"Alright, I agree."
Hearing Lacus's response, Kirika Tachibana's eyes flickered, but in the end, she didn't voice any objections; she simply sighed.
She had known Lacus since their university days and was well aware of her stubbornness.
Once Lacus made up her mind, there was no persuading her otherwise.
Just as now, agreeing to be alone with Luo Shu and Kurumi.
Admittedly, Kirika understood that Lacus trusted Luo Shu and suspected Kurumi might have something urgent to report.
But this habit of risking herself based solely on trust and intuition was something her friend did far too often.
Kirika really wanted to advise Lacus to be more mindful of her safety, but the woman never listened, stubbornly doing as she pleased in situations like these, giving Kirika a perpetual headache.
Seeing this, Kirika had no choice but to glance at Meer, hoping she'd say something to Lacus.
Yet Meer, pouting, suddenly slung her arms around Luo Shu's neck, clinging to him like a koala:
"Eh? Just you guys? That's favouritism!! You're excluding me!!"
"Even if it's a group snuggle, you should include me!!"
'Honestly, only you could pull this off, Meer—effortlessly doing what I'd never dare.'
Kirika's lips twitched involuntarily.
'Sharing a bed? Did you think Kurumi Tokisaki dragged Luo Shu and Lacus into that small room to do... that kind of thing?'
Hiss!! Images flooded his mind—damn it... Meer, shut your mouth right now!!
At this moment, Luo Shu was pressed so close by Meer that he was almost having a physical reaction. Flustered, he protested:
"The suggestion was Kurumi's. Why are you clinging to me?"
"Because it's comfy! You're enjoying this too, aren't you, Luo Shu? And I bet you're thinking about doing even more enjoyable things next, right?"
Seeing Meer's cheeky grin, Luo Shu was at a loss.
Could you not phrase it so blatantly? Kisara and Utaha's stares are practically murderous!!
With that thought, Luo Shu tried to peel Meer off, but his half-hearted attempts only made their tussling more persistent.
As Meer and Luo Shu wrestled, Lacus smiled gently and said:
"Meer, let's call it a day here, shall we?"
Meer immediately shuddered at those words, hastily releasing Luo Shu before stealing a nervous glance at Lacus.
Unlike the airheaded Kirika Tachibana, Meer knew full well that Lacus had been quietly irritated ever since learning their date would involve multiple bodyguards tailing them.
She'd caught the hint the moment Lacus arrived and deliberately reframed it as a "surprise inspection."
Their songstress had probably been 80% annoyed about the ruined date.
Having lived much longer with Lacus as her doppleganger, Meer understood her far better than Kirika did.
Beneath that composed exterior, Lacus harboured perfectly normal girlish sentiments.
And wanting private moments with her future fiancé wasn't anything shameful—no matter how much Lacus usually restrained her emotions, she wouldn't suppress such desires.
Besides, given Lacus's wealth of experience handling these situations, she'd easily devise methods next time to create alone time with Luo Shu—methods even their security team couldn't fault.
If they weren't in Japan, Meer would really rather not provoke Lacus's displeasure.
Yet the intelligence about Lacus's arrival in Japan had already been leaked, and hostile factions from America were itching for an assassination opportunity. At such a critical moment, Meer truly didn't dare let Lacus out of her sight.
But seeing the determined look in Lacus's eyes now, Meer immediately backed down.
"Fine, just this once while we're in Japan, alright?"
Lacus didn't respond, only smiling faintly.
Seeing this, Meer understood all too well that the other party wouldn't even deign to agree verbally. She could only release Luo Shu and step aside helplessly.
At that moment, Lacus shifted her gaze, briefly glancing at Kisara and Utaha before naturally taking Luo Shu's hand and saying:
"Speaking of which, Luo Shu, didn't you mention before that the Hidden Management Department has some sealing effects on Abyss Artefacts?"
Luo Shu tilted his head in thought before explaining:
"I did suggest it, but the actual sealing effects haven't been tested yet."
"Would you take me to see it?" Lacus secretly squeezed Luo Shu's hand, then turned to Kurumi Tokisaki and asked, "Is it all right if we have some privacy there?"
"Nothing would please me more." Kurumi's smile brightened considerably.
At the same time, she shot Luo Shu a suggestive look.
'What's with that 'you'd better thank me later' look? What new scheme are you playing at today?'
Luo Shu inwardly grumbled after receiving Kurumi's meaningful glance, then said aloud:
"To reach the Hidden Management Zone, we can only take the elevator on the third floor. So, would you two like me to lead the way?"
Hearing this, both Lacus and Kurumi nodded in unison.
Seeing this, Luo Shu guided them into the building while instructing Yukino Yukinoshita:
"Take everyone to the reception room first. We'll be back shortly."
As he said this, he discreetly messaged Kisara and Utaha through the forum, telling them to keep an eye on Kirika Tachibana and Meer.
After these preparations, he led Lacus and Kurumi into the first-floor hall, took the elevator to the third floor, and then descended directly to the underground Hidden Management Zone.
Passing through the corridor guarded by Kira, they entered the silver metal gates and arrived in the Hidden Management Zone.
Finally stopping, Luo Shu turned around and looked at Lacus and Kurumi with a hesitant expression:
"Alright, the place is a bit bare, but at least it gives us some privacy."
At this point, he couldn't help but address Kurumi directly:
"By the way, Kurumi, were you giving me trouble today because I took advantage of you in the Dream Simulation Chamber the other day?"
Kurumi, who had been smiling all this time, froze at his words, then blinked in confusion:
"What do you mean, took advantage of me?"
"I only arranged for you two to come here because my time ability foresaw that signing a contract with Chairwoman Lacus outside would cause major trouble..."
"Wait a second?"
Kurumi suddenly caught onto something, giving Luo Shu a strange look:
"Are you saying that the version of me you fought a few days ago was under your control?"
Luo Shu blinked at this, then replied with an extremely awkward expression:
"Uh, Kurumi... could you maybe pretend you didn't hear that just now?"
Kurumi Tokisaki responded with a bright smile:
"Seems like... that's a no!!"