[Dominator's Aegis].
Among the three abilities Su Yuzu had currently obtained through Favorability, this was the most powerful one.
While possessing [Dominator's Aegis (50%)], Su Yuzu could directly grant herself immunity to mental-type attacks that possessed a mental power lower than 50% of Soga Yura's total output.
As Soga Yura stood at the pinnacle of Third Sequence mental-type Espers, half of her mental power meant that anything below the Third Sequence... or even some Third Sequence mental-type Espers with weaker constitutions—such as the dream-weaving of that Chimera Amalgam—could not affect Su Yuzu in the slightest.
It was even possible that... precisely because of [Dominator's Aegis], even Soga Yura herself could not directly manipulate Su Yuzu's mind.
Yet... for such a powerful [Dominator's Aegis], prior to tonight, the attribute had always displayed as—
[Dominator's Aegis (50%)].
Looking at the [Dominator's Aegis (47%)] now displayed in her attribute panel, Su Yuzu hugged her thighs and sat up straight in the bath.
Although she hadn't teamed up with Lyudmila, because of the girl's movements, the scene inside the bathroom at this moment could only be classified as 'fan service' rather than an age-restricted scene.
Su Yuzu keenly sniffed out that something was wrong with the change in that number. Many conjectures popped into her mind in an instant.
For example... the intensity of the protection Soga Yura granted her might have decreased because she had tormented Soga Yura too severely this afternoon. Thinking about it carefully, this was indeed a possibility.
At night, when Su Yuzu secretly used [Operator Development] to spy on Soga Yura in the movie theater, Soga Yura had been looking listless the entire time.
It was only when she was scared by the ghosts on the movie screen to the point where her tied-up hair stood on end, or when she was biting her handkerchief in jealous tears because Su Yuzu was intentionally bullying Kujou Katora, that Soga Yura could muster a bit of spirit.
Of course—it was also possible that Soga Yura's doting on her was slowly cooling down.
Since [Dominator's Aegis] was a Favorability reward that appeared due to Soga Yura's doting on her, then... it would be reasonable for the intensity of the [Dominator's Aegis] to drop following a drop in Soga Yura's Favorability.
However, the only problem was...
Su Yuzu switched the [Operator Development] page to Soga Yura's perspective.
The Soga Yura Q-version chibi, who seemed to have just come out of the bathroom as well, was hugging a body pillow—which should, maybe, probably, possibly be of Su Yuzu—rolling back and forth on the bed, rubbing against it.
She hadn't even noticed when her bath towel had come undone. She wasn't even afraid of catching a cold.
Looking at the naked little chibi figure acting so infatuated, Su Yuzu directly crossed out the possibility that the decrease in [Dominator's Aegis] intensity was due to a drop in Soga Yura's doting level.
The rift between her and Yura had only just been repaired a tiny bit. How could that be?
Or perhaps... Su Yuzu pondered, could it be because of that mental storm that erupted in the movie theater earlier?
Su Yuzu recalled the moment she supported Soga Yura, who was about to collapse. Centered on the point where she made contact with Soga Yura, a mental storm instantly swept through the entire viewing hall.
Soga Yura had cried and whimpered with tear-filled eyes, constantly saying things like "I'm sorry..."
"I didn't mean to."
"I... can't do it..."
As well as saying she really wanted her and so on.
Originally, she thought it was just the girl's tsundere nature, her lack of honesty, and the regret after losing control. But... if the source of that mental storm was attributed to herself, it seemed that many questions that had always plagued Su Yuzu were suddenly all resolved.
Why that guy always faced her with a cold expression and cold words. Why she always put on a sour face towards her.
Because she was afraid.
Because she knew... if she touched Su Yuzu, something like this would happen.
Recalling every time Soga Yura 'lost control' in her memory... it seemed that every single time, Su Yuzu had truly been by her side.
Su Yuzu hugged her knees and blew bubbles, slowly sinking back into the bath, her mood complicated. If it was really so... If it was really like that...
She had no way to accept such protection.
Her arms hugging her knees tightened more and more, her small face almost buried between her knees.
She couldn't accept... a protection that came at the cost of nearly severing their sisterly relationship for ten years, using the most scornful gazes and coldest words as the sharpest blades to cut open her heart every single time.
