Sky Striker Princess, but the swan song of Valkyrie.

After being told that, Lingyi lowered her guard a little.

And so, at Future's suggestion, Lingyi took off her clothes, which were covered in dirt and somewhat disheveled, and prepared to change into other clothes.

"Wait, Zero, there's one more thing to do before you change into your new clothes."

Just as Zero's clothes were removed, Mirai made another suggestion.

"what?"

Lingyi's expression froze slightly, and her body involuntarily shrank back a little.

"You need to wash yourself, because Lingyi, you have a lot of dust on you."

"The future is inevitable," he said, holding a basket containing toiletries.

"Kohinata, you... I understand."

In response to the future action, Lingyi took a small half-step back, pressing her body against the wall in a defensive stance, but ultimately did not refuse.

And so, at Future's further suggestion, they each washed their bodies, and after washing, Lingyi changed into the spare pajamas that Future had prepared.

"Okay, that's fine."

Seeing that Lingyi's clothes were no longer as disheveled as when they first met, Mirai nodded in satisfaction.

"And then, Rei, do you want to sleep together tonight?"

Then, after glancing at the still-dripping rain and the increasingly gloomy sky outside, Mirai turned to Zero and made this suggestion.

"...Isn't that unnecessary? Kohinata, your only request is to tutor you. Wouldn't it be better to leave after you've finished tutoring me?"

Faced with the new proposal, Lingyi paused for a moment before softly uttering her refusal.

"It's necessary. Let's not even talk about how late it is now, Lingyi, you don't have any clothes to wear out right now, do you?"

In the future, he answered immediately, his expression revealing an unwavering commitment.

"...I still have some clothes I changed out of; I can just wear my old clothes."

After another moment of silence, Lingyi proposed this solution.

"Oh, you mean that one? It's already in the washing machine, it's soaked, and you can't wear it."

Then the plan was immediately rejected by Smiling Future.

"....“......"

After this conversation, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent. The black-haired girl smiled and looked intently at the platinum-blonde girl, whose eyes seemed unwavering, revealing her determination.

"Kohinata... this is enough, isn't it?"

The sound of rain outside the window gradually stopped, and finally, Lingyi broke the increasingly heavy atmosphere.

"In the end, we are just strangers who met by chance, and you have no reason to do these things for me."

Lingyi continued speaking, turning her head away to avoid looking into the future.

"Why do you think that, Zero?"

Seeing Lingyi's actions, Mirai went straight up to ask her.

"Could it be that Lingyi has forgotten?"

Then, the intelligent young woman held the girl's slightly soft cheeks with both hands and gently straightened them.

"If Zero hadn't taken that action, would I still be able to continue this precious daily life?"

After doing all this, Future didn't pull her hand back. She just looked at Lingyi's last remaining emerald green eye and asked seriously.

"This kind of thing..."

Upon hearing the question from the future, Lingyi unconsciously exerted her strength, broke free from the other person's restraint, and moved to the other side.

"Hmph... You think that way because you don't know the real story. In reality, if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had to suffer that kind of treatment."

Then, after catching her breath, Lingyi, as if giving up on herself, said this to the future.

"Zero Clothes..."

Seeing Lingyi's sudden reaction, Mirai's expression showed a hint of conflict.

"Hoo, hoo, the reason you still maintain this attitude is because you don't understand the fact that those guys kidnapped you because of my Flash Blade."

After a pause, Lingyi stated the truth.

"So, do you understand now, Kohinata? You have no reason to do anything pointless to me, so you have no need to stop me from leaving."

Lingyi spoke very quickly, then tried to leave the room, seemingly intending to go to the bathroom to get her clothes and leave.

Then, having just managed to break free from her restraints, she was once again drawn to warmth and softness.

"Kohinata...did I forget something?"

Lingyi stopped walking without turning around and said this.

"Lingyi, has anyone ever told you that you're not good at acting?"

Regarding Lingyi's behavior, which resembles a hedgehog curling up into a ball with its quills sticking out, the future assessment is:

Even someone completely unaware of the situation wouldn't think Lingyi was a bad person after seeing her behavior just now.

The future is what I'm thinking.

Furthermore, even if what Rei said is true, the person I should oppose wouldn't be Rei, who actually saved my life.

"I'll add to that in the future," he added.

“I’m stating the facts.”

