Space station 27: Is Su Qing Not Dense After All?
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In the meeting room, Himeko lowered her gaze, cheeks slightly flushed, quietly awaiting Su Qing's response.
However, she couldn't resist occasionally glancing up at the person sitting across from her. At this moment, Himeko felt even more nervous than she anticipated.
She found herself trying to gauge from Su Qing's expression how far he might have read. Her heart pounded rapidly as she shyly observed him, every small movement of his enough to captivate her, leaving her flustered and uncertain.
Su Qing read the letter.
When he saw the heart-shaped seal on the envelope, a guess had unconsciously formed in his mind, but he didn't truly believe it at first.
Only after reading the contents did he realize that Himeko had indeed handed him a love letter.
A heartfelt letter expressing affection, declaring her feelings, and hoping for a relationship with him.
As Su Qing read each word, sensing the genuine emotions and admiration leaping off the page, he couldn't resist glancing up at Himeko sitting across from him.
Their eyes met briefly.
Himeko, like a startled fawn, immediately lowered her gaze.
Su Qing also subconsciously looked away.
After a moment of silence,
Su Qing asked, "Just to confirm, is this meant seriously?"
Himeko replied softly, "Yes, very seriously..."
Suddenly, Su Qing felt his question was unnecessary. Himeko's demeanor and the sentiments conveyed in the letter were clear enough.
He reread the letter once more before saying, after a long pause, "...Can I have some time to consider my response?"
He was genuinely moved. Confronted with Himeko's confession and such sincere feelings, it was impossible for him to remain unaffected.
However, receiving this letter caught him off guard, and there was no way he could make a decision right after reading it.
"O-of course!" Himeko's voice momentarily rose in nervousness before quickly lowering again. "Please take your time to think about it; I'll await your reply."
Su Qing responded, "Alright, um... I mean... yes, okay."
Both felt somewhat speechless yet equally unsettled, sensing each other's unease.
Their shared nervousness paradoxically eased their tension.
Su Qing glanced at the letter once more, Himeko's admiration for him seemingly radiating through the paper. Carefully folding it along its creases, he placed it back into the envelope and tucked it away. "Shall we head back now?"
"Okay."
A letter embodies one's sentiments, so as Su Qing folded the paper, Himeko felt her heart rise and fall with his every movement, mirroring his fingers' actions. This made her even more unable to remain composed.
Upon leaving the meeting room, they would usually exit naturally, whoever was ahead going first. But today, reaching the doorway, both inexplicably started deferring to each other.
Su Qing raised his hand, gesturing, "After you."
Himeko replied, "No, please go ahead."
"You first," insisted Su Qing.
"But after you..." countered Himeko.
After several rounds of polite deference, realizing how silly it must seem, they exchanged glances and smiled.
Himeko looked at him, her golden eyes curved with warmth and affection, "You go ahead."
"Alright."
Su Qing stepped forward.
Oh no...
Once out of Himeko's sight, he covered his mouth, suddenly realizing how deeply aware he had become of Himeko's attractiveness. Especially during their close encounter at the door, her golden eyes drew him in, making it hard to look away.
The unhidden affection and fondness within Himeko's gaze left a tingling sensation in his heart.
In the past, they occasionally conversed on their way back. But today, until reaching Himeko's dormitory, neither spoke a single word.
Su Qing walked slightly ahead, pondering over the contents of the letter.
Following behind, Himeko recalled the confession moments ago. Just gazing at Su Qing's back made her blush, causing her to instinctively lower her head.
At the bottom of the dormitory building, Su Qing bid farewell, "See you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow... And remember, please consider the letter," Himeko gently reminded him.
"Of course."
Su Qing departed.
Watching his retreating figure, Himeko unconsciously twirled her hair, lost in thought. Only after Su Qing had completely vanished from sight did she turn and head upstairs.
The next day, before class began, they sat down with one seat between them.
"Good morning."
"Good morning."
Su Qing started, "About the letter..."
Himeko quickly responded, "No rush. I hope you'll take your time to consider before replying."
"Alright."
In truth, it was difficult to fully process such matters overnight.
Their eyes briefly met, then involuntarily glanced away as if prolonged eye contact might quicken their breaths and reignite that fluttering sensation within.
