"If what Wang said is true, isn't this situation even more dangerous?"
Sakura suddenly said this.
"……Um."
Xiwang did not deny it.
This outing was already being watched by the people above, after all, it was one of his rare "outings", and he was with Sakura, so the people above naturally wanted to observe whether the [sword] and [sheath] were well-matched, and whether the [sheath], which was selected with great difficulty and polished for a long time, could actually hold the [sword].
If this cannot be done, then it will naturally lead to the worst outcome - the [Knife] will still not be trusted, and will be subjected to more and more obscure control methods to try to control it; and the [Sheath] will continue to be polished and forged, or simply abandoned, and instead look for someone more suitable to be the [Sheath].
Of course, defecting directly is also an option, but this requires them to directly get rid of the people above them, otherwise they will face endless pursuit, but this leads to another problem - how to find those people? They don't have hacking skills, so it's difficult to find the location of those people through technology, but the other side has subordinates in this area and can easily obtain their location.
It was too difficult for both of them to look for each other aimlessly while being tracked the entire time.
Therefore, Xiwang's action of making things clear was undoubtedly "wrong". It was a bad choice for both of them and for Ling.
On the contrary, if Xi Wang pretended to be ignorant and said nothing, he would get a beautiful girlfriend, the people above him would be able to put their minds at ease temporarily, and his life would be more stable in the future.
"Then why?"
Why didn't they agree? Judging from the results, Xiwang made no loss at all, and even made a huge profit.
But he still said everything, giving people the feeling that the feelings she had were unreal, even fake.
“It’s just to make everything clear.”
It's not that I'm denying this feeling, I just want to make everything clear.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"........."
Faced with Ying's legitimate question, Xiwang slightly shifted his gaze and did not respond to her, but asked instead.
"The 15th... is next week. Are you free?"
"……Um."
Sakura nodded, as if she had guessed something.
Xiwang also took out something he had prepared long ago - a ticket to Eden's concert, and handed it to Ying.
"…………"x2
"You're inviting me...right?"
"…Just to return the favor."
“…Ha~”
Sakura smiled, very happily.
Because she confirmed that the other person was actually the same as herself, even more shy and nervous than herself, but before that... he just wanted to make things clear first.
That's it.
So she gladly accepted his invitation and held tightly in her hand the ticket, which was extremely valuable both in practical and symbolic terms.
"I understand. I'll go."
She got out of the car and then spoke to him in the car.
"But I'll ask you to pick me up again when the time comes."
"……besides."
Before she closed the door and left, Xi Wang turned around and called her.
"Um... I forgot to tell you when we first met, so I'll make it up now... You look very beautiful today, and the color of your lipstick suits you very well."
"……Thanks."
Her response voice weakened in an instant, and then she slammed the car door shut and walked quickly into the house.
"Wuhu~Welcome home, sister~I thought you would stay out with brother Wang tonight..."
"Don't talk nonsense. Go take a shower and get ready for bed. Aren't you tired after playing all day?"
Ying tapped Ling's head and told her not to think about those messy things.
“…Wait, what is this?”
Ling looked at her sister's blushing face and just smiled without saying anything, but she soon noticed what her sister was holding in her hand, so she quickly grabbed her hand and looked at what was in her hand.
"Tickets for Eden's concert?! A week later? Weren't the tickets for this show sold out months ago?!"
Bell pupils tremble.
"Hum-"
As if she was thinking of something happy, or simply wanted to show off, the corners of Sakura's mouth rose uncontrollably.
"Although this is indeed something worth being happy about...but sister, your smile...is a little...disgusting...it hurts!"
"Stop talking nonsense and go take a shower!"
"Humph... you forgot about your sister when you had a boyfriend..."
After saying this, Ling quickly covered her head to avoid Sakura's hand that was about to hit her again, and slipped into the bathroom.
"Well... Sister, let's make a deal... Let me go with Brother Wang. Actually, it's not impossible for me to be Brother Wang's girlfriend..."
"Take your bath!"
"If you don't want to let me, then don't let me..."
Ling stuck out her tongue, closed the door, and soon the sound of running water was heard.
"........."
Sakura took the ticket in her hand and looked at it over and over again, the smile on her face never stopping.
Finally, she closed her eyes for a moment, and her mind replayed their past, examining their gradually changing relationship and the emotions that had lingered in her heart until now.
Even though I know that this feeling is deliberately guided, I still acknowledge the authenticity of this feeling. At this point...
"We are the same..."
She murmured softly, stroking the gorgeous patterns on the ticket.
