"A choice, is it?"
Listening to the familiar mechanical female voice by her ear, Su Yuzu's expression gradually became grave.
Having had lessons from experience within the game.
Su Yuzu understood that perhaps every single one of her choices would influence the future of this world.
Especially... under the circumstances where she herself was the center of the storm that was about to arrive.
In the game, it was like this—
When that "The Abyss of Eternal Smiles," who wandered above the endless wilderness, lost the smile on her face, and her massive erosion domain began to press straight toward the Tokyo metropolitan area, players could make a choice.
To hold fast to the defensive line and wait for the enemy to exhaust themselves.
Or to actively attack and intercept that avatar of the Abyss Will upon the wilderness.
It was similar to the choice Su Yuzu had to make at this moment.
Su Yuzu knew exactly what that 'holy radiance' represented in the mission.
That was the restriction placed upon "The Abyss of Eternal Smiles" more than ten years ago by the Saintess of the "Holy Royal Court"—Saint Michael—at the cost of breaking her own wings and abandoning her "Word of Command."
Her erosion domain could not invade the Tokyo metropolitan area.
This meant that "The Abyss of Eternal Smiles" could not reveal her true form within the Tokyo metropolitan area.
For an Aberrant, the influence of being unable to unfold an erosion domain was massive.
An Aberrant who could not unfold an erosion domain did not seem so invincible.
She was 'merely' a Sixth Sequence Aberrant; a righteous gang-beating could beat her to death.
Holding the defensive line seemed to be the best choice.
But it only... seemed so.
In the game, Su Yuzu ultimately chose to create a miracle that was deemed impossible to create, intercepting "The Abyss of Eternal Smiles" on the wilderness.
Facts proved... her choice was correct.
The power of "The Abyss of Eternal Smiles" was not of the Sixth Sequence.
After the interception battle entered the second phase, that avatar of the Abyss Will finally revealed her true form.
She was the very incarnation of the Abyss Will.
The return of the Seventh Sequence Abyss.
A World Boss worthy of the name.
If she were allowed to complete the return of the Abyss within the urban districts of the Tokyo metropolitan area, countless ordinary people would be converted into Aberrants or Walking Husks in an instant.
The city would turn into ruins.
The so-called defensive line would also become a joke.
A seemingly simple choice might have a huge trap behind it.
Su Yuzu looked gravely at the options before her, and finally selected [Option 2: Storm Striker].
Since the storm has not yet come, then I shall go towards the storm.
"Lady Yuzu?" Kujou Katora looked at the girl beside her who seemed to have suddenly become serious.
"Ah... it's nothing."
Su Yuzu revealed a brilliant smile toward Kujou Katora.
"Is Kujou-senpai going to purge that laboratory?"
"Yes..." Kujou Katora nodded gently.
"Departing tomorrow?"
"The sooner the better." She didn't care whether this would be suspected of leaking classified information.
In front of Su Yuzu, Kujou Katora needed no secrets.
Even if Miss Yuzu asked her what color her underwear was today, she wouldn't hide it.
"Then... would Kujou-senpai like to go watch a movie with me?" Without saying much else, Su Yuzu simply issued a formal invitation. "If we book tickets now, we should still make it."
The scarlet eyes gazed at the girl beside her.
Kujou Katora nodded gently. "Okay."
For some unknown reason, for just a split second, Kujou Katora actually had an illusion... that this might be her last chance to watch a movie with Miss Yuzu.
This was also quite normal.
On the battlefield against Aberrants, swords and blades had no mercy.
From the moment Kujou Katora had just babbled and learned how to call out for her sister, for her mom and dad, she had already prepared herself to lose her life at any time.
Every extra day she lived was a profit.
It was just that... for the first time in her heart, Kujou Katora actually had a feeling of not wanting to die.
That unscrupulous mad dog of the Empire... had attachments in her heart once again.
Su Yuzu operated her phone to book tickets.
Perhaps it was fate at work.
The late-night movies at the cinema tonight turned out to be all those lovey-dovey films suitable for couples to watch; there wasn't a single horror movie.
Su Yuzu could only pick a movie with a slightly lower age restriction.
She made a phone call to Ms. Unohana Chiyo's home, telling Ms. Unohana Chiyo that she probably wouldn't be going over tonight.
Ms. Unohana Chiyo went to sleep very early.
If she went to Ms. Unohana Chiyo's house after finishing the late-night movie, it seemed it would be a bit too late.
Anyway, the reason she moved into Ms. Unohana Chiyo's house in the first place was to guard against the invading Aberrant.
Now, that invading Aberrant was in Su Yuzu's home, behaving as obediently as a cat.
The reason Su Yuzu hadn't returned to the dorm to sleep all this time was simply that she sensed the loneliness in Ms. Unohana Chiyo's heart, and... she could live a bit closer to Soga Yura.
It was absolutely not because she was worried about Soga Yura or anything.
It was just that being able to admire Soga Yura's expression every day—that aggrieved look like a little wife who had been wronged—and then delivering Lady Fate's Heavy Blow to her, was something Su Yuzu found very amusing, that's all.
Yes—
It was absolutely like that.
Then... Su Yuzu sent another message to the little cat's tablet, saying she might return a bit late tonight.
Only then was it considered finished.
At Unohana Chiyo's home.
Unohana Chiyo, having prepared a table full of dishes, looked at the two Eldest Young Ladies before her and put down the phone in her hand.
"Yuzu said she isn't coming to eat tonight."
"Moreover..."
"She will likely come back quite late tonight, so she will go directly back to the dorm to sleep."
"WHAT!!!" Soga Yura bit her handkerchief, her whole person looking like she was about to turn into a pitiful puppy with brimming tears.
"Today is the fourteenth!!!!"
"It's White Day!"
She had specifically prepared a gift for Yuzu.
She was also ready to formally invite Yuzu to attend the Soga family's banquet next month.
But how could...
If it were any ordinary time, let it be, but on this Valentine's Day, her obedient and lovely sister suddenly said she had things to do at night and wouldn't come back.
How could Soga Yura possibly set her mind at ease?
"Mai..." Soga Yura shook Sakura Mai's arm, her eyes filled with worry. "Mai Mai Mai Mai..."
"Has Yuzu been deceived by someone?"
"Is it that despicable rabbit?"
"Or is it that girl from the Ishikawa family?"
"Or the guy who tricked Yuzu into going home last time."
Sakura Mai was shaken by Soga Yura to the point where she didn't know how to comfort her either. However... just then, Sakura Mai's phone suddenly rang.
Sakura Mai took her phone, and her expression suddenly became extremely bizarre.
"Sister Yuzu booked two tickets at the movie theater."
"The movie is..."
"Love Before the Eastern Era."
Soga Yura's tears were almost spurting out.
Sakura Mai looked at Soga Yura's miserable appearance, hesitated for a moment, and then...
"There is one more thing."
She tapped open a photo and handed the phone toward Soga Yura.
In the photo, a girl with a hot figure and excessive clothing stood prettily under the streetlights. Looking at the background, it should be in front of the tactical academic building of Keigunen Private Academy.
"Kujou Katora came to Keigunen today."
________________________________________
🌸 Help Love Bloom!
Our girls need a little push... and you can help!
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 10 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