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

His dangerous snake-like eyes narrowed slightly, and finally Mebius sighed as if amused, casually waving his hand to make way for him.

"Go find your girlfriend~ But don't be shocked when you see her~"

"And... let's look forward to it together~ your surgery on the guinea pig~ after all... I specifically requested to be your surgeon~ hehe~"

"........."

Xi Wang ignored her and didn't have time to correct her description of her relationship with Ying. She simply walked quickly forward and entered the experimental area in front.

Chapter Twenty-Five: Sakura: Do you like my ears?

"Your physical abilities have improved significantly. They are weaker than Kevin and Alicia, but stronger than the Doctor's... The overall strength has not improved significantly, but your mobility has improved dramatically, which suits you very well, Miss Sakura."

Klein said this while recording Sakura's physical condition.

"Are you getting used to the new weapon? Although Miss Velvi said that this knife is based on the design of [Ice Bloom], it is still a completely new weapon."

“Very good, or rather, very handy. As expected of Miss Wilvi.”

Sakura held the thin, icy katana and deftly twirled it. The cold blade condensed into tiny ice flowers in the surrounding air, which were lifted up again by the slight breeze created by the twirling as they were about to fall. Once Sakura sheathed the katana, the tiny ice flowers gently fell and quickly turned into small water droplets.

"That's good... As for the side effects on your body... will it affect your mobility in any way?"

"No, it's just that my hearing is more acute, it feels like... I have an extra pair of ears?"

Will there be any negative effects, such as receiving too much sound?

"Not yet."

"Alright, let's stop here for today's testing. We'll test the others tomorrow... Once everything is finished, you may need to perform some tasks."

"I understand... huh?"

Sakura nodded, and the long, thin ears that had grown on her head due to the side effects of the surgery suddenly straightened, and her whole body paused slightly.

Clearly, she had heard familiar footsteps and knew who was coming.

"Ah... Mr. Wang, you've arrived."

Klein turned slightly to the side and saw Xiwang walking towards him. He spoke in a sleepy tone, as usual.

She always seems to look like she hasn't slept well. Is her workload really that heavy? Mebius's situation is much better than hers... Oh, Mebius is a [Fusion Warrior] now, so the two can't be compared.

"Please rest assured, Miss Sakura is in good health and the fusion with the [Super Mutant Factor] is going smoothly."

Even Klein had heard about the strange relationship between the two, so he spoke first.

"Today's test is complete. The rest will have to wait until tomorrow... Once Miss Sakura's test results are out, she should be reassigned to a different task, and perhaps you'll be working together again."

As he spoke, Klein gathered the surrounding documents, picked him up, and slowly left, adding one last sentence.

"The experimental area will be idle for a while... It doesn't matter as long as you don't stay there for too long."

"……Um."

Xi Wang nodded to indicate that she understood, and Klein nodded in return, taking the documents and leaving the two of them alone.

Soon, only Xi Wang and Ying remained.

"…………"x2

The silence was somewhat familiar, making both of them feel a little uncomfortable for a moment.

Sakura stood with her back to Xi Wang, her body stiff, yet she did not turn around to face him.

Xi Wang looked at Ying and could sense the change in her overall demeanor... she had become more dangerous, but these things were meaningless to him. His gaze was fixed on the pair of slender ears on the top of her head.

"...Please sit down for a while."

"it is good."

Finally, Sakura spoke first, pointing to the chair against the wall, and Xi Wang readily agreed.

"…………"x2

However, after sitting down, the two fell silent again.

Sakura opened her mouth several times, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know how to start.

Xi Wang waited for Ying to explain the situation to him.

"...Now that things have come to this, I don't care about anything else."

Perhaps because she understood Sakura's personality too well, or perhaps because she didn't want Sakura to be too conflicted, Xiwang spoke up.

"I just want to know, is this something that was requested from above?"

Just like the list he was placed on, although it was said to be "based on the principle of voluntariness," how many of them were truly "voluntary" in the end?

...At least he wasn't. He received the mission to "participate in the Fusion Warrior Program and undergo surgery," and only then did he fill out the "Fusion Warrior Program Application Form," which should theoretically be filled out voluntarily.

So... will Sakura be in this situation?

"……Yes."

Xi Wang's hand tightened involuntarily.

"...Neither."

Sakura paused slightly for a moment, then said the same thing.

“Wang, you should know what we are facing now... To be honest, we were worried about your injury for a long time.”

"We need more and stronger fighting power, even if it means drawing strength from our original enemies, even if it means turning ourselves into non-human beings. We must do this because only in this way can we protect more people, only in this way can we... protect the people we cherish."

"We have to."

She said so.

"...So, you participated voluntarily, right?"

"Yes."

"……I see."

Xi Wang understood what Ying meant and why she had undergone surgery.

She was simply... persuaded.

"........."

Xi Wang closed her eyes and regulated her breathing.

Perhaps they also mixed Rin into their words... No, they must have mentioned Rin, which is why Sakura agreed so readily.

Yes... Only by following their wishes, becoming a sharp "blade," becoming what is called non-human, becoming the "fusion warrior who protects humanity," can we protect those we cherish.

We... have to do this.

However, his hands clenched unconsciously, as if he wanted to dig his nails into his own flesh.

"Wang...don't worry."

Sakura whispered as her hand, as smooth as cream, gently covered his.

"I survived, didn't I?"

"Whether it's for the sake of the bell, or for...for..."

At this point, Sakura became a little embarrassed, a blush rising on her face that matched her cherry-colored long hair.

But she just couldn't bring herself to continue... It seems that after all this time, Sakura hasn't improved at all in this area.

"Ok, I know."

Xi Wang nodded in response to her... but the gold in his night-sky-like pupils seemed to have expanded slightly.

...And hidden inside the laboratory, watching the two people in the experimental area through one-way soundproof glass...

"A! Sakura, go for it! Hurry up and go for it! If you go for it, you'll win!"

Danzhu waved her long sleeves and kept shouting at someone on the other side of the glass... but unfortunately, her voice couldn't get through unless she pressed the call button.

"Sigh... Sakura, why are you so disappointing!"

Seeing that Sakura hadn't finished saying the most crucial sentence, Danzhu said with exasperation.

"These two women, who used to be such good friends, and they're even my colleagues, are now in such a sorry state..."

Danzhu rubbed her head in frustration, her once neatly styled hair now a mess.

Why is it so hard to get these two awkward guys to open up? Are you two allergic to romance or something? Are you just stuck on the edge and won't cross it?

What? You guys are playing mind games in love too? You don't seem like it!

Click click click——

"Wait... Cang Xuan, what are you doing?"

"I'm taking a picture, can't you see?"

Cang Xuan, holding a camera he'd somehow produced, started snapping photos of the two people on the other side of the one-way mirror.

"I remember there was a chocolate product before, these photos seem to be useful, maybe we can get some advertising revenue back..."

"If we get caught, Wang Xiaoge will beat us up, right? Besides, do you even know how to use it?!"

"It's okay, as long as you act pitiful, Brother Wang won't mind... If that doesn't work, you can sell it to the [Wang Ying Support Group]. They love collecting these, and you can exchange it for a few cups of milk tea."

"Why would there be such a strange fan club?!"

"What? You can ship couples but others can't?"

"No, I mean, give me a few backups."

"Very good, 10 yuan a piece."

You're even taking money from your own sister?!

"Even between sisters, accounts should be kept clear. If it were someone else, I'd ask for 20!"

"Hey you two, are you bored?"

Mebius's voice rang out softly, interrupting the argument between the two.

"Instead of wasting time on such trivial things, you might as well help Klein process the data."