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For Zeke, this dinner felt like a lively reunion after more than half a month of solitude.
He had spent most of his recent days with Bronya, and although their companionship was heartwarming, it remained somewhat quiet. Now, reuniting with these girls—whether gentle or spirited—gave Zeke a familiar sense of returning to normalcy.
Rozaliya and Liliya initially wanted to keep Zeke company longer, but considering how exhausted he must have been, they chatted casually for a while before falling asleep curled up on either side of him, using his legs as pillows on the spacious sofa.
"You're unusually subdued today," Zeke remarked, turning toward Kiana seated nearby.
The other girls had already left, likely attending to their own matters—a situation possibly orchestrated by Bronya, though one could never tell.
It's hard to tell if she's being considerate or just eager for Zeke and Kiana to confront their feelings, allowing her to openly declare her new relationship with him.
Zeke silently sighed; at this point, he isn't truly anxious anymore. It has become a necessity: finding some alone time to inform Kiana, comfort her as she may break down crying—it's simply a matter of doing it—albeit, admittedly quite troublesome.
Kiana rolled her eyes, placing a finger on her moist lips, and whispered softly:
"Shh! Keep it down. They've been exhausted lately; let them rest properly."
"And you? Did you learn anything new?"
"Hehe! Nope!" Kiana turned around in her chair, leaning against its back, casually responding without any seriousness.
Zeke watched her, frowning.
"No progress at all?"
"What can I do? Wendy, Seele, and Mei are genuine Herrschers who have reconciled with their other selves, enabling them to directly train their Herrscher abilities. As for me...you know it's different." Kiana rested her arms over the chair's back, chin propped on her pale hands, explaining nonchalantly.
But Zeke noticed her disappointment.
"She refuses to compromise?"
"Absolutely not. From her, I only feel resentment and fury; she harbors no goodwill towards this world, not even a little... probably."
Kiana spoke somewhat absent-mindedly before letting out a resigned sigh.
What Kiana didn't say was that even if the entity deep within her soul could reconcile with the world, she herself couldn't accept it. This conflict between them seemed irreconcilable from any angle.
"Well then, don't force it. With the Herrscher of the Void's power, use as much as you can manage; if you can't control it fully, let it go for now. I'll find a way to either extract that presence from your soul or at least seal it away."
"Hmm, alright, I'm counting on you, Zeke... Oh dear, come to think of it, this phrase seems to sum up my entire life! Every time I say it, please don't get tired of dealing with me!"
"You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not."
"Hey! Show some respect, dummy!" Kiana lowered her voice, blushing with both embarrassment and dissatisfaction.
Zeke simply gazed at her quietly. In that moment, his silence conveyed more than words ever could.
Despite not physically touching, they remained close, quietly accompanying each other through the night until both girls nestled against Zeke's thighs fell deeply asleep.
Then, each picking up one sister, they carried them back to their bedroom.
Upon returning, Kiana promptly hopped onto Zeke's back, leaned her face near his nape, and took a deep breath.
"Zeke's scent... I've missed it so much."
"That sounds creepy."
"I'm expressing my longing for you! Did you miss me, Zeke?"
"..."
Zeke unconsciously supported the girl's bottom with both hands but didn't verbally respond. The smooth softness he felt through his palms sparked a thought—how incredibly silky it was.
As for missing her, yes, he did miss Kiana, but since he had been almost constantly with Bronya, he couldn't be sure if his level of longing matched hers.
Zeke's silence irked Kiana, prompting her to gently tap his head.
"Hey, at times like this, you should say that you missed me terribly, thinking about me every moment, got it?"
"Maybe next time."
"Alright then, seems like Zeke still needs some guidance. I'll teach you slowly over time."
"...Sure," Zeke acquiesced.
Romance was indeed his blind spot; he'd have to find time for some self-improvement later. After all, he needed to be considerate of Kiana's feelings... Oh right, and Bronya's too now.
With Kiana on his back, Zeke slowly headed outside. "Want to take a stroll on the skydeck?"