When asked about the future, Lingyi did not respond, but simply emphasized this point silently.

"Okay, let's assume what Lingyi said is true. If it really is as you say, shouldn't you give me some compensation, like doing something I ask for?"

With a smile, she continued speaking, following Lingyi's train of thought.

"This...no, that's not right. Although I may have been the cause of those things, I have already rescued everyone...so, so it should be even, yes, even."

For a moment, Lingyi didn't react. Like a student suddenly asked a question by the teacher that she hadn't reviewed in class, she racked her brains and came up with a seemingly reasonable answer.

"We're even now. Since we're even, can I become your friend, Lingyi? I really want to be your friend."

Then, the story unfolded in a new way, following Zero's explanation.

"ah·

The way the future says this seems to have left Lingyi momentarily speechless.

"Of course, you can refuse me and say you don't want to be friends with me, but even if you say that, I won't change my mind."

"I will continue to do so with a firm resolve," he said.

".....Mm."

Faced with this attitude towards the future, Lingyi's body gradually withered, like a little hedgehog whose soft belly had been exposed.

"It seems you understand now, Zero."

Mirai stepped forward, pulled down the girl's hand that was on the doorknob, and dragged the speechless Lingyi back to her room.

Then, she let go of her hand and went to get a backpack.

"what you up to?"

Seeing the future's actions, Lingyi asked.

"I didn't say from the beginning that I hoped you could help me with my homework, Lingyi."

The future is a matter of course, as they say.

"Ah...it seems that's true."

Lingyi had no way to refute the future's claims, since the other party had indeed used this reason to keep her here.

Aren't you curious about things concerning me?

Lingyi, however, still asked some questions out of concern.

"Curious is definitely a good thing. I'm very curious about everything about you, Lingyi."

As she said in the future, she was naturally very curious and wanted to know about Lingyi, this mysterious girl.

"Then why don't you ask me?"

Lingyi seemed somewhat puzzled.

"Because it must be something sad, and since it's something sad, it must be painful for Rei to think about it."

"Therefore, I think it would be better if you told me when you are no longer in pain because of this."

In the future, she explained her plans to Lingyi.

"I believe that painful things should be recalled only after one's heart is filled with warm memories, so as not to cause one's soul to weep."

"Future said with a smile."

"...

Lingyi stared at the girl beside her, lost in thought.

"Alright, let's get back to tutoring."

After a short while, Lingyi seemed to have put something down, and her tone became slightly more relaxed as she walked to the future's desk.

"Okay, please."

[Even so, Lingyi doesn't seem to be in school, so I should be the one to guide her.]

With this in mind, Future also came to the desk, ready to provide homework guidance according to her own plan.

And so it went until 10 p.m....

"Lingyi, did you really never go to school?"

As the content jumped to a field she couldn't understand, she was somewhat surprised.

"Hmm... This world has never been visited."

Lingyi thought for a moment and answered somewhat uncertainly.

"What do you mean you've never been to this world? Are you from another world, Zero?"

The future cannot be ignored.

"Another world..."

Upon hearing the question about the future, Lingyi's expression involuntarily darkened, as if she were recalling some unpleasant memories.

"What's wrong, Zero?"

In the future, I don't quite understand why the other person's expression changed.

"No, it's nothing, Hinata. Just think of me as having a good memory and comprehension, and always being good at studying."

Soon, Lingyi shook her head and temporarily dropped the topic.

"Okay, then I'll wait until Lingyi wants to tell me before I do."

Seeing that Lingyi didn't want to talk much, she didn't press the matter about the future.

"Well, it's getting late, let's go to sleep together. Only by getting enough rest can we feel warmer."

Then, realizing that it was getting late, the conversation naturally shifted to this topic.

"Sleep together...?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, Lingyi seemed to realize it only then, and looked towards the future bed, which, although slightly small, could accommodate two people sharing a room.

"Of course, otherwise Lingyi, you wouldn't have anywhere to sleep. There are no makeshift beds here."

The future is a matter of course, as they say.

"No, no, no, I'm not used to this. I'd rather go out and find a hotel or something to sleep in by myself."

For some reason, a sense of rejection arose from Lingyi. Then, she spoke with a hint of resistance before heading towards the door.

"Lingyi, your parents are already asleep and have locked the door. It's best not to disturb them."

"It will be a long time coming," he said.