Once class commenced, their focus shifted back to academics, allowing them to calm down.
It was once again the day for weekly group discussions on research topics.
In the meeting room, Anna's mouth hung open as she watched the two across from her.
Su Qing and Himeko were incessantly apologizing to each other.
Su Qing said, "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay, I didn't notice either..." Himeko replied.
Just moments ago, their shoulders had accidentally brushed against each other, leading to a flurry of apologies from both.
This unusual interaction... Anna watched with her mouth agape.
Himeko must have done something!
Su Qing, normally so composed and cool-headed, now seemed flustered over such a minor incident!
Well played, Himeko! Keep it up!
Kahn entered the meeting room humming casually, ~~~~.
Anna grabbed his backpack, "Why don't you sit here?"
Kahn shook his head, "Ah? No thanks, I want to sit next to Su Qing."
Anna held onto his backpack, looking firmly at him, "Please sit here."
After a moment, Kahn relented, "...Okay."
Women can be truly terrifying indeed!
Even Anna, usually so quiet and reserved, had given him a frightful stare just now. It was as if sitting next to Su Qing was deemed an unforgivable offense!
The atmosphere in the meeting room became serene once again.
Su Qing diligently studied academic papers, occasionally whispering to Himeko. As he glanced at her, he increasingly noticed her charm.
Himeko: Focused on her studies, occasionally exchanging words with Su Qing, smiling warmly—she felt genuinely happy being with him.
Anna: Studying diligently, taking breaks to glance at the pair across from her, appreciating their striking presence as a handsome couple, and silently cheering Himeko on inside.
Kahn: Study, study, damn it, just keep studying! Magnetic field spinning at one million horsepower, only regretting my lack of talent and brainpower—must push harder and learn, learn, learn!
[Sparkle: Enjoying this.]
[Stelle: Laughed, but seriously, why is there such a stark contrast here?]
[Silver Wolf: Kahn: I'm truly amazed by you sneaky guys!]
***
Early morning at the sports ground.
This time, Su Qing used minimal Potential Unleashing yet achieved significantly higher efficiency. He often jogged to adapt and master his enhanced strength.
Many students were running early in the morning, demonstrating discipline and dedication found everywhere among diligent individuals.
With steady strides, Su Qing maintained a rhythmic breathing pattern.
While jogging, his mind was exceptionally clear, making it perfect for deep thought.
Come to think of it...
Considering both reality and two simulations, that's essentially three lifetimes now, right?
Yet, he had never been in a romantic relationship.
In the first simulation, Firefly did give him a final embrace, which upon reflection, seemed to carry more than just friendship...
In the previous simulation, his focus was entirely on hunting demons and mentoring Kafka; naturally, he had no time to ponder other matters.
As for reality...
Recalling his university days, Su Qing felt that despite being absorbed in cooking, with his culinary skills, he should have been quite popular among girls...
Yet now, upon reflection, why did it seem like there weren't many females around him back then?
Oh right, just as a side note, Asta attended the same university as he did.
[Seele: Case solved at light speed!]
[Qingque: Asta attending the same university...wasn't the answer already in the question itself?]
[Sparkle: Asta: (slap)(throws one million Credits in the girl's face) Take this and stay away from Su Qing!]
[Silver Wolf: LOL.]
[March 7th: LOL.]
[Stelle: Don't get me wrong, I can already visualize the scene.]
Although inexperienced in romance, Su Qing certainly wasn't opposed to it.
He continued running while deep in thought.
Considering his academic pursuits, the objectives of this current simulation...
And most importantly, whether he truly liked Himeko...
His feelings when reading the love letter...
Recalling their interactions over these past days...
Su Qing felt this was a significant matter and pondered it deeply, considering various scenarios.
After running twenty-five laps to warm up, he transitioned from jogging to strolling around the track.
As he walked, he observed others running, the lush greenery of trees lining the field, and blossoming flowers competing for attention.
With each step, Su Qing gradually reached a decision...
***
Two days later.
Before afternoon classes began, beneath a weeping willow tree.
Himeko had received his message and was already waiting there.
Su Qing quickened his pace, approaching her with apologies for being late.
