Chapter 25 Sakura: Ears... Do you like them?

"Your physical fitness has improved significantly. It's weaker than Kevin and Elysia, but stronger than the doctor's... The overall strength has not improved significantly, but your mobility has improved greatly. It suits you very well, Miss Sakura."

Klein said as he recorded Sakura's physical condition.

"Are you used to the new weapon? Although Miss Vill-V said that the overall design of this sword follows the design of Bing Tantian, it is still a brand new weapon after all."

"Very good, or rather very handy, worthy of being Miss Vill-V."

Sakura held the icy-thin sword in her hand and made some sword flowers with it skillfully. The air around her was condensed into a few tiny ice flowers by the cold blade. When the sword flowers were about to fall, they flew up again because of the slight breeze brought by the sword flowers. When Sakura put it into the sheath, those tiny ice flowers fell gently and quickly turned into small water stains.

"That's good... As for the side effects on your body... will you feel any impact on your actions?"

"Not really, it's just that my hearing has become more acute, like... I feel like I have an extra pair of ears?"

"Will there be any adverse effects? Like receiving too much sound or something like that?"

"Not yet."

"Okay, that's all for today's testing, we'll test the rest tomorrow... Once everything is done, you might have some missions to perform."

"I understand... huh?"

Sakura nodded, and the pair of slender ears on her head that grew as a side effect of the surgery suddenly straightened up, and her whole body paused slightly.

She had heard a familiar sound of footsteps and knew who was coming.

"Ah... Mr. Wang, you are here."

Klein turned slightly and saw Xi Wang walking towards her. She spoke in a sleepy tone, just like usual.

She always seems to be sleep-deprived. Does she have a lot of work to do? Mobius is in a much better situation than her... Oh, Mobius is now a [Fusion Warrior], the two can't be compared.

"Please rest assured, Miss Sakura is in good health, and the fusion with the [Super Mutation Factor] is also going smoothly."

Even Klein had heard about the strange relationship between the two, so she was the first to speak.

"Today's test has been completed. The remaining content will have to wait until tomorrow... After Miss Sakura's specific test results come out, she should be reassigned. Perhaps you will work together again."

As she spoke, Klein gathered up the documents around her, picked them up, and slowly left, adding one more sentence at the end.

"The experimental area will be idle for a while... It doesn't matter as long as you don't stay there for too long."

"...Um."

Xi Wang nodded to show that he understood, and Klein also nodded and left with the information, leaving the two of them space.

Soon, Xi Wang and Sakura were the only ones left here.

"......" x2

It was a familiar silence, which made both of them feel a little uncomfortable for a moment.

Sakura had her back to Xi Wang, her body stiff, but she didn't turn around to face him.

Xi Wang looked at Sakura and could feel the change in her overall temperament... becoming more dangerous, but these were meaningless to him, his eyes only stayed on the pair of slender ears on top of her head.

"...Please sit down for a while."

"okay."

In the end, it was Sakura who spoke first, pointing to the chair against the wall, and Xi Wang agreed.

"......" x2

However, after sitting down, the two fell into silence again.

Sakura opened her mouth several times as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't know how to start.

Xi Wang was waiting for Sakura to explain the situation to him.

"… Now that things have come to this, I don't care about anything else."

Perhaps because he knew Sakura's character too well, or perhaps because he didn't want Sakura to be too entangled, Xi Wang spoke.

"I just want to know, is this something that was requested from above?"

Just like the list he was put on, although it was said to be "based on the principle of voluntariness", in the end, how many of them were truly "voluntary"?

...At least he wasn't. He received the mission to [Participate in the Fusion Warrior Program and Undergo Surgery], and then filled out the [Fusion Warrior Program Application Form] which theoretically should have been filled out voluntarily.

So... will this be the case with Sakura?

"...yes."

Xi Wang couldn't help but tighten his hands.

"…No."

Sakura paused for a moment and continued speaking.

"Wang, you should know what we are facing now... To be honest, the injury you suffered that time made us worried for a long time."

"We need more and stronger combat power. Even if we have to draw strength from our former enemies, even if it means turning ourselves into non-humans, we must do this because only in this way can we protect more people. Only in this way can we... protect the people we cherish."

"We have to do this."

She said so.

"…So, you volunteered, right?"

"Yes."

"...I see."

Xi Wang understood what Sakura meant and why she had the surgery.

She was just... convinced.

"......"

Xi Wang closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing.

Maybe they also mixed Rin into their words... No, they must have mentioned Rin, so Sakura agreed so readily.

Yes... Only by following their wishes, becoming a sharp [knife], becoming a so-called non-human, and becoming the [fusion warrior who protects humanity], can we protect the people we cherish.

We... have to do this.

However, his hands clenched unconsciously, as if he wanted to dig his nails into his flesh.

"Wang... don't worry."

A hand as smooth as cream gently covered his hand, and Sakura spoke softly.

"I survived, didn't I?"

"Whether it's for Rin, or for... for..."

At this point, Sakura became a little embarrassed again, and a blush appeared on her face, which matched her long cherry-colored hair.

But she just didn't have the nerve to continue talking... It seems that after all this time, Sakura still hasn't made any progress in this area~

"Yeah... I know."

Xi Wang nodded and responded to her... but the golden color in his pupils, which were like the night sky, seemed to have expanded a little.

......And the people hiding in the laboratory, watching the two people in the experimental area through the one-way soundproof glass......

"Ah! Sakura, hurry up! It's almost done! If you finish it quickly, you'll win!"

Danzhu waved her long sleeves and kept shouting at someone on the other side of the glass...but unfortunately, her voice could not be transmitted without pressing the call button.

"Ah... Sakura, why are you so disappointing!"

Seeing that Sakura didn't finish saying the most crucial sentence, Danzhu said with regret.

"These two fussy people are my colleagues. Now I am in trouble..."

Danzhu rubbed her head in distress, and her originally well-groomed hair became messy.

Why is it so hard to get these two awkward guys to talk? Are you two allergic to love or something? You're just stuck at the boundary, right?

What? Are you guys playing the game of Love Brain Wars? You don't look like it!

Snap, snap—

"Wait... Cang Xuan, what are you doing?"

"Take a picture, can't you see?"

Cang Xuan took out a camera from somewhere and started taking pictures of the two people on the other side of the one-way glass.

"I remember there was a chocolate product before. These photos seem to be useful. Maybe I can get some advertising fees back..."

"If I'm discovered, I'll be beaten by Brother Wang, right? Besides, will he really be able to use it?!"

"It's okay, as long as you act pitiful, Brother Wang won't mind... If all else fails, just sell it to the [Wangkura Support Group]. They love collecting these, and it can be exchanged for a few cups of milk tea."

"Why is there such a strange fan club?"

"What? You can support this couple but others can't?"

"No, I mean give me some backups."

"Very good, 10 yuan per ticket."

"You want to take money from your own sister too?!"

"Sisters should settle accounts clearly. If it were someone else, I would ask for 20!"

"I say, you two, are you free?"

Mobius' voice sounded faintly, interrupting the quarrel between the two.

"If you have the time to do such boring things, why not help Klein process the data?"

"Don't say that, Dr. Mobius~?"

Elysia's voice sounded from behind Cang Xuan, as brisk as ever.

"Ah~ Sakura in this picture is very