Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

The frail girl unconsciously and helplessly took a half step back.

"Hey, you guys!"

Just as Tachibana Hibiki was at a loss, a spirited female voice suddenly came from the side, rescuing Tachibana Hibiki from her predicament.

"Although we're here for team building, we shouldn't relax too much. Don't forget, Tachibana is still being watched by an unknown enemy. If we relax too much, the enemy might take advantage of our weakness."

It was Kazami Tsubasa. She had just arrived at the hot spring town on her motorcycle when she saw three people standing by the street chatting casually. So she stopped and gave them some advice.

"Thank you, Miss Yi, oh..."

"Yi, what's wrong with you...?"

"Oh my..."

However, upon hearing Kazanari Tsubasa's words and noticing her arriving on a motorcycle, the three of them simultaneously exhibited strange reactions.

"What's wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Wearing a white beret, a white jacket over a white shirt, and casual white shorts, with a white shoulder bag in hand, Kazami asked this question when she saw the strange looks on the three people's faces.

[Miss Yi's outfit is completely unconvincing.]

Hibiki Tachibana thought this way, and she could also sense that the two people next to her probably thought the same thing.

However, to avoid putting Miss Tsubasa in a difficult position, it's best not to bring this up now.

It was largely thanks to Miss Tsubasa that the situation was resolved; Tachibana wouldn't criticize Miss Tsubasa's outfit to her face.

"Hmm... but it seems like you're the most relaxed one among us, Yi, after all, you've prepared so thoroughly."

Just as Tachibana Hibiki was about to say something to end the awkward situation, a voice completely oblivious to the atmosphere broke the silence.

"Oh, Miss Ryoko, you actually said that out loud!"

Hibiki Tachibana was somewhat flustered.

At this moment, reminded by Ryoko, Kazunari Tsubasa also noticed herself, completely unaware of when she had put on this outfit.

"I... I dressed like this simply to better blend into my surroundings. As for expectations or anything like that, as a sword, I have absolutely no such fragile emotions!"

Feng Mingyi, who had suddenly become imposing, tried to explain that she had no particular expectations for this kind of hot spring trip that she had never experienced before, and that she had absolutely not been troubled by this matter for a long time in her messy room in front of the wardrobe.

After that, Fengmingyi said something like "always on the battlefield" and "the responsibility of guarding against people," and for a moment the air was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Haha, I understand. Well, Miss Yi, whatever makes you happy."

Hibiki Tachibana chuckled awkwardly, ending the conversation. If Miss Tsubasa continued talking like that, her image in her mind would start to become strange.

"In short, let's go to the store we booked first. The commander and the others are already waiting for us there."

At the same time, after treating the wound on his nose, Shinji Ogawa smiled and made a suggestion.

Although he was pleased with Kazami's performance, considering the time constraints, he decided to hurry and get to his destination as soon as possible.

"That makes a lot of sense. So, little Xiang, let's go to the hot springs together. Remember to let your older sister check if your development is normal."

Sakurai Ryoko winked at Tachibana Hibiki, and at the same time gave up teasing Tsubasa.

“Yada, please forgive me for refusing, but I have a feeling that if Miss Zi succeeds, I will lose something very important.”

Faced with the presence that was once again watching her, the innocent girl took a half step back in fear.

"How could that be, Hibiki-chan? I'll be very gentle."

Noticing the little lamb's fear, the strange older sister tried to soothe it.

"So gentle... You're even using that kind of language, Miss Ryoko, you really are planning to do something bad to me, aren't you?"

The naive lamb saw through the wolf's hidden scheme and retreated behind the blue sword, trying to use it to protect itself.

"Hmm, Hibiki-chan, guess what? Well, let's not prolong our chat. We'll continue when we're at the hot springs, when we're completely honest with each other."

In the end, it was Sakurai Ryoko who ended the hunt by saying that she was temporarily giving up.

Soon, the four people who had gathered together began to head towards their destination. Shortly after they left, the girl in red with white hair and the girl in black with gray hair stood where they had just been chatting.

