Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

Looking at the USB drive handed to her by the somewhat unsteady girl, Chris remained silent for a moment before silently accepting it, but she did more than just accept the USB drive.

"Ah, Chris, what are you doing?"

Lingyi looked at the white-haired girl in front of her and asked calmly.

As for the reason for the question, it was because the girl in front of her, while holding the USB drive, also used both hands to pull the hand that was handing her the USB drive.

"What am I doing? I'm the one who should be asking Lingyi what you're doing. Why is it that no matter before or now, you always manage to get yourself into this state when I'm not looking? Now, come back to bed with me and rest."

Xueyin Chris stared at Lingyi with an unquestionable tone, then used both hands to pull the frail-looking girl in front of her back to her bedroom.

In Chris's mind, from the moment she first met Lingyi, she was very good at ruining her body into a terrible state when faced with stressful situations.

I hadn't seen any major problems with her over the past month, and I thought she had finally changed. But now it seems that it was just because her resilience had improved. Her inherent personality, which easily leads her to act this way, hasn't changed at all.

"Are you worried about me, Chris? Hmm, it does make me miss you a little... But don't worry, Chris, I'm not the same as before. I'm fine. This state is just a sign of being slightly overworked. I'll recover after resting for a few minutes."

Supporting her swaying body, Lingyi pulled her hand back from being held and gestured to Chris in this way, her tone calm, as if she were completely fine.

"...Yeah, right! Sleeping only a few minutes a day and working this much intensity, Lingyi, what do you take your body for? Take care of yourself at least a little!"

Chris had complete reservations about Zero's opinion.

Although she didn't understand heretical technology, she understood Zero from before. She knew that if Zero ignored her according to her previous ideas, this girl would definitely not stop until she pushed her body to its limit.

"It's really okay, it's just this level... Moreover, what's more important now is to hurry up and arrange various matters. There's less than a week left until the meteor shower. After that, we need to set up a special prison to hold Fusion Case No. 1, and monitor the specific movements of those Section Two members to adjust our strategy. I still have so much to do, I can't rest now."

Lingyi shook her head as she spoke, then stood up, intending to leave and go out to do other work.

As her body swayed from side to side, without her realizing it, the strap of her already precarious white undershirt slipped off her shoulder, revealing her fair shoulders and making a certain area below vaguely visible.

"Hmm... even so, Rei, you really need to rest. In this state, what will you do when you actually have to fight later?"

Shaking her head to refocus her attention on serious matters, Chris posed this question to Zero.

"I will rest before that. I understand the consequences of overwork. I can distinguish between priorities. Also, even if I might not be able to concentrate during the battle because of staying up late, I will take some measures to keep myself awake in advance."

Faced with Chris's questioning, Zero slowly offered her own 'solution'.

She knew, of course, that overworking herself wasn't a good thing, but there was nothing she could do. Because of the actions of Section Two and Hibiki Tachibana, her work, which originally had no deadline, now had a clear deadline, making her previously relatively ample time extremely limited.

Adhering to the principles of speed and the fear of delay, she could not ignore this opportunity. Therefore, all she could do was squeeze out her rest time and sacrifice future work efficiency in exchange for full-speed action in the present.

"!?"

Hearing Lingyi's words, Chris was momentarily at a loss for words.

"Besides, as an employee, as long as I do my job within my capabilities, Chris, you have neither the need nor the right to interfere with my actions. Or has my recent leniency made you forget the current situation?"

Ignoring Chris's thoughts, Zero continued her explanation to Chris calmly, just as she always had.

"No, that's not how it is, I..."

Listening to Lingyi's rational analysis, Chris's expression subtly changed. She reflexively wanted to refute Lingyi's words, but didn't know how to do so.

She understood that although she and Lingyi seemed to have gotten closer recently, upon closer examination, this closeness was merely wishful thinking on her part. She had never received any positive feedback from Lingyi; it was always Lingyi tolerating her one-sided antics as a colleague.

"Phew, that's enough of the farce. Chris, you can rest at your own pace. I'm going to test the overall defense system to see if there are any vulnerabilities."

Lingyi glanced one last time at Chris, who seemed to be pondering her words, shook her head with an ethereal air, and drifted past the white-haired girl who had her head down. Her thoughts gradually began to fill with the tasks she needed to complete later.

Then, the mind, which had been filled with projects, was completely cleared away by what happened next.

"Chris, what are you doing? What are you thinking? If it's not necessary, could you please not interfere with my work?"

Lingyi spoke as calmly as possible, her voice reflecting her current feelings.

A slightly warm forehead pressed against the back of her neck, white hair brushing against her exposed skin with a slight tickling sensation, and a fair arm reaching out from behind to gently rest on her abdomen. She could feel the soft, flowing water engulfing her back.

In short, after Zero passed by her, Yukine Chris, with unknown thoughts, hugged Zero from behind.

“I have it.”

