, and asked Alicia to keep an eye on it.

After all... it would be too much of a downer to bring something like that to the dance floor.

Then, she walked up to Xi Wang, followed his example and gracefully bowed, gently placing her hand in his palm, and together they stepped onto the dance floor.

The onlookers turned their attention back to their own business, but were soon drawn back to the two's graceful dance. Looking at their handsome and beautiful appearance, many people sighed at how well-matched they were. But when they thought of Alicia waiting on the side, many of them suddenly laughed—the relationship between these three was really strange, but... what did it matter? They were enjoying themselves too.

"Aren't they both beautiful?"

Alicia sat in the corner, holding Sakura's knife, watching the two dancing gracefully on the dance floor, and said with a smile.

Ah... my efforts really paid off! It took a lot of thought to teach two people to dance before.

Alicia gently swayed her legs, her head bobbing to the music, her eyes curving into crescents as she looked at Xiwang and Ying.

That's great!

"Then why did you get involved with them? You look like a wicked woman who's trying to break up someone else's relationship!"

Mebius said with a hint of sarcasm from the side.

"I never expected you to be this kind of person, Alicia."

"That's outrageous! How dare you slander someone like that! Even if it's Mebius, I'd still be angry!"

"Hmph, who cares about you..."

Mebius shook his empty glass, then found a similar drink on the table, took it in his hand, and sipped it slowly.

"But how long are you going to keep playing house with him? You don't really like him, and he doesn't really like you. This dangling of feelings between you will only make others think it's strange and disgusting."

"Do you think so too?"

"Who cares about that?"

Mebius showed a somewhat disgusted expression.

"Hey~ I thought Möbius would pay a little more attention to me~"

Alicia blinked, her gaze settling on Xiwang in the dance floor.

"However... you're wrong about one thing~"

Watching his elegant dance moves, watching his originally calm expression gradually change, watching the corners of his mouth slightly turn up, watching the joy gradually emerge in his eyes.

In the black eyes, like the night sky, the tiny gold sparkled like a star, attracting Alicia's gaze.

"I actually really like Nozomi~ I really~ really like her~?"

"So you're just going to keep him hanging on like this?"

"No, that's not it~ It's just that sometimes, if you don't keep a close eye on him, he might suddenly capsize like a ship in a storm, or disappear from sight like a star in the night sky..."

"Then you underestimate people's resilience."

"Who knows? But... there's nothing wrong with taking a little care of it, right?"

"Hmm... I think I understand what you mean."

"Right? Right?"

"I don't think it's a problem if I participate a little, right?"

"...Huh? Eh?"

Alicia paused for a moment, then turned to look at Mebius, whose face was flushed red.

"Seriously, something like this... um~ how could I be missing from something like this!"

Mebius wobbled as he put down his cup, letting out a cute burp mid-sentence, before taking a shaky step forward.

"...Why did you drink?"

Alicia quickly reached out and grabbed her, then picked up her cup, smelled it briefly, and said with a hint of helplessness.

"They've already handed them to me... how could I... not drink them!"

Mebius shook his head, shook off Alicia's hand, then took off the white coat that she almost never took off and threw it to Alicia. He then turned and walked toward the dance floor, his target Xiwang and Ying.

"Little mouse~ The snake is coming to eat you~"

Seeing Xi Wang pull Ying behind him, Mebius smiled, grabbed Xi Wang's hand that was trying to push him away, and then bit his hand, seemingly leaving his mark.

? ? ? !

This action completely baffled everyone else.

"...Doctor, you're drunk."

Sakura peeked out and, upon seeing Mebius's flushed face, understood, saying with a hint of helplessness.

"Drunk? I'm not! Come on! Little lab rat, I'll take you to the lab to see some interesting things~"

As she spoke, Mebius grabbed Xiwang and tried to leave, but after taking two steps she realized she couldn't move her. She looked back at the two of them, and seemed to understand something, and continued speaking.

"Oh, I see! Sakura, you're here too! Your work isn't finished yet! I'll give you both a full-body checkup, ah~ don't worry, it'll be over soon~"

"Ah... of course, it might not be that fast~ It depends on you, little guinea pig~"

Seemingly thinking of something very happy, Mebius used that seductive tone again, and even tried to reach out and touch Xi Wang's brow, but failed.

"........."