P.S. Goodnight, Desu.

Chapter 45 Encounter (4k)

"Yes, we've arrived."

When she saw the sign that read "Welcome to the Hot Spring Town" propped up on a scaffold at the street corner, Lingyi knew that she had arrived at her destination.

To cover up her momentary blunder, she had no choice but to accompany Chris to such an entertainment venue and waste time, fortunately...

"Hehe, I've been curious about what it feels like to soak in a hot spring for a long time."

On the other hand, upon arriving at the hot spring town, Chris became excited without realizing it, her eagerness resembling that of a child seeing a novel toy.

"Well then, without further ado, um, Rosé, let's go to the hot springs right away."

Excited Chris, without the slightest hesitation, grabbed Zero's hand and rushed towards the hot spring shop in the street.

bang-

Then, Chris tumbled and fell headfirst onto the flat ground, and all that was left in her hand that had been holding onto Zero was a thin black leather glove.

"Hey, what are you doing? Didn't we agree to go to the hot springs together?"

Chris, who had gotten up from the ground, complained to Zero.

"Christina, you're getting too excited. It's just a hot spring bath, there's no need to be so lively. Just find a place to stay and soak in the hot spring for a while, that's all."

Lingyi looked at the tablet in her hand and said this in a somewhat helpless tone.

"Of course I'm excited! After all, I've never been to a hot spring before. This is my first time, so it's not surprising that I'm looking forward to it, right?"

Chris said matter-of-factly.

"Hmm... Ah? Christina, you've never been to a hot spring before?"

Upon hearing Chris's statement, Zero was silent for a moment before asking with some confusion.

She assumed that Chris's enthusiasm for soaking in the hot springs meant she must have some knowledge and interest in them, but judging from her current demeanor, she didn't seem to have any experience.

"Yeah, what's wrong?"

Chris didn't understand why Zero asked that question.

"So, Chris, do you know how to soak in a hot spring?"

Looking at the words on the screen, Lingyi couldn't help but ask again.

"Huh?! Why do I need to know how to soak in a hot spring? Isn't it obvious? You just go in and soak, like taking a bath."

Chris confidently expressed her opinion, which was full of subjective assumptions.

"Sigh—so, Christina, you have no experience with hot springs and only came here out of pure curiosity?"

After confirming this fact, Lingyi sighed helplessly.

The date had barely begun, but she already seemed to be... (unclear - possibly a typo or incomplete sentence). I could sense that this trip might not be going smoothly.

"Anyway, Christina, I'm sending you something. Please take a look at it. I'm begging you, just don't get into any conflicts with others."

As she spoke, Lingyi manipulated the tablet in her hand, which was covered by a waterproof case, and sent a document to Chris. The waterproof case was something Lingyi had bought on a whim at a store she passed by.

"Wow—there are so many rules and customs associated with soaking in hot springs!"

Chris was somewhat surprised when she saw the document sent by Lingyi on her phone. She had always thought that a hot spring was like a large public bathhouse.

The document details the process of soaking in a hot spring, including what to do before soaking, the rules during soaking, and the maximum time one can soak.

"I'm not trying to be mean, Chris, you're supposed to be a local, so why don't you know the rules that even I, a non-local, know?"

Walking up to Chris, Zero complained to her in a very low voice.

Although she had never actually soaked in a hot spring, she would habitually research local customs before going on a business trip to avoid unnecessary trouble due to differences in customs.

"I can't help it. I've never had a chance. I've always been traveling around with my parents since I was little, and then that happened. Now I have to... I have no chance at all, sob."

Chris refuted Zero's criticism, but as she continued to refute, her mood involuntarily plummeted.

Sensing Chris's noticeably low spirits, and recalling the information about Chris that she had casually obtained from Finney earlier, Zero had a sudden realization.

"Is that so... Alright, Chris, didn't you want to go to the hot springs? Let's hurry up and get there so we can soak a little longer."

Then, she put one arm around Chris's arm and, in a manner that appeared quite intimate to outsiders, pulled Chris toward the hot spring hotel.

