That night.
After the motorcycle experience, the Sons of Calydon immediately launched into a small celebration.
Burnice, who had already been quite tipsy, forcefully perked up to mix Fuel Drinks for everyone; it seemed her alcohol tolerance was quite good.
The small bonfire party ended quickly, after all, the work of data collection and overall coordination wasn't finished yet. The truly grand feast would have to wait until after the Tour de Inferno was completed.
Everyone returned to the rooms prepared by the Sons of Calydon, except for Sol.
Sol, Nicole, and Anby were now gathered in one room for a private, serious accountability session.
On a large bed, Sol lay flat on his back, with Anby and Nicole positioned on either side like judges.
His left and right hands were pinned down by the two respectively, putting him in a posture of being on trial.
Like two little lionesses guarding their food, their pretty faces were shoved close to Sol's, their eyes gleaming with a dangerous light.
What was supposed to be a method of "tuning the instrument" now seemed to have truly turned into an interrogation.
"What is the meaning of this, my two beauties?"
Sol feigned ignorance, asking deliberately.
"'What is the meaning of this, my two beauties~'"
Nicole shook her head, mimicking his tone in a high-pitched, sarcastic voice.
Her expression then shifted, becoming serious like a stern, pretty guardian deity: "Drinking with some other girl, and you almost got her drunk! What were you trying to do!?"
She felt wronged, wanting to pour all her feelings out at once.
Before, Sol would at least pretend a little, allowing her to play along and ignore it.
But now he'd stopped pretending altogether, not even bothering to hide it from her!
While she was running around Blazewood securing locations, Sol was already flirting with a new girl, not holding back in the slightest.
"When you meet a close friend, a thousand cups are too few. She drank that much herself," Sol said with utmost sincerity.
"Not listening, not listening! We're going to interrogate you properly today!"
Nicole shook her head vigorously, saying petulantly.
"Right, proper interrogations," Anby nodded seriously, chiming in. "Leniency for those who confess, severity for those who resist."
She hadn't really wanted to come, but Nicole insisted, so she joined in.
Sol wasn't panicked, even thinking to himself: Confess and face a life sentence. Resist and go home for the New Year.
At that moment, Nicole leaned down, her gleaming green eyes dangerously fixed on Sol, gritting her teeth as she said, "Why look for other girls? Don't you have enough at home?"
"We have them at home," Sol answered honestly.
"Are they not as good as the ones outside?" Anby also lowered her head, looking directly at Sol.
She was thinking of Hoshimi Miyabi; that girl's attributes were quite similar to her own, giving her a sense of crisis.
Especially after what happened last time at the Port of Epiphany, she had already lost once.
"Each has their own merits compared to the outside, and emotionally, they are even better." Sol looked at Anby, then at Nicole.
Beautiful faces, explosive figures, personalities with their own unique traits.
The ones at home were all quite excellent, not inferior to those outside at all.
Even better?
Anby seemed thoughtful, her expression suddenly calming.
So, she was special, the better one.
Too easily appeased, Anby!
Nicole felt frustrated, but could only write off Anby's combat effectiveness and take charge herself.
She pressed close to Sol, asking fiercely, "If the ones at home are even better, why are you still fooling around outside!? Is what you have at home not enough?"
"Double the happiness, and the portions is quite sufficient," Sol glanced at the two of them and replied with a smile.
Nicole's face flushed red, and she began to nibble on Sol's ear, saying indistinctly, "Then why are you still fooling around outside!"
This was exactly what made her angry. Clearly, she and Anby were both here, along with that little traitor Nekomata.
Yes, she had already noticed something off about Nekomata; her power had been growing so fast recently, she must have taken some kind of "medicine."
"Alright, it's my fault," Sol sighed and admitted his mistake.
"Then will you dare to do it next time?" Nicole couldn't help but feel triumphant; it seemed her authority as the boss still held some weight.
"I was wrong," Sol pretended to be weak.
Nicole couldn't help but feel proud; it seemed she was still quite intimidating, her little tail wagging over a meter high.
Just as Nicole was feeling pleased, Sol exerted a slight force, instantly reversing their positions. The attacker and defender had switched places.
In an instant, the overall situation was reversed.
"Sol!" Nicole panicked, unable to hold back a cry of surprise.
Anby remained quite calm, though her face turned a delicate shade of pink and white, very lovely to behold.
Sol stroked Nicole's soft, tender cheek and said with a smile, "I wanted to tell you I was wrong, but I'll definitely dare to do it again."
Sorry, but he was just a philandering scoundrel.
"Okay, okay, I know you'll dare again. Now let me go, alright?" Nicole caved, none of her earlier boldness remaining.
This was a room arranged by the Sons of Calydon, with Belle on the left and Nekomata on the right. She didn't know how soundproof it was; she really didn't want to be here.
As for Sol's promiscuity, she probably understood it was something he couldn't change, just like her own love for Denny.
"Nuh uh." Sol looked at the two of them and said with a smile.
"What do you want to do?" Nicole looked at the mischievous Sol, her eyelashes fluttering.
Times were different now; before, at home, anything was fine.
But now, Belle was right next door to the left, and Nekomata was to the right.
If those two found out about Boss Nicole's unreliable side, wouldn't it be all over?
"You understand me quite well," Sol raised an eyebrow and replied ambiguously.
O Lance, commence forth!
Two hours later.
Nicole held Sol's hand, her gleaming green eyes veiled with a thin mist of tears, saying weakly and softly, "There... that's against the rules."
"You're right." Sol let out a soft breath and smiled, saying, "But, rules are meant to be broken!"
Anby had no strength left, but still calmly retorted, "That phrase... shouldn't be used in this context."
And so, half the night passed.
...
"Nya nya nya!"
Nekomata couldn't help but let out restless nyas, even hugging Baal.
She should have been asleep long ago, but she couldn't sleep.
"Nekomata, stop clinging to me while you're in heat," Baal frowned slightly, tiny electric sparks flickering around her.
"Nya~"
Nekomata let out a sound like a sob, her face now free of regret.
"Ew~"
Baal shot her a look of disgust and turned over.
Similarly.
Belle on the other side also had a sleepless night.
She tossed and turned, her skin flushed pink, a thin haze of tears in her eyes.