"Don't be polite, come in and have a seat. Would you like something to drink?"

As we followed our usual customs, I sat on the long sofa, and Yu Nai quickly walked into the kitchen and started rummaging through the fridge.

"No need to trouble yourself," I shook my head to indicate that I wasn't thirsty, and she sat down on the shorter sofa next to me.

While Yu Nai was in the kitchen, I took the opportunity to observe her home. It was spotless everywhere, as expected of someone living alone. She seemed self-reliant, didn't she?

The atmosphere was a bit awkward. I decided to find a common topic. "Um, your mother..."

"My mother... passed away four years ago!" As she mentioned her mother, the smile on her face vanished instantly, and her eyes revealed a hint of sadness.

Yu Nai must be cursing me in her heart, thinking that I was an idiot for bringing up such a topic.

"Wait a moment, I'll go make some tea."

Perhaps she also sensed the awkwardness of the situation. She said she would make tea for me.

"Oh, I can't refuse your kindness," I replied. But for some reason, I still felt unfamiliar with Yu Nai's emotions, and even stuttered a bit during our conversation. "Thank you..."

"It's no trouble. I just moved in and I don't have much to offer you. Only tea." Her tone was so gentle, completely different from the Yu Nai I met at the bookstore that afternoon. Or maybe she was even nicer than Yuko-neechan, who had a bad temper deep down!

"Thank you very much for the tea. I am your neighbor Tsubaki Juxi from room 2631. Nice to meet you!"

After exchanging greetings, I glanced at the clock. It was already late... Oh no, I had to hurry back home!

Just thinking about how terrifying Yuko would be if I hadn't eaten dinner yet, how she would glare at me with resentment... or maybe...

"Hurry up, I want to eat the best steak and lobster..." I imagined in my mind how she would immediately start to squeeze me dry. It sent shivers down my spine.

I can't afford all that. How could a second-year high school student have so much money to spend on her extravagant desires?

Oh right, I have to save up for Yuko's school trip. After all, I can't mix in with the class and go to a place as dangerous as Sgraffi.

Indeed, it was an important problem that required careful consideration (I had long forgotten about Yuko's matters). I already knew enough about Wicherki's information. According to the military intelligence report, Wicherki held the position of United Nations Secretary-General, and had the power to move easily within the UN.

"That's right, Captain!" Falcon's tone on the phone was very serious. "Wicherki has secretly trained a significant number of mercenaries. It seems that it won't be long before no country can do anything to him!"

"He trained a significant number of mercenaries?" Hmm, I always looked down on those makeshift irregular forces, so I didn't really care about what Falcon said.

Besides, with time passing, my memory had already recovered at least half, so I had nothing to fear from these outdated equipment and disorganized mercenaries in this world.

"Um... Captain!" Falcon's voice seemed to have become timid, which annoyed me a little.

"Yeah, I know. Mercenaries, just a bunch of unruly people. Why worry about them?" I replied dismissively.

"That's not it, Captain. As far as I know, this group of mercenaries possesses three mobile fortresses (advanced aircraft carriers)!"

The so-called mobile fortresses were super fortresses with all-round land, sea and air defense, formed by combining the bodies of six aircraft carriers. They contained over two thousand anti-aircraft guns, with a thousand submarines constantly patrolling the surrounding waters. The last facility, the core, housed enough nuclear weapons to potentially destroy the entire world.

"And there are three of them!?" I was so shocked that I couldn't close my mouth. Yet this person, codenamed Falcon, kept on rambling as if he had been kissed by a pig, informing me about the immense power of our enemy.

"Yes, Captain! Wicherki's combat capability exceeds our imagination. If we were to confront him directly, it would only lead to losses."This sentence is quite normal, it's just the following ones... moving fortresses, there are only five of them in the whole world! The mercenaries hired by Vickelqi have better equipment than the regular army, and so on.

"So that's why the military of the Alliance of Nations dares to be so arrogant in invading other countries' territories, mainly because they have a strong hand!"

The situation seems to be much more serious than I imagined. When I returned home, I didn't pay attention to the whimsical fragrance that greeted me at the door.

"Hey, does it take this long to visit the neighbor and give a gift?"

"I'm asking you a question, don't ignore me!"

Verbose, it sounds like my wife... Hehe, if only it were true. An unknown liquid (saliva) dripped from the corner of my mouth in front of the fragrance.

"That's so disgusting, wipe it off!" The annoyed fragrance blew out a tissue and handed it to me, saying unkindly, "Just by looking at your drooling face earlier, I know you did something bad!"

"I'm used to it, always being misunderstood..."

"It's because you always do things that are easily misunderstood!" Yuka persistently questioned me about coming back late.

Yuka... sister, do you care about me so much? For that moment, every heartstring connected to my heart was beating at a high frequency.

Yuka also closed her crystal-like eyes shyly and said, "My stomach is growling because no one cooked, so I can't forgive you this time!"

Bang! Click!

Angry, I closed the door and locked it, leaving Yuka outside.

"Why are you angry? Besides, if anyone should be angry, it's me, right?" Yuka slapped my room's wooden door in the living room.

"There's frozen meat on the table, take care of it in the microwave yourself..."

I said coldly, even though I was a little happy at the beginning.

Sitting lazily in front of the desk, I rested my chin on my hand and looked up at the ceiling, thinking, does Yuka older sister have no impression of me? Enjoying a moment of peace isn't bad either!

Hehe, thinking further... Hmm, my head started to spin again, as if there were something like thumbtacks running wild in my brain.

"Hehe, do you remember me, partner?"

It was a voice that matched mine extremely well, and it was also waiting for my response. But before I could answer, the voice disappeared in an instant, making me wonder if it was just an illusion.

"Have I been overworking myself lately?"

Well, tomorrow is the school trip, and this time the adventure in Sclaphy will involve Yuka, Yuanhui, and the others from Chiyehahara!

"Seriously, always causing trouble for myself!" While complaining, I rubbed my temples with my thumb, lightly massaged my eyelids a few times, and glanced at the time—it's already 11:30 pm.

After arranging the bedding, my body sank into the bed and I couldn't get up (didn't want to get up).

"So comfortable..."