Holding her books, Himeko shook her head, explaining she had arrived too early.
A gentle breeze rustled the soft branches of the willow tree. The warm spring sun cast dappled shadows on the pair standing beneath it.
Indeed, Himeko had come very early.
Before Su Qing's arrival, she eagerly scanned the crowd, searching for the figure of her beloved.
When Su Qing appeared, Himeko's gaze followed him intently.
Once he stopped in front of her, she couldn't take her eyes off him. Her golden eyes conveyed both subtle unease and anticipation, mixed with longing.
After brief pleasantries, Su Qing brought up the main topic, causing Himeko to unconsciously tighten her grip on the books in her arms.
When he mentioned the letter, Himeko blushed and blinked sheepishly, using the books to partially shield half of her face.
As Su Qing complimented her, Himeko's heart couldn't help but race faster.
Feeling both shy and delighted, she raised the books higher, concealing her cheeks that were gradually warming with embarrassment.
Despite covering most of her face, this action only drew more attention to Himeko's bright, sparkling eyes.
She remained fixedly gazing at Su Qing without blinking.
At that moment, nothing else mattered to Himeko; her focus was solely on the person she cared for deeply, the one her affection centered around.
Gradually, as Su Qing spoke, Himeko's heartbeat accelerated, making it difficult to breathe. Yet, she found herself involuntarily holding her breath until her heart raced so fast it felt like it might leap out of her chest. In that tense moment, she heard his response.
...What did Su Qing say exactly?
Himeko's mind couldn't process quickly enough, feeling light-headed and almost unbelievably happy, as if floating on clouds.
Instinctively, she replied, "Yes, I love you too, very much..."
Her tension began to dissipate.
In Himeko's jewel-like golden eyes, the unease vanished, replaced first by joy and then by sweetness.
Despite her lingering shyness, she lowered the book that had been covering her face, revealing her flushed cheeks.
No longer wanting to hide, she displayed a captivating smile, unreservedly showcasing her beauty to the person before her.
Her heart still raced, the sweetness and happiness felt almost overwhelming.
Himeko couldn't resist taking a step forward, closing the distance between herself and Su Qing. She found herself speaking again, expressing her affection and love without restraint.
This time, without relying on a letter, her words stumbled slightly, sounding somewhat disorganized.
But at least the simple phrase "I like you" could be repeated wholeheartedly amidst this moment.
"I like...like...really like..."
Seeing Su Qing also becoming embarrassed, Himeko couldn't help but smile again.
Her long red hair danced gently in the breeze.
Behind them,
the tender new leaves of the weeping willow shimmered with vibrant green, swaying softly in the gentle wind.
On the tree trunk, several sparrows hopped cheerfully, their chirps forming a joyful melody, as if singing for the couple.
From today onwards, they would officially begin dating.
***
[Stelle: Yay! Awesome!]
[Stelle: Su Qing made Firefly, Kafka, and Sister Himeko smile. Surely that counts as being an Emissary of Joy now, right?]
[Sparkle: Indeed, absolutely.]
[March 7th: No, no, no, although I'm really tempted to ship...]
[March 7th: But Stelle, those first two you mentioned aren't smiling at all anymore!]
[Kafka: Heh heh, heh heh heh. Not smiling? I am indeed smiling.]
[Kafka: (Drawing her gun) The Astral Express's Himeko, huh...]
[March 7th: Ahh, Kafka, calm down! Violence is prohibited!]
[Firefly: ?]
[March 7th: Aaah?! And Firefly, hang in there, Firefly!]
[March 7th: @Bailu, @Natasha, quick, call for a doctor! What does the doctor say?!]
[Stelle: @March 7th, Doctor!!]
[March 7th: @Stelle, go die!!]
[Bailu: I don't understand matters of love; can't help here.]
[Natasha: Emotional ailments are hard to treat.]
[Stelle: Don't panic, watch me handle this.]
[Stelle: ?←??? Wait!]
[Firefly: ?]
[Stelle: Look! How's that?]
[Silver Wolf: Brilliant!]
[Seele: Excellent!]
[Bronya: She's alive!]
[Sushang: Firefly's back in action!]
[Qingque: Applause!]
[Guinaifen: Clap clap clap clap?]
