Showering together, then sharing a room... next, will it be sharing a bed?
The thought spun round and round in Chika Fujiwara's mind, and she couldn't calm it down no matter what.
From the beginning until now, less than a day had actually passed.
In just one short day, she had first navigated the complex, winding caverns, interacting with terrifying-looking things along the way. Then she was thrown into a bizarre security booth, scared half to death by a man who had been nearly flattened. After that, with Gao Hai's help, she used a Rescue Team uniform to reach yet another new area, finally arriving at this strange research institute as a so-called Exploration Personnel.
Her experiences up to this point could still be considered an adventure story.
But the developments that followed were, in every sense, becoming far too strange.
Two people, sharing a room and a shower—something that only seemed appropriate for couples or married people—and yet she had done it with a member of the opposite sex whom she had only just met.
Even if it was out of necessity, a helpless act forced by the situation.
But something like this was still really not right, was it?!
Even now, Chika Fujiwara couldn't stop replaying the moment she had snuck a peek at Gao Hai. The blush on her face simply wouldn't fade.
Come to think of it, Gao-kun really is a pretty assertive person.
Chika's legs began to sway slightly.
At the start of the game, he had adopted a cold attitude, telling her not to hold him back or he might abandon her. But when trouble really did strike, when the Explorer clothes began to corrupt them, he had saved her without the slightest hesitation—and by ripping her clothes off, no less...
Later, there was the switch to the security guard uniform, his efforts to contact and investigate her situation, and the series of events where he helped her change into the Rescue Team and then the yellow-and-white striped uniforms. It was clear that he had a very strong personality and his own firm ideas, but he also cared about and paid attention to others. Hmm, just like a survival expert from a horror game—powerful, assertive, with both a serious, cold side and a gentle one. No, not 'like' one; he really was a veteran who had cleared these rules-based horror stories before. Without his help, she certainly wouldn't have survived this long.
How should I put it... he seems to be just my type. If only he were a bit more assertive...
No, no, what am I thinking? Now is not the time to be thinking about this stuff, is it?
Chika Fujiwara shook her head violently, breaking free from her reverie.
Only then did she notice that Gao Hai had already lain down by the wall, his back to her, facing the wall to sleep.
Sleeping directly on the floor? Is that really okay?
"Gao-kun, you'll easily catch a cold sleeping like that."
Chika hesitated for a moment before calling out to Gao Hai in a low voice.
"Don't worry about it. I have a great constitution. I'd be fine even if I lay on the floor for over ten hours."
Gao Hai, who wasn't yet asleep, replied calmly, giving Chika a dismissive wave.
"...Even if you say so, it's still not right. There's a bed in the room. You should come up and rest."
Gao Hai's reply made the girl pause for a moment, but after a brief thought, she gathered her courage and continued to persuade him.
"That's just a single bed; it's barely big enough for one person. I can't let you sleep on the floor, can I? My body is enhanced and stronger than a normal person's, so sleeping like this is fine, but your body definitely couldn't handle it, right?"
Not expecting Chika to be so insistent, Gao Hai had to admit he was tempted, but ultimately, he decisively chose to refuse.
The shared shower earlier had been stimulating enough. It was best to avoid contact with her as much as possible for now.
Although he wasn't about to be overcome by lust in a bizarre game like this, having such a beautiful girl repeatedly provide 'benefits' that stimulated him mentally and physically was still a very trying experience. He didn't want to leave Chika with a bad impression. Moreover, thinking of Maki, Gao Hai felt a pang of guilt, feeling that what he was doing wasn't quite right.
"It's fine. Um, if we both sleep on our sides, it should be okay. It's fine. Gao-kun, you've helped me so much along the way. No matter what, I can't let you sleep on the floor. Come on, it's okay. I trust you, Gao-kun."
But Chika was clearly not the type to give up easily. After taking a deep breath, the girl finally cast aside her shame and extended a solemn invitation to Gao Hai.
Inviting a boy to sleep in the same bed as her... Ugh, all she could say was thank goodness no one she knew would ever see this.
The girl felt like even her ears were starting to burn.
"Er, that's not a good idea. You're quite pretty, after all."
Gao Hai was very tempted, but he hesitated and still chose to refuse.
"It's fine. Back in the shower stall, you didn't do anything, did you, Gao-kun?"
Having already mustered her courage, the girl was not about to back down now, standing firm with a very serious expression.
"Ahaha, that's true..."
Gao Hai's laughter sounded a bit hollow.
"Hey, in the shower stall just now, you didn't do anything, did you, Gao-kun?"