Chapter 13: Because I like you, we are not lovers
[After everything was laid out, you and Sakura got to know each other better, and were more aware of the strange feelings between you - although you knew that this was just the result of someone's deliberate guidance, you no longer cared about it.]
[Well... although that's what I said, there may still be some grudges in your hearts. Now the relationship between you has only taken half a step forward, but it has not reached that level completely. There is a kind of "it makes people anxious to see" beauty. Uh... should this so-called "grudge" be replaced with "shyness" to be more accurate? ]
[On the appointed day, you brought Sakura to the city where Eden was holding a concert. In addition to enjoying Eden's singing, you also visited many places with her. At least at this time, you and she were not the killer duo that everyone feared. You were just a pair of friends who had a good impression of each other but had not yet come together for various reasons.]
[It is worth mentioning that at the concert in Eden, the two young men sitting next to you were one with striking white hair and the other with long grey hair.]
[The white-haired boy was very enthusiastic and gave people a very sunny feeling. When he sat down, he greeted you in a familiar manner, which left a deep impression on you.]
[The other gray-haired boy seemed very quiet, and his personality seemed to be completely opposite to his friend. Although his emotions could be felt, he did not show them very obviously, which was in stark contrast to the friend next to him whose emotions were almost written on his face.]
[It's a bit strange to see these two types of personalities together... and it's also very interesting. ]
[Sure enough, this is "friendship"...]
[However, rest time always passes quickly, and another mission has been issued, still a few assassination missions, which is not a difficult task for the two of you - although there have been some subtle changes in the relationship between you, but when you are "working", your attitude is still very positive]
[After that, you spent some time in bits and pieces... and during this time, something happened that made you a little concerned... or was it a piece of news? ]
[There was a major accident in Eastern Europe. It looked like a nuclear power plant exploded? At least that's what the news said, but you have a vague feeling that this is not right.]
[Sure enough, not long after, the people above told you about the special nature of this matter, and planned to arrange for you to join a new organization - the Fire Moth, which is responsible for dealing with a special disaster called "Honkai"]
[It's not like you're going to be an "undercover agent", you're just joining. In other words, you're entering the "Fire Moth" on behalf of the Poison Pupa, which has a symbolic meaning. Of course, if someone investigates, they'll understand that your joining is a demonstration and declaration by the Poison Pupa - the people above intend to use your sharp "knife" to gain more say.]
[But now, those things have nothing to do with you. Your life is no different from before. It’s just that you have changed from a "killer" who needs to hide to a "special operations team" that can be put on the surface, and the missions you perform are no different from before.]
[It’s better to say that you have more free time. After all, when you can enter here with normal identities, it means that Poison Pupa has joined the "Fire Chaser Moth" in a relatively formal way. As for the subsequent process of fighting for the right to speak, it needs to be carried out "within the rules", and "outside the rules" like you two need to be used less... at least not at this stage.]
[Except for daily training and necessary tasks, you have almost nothing to do. Apart from making time to learn the latest information about "Honkai Impact", you can only walk around the base together.]
[It’s just a little unexpected that you met her again here——Alicia]
[You still remember that it was an afternoon when you and Sakura were strolling in the Fire Moth training base - there was no purpose, just a simple walk. Many people have long been accustomed to you two. After all, the two of you were basically together all the time, going in and out as a pair. Although most of your colleagues have not confirmed it with you, they still regard you as a rare couple in the base.]
[Then, the clever pink elf appeared, with long pink hair similar to Sakura's and a faint, special scent, and came to you lightly]
[She chatted with Ying for a while first. Her initiative and the jumpy topics made Ying feel a little overwhelmed.]
[Perhaps she noticed that Sakura was having trouble following her initiative, or perhaps it was intentional, she shifted her gaze to you]
[When you saw her smile at you, you realized that she had recognized you. You just talked to Sakura just to find out what your "new friend" looked like.]
[Sure enough, she spoke, starting with “It’s been a long time since we last met”, and you responded with something similar]
[Seeing that you two seem to be somewhat familiar with each other, Sakura is a little surprised]
[She invites you to walk with Sakura, even if it's just for a casual walk - she really wants to chat with you, a friend she hasn't seen for a long time]
[You readily agreed, and Sakura nodded without objecting.]
[You two talked a lot along the way, although most of the time it was Alicia who was talking and you and Sakura who were listening. Occasionally you would respond a few words - just like before.]
[Even if Alicia intentionally leads the topic to you and Sakura, you usually just brush it off.]
[She saw that you didn't want to talk more, so she didn't ask any more questions. Meeting again is something worth being happy about. There's no need to delve too deeply into what the other person has been through. After all, for you two, meeting each other again is the happiest thing.]