"Hey hey hey hey...wait a minute, Rokuyo, isn't this distance a little too close?"

Faced with Zero's sudden action, Chris reacted by the time she realized what was happening. She was already in very close contact with Zero, and she could even feel Zero's every breath.

"What's wrong, Chris? Didn't you suggest going on a date? If that's the case, then cheer up and stop looking so sad all the time."

Lingyi whispered in Chris's ear.

It was not her intention to evoke painful memories in Chris, and if Chris is not helped to extricate herself from them in time, things may take a turn for the worse.

However, Lingyi was not very good at verbal comfort, so instead of comforting, she chose what she thought was a more effective approach: to overwhelm Chris's thought process with a more impactful action.

"You... okay, I understand."

Soon, with the combined effect of the airflow swirling in her cochlea and the tight body clinging to Chris's body, Zero quickly pulled Chris's thoughts back from her previous ramblings.

"Yes, that's it, Chris, relax a bit."

Satisfied with Chris's current state, Zero buried her head in Chris's neck and nuzzled against her. Chris, who was surprisingly resistant to intimate contact with others, had no objection to Zero's actions.

And so, the two strolled along the hot spring street, blending perfectly into the atmosphere, and arrived at a hot spring shop without attracting any particular attention.

"Welcome! Um, what kind of set meal would you two like to choose?"

When the two entered the store, the ordinary shop assistants greeted them with a formulaic smile, asking about their needs without questioning their actions.

"A package deal? Let me see... There are two of us, so one ticket for two will be fine."

Releasing Chris's delicate body beside her, Zero shifted to a more convenient position to hold the tablet, and entered into a normal, everyday negotiation mode.

"Okay, do you two have membership cards?"

"No, this is our first time here, we don't have a membership card."

"In that case, do you need to get a membership card? With a membership card, you can enjoy some good discounts."

"No need," said one resident. "We haven't decided to stay here permanently, so we probably won't come here to soak in the hot springs too often."

"Oh, I see. Sorry to bother you. So, the price for a double ticket is..."

"Okay, I understand. Do you have a POS machine? I'll pay by card."

"Ah, yes, please use it."

Soon, after a very ordinary exchange, Lingyi readily swiped her card to pay and received a two-person ticket to the hot spring. Then, she naturally pulled Chris into the hot spring's changing room.

"Hmm, this... this is really strange. To do something like this, at least... following this development, shouldn't the next step be... no, no, it shouldn't be like this."

After entering the changing room, the white-haired girl still looked lost in thought. Seeing Chris's adorable and silly appearance, as if she could be tricked into bed seven times, Lingyi was a little worried. If she wasn't careful, would this girl be kidnapped by someone else?

"Oops, did I use a little too much force? Okay, Christina, snap out of it."

Lingyi gently patted Chris's face, trying to bring her back to her senses.

"Ah, Zero..."

Soon, with Zero's help, Chris gradually came to her senses from the chaos.

"I'm not saying this to be mean, Christina, you really need to improve your tolerance for shame. If you keep acting like this, I'm worried that you might get scammed in the future, selling yourself out and still counting the money for others."

Lingyi, somewhat helpless, said to Chris, "I'll stop her from letting it slip with my finger."

"Pfft... It's just that you suddenly did that strange thing on the street, Rokuyo. How come you can do such a shameful thing so skillfully?"

Chris removed her mouth from Lingyi's fingers, turned her head away, and said this with a slight blush on her face.

"I don't feel ashamed at all. Although some parts may have gone a bit too far, overall it's not particularly shameful."

Lingyi simply waved her hand and said indifferently.

"What do you mean it's not particularly shameful, Rokuyo? You... *sob*"

Chris wanted to say something, but when she saw Lingyi's face, she remembered the intimate things Lingyi had done to her on the way there, and steam instantly rose from her face.

"Chris, you... never mind, I suggest you stop thinking about it and focus on how to seduce... hmm?"

Just as Lingyi was about to continue what Chris was saying, she suddenly saw orange-yellow words appear on the screen she used to display subtitles.