In June, the summer heat began to rise. While the temperature during the day was quite scorching, the nights at St. Freya were considerably cooler. Although a few traces of sweltering heat remained, the occasional cool breeze that swept by could quickly blow away this residual warmth.
At this moment, inside Ming Yu's private apartment, the diligent individual had not yet rested, occasionally leaning over his desk to write and draw.
Of course, Ming Yu wasn't cramming knowledge about the Honkai in hopes of getting an excellent theory score on the Valkyrie exam.
Although he indeed knew very little in this area, Ming Yu wasn't worried about the upcoming exam. With the Principal's under-the-table arrangements, he could pass even if he turned in a blank paper for the theory test.
He had originally wanted to bypass the exam and join a Valkyrie squad directly, but Theresa rejected it on the grounds of violating the "Schicksal Valkyrie Employment Regulations."
Ming Yu couldn't help but roll his eyes at the Principal right then and there. Although he didn't know the exact contents of the regulations, weren't rules made to be broken?
To say nothing of others, Theresa herself didn't abide by such rules very often. Otherwise, how could a certain wanted daughter of Siegfried roam around freely? And how could the Third Herrscher attend school here so peacefully?
But alas, the Principal held the power, and Ming Yu ultimately chose to compromise.
If someone could see what Ming Yu was writing at this moment, they would be completely baffled.
On the white paper were words like "Feather," "Celestial," and "Blondie," interspersed with various events and times. The chaotic lines made the entire sheet look like a mess.
Ever since he learned that the person sent from Schicksal headquarters would arrive the day after tomorrow, and that it would be the S-rank Valkyrie Rita leading the team, Ming Yu's mood had soured.
Although he wasn't sure what that guy Otto was planning, a part of it was definitely his own fault; after all, he had been too reckless in the data space.
In the data space, because he was familiar with the plot, he always held a sense of pride, thinking he could control everything. But not only did the Otto in the data space slap him in the face hard, but the Otto in reality also greatly exceeded his expectations.
"Rita, and Abyss Flower..." Ming Yu's pen paused, and he muttered with a frown, "This is going to be tricky~"
From the known information, Rita had always acted mysteriously, so it was difficult for Ming Yu to predict her actions. But one thing was certain: this S-rank Valkyrie, deeply trusted by Otto, was definitely not simple.
In terms of combat prowess, she was on par with Shadow Knight: Moonwheel; in terms of intelligence, the mere fact that Otto entrusted her with the task of observing K-423 was enough to know how formidable this woman was.
Compared to the perpetually unreliable Theresa, Rita was undoubtedly a figure who perfectly met all the expectations one would have for an S-rank Valkyrie.
In other words, she was a person of both beauty and strength, a truly deserving "Umbral Rose"!
But in this sensitive period, gaining Otto's trust was essential, and that was impossible without going through this rather mysterious S-rank Valkyrie.
His gaze shifted back to the word "Celestial" written on the paper, and Ming Yu's frown deepened. He couldn't figure out Fu Hua's thoughts either.
According to Otto's cautious personality, he should have already spoken to Fu Hua about him.
Moreover, he had seen her after that. But Fu Hua had shown no reaction at all, leaving him completely clueless as to how she viewed him.
If Fu Hua had immediately exposed him to Otto, then there would be no reason for Abyss Flower to be sent over; if Fu Hua had tacitly accepted his impersonation, then there shouldn't have been no indication at all.
All sorts of chaotic thoughts rampaged in his mind, making Ming Yu feel irritable. This kind of complex deduction was quite a challenge for his limited mental capacity.
With Ming Yu's insight and experience, he couldn't find a single clue, and he could only rely on himself for this matter.
Throwing down his pen, Ming Yu couldn't help but sigh, "So annoying~"
Amid his frustration, a wave of thirst washed over him, his agitated mood directly manifesting as a physical need.
Sighing deeply, Ming Yu stood up and, following his body's instinctual craving, walked out of the room.
As soon as he opened the door, he was met with darkness. Although the hall was faintly visible in the light filtering through the windows from outside, it was still incredibly dim compared to his brightly lit room.
Only then did he sharply realize the fact that he had moved out of Himeko's apartment. Wisps of loneliness rose from the bottom of his heart, pushing away some of his frustration.
After a moment's daze, Ming Yu finally came back to his senses. Gently shaking his head to rid himself of these thoughts, he quickly poured himself a glass of water.
Ming Yu didn't turn on the lights; his night vision was good enough to make out the furnishings in the room. While not crystal clear, it was clear enough.
The cool moonlight spilled in from the balcony, the light not very bright, carrying a hint of caution in its dimness, which instead gave it a unique, alluring flavor.
Sighing silently in his heart, Ming Yu carried the glass to the balcony. The cool breeze brushed against his face, carrying away some of the heat and agitation.
It had to be said that the housing layout at St. Freya was very well done. From his vantage point, the view was quite expansive.
Not far away, a part of Himeko's house was also visible, brightly lit, and he could faintly hear the sound of women's laughter.
Bathed in the moonlight, Ming Yu's heart gradually calmed, replaced by an inexplicable sense of emptiness.
At this moment, he suddenly had an urge to smoke, but he didn't know how, nor did he have any cigarettes on hand. So, he could only silently bring the glass to his lips, gently sipping the tasteless clear water, savoring the loneliness of the moment.
The quieter it was, the more his mind recalled the lively times with Kiana and the others, and the calmer his heart became.
Strangely, he didn't dislike this calm; instead, there was a trace of joy in the depths of his heart.
"Can't Big Bro Yu sleep either?"
A girl's soft voice suddenly sounded by his ear. Ming Yu turned his head and saw that Higokumaru had, at some point, come to his side.
Under the moonlight, the girl smiled faintly, her shoulder-length pink hair draped casually behind her, swaying gently with the light breeze.
Looking a little longer at Higokumaru's loose pink hair, Ming Yu, who was used to her ponytail, found himself a bit intrigued. He had never seen Higokumaru like this, and it gave him a sense of both unfamiliarity and intimacy.
Without speaking, Ming Yu just nodded lightly and turned his gaze back to the nightscape.
Silence enveloped the two of them, but Ming Yu didn't feel uncomfortable. The faint fragrance lingering at the tip of his nose, mixed with the unique quiet of the night, relaxed his mind even more, temporarily freeing him from his worries.
Seeing Ming Yu like this, Higokumaru didn't think he was being cold. At this moment, she seemed to see a kind of connection with the young man before her, not through Jizo Mitama, but a shared solitary and tranquil state of being set apart from the world.
He was clearly right here, yet she couldn't feel any sense of his reality. This emotion was similar to hers, but much deeper, as if even she herself was not in his world.