[Noaahhhhh.]
“…Mika-chan, what did you have for dinner tonight? I’m seriously asking.”
[Nagi-chan made baby back ribs!]
“Now that I’ve heard that, it sounds even more weird…”
[No, no! What’s important right now is not that. What was that reaction earlier? Huh? I’m going insane with curiosity! Hurry up and tell me!]
Noa, wanting to tease Mika a bit more, ultimately decided to give her a straight answer.
And why wouldn’t she? Haven’t they already been troublemakers enough today?
Sometimes, it’s good to know when to hold back to avoid getting unwanted hate.
“Oh, about that festival. I thought it might make more sense for Haruna-chan and me to sit this one out so that Hina-san and Nagisa-san could create some memories.”
[Huh? Why?]
“Since we’ve already had our fun time, I think it would be nice to give them a chance to have some memories too… Well, it’s not like we’ve got nothing else planned either.”
[…Ah, that’s true. I wouldn’t lie and say I’m not a bit disappointed though.]
“Just hearing you say that makes me happy.”
After chatting for a while, Noa continued to fill her notepad with notes.
Mika, seeming to take her time, finally brought up a question she had delayed for long enough.
[Ahaha. Speaking of which… I didn’t even ask why you called.]
“Is it not acceptable to say it was simply because I wanted to hear Mika-chan’s voice?”
[Heuung? Of course that’s okay. As long as I’m not busy, it’s always welcome. Actually, I’d rather ask you to do that more often…?]
‘Now that I think about it, Mika-chan is surprisingly sensitive to loneliness… Seriously, the more I get to know, the cuter she becomes. This girl.’
A brighter smile appeared on Noa’s face.
11:42 PM… You’re just too cute, you know that? I adore you.
Unintentionally, Noa wrote such a note atop her notepad, only to cross it out quickly afterward.
She was someone who usually kept her personal feelings and preferences in check for her secretary duties, but…
Because this feeling was so valuable to her… Noa decided to leave that short message as it was.
‘It would be even better if Haruna-chan could join in on the conversation. What a shame…’
While she was filled with curiosity about what mischief had escalated regarding someone who had otherwise become much more responsible, she wasn’t actually worried about Haruna at all.
That belief existed firmly in her heart, knowing that Haruna likely hadn’t done anything too wrong.
With a lingering feeling of disappointment tucked away in her mind, Noa slowly started to share her story with Mika.
“Hehe… Actually, I’m currently trapped inside the Millennium Tower. It seems there’s some commotion going on.”
[…Whoa, has that already happened?]
“Yeah?”
[Ah, it’s nothing. So can I take it that means you’d like me to stay with you in spirit until then?]
“Oh wow, I would love that if you could… Are you sure it’s alright?”
[What’s not to be okay about? But first, let me drop a Momotalk message to Nagi-chan. A late-night stroll should be nice, right?]
Hearing Mika’s answer brought a wide smile to Noa’s face.
‘She really is a sweet person.’
“Mika-chan, did I tell you I love you today?”
[You don’t have to say it, but hearing it would be nice☆]
“Then… I guess I won’t say it. Hehe.”
[Yeah, I love you a lot too.]
The swift reply felt so casual, yet Noa didn’t doubt its sincerity.
Those words had a power that made her heart race faster; they had to be genuine.
“Hey, Mika-chan. Isn’t it a strange feeling that we’re having this calm conversation while not knowing what’s going on outside?”
[Erm… I don’t know the details, but at least you’re safe, right?]
“Yes, absolutely. Being trapped means I can’t leave on my own, but it also means I’m not exposed to any external threats. Once everything settles, I’ll find out what happened and explain it to you again.”
[Well, if nothing major happens, that’s a relief——]
BOOM!!!
[…What was that noise just now?]
“Umm… I heard a C&C agent is stuck about six sectors away from where I am. Could it have come from that direction?”
[Ah… I see. If you ever need help, you must tell me! I’d buy a plane ticket and be there right away.]
“Oh wow, that’s really nice to offer, but… by the time you arrive, I’m sure the situation will have already wrapped up by then, so I’ll just graciously accept your feelings. Hehe.”
As the two chatted away, the chaos surrounding the Millennium Tower kept escalating…
“…Was the cooking competition that’s about to be held in Sanhaegyeong also created by Mika-chan? At this point, nothing surprises me anymore.”