Chris's voice, barely audible, rang out. If Zero-Cloth Flash Blade's perception system hadn't been so powerful, he probably wouldn't have known what Chris was saying at all.

"What?"

Although she knew what was said, Zero couldn't immediately understand what Chris was trying to express.

“I know I shouldn’t stop you right now. If I continue, as you said, it will interfere with your normal work and affect my and Finney’s ideals… But even if it’s fake, I don’t want to lose anything else.”

Chris's voice was transmitted through the vibrations of the air and, after being received by the instrument, was transformed into text displayed on Zero's right eye.

The thought that he had lost everything, with only the desire for revenge against the world remaining, was shattered by the fleeting beauty of the past and the reappearance of the present.

A beautiful and prosperous dream, a bubble as sweet as honey, before which, the only belief I once thought remained—the belief in ending all worldly conflict with violence—has indeed become like a skyscraper built of tofu: seemingly indestructible, but in reality, 'indestructible'.

"Hmph, so what exactly are you trying to say, Chris?"

Adjusting her breathing, with her back to Yukine Chris, and with some unknown thoughts in mind, Zero asked, "What do you mean?"

"I have the right to make demands of you, Lingyi. You haven't forgotten what you promised me before, have you?"

Maintaining the tight embrace, Chris spoke with a firmness that could be felt even through her words, her voice tinged with a hint of determination.

"Hey, you don't mean... are you sure you want to do this, Chris, instead of increasing the chances of safely capturing Tachibana Hibiki?"

Lingyi quickly realized what Chris was referring to—the promise that had been made as a temporary measure, based on the assumption that Chris had a broad perspective and wouldn't abuse the power too much.

"I'm sure that if ordinary requests can't get you to rest, then I have to do it this way. So, Lingyi, are you going to break your promise?"

Chris said firmly that, for this very moment, the balance between her ideals and desires had slightly tipped in favor of her own desires. Perhaps they might pay the price for this later, but she did not regret doing so at the moment.

In Lingyi's mind, whenever Chris spoke, her warm breath would gently caress her body, disrupting her originally clear thinking.

[Seriously, time is so tight right now, and Chris is just making things more difficult for me.]

Lingyi tried her best to rein in her wildly wandering thoughts and restore their rationality.

[Think it over carefully, Lingyi. What you should do now is to use every means possible to achieve your goal as perfectly as possible.]

The girl's body temperature had already penetrated her clothing and reached her body.

[Granting such a capricious request will only hinder the progress of completing 'that'.]

A slightly warm and soft sensation rested on my shoulders.

Moreover, and most importantly, no matter how you look at it, I am currently incapable of fulfilling this wish. I've already exhausted all my strength just trying to survive.

A giant cotton candy, vastly different in size from the past, with a sweet, unbearable abyss pressed tightly against its spine.

[We must refuse decisively, severing this relationship that shouldn't continue at this time without any questioning.]

Beautiful dreams and dazzling illusions appear before one's eyes, and the pleasure that drains one's brain like the song of sirens constantly erodes one's firm will.

Finally, after a difficult period of deliberation, Lingyi reaffirmed her resolve. Even if it temporarily hurt Chris, to protect the last remaining piece of her heart, she had to make the right and rational choice, just as she had always insisted.

"Well then, Lingyi, let's go. I'll make sure you relax properly today!"

Then, these words appeared before Lingyi's eyes.

【ah?】

My thoughts went awry for a moment, and my breathing stopped for a split second.

Soon, Lingyi realized what had just happened. Before her rationality could catch up, her berserk mind had already taken control of her body and made a response.

P.S. Good morning/early morning.

P.S. I got up in the middle of the night, and since I'm already up, I might as well finish this.

Chapter 85 Their respective movements

Leaving aside the fact that she was wasting her time day and night at the beginning, at Lydian Music Academy, after the reports were outsourced, Tachibana Hibiki's originally tight schedule became slightly more relaxed. Although she still had to manually copy the study reports, she no longer had to expend her already limited mental energy.

This also means that she can finally take some time to live a normal and ordinary daily life at the academy, and temporarily put matters such as fighting behind her, as long as she can finish some things ahead of schedule.

"Ah, that's wonderful."

Sitting in her seat, Hibiki Tachibana sighed to herself as she copied the text from the computer screen into her report book.

"Hello, what do you mean?"

Kohinata Mirai, who was helping the other party prepare the report, asked.

"Oh, it's nothing. I meant that it would be great to have the opportunity to see shooting stars with you in the future. I thought it would be impossible no matter what."

Hibiki Tachibana smiled, and it was clear that she was genuinely happy about it.

"Is that so? That's certainly very encouraging. Speaking of which, Hibiki, how's the report she sent you coming along with your copying?"

Kohinata nodded to Mirai, then asked the girl sitting next to him a question.

Half a day has passed since Tachibana Hibiki outsourced the report, and right after class at noon, the outsourcing agency had already efficiently packaged and sent a portion of the learning reports to Tachibana Hibiki.