[However, as the communication time prolonged, Sakura's mood gradually became depressed. Alicia was a little concerned, but Sakura just said that she was fine.]
[Yakura noticed your concern for Alicia, and could also feel your shrinking and embarrassment in front of Alicia - you even reduced the frequency of eating candy]
[Coupled with the fact that Alicia has similar long pink hair to hers, all of this makes Sakura understand who the person in your heart Poison Pupa wants her to replace is, and why Poison Pupa chose her as the "sheath" in the first place]
[Because she understood, she felt a little uncomfortable]
[Finally, perhaps noticing the awkward atmosphere, or perhaps because there was something else going on, Alicia left after saying hello.]
[Silence permeated between you and Sakura, but soon, you returned to the previous atmosphere, strolling around the base casually, as if the reunion with Alicia just now was just a small episode.]
[But you both know that your lives will definitely change in the future, and the relationship between you...may also be changed because of it]
[I'm afraid the people in the Poison Pupa didn't expect that just by joining a special organization to gain more say, you and Alicia would be reunited. In this vast sea of people in the world, it was just such a coincidence that you met again at a very delicate time.]
[It just happened that the time when the Poison Pupa tried to gain more power in the "Fire Moth" was a good time for the Poison Pupa to play. This special organization led by the United Nations and formed by many organizations is a good place for the Poison Pupa to play. Although the means "within the rules" cannot beat others, for them who are good at using tricks outside the game, the worst that can happen is to overturn the table - directly kill the opponent. And it just so happens that the sharpest "knife" in their hands is best at doing this kind of thing. Anyway, as long as there is no evidence left, it will be fine.]
[But now... after the emergence of Alicia, the people above might start to reconsider, because they are also very clear about the importance of Alicia in your heart - that is a "knot" that cannot be erased even if many methods and time are spent, and even some drugs that can directly damage the nerves are used. So in the end, they have to look for a suitable "sheath" to replace Alicia's position in your heart.]
[Unfortunately, this plan failed just when it finally made some progress and was about to succeed.]
[In that case, then squeeze out the last bit of value from your "sword" and the corresponding "scabbard"]
[So, your mission will become much heavier. Not only will you accept the assassination of "people" by the poisonous pupa, but you will also accept the mission of the fire-chasing moth against the special disaster - collapse.]
[Who told you that you are one of the few people who can withstand the erosion of Honkai energy? —That’s what they said]
[And the "privileges" you originally had were gradually lost - they did not directly cancel your privileges, but just shirked them, or used the information about "those guys" to lure you and force you to continue "working". After all, they knew very well that your hatred for "those guys" was the same as your cherishment for Alicia.]
[Yakura and you also separated without knowing it, and each of you led a team... There was no crack in your relationship, but many times you were forced to separate due to heavy tasks. Even Sakura has not gone back to see Ling for a long time, and can only rely on the pendant you gave her to communicate with Ling remotely.]
[Yes, the cherry blossom pendant you gave me is a special communication terminal with a specially paired communication channel. As long as you connect to the network communication, you can call the other party. It is very suitable for two people to have a private conversation. Of course, this function can also be turned off to prevent certain "accidents"]
[In addition, the function of "projecting stored video data" of the normal version is also retained, so that when Sakura misses Ling but the environment and time do not allow it, she can use the pendant to look at her memories with Ling - of course, you are also among them]
[Sometimes you may feel that Sakura's behavior is unnecessary, and even gives people a vague feeling of "not being good", but according to Sakura, this can help her calm down and strengthen her confidence, so you just let her do it.]
[Of course, during the short break after completing the mission, you can still meet at the Fire Moth base, and then walk aimlessly in the base together, or drink a few low-alcohol drinks in the base bar - you and Sakura don't like alcohol very much, after all, it will affect your body, and then affect your performance in the mission, but it's okay to have a few drinks occasionally]
[By the way, the sakura wine made by Sakura is indeed delicious, and Sakura’s cooking skills are as good as she said]
[Alicea is also indispensable during this journey. She cherishes you as a friend... No, it should be pity. After all, she failed to help you at the beginning, which indirectly led to the death of Father Enrique. Therefore, she pays close attention to you.]
[Of course, she noticed that her appearance had caused trouble to you and Sakura, so she planned to talk to Sakura - she didn't want her appearance to destroy the relationship between you and Sakura, and she really wanted to send you the best wishes in that "dream scene"~]
----------
"That's all, Alicia."
Sakura stopped walking and said to Alicia who was walking in front of her.