Relying on her intuition, Chika quickly noticed the shift in Gao Hai's demeanor and immediately questioned him.
"I didn't turn around to peek. I can guarantee that. I didn't break our promise."
Gao Hai immediately replied with great seriousness, his earnest tone stunning Chika once again.
"I-I see..."
The girl felt a twinge of guilt.
Although she and Gao Hai had agreed not to turn around, she couldn't help but look back several times. Throughout the entire shower, she had indeed not seen Gao Hai show the slightest intention of peeking; he had been a perfect gentleman.
Although there was something in Gao Hai's answer that warranted a deeper look, Chika herself had dishonorably broken their promise. Feeling guilty, she didn't dwell on his reply and quickly moved past the topic.
This allowed the equally guilty Gao Hai to finally relax.
He didn't turn around to peek. That was the truth.
But sending out the invisible blood doll and sneaking a couple of peeks at Chika on the way to find Maki and Kaguya... he really couldn't deny that.
Of course, he hadn't dared to get too close for a good look, just glanced at her silhouette from a distance. Those feminine curves that Kaguya Shinomiya and Maki Shijo combined couldn't match were, he had to admit, breathtaking in every sense of the word.
Perhaps only the monstrous world of Azur Lane could produce a 'model' that would outclass Chika Fujiwara's.
Just over ten minutes ago, while openly admiring Chika's figure via the invisible doll, Gao Hai had made such a感慨 in his heart.
Incidentally, the doll had been carrying more than one note. Gao Hai had anticipated various scenarios and prepared notes for both Kaguya and Maki in advance. While controlling the invisible doll, he had overheard Maki and Kaguya's conversation in a room and noticed Maki's emotional state. Thus, he discarded the other notes, kept the one for Maki, and deliberately had the doll lie down at the door with the note tucked underneath it.
Behaving himself during the shared shower had definitely been the right choice. He never expected Maki and Kaguya to be here as researchers, let alone that they would watch his entire shared shower with Chika via a monitor.
He had to admit, it was pretty embarrassing.
But now, he didn't have to worry about that.
Although this rest area also had a camera, Gao Hai knew from the doll Maki was now carrying that the two of them were heading to the lab to do some work, after which they would return to the second-floor dormitory to rest and wouldn't be able to go back to the monitoring room.
So, he could actually accept Chika's request right now.
"Anyway, I trust in your character, Gao-kun. Come on."
Chika had issued the invitation again.
This time, she even stood up, walked over to Gao Hai, and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him up.
"This level of trust is a heavy burden indeed..."
Sighing, Gao Hai finally stood up, walked over, and lay down on the small bed. Facing the wall, he turned on his side, leaving only his back visible to Chika as he lay on the single bed that was fixed to the wall.
Gao Hai was a relatively big guy, and the bed was very small. Even though he was sleeping on his side to free up as much space as possible, Chika was still left with only a small sliver of the bed to lie on.
However, considering the girl was only 154 centimeters tall, that width was more than enough.
"Heave-ho..."
With a tiny sound, as if she were cheering herself on, Gao Hai felt a warm touch gently press against his back.
He felt the other side of the bed dip.
"Hah... Mmm..."
The sound of the girl's breathing followed, right beside his ear.
Extremely nervous, Chika Fujiwara lay down on the single bed as well, her back also to Gao Hai.
She seemed to be trembling slightly.
Despite having displayed qualities far superior to an ordinary person during their previous actions, at this moment, Chika was showing a shy, girlish side.
I have to admit, I really want to turn around and hug her, watch her struggle in a panic, and then... Calm down, stay calm, my friend. Human reason must triumph over desire. You shouldn't waste your energy on such things when facing a life-or-death crisis. Even if she smells really good, is really soft, and is so big despite being so small. And she's not assertive and tsundere like Maki at all; she's soft and incredibly cute, a little naive, and... Enough, enough, don't let my resolve waver. Sleep, sleep...
Gao Hai did his best to remain calm, closing his eyes and trying hard to fall asleep.
At this moment, he couldn't help but wonder: the enhancement and blessing he received after clearing Shirakawa Apartments had clearly strengthened his willpower, so why couldn't he calm down now? Was this enhancement a bit incomplete?
As for Maki on the other side, now in slightly better spirits, she hung the doll from her waist. Together with Kaguya, the two of them passed through a heavy door and stepped into a room the size of a basketball court, filled with all sorts of complex instruments and some large machinery.
[Analysis Workroom]
On the door behind them, a metal plaque reflected the cold light.
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