Perhaps it could be forgiven.
But—
There was absolutely no way to accept it calmly.
Swaying unsteadily, Su Yuzu rose from the bath. The girl's slender little feet left a row of wet, cute footprints on the clean bathroom tiles.
When she woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
The warm sunlight shone on the girl's fair and smooth shoulders, casting shadows along the lines of the maiden's exquisite collarbone. Su Yuzu slowly got up to wash and groom herself.
"[This station reports: Last night... a gas leak accident occurred at the movie theater of Keigunen Private Academy in Guanzheng District.]"
"[Currently, there are no casualties.]"
"[...]"
The news was broadcasting quite unreliable information, lightly describing Soga Yura's mental power rampage as a gas leak.
She changed into the outfit she wore when she first met the Little Rabbit, only swapping the dark brown hoodie for a slightly more lively pastel blue.
With the hem of the overly long hoodie paired with overly short hot pants, the maiden's plain white and beautiful leg lines were eye-catching.
Mm—
Su Yuzu did it on purpose.
seeing the Little Rabbit or Mihou Sakai unable to stop their gazes from drifting over, and then panicking and dodging their eyes after realizing she had noticed... was really... very interesting.
Picking up Lyudmila's umbrella, Su Yuzu pushed open the door. The smile she had lifted suddenly froze. Looking at the empty corridor, a slight sense of gloom rose in Su Yuzu's heart.
Today, there was no one listening for movement, waiting for her. No one pretending it was a coincidence and opening their door right after she pushed hers open.
Su Yuzu looked at Kujou Katora in [Operator Development], who was already sitting in her office.
Perhaps she had woken up too late. Or perhaps... just because she didn't want to increase the pain with a formal farewell, Kujou Katora had left quietly at some unknown time.
Su Yuzu sighed. She slowly left the dormitory room.
When she saw the greenery and streetlights outside the dormitory building, she felt as if she could still recall Kujou Katora's shy appearance at her fingertips last night.
Today was Monday. The Healing-type department still had classes in the morning, which was why Su Yuzu had taken a good sleep-in.
She arrived early at the agreed-upon crepe shop, reserved a few strawberry cream crepes, and waited for the Little Rabbit.
It was just that... Su Yuzu was monitoring Soga Yura and the supervising Sakura Mai via [Operator Development]. They were obviously on the same street as her but didn't dare to come over.
Su Yuzu rested her head on her right hand, her knuckles gently tapping the tabletop.
She swiped open her attributes.
[Dominator's Aegis (47.3%)].
Just now, when leaving the dormitory, Su Yuzu had confirmed that the progress of [Dominator's Aegis] was still 47%.
Now, after Soga Yura approached her, [Dominator's Aegis] was slowly rising bit by bit, as if it were recharging.
Then next... it was time to confirm the truth of [Dominator's Aegis], as well as the root cause of Soga Yura's estrangement from her all this time.
The corners of the maiden's lips curled up.
"Ha—"
"Achoo—"
Inside a café from which one could just barely observe the street-side crepe shop, Soga Yura sneezed.
Without wearing her telescope glasses, Soga Yura couldn't capture the... little devil-like smile gradually rising on Yuzu's face. She just cupped her warm coffee cup, shrinking her head slightly.
Beside her, Sakura Mai looked at the shivering Soga Yura with a face full of helplessness. This guy's constitution was too weak.
Yesterday morning, yesterday afternoon, yesterday night... she had cried her heart out every time. Her sleeves and clothes had been soaked through with tears.
Sakura Mai had told the driver to take her back first, but she insisted on waiting for Sakura Mai, refusing to leave until she heard news of Yuzu.
"Are we going over now?" Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura, who was obviously cowering and shrinking across the table.
Wait... wait a minute...
Watching Soga Yura's cowering and dilly-dallying appearance, Sakura Mai recalled the soft and comfortable feeling of holding Yuzu in her arms. "If you don't go, I'm going."
Just looking at that expression on Sakura Mai's face, Soga Yura could guess what Sakura Mai was thinking.
The girl's eyes widened round and big.
"You..."
"You jerk!!!"
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