[Ahaha, what a surprise. No matter what, if I were, for instance, to participate in a coup d’état of the Red Winter Spirit or if I wanted to transfer to Hakgwiyaeng to become a ninja—those kinds of things would definitely surprise me!]
“Honestly, considering your activities, you’d make the Student Council President blush… At any rate, about that strange guy from the Gehenna Manma Battle. If that person’s impeachment motion passes, and you become the Student Council President, I think I’d genuinely be shocked.”
[Wow, I think I’d be surprised too… Being the president of Trinity is already tough enough, let alone doing that to the whole of Kivotos? I’d rather quit school and become a delinquent instead. Hehe.]
“Hehe, what a joke…”
Still, with Mika physically far away and unable to intervene, and Noa cut off from being of much help, it was simply ‘So what? Not my problem, I guess?’ for them both.
Amidst the occasional blasts and gunfire echoing in the background, the two kept their conversation going.
With only the two of them and their club members, the Game Development Club, alongside their supporting team from the Engineering Club and Veritas, stood one side of a small war set in the backdrop of the Millennium Tower.
With the survival of the club at stake, the Game Development Club was desperate to reclaim the hacking tool ‘Mirrior’ that had been seized by the Seminar to confirm G.Bible’s contents.
The Seminar was blocking their way, led by Neru, the owner of the call sign Double O, an emblem of victory.
However, the reality of the situation was merely a small test orchestrated by Himari and Rion, who held the title of leaders within Veritas.
Finally, as the shutter surrounding Noa—diving into another world—was lifted, her notepad revealed a rather impressive synopsis.
Whether Noa would win this year’s Millennium Price was yet to be seen.
Still, what mattered truly to her wasn’t the outcome of winning, but rather the feelings and experiences she would endlessly reflect upon throughout the process of writing this piece.
That alone was crystal clear.
*
“Hmm…”
With half-closed eyes, Nagisa reached out to her side to find the place beside her empty.
No one there. The spot where her partner should be, except for the rare occasions she stayed out, was chillingly cold.
That fact was unbearable for Nagisa.
If it had never been there, it wouldn’t have hurt as much, but having it disappear hurt even worse.
Even for someone like her, who loved someone with multiple partners, there were definitely limits to what she hoped for.
She tried not to think that, perhaps in the middle of the night, unable to find satisfaction, they might have gone to someone else…
‘What would I do if that were the case?’
Understanding was one thing, but being blinded by love was something else. Given that, she might really be furious.
What was a problem was that no matter how mad she got, she’d likely end up being the one more hurt by it.
“Ah… she went for a stroll, I see.”
Pulling the blanket close to her chest, Nagisa sighed in relief after checking her phone.
Fortunately, according to the Momotalk message Mika left, she was talking with Noa, and had set out for a night stroll so as not to wake her.
This was within the range of what she could tolerate, so she nodded in understanding, yet her mood still felt oddly melancholic.
‘Maybe I really should start exercising.’
It wasn’t like she enjoyed always falling asleep before Mika or completely passing out.
The sleeping arrangements? She was more than satisfied.
Yes, just for her.
From Nagisa’s perspective, Mika was quite good at managing her desires. The fact that she had never once relieved her own urges before Mika took the lead showed it.
‘No, that’s not restraint; it’s ignorance.’
They needed to differentiate between the two. Not knowing something and choosing to refrain from it were different matters entirely.
Anyway, Nagisa always felt satisfied after sleeping with Mika. The reverse should certainly hold true as well.
The problem was, their stamina was so vastly different.
Their repertoire always remained the same.
Mika would be at her peak, while Nagisa was left drained. Then, Mika would cuddle her while expressing her affection with words until she fell asleep.
Nagisa felt an immense guilt over that.
She just wished there would come a day when Mika would be so satisfied that she’d collapse in her arms…
‘But the chances of that happening are probably extremely low…’
With a small sigh, Nagisa finally rose from her bed. Wrapping herself in her clothes, she slowly ventured outside. Though her legs trembled slightly from the lack of recovery, they were strong enough for walking.
She wasn’t the only one sensitive to loneliness; Mika wasn’t alone in that.
