"Zeke, you jerk! How dare you mess with a girl's precious hair. One day, I'll make you pay... Ugh, so infuriating!"
On the deserted balcony plaza, Wendy sat in a corner, basking under the setting sun. As she tugged at her hair, noticing its uneven and messy ends, she muttered tearfully, "How could you do this?"
["Despite your words, if only you'd channel that same intensity and confront him head-on."]
From Wendy's perspective, she saw a floating figure before her—a black-dressed girl lying sideways, identical to herself but with a bored expression. Her eyes glowed with a mysterious and somewhat eerie emerald hue.
"You shut up!"
["What good does yelling at me serve? After all these years, you've made no progress. If you continue like this, you'll end up just like those high school girls from my teacher's third-year class—once past this phase, forever becoming mere passersby in each other's lives."]
Vendy waved a french fry menacingly at Wendy's nose before popping it into her mouth, crunching audibly.
"...Why are you eating fries?"
[It's the mental image world—anything goes here. Just let me know if there's something you need, and I'll craft you a dream tonight where Zeke follows your every command... You can do whatever you want!]
"No thanks. Fantasies have no meaning."
[Oh, how clear-headed of you! Only reality is real; hiding here to daydream serves no purpose! So why not just make your move already? Why be so reluctant?]
"...If only it were that simple!" Wendy clutched her head, pouting indignantly.
After all, she was still a girl. On one hand, she needed to maintain some reserve, but on the other... What could possibly work against a dense blockhead like Zeke? She couldn't fathom any effective strategy!
This stark contrast epitomized the difference between tsundere stubbornness and pragmatic action.
[Then go ahead and wallow in self-pity. I won't stick around... By the way, this new hairstyle is adorably ugly. For once, I must admit Zeke did a truly commendable job!]
"What did you say?!"
Struck at her vulnerable spot, Wendy erupted in fury, but her counterpart had already vanished from sight, leaving her shouts unanswered.
Staring into the air, Wendy let out a frustrated scream: "Ahhhhh!!!"
Meanwhile, Zeke walked along the road, nodding at Anti-Entropy members who occasionally passed by and saluted him. Absentmindedly, he tapped on a virtual screen, remotely controlling a worker bee to weave something.
"Tap-tap!"
Two sets of light footsteps, perfectly synchronized, suddenly approached from behind.
"Guess who we are?" × 2
A pair of hands covered Zeke's eyes from behind as two voices—one cool and expressionless, the other full of energy—spoke simultaneously.
Zeke paused, his lips curving slightly upward.
"It's... Seele and Wendy, right? Don't play pranks now."
"Incorrect!" × 2
"Then, is it Kiana and Sin? Behave; you know I'll hang you upside down again if you don't."
"Nope, not us either!" × 2
"So... Mei? Aelisa? Brenda? Lisa? Or Nanali?"
Silence fell for a moment before...
Rozaliya and Liliya retracted their hands simultaneously. Two small heads, one pink and one blue, peeked out from either side of Zeke, looking up at him.
Rozaliya puffed her already slightly chubby cheeks indignantly.
Liliya's expression remained neutral, but her eyes betrayed her dissatisfaction.
"You're not playing anymore?"
"Big Bro Zeke is being mean; he clearly knows our names!" Liliya said flatly.
Rozaliya nodded vigorously, pointing at Zeke with indignation: "Exactly! And seriously, who are these Lisas, Brendas, Nanalis, and whatnot? When did Big Bro Zeke secretly make friends with so many girls without telling us?!"
"I have no idea. Just made them up on the spot," Zeke replied mildly. He reached out with both hands, placing one gently atop each girl's head, and started ruffling their hair softly.
"Eh-hehe!"
"Hold your laughter, Rozaliya—we don't want our hairstyles messed up."
Sure enough, when Zeke let go, their meticulously styled long tresses had visibly become somewhat disheveled, adding a touch of casual charm. Their look shifted from carefully groomed elegance to endearing playfulness.
"So, what have you two been doing here for so long?" Zeke asked them.
All the other girls had serious business to attend to here, except for these two aspiring idols who seemed more focused on having fun. It was unclear what excuse Bronya used to bring them along, and Zeke never bothered asking.
"Heh heh! We're cheering up the fighters and affected civilians!"
"That's right," Liliya chimed in, pointing her index finger with utmost seriousness. "Rozaliya and I have already performed seventeen Vodka Sisters concerts here, offering blessings to everyone working tirelessly. This is the righteous pursuit of idol stardom."
With a silly grin, Rozaliya echoed her sister's words, evident pride radiating from both siblings.
Zeke patted their heads once more.
"That's fantastic; you've done something truly meaningful."
For those affected by disaster and frontline warriors, material needs weren't major concerns. Instead, emotional support and stress relief were paramount.
Rozaliya and Liliya's performances, while not professional-grade, played a crucial role in bringing a touch of brightness to this land ravaged by calamity. For the afflicted locals and stationed personnel alike, it undoubtedly offered a rare moment of joy.
As expected of Bronya—although her arrangements had ulterior motives, they genuinely addressed pressing needs.
Then, Zeke noticed their stage outfits and the exhaustion evident on their faces.
"Did you just finish performing?"
Rozaliya: "Yep!"
Liliya: "Yes."
"Go take a bath and rest for a bit. We'll all have dinner together later."
"Yes~!" × 2
After another pat on their heads, the sisters skipped away happily.
Watching them depart, Zeke shook his head with a smile.
In half a month, seventeen concerts—one every day or more—a truly demanding workload. Yet before today, they hadn't contacted Zeke to boast about it or complained even once, likely pouring all their energy into their performances.
This dedication stemmed not solely from their passion for idol careers but also from a genuine desire to help others wholeheartedly.
Their commitment and heartfelt intentions brought immense comfort to Zeke.
After silently watching the sisters disappear at the end of the road, Zeke looked up toward the sky and then changed direction.
On the deserted balcony, Wendy remained crouched in a corner, feeling utterly defeated. She even began absently tracing circles on the ground out of frustration.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her from above.
"Ack!" Startled, Wendy stumbled to one side.
A moment later, she reached up instinctively and felt a comfortable, wide beret resting atop her head.
"It's light blue, matching your Herrscher outfit well. You can wear it casually too—it'll hide your current hairstyle. Made from special materials, it resists Honkai Energy corrosion and provides some extra protection for your head."
The clear voice, so familiar that Wendy occasionally heard it even in her dreams, carried a hint of leisurely indifference as it resonated beside her.
She lifted her gaze.
Bathed in the dim twilight, his profile was sharply defined and handsome. A gentle breeze tousled his sleek silver hair and white trench coat.
With hands resting on the railing, he gazed down at the scenery below, exuding an unmistakably commanding presence. It felt like a grandiose piano piece suddenly resonating within a silent cathedral—a scene both poetic and picturesque.