"Absolutely! I'll go anywhere with you, Zeke!" she enthusiastically replied.
So, carrying her piggyback-style, they made their way to the skydeck.
A waxing crescent moon hung high in the night sky, casting its silvery glow upon them. The ocean breeze blew from afar, creating a serene ambiance under the starlit heavens.
"Let's get down." Zeke gently patted the girl's bottom and loosened his grip.
Unexpectedly, Kiana clung tighter around his waist, refusing to budge. In a sweet, playful tone, she cooed, "Nopeeee~"
Of course, Kiana had no intention of getting down.
After finally overcoming her insecurities and confessing her feelings to Zeke, the Great East Asian Collapse struck. Once that crisis was resolved, she parted ways with him again to continue studying control over Herrscher's power here.
All this turmoil had left her right back where she started before confessing!
Now, at last, Kiana had the chance for some alone time with Zeke. She wished she could have a super-strong adhesive to bond herself firmly to him—how could she let go so easily?
Despite feeling giddy as she clung affectionately to Zeke, Kiana couldn't help but glance around suspiciously.
"Huh, why is Sin being so quiet today? That's not like her!"
"...Probably because she's with Bronya."
"True, maybe. That girl's always indecisive, unlike me—I'm wholeheartedly devoted to Zeke! Remember to give me extra favor points for that line!"
Kiana spoke earnestly, oblivious to Zeke's fleeting expression change as she clung to his back.
Resigned, Zeke once again supported her petite rear with both hands and sighed,
"Are you treating this like some dating sim?"
"Hehe, if only it were that simple! At least then I'd have a progress bar to follow. Unlike now, where you, Mr. Stubborn, haven't even told me you liked me... It's not that I can't wait, but I just feel so uncertain."
Kiana's voice gradually sounded crestfallen, and she tightened her embrace around Zeke, seemingly trying to alleviate her unease.
Zeke fell silent.
What should he do? Who could teach him some cheesy lines on the spot?
After hesitating for a moment, Zeke let go of her waist again and said,
"Get down, here's your candy."
"Nope! You can give it to me right now, ah~"
Kiana leaned forward from Zeke's shoulders, opening her mouth wide.
Then, Zeke gently tapped her head.
Pouting, Kiana finally released her grip, jumped down in front of Zeke, and extended both hands expectantly, blinking her big eyes.
Zeke placed a transparent pill in Kiana's hands.
She promptly popped it into her mouth.
"Hmm? It's bitter!"
Just then, Zeke swiftly covered her mouth with his hand.
"Swallow it."
"What?!"
A few seconds later, the dissolving medication reached Kiana's stomach.
As soon as Zeke released her mouth, Kiana clutched at her throat, grimacing and spinning around on the spot before stomping her feet in front of him.
"You tricked me! That wasn't candy!"
"It's a supplement to replenish vital components, effectively mitigating the damage caused by using Herrscher powers. Normally, take one weekly, but also after each use of the Herrscher of the Void's Authority. Remember to take your medicine on time."
A translucent pill appeared in Zeke's hand; he waved it in front of Kiana before placing it in her shirt pocket.
Kiana puffed up her cheeks indignantly.
"Tricking me aside, why is it so bitter? Couldn't you add some sugar?"
"I feared if I made it sweet, you'd frequently activate your Authority just to consume more."
"Do I seem like that kind of person?!'
"..."
Zeke briefly fell silent before continuing:
"It's late; you should go back and sleep."
"Wait! Why did you suddenly go silent?!"
"I was... trying to consider your feelings and dignity?" Zeke hesitated before responding.
"Agh!" Kiana pounced on him, aiming for his neck with her teeth wide open.
However, she couldn't bring herself to bite down hard, leaving only a trace of glistening saliva without any tooth marks on Zeke's neck.
"You're such a jerk!"
"Yes, I am quite the villain."
"Bully!"
"Well then, how about some real candy?"
"Yay!"
Finally, Kiana received genuine milk-flavored candy—rich, creamy, and sweet, causing her face to light up like a blooming peach blossom under the moonlight.