"Houmu, you're finally here~"
In a dessert shop in the virtual world, Luna sat on the sofa, kicking her legs, her voice joyful and cute.
This shop was located on a commercial street next to an amusement park. After nearly half a year of testing, this area had been expanded to roughly the size of a small city.
Yǔ was still wearing his Homu costume. At first, it was because Luna liked it, but then he gradually got used to it, and later he even felt a bit embarrassed to take it off.
Moreover, Luna had said at first that she was a bit shy, so wearing this made it easier to communicate with her.
"Sorry, last week they suddenly announced equipment maintenance, so I couldn't participate in the test."
Propping his chin with his thick arm, Yǔ rested his body on the table. Now he felt very comfortable in this outfit. Aside from not having fingers, his movements were no different from everyday life.
"Oh, that's right. I didn't see you last week. I thought Houmu wouldn't come anymore."
"How could that be?"
He chuckled softly and extended his soft arm to tap Luna's small head: "I promised you, I wouldn't just disappear."
Luna covered her head, her cheeks adorably puffed out: "What if I suddenly disappeared?"
"Then I'd go find you."
"Hmm... well, you pass."
Houmu's almost immediate response made Luna's gaze dart away, her cheeks burning. She lowered her head and quickly scooped a spoonful of cake into her mouth.
The cake was so sweet.
Scooping another spoonful, Luna exhaled, then bravely raised her hand and offered it.
"Houmu, ah~"
"Did you forget I'm still wearing a mascot costume?"
Waving his hand, Yǔ said with a hint of amusement.
"Oh, right... But, I want Houmu to taste it too."
"I can't open my mouth while wearing the costume."
"Really not?"
Seeing Luna's somewhat persistent look, Yǔ crossed his arms and asked, "Are you sure? Then I'll have to take off the mascot costume, okay?"
"Mhm mhm!"
Hearing Luna's somewhat excited voice, Yǔ asked doubtfully, "Why do you seem so expectant?"
"Of course! I've never seen what Houmu looks like!"
Her small hands clasped together, Luna widened her eyes and looked at him, her anticipation mixed with nervousness.
"Uh, you looking at me like that makes me a bit embarrassed to take it off."
"Huh?!"
Seeing Yǔ put his hand back, Luna's suspended heart immediately dropped, and her small face was filled with indignation.
Pulling the spoon back, she 'fiercely' shoved it into her own mouth. The more Luna thought about it, the angrier she got. Then, she simply stood up and leaned onto the sofa opposite, directly sprawling onto the Homu mascot.
"Let me see!"
"No!"
"Let me see!"
"No! Didn't you say you were shy?!"
"That was months ago, Houmu! I'll get angry if you say that again!"
"No, anyway!"
After some commotion, Luna finally gave up on getting Yǔ to take off the Homu mascot suit, but she squeezed next to him and sat there, refusing to leave.
As punishment, she even brought over the cake and made Yǔ feed her.
Watching Luna lift her adorable little face, open her mouth to reveal her clean, neat white teeth and soft pink tongue, and ask for food with no guard whatsoever, Yǔ immediately felt his heart stir, wanting to put something other than cake in.
Punishment?
Reward!
After finishing the cake, he picked up a tissue to wipe Luna's mouth, watching her lean comfortably against him, her small hands secretly reaching out to hold his arm little by little.
"There are still over three hours left. Is there anywhere you want to go play?"
Glancing at the time, Yǔ tilted his head and asked.
"Not today."
"Hmm? Why? I remember last time you said you wanted to go explore the new city area?"
"This..."
After a pause, Luna's voice became a bit low: "After a while, I might not be able to come play with Houmu for a long time."
His raised hand stiffened for a moment, and Yǔ said, feigning calmness: "Is that so? Did something happen?"
"Yes, Grandpa said my gene adjustment is about to enter its final stage. Because of my physical condition, I can't undergo it directly like others; I have to sleep in a nutrient capsule, and I'll probably sleep for a long time."
Yǔ immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Hearing Luna's tone just now, he had thought something serious had happened.
He raised his other arm, patted her head, and said softly: "Shouldn't recovering your health be a happy thing? Why be sad?"
Luna hugged his arm in her embrace even tighter.
"But then I won't be able to see Houmu, will I?"
"There's still a long time ahead; this little bit of time doesn't matter. Once the gene adjustment is over, won't it be even happier to play together in reality?"
"That's easy to say... What if it's too long and Houmu forgets me?"
Noticing the worry on Luna's face, Yǔ placed his mascot arm in front of her: "Then let's pinky swear that I won't forget you, and we'll go play together once you're well."
Looking at the thick arm and the lowered Homu head, Luna suddenly couldn't help but burst into laughter: "How am I supposed to pinky swear like this?"
Rubbing her eyes, Luna sat up and happily pounced onto Homu.
She sank her entire body into the loose Homu suit, rubbing against him with a smile: "Then it's a promise, Houmu can't go back on his word!"
"Don't worry."
Supporting her body, the atmosphere returned to normal. Luna began chattering, sharing all the topics she had saved up over the past half-month, specifically wanting to tell him.
"Oh, by the way, Houmu, you're also Anti-Entropy personnel, right? Then have you heard of pokemon?"
Yǔ paused, then smiled: "Of course I have."
"Really? Then, then, is pokemon fun? I watched the trailer before, and it looked so interesting."
"It's fun, extremely fun, absolutely the most fun in the world!"
Yǔ's answer was resolute.
"Really?! Then how about we play together when it comes out? Houmu will be in charge of catching, and I'll be in charge of raising. We'll get a big yard, and it'll be full of our pokemon~"
Is she thinking of opening a breeding house?
Smiling, Yǔ patted Luna's head and replied: "Okay, I'll teach you when you're well."
At this moment, Luna looked around, suddenly becoming a bit sneaky. She leaned close to his ear and whispered: "Since Houmu is from Anti-Entropy, can you secretly play it early? My sister taught me that this is called... pulling strings?"
"No~"
"Eh? Is it because Houmu's rank is too low?"
Her expression was a bit dazed, and as soon as she finished speaking, Luna quickly covered her mouth, her eyes becoming cautious, as if afraid of hurting his self-esteem.
"What are you thinking?!"
The hand stroking her small head lifted, then gently tapped downwards: "I am the game designer of pokemon!"
Upon hearing this, Luna's eyes immediately widened.