"Yes, don't worry, the future is all taken care of. As for copying the credits, it's still quite simple."

Hibiki Tachibana confidently showed her notebook to the future and said that she cherished this opportunity very much and that there would be absolutely no accidents.

"That's good."

Looking at the dense, unrestrained handwriting on Tachibana Hibiki's notebook, Kohinata Mirai wore a gentle smile.

"Hahaha... Oh, right, speaking of which, where are we going to watch the meteor shower next?"

While Tachibana Hibiki was happy, she suddenly seemed to remember something and asked her best friend.

"Where to go... is it necessary to worry about this so early? There are still a few days left."

Hearing Tachibana Hibiki's question, Kohinata Mirai asked in a somewhat strange tone.

"It's okay if it's a little earlier, right? Tell me, about the future."

Hibiki Tachibana's expression was somewhat stiff, but she still forced herself to ask, "Tsubasa 6 Yishan Yijiu II."

Because she was almost dying from the struggle with the study report, she completely forgot that Commander Fengming had instructed her to decide on the location to watch the meteor shower in advance so that the commander and his men could make arrangements for defenses or something she didn't understand.

"Hmm, let me think. I've done some research. To observe meteors, you need to go to a suburban area away from urban light pollution. Also, some of the more famous viewing spots might be too crowded. I think this place is good. It's secluded and has a wide-open space that I know of."

Although it was a bit strange, Kohinata Mirai still brought up the map software on her study tablet and pointed out a clearing in the suburban forest to Tachibana Hibiki.

"Oh, is this where we're going? Okay, I understand. Um, I have some things to take care of in the future, so I'll leave for a bit."

Leaning her head closer, Tachibana Hibiki deeply imprinted the place the future was pointing to in her mind, and then said this.

"Now? Okay, but Hibiki, remember to come back before class. Also, don't forget that there's a very important physical exam at school this Friday. At least don't be unable to find me like before. And if you need to do anything, you have to tell me in advance."

Seeing Tachibana Hibiki's actions, Kohinata Mirai realized that she was probably going to do something she couldn't tell her again. Feeling somewhat helpless, she could only offer this reminder to reduce the chances of her missing something important.

"Ah, I see. Well, I'll be going now. I should be back before lunch break ends."

Hibiki Tachibana nodded, then immediately got up and ran out of the classroom.

With a loud shout of "Tachibana-kun, don't run in the hallway!!", Tachibana Hibiki's figure completely disappeared from Kohinata Mirai's sight.

Deep underground, at the headquarters of Section Two, Genjuro Kazanari was holding a routine meeting, continuing to discuss matters related to Zero Clothes and how to organize the subsequent operations with the main family.

"Then let's proceed as it may be, and strive to use all our strength to annihilate that evil traitor in this inescapable net, and reclaim the precious treasures of China from his hands."

On the electronic screen in the conference room, an elderly man named Feng Mingrangtang, who was sitting behind his desk, made the following statement.

"Understood, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Standing in the conference room, Kazanari Genjuro immediately stepped forward and made such a guarantee.

“Very well. In addition, I have a question: what is the current situation of the key to all this, the bait that lures the villains into the trap, and the warriors who delay the villains’ actions? Are they capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of both bait and warriors?”

After Kazanari Genjuro made his assurance, Kazanari Ryodo nodded, then maintained a serious demeanor and asked the following question.

"In that respect, well, no problem, I think she can..."

Although he disliked the way the other person addressed Tachibana Hibiki, Kazanari Genjuro could only temporarily go along with what the other person said when questioned by the Kazanari main family.

"Hoo, hoo, Master, we've decided... Ah, Master, are you having another meeting? Haha, I won't disturb you, I'll be going now."

Just as Kazunari Genjuro and Kazunari Rendo were negotiating, the conference room door was suddenly pushed open by a whirlwind of a flaxen-colored dumpling, namely Tachibana Hibiki. Tachibana Hibiki, who had just entered, was about to say something, but after seeing the situation in the conference room, she smiled sheepishly and retreated back to the door.

"...So that's how it is. So that's the bait. As bait, it's quite good. But as a warrior, it seems to need some more training."

Seemingly noticing the commotion in the meeting room, Kazunari Ryodo made this judgment as Tachibana Hibiki reluctantly left the room.

"Tachibana... No, that's not true. Actually, I've been giving Tachibana special training recently, and her skills have improved significantly compared to before. She's capable of taking on more responsibility."

Ignoring the stray Tachibana Hibiki, Kazanari Genjuro turned his attention back to the meeting and said this.

"There's no need to defend this. Whether I can bear the responsibility is my own judgment. You don't need to have any more doubts about this matter. So, let's leave it at that for today."

Kazunari Rangdo ignored Kazunari Genjuro's explanation, simply uttered a sentence, shut down the communication, and ended the meeting.