[March 7th: Stop this nonsense already!]
[Sparkle: Speaking of Su Qing being dense, I finally understand now.]
[Kafka: You're not allowed to say it.]
[Firefly: Don't you dare say it.]
[March 7th: Ah, Firefly truly is alive!]
[Sparkle: After seeing his response to Himeko, it all made sense.]
[Kafka: @Black Swan, quickly mute her.]
[Firefly: @Sparkle, don't you dare say it?! Don't you dare say it? No, don't say it!!]
[Sparkle: Turns out Su Qing isn't actually dense; he just never felt any attraction—oh~ towards any of you before!]
[Sparkle: His reaction to Himeko clearly shows signs that he's not as wooden as we thought, doesn't it? Quite perfect, really.]
[Firefly: Aaaaaah!!]
[Kafka: (Chambering a bullet) Plans have changed—we'll deal with you first.]
[Firefly: @Sparkle, prepare for annihilation! (Activating Demolition Mode, commencing scorched earth operation.)]
[Sparkle: Hee-hee.]
[Sparkle: Time to make my escape~]
[Silver Wolf: Unbelievable, this is surprisingly the moment they've been most united.]
[Firefly: Waaaaah... (setting fire to the ocean)]
[Stelle: A heartbroken maiden crying while piloting her mecha at full throttle—now that's intriguing.]
[Firefly: I'm not heartbroken!]
[Firefly: Huh?]
[Himeko: (laughs) (feeling more delighted than ever before)]
[Himeko: I must admit, Sparkle makes a valid point.]
[Himeko: During Firefly's simulation, even she only had vague feelings, and it ended with just hugging Su Qing briefly.]
[Himeko: In this scenario, you can't really call Su Qing clueless, right?]
[Himeko: As for Kafka...]
[Himeko: Let's forget about her; there's no need to mention someone who never entered the race in the first place.]
[Himeko: Focusing on Su Qing alone, his lack of interest in Kafka clearly demonstrates his upright character. How could we label him as clueless based on that?]
[Himeko: From this perspective, we've actually misjudged Su Qing.]
[Himeko: When it comes to the person he truly·(emphasis) likes, he does respond accordingly.]
[Himeko: Of course, it has to be someone he genuinely·(reiterated emphasis) likes, mind you~]
[Sparkle: LOL.]
[Seele: LOL.]
[Silver Wolf: Ha ha, this is hilarious.]
[Bronya: Wait, it seems like Himeko's fully unleashed her firepower with that barrage.]
[March 7th: Ha ha, Sister Himeko is having a blast! She's so happy!]
[Stelle: Truly worthy of Sister Himeko! Achieving what even Stellaron Hunters couldn't, effortlessly!]
[Silver Wolf: ...I've said it before, don't lump me in there; I'm also a Stellaron Hunter.]
[Silver Wolf: But now, who's the clown here, right? No need to spell it out.]
[Silver Wolf: When Su Qing was jogging on the track, at least he thought about Firefly's hug, but for Kafka, not even a hint of consideration.]
[Firefly: Waaaaah... (feeling slightly better)]
[Firefly: @Kafka, here's a "Flowing Banner" - you deserve it.]
[Silver Wolf: @Kafka, and have a clown mask too? You're welcome.]
[Kafka: (casually tossing both items aside) (after a moment's thought)]
[Kafka: Don't forget, the first divination showed unfavorable love prospects for Himeko.]
[Kafka: They might break up soon.]
[Firefly: True to form, Kafka remains persistent!]
[Silver Wolf: Cheer up, isn't this grasping onto the last shred of hope?]
[Himeko: (elegantly sipping coffee) My assessment: futile struggle.]
[Himeko: Divination only holds certain statistical and psychological significance; it cannot predict the future accurately.]
[March 7th: ...Why does that sound familiar?]
[Black Swan: Well then, stay tuned for the next episode—First Kiss.]
[March 7th: Another misleading teaser, huh?]
[March 7th: Wait, the announcer is Black Swan?!]
[Kafka: ...What did you say the next episode would be about?]
[Firefly: Ignite the ocean! Ignite the ocean!! IGNITE THE OCEANNNN!!!]
[Silver Wolf: Enjoying it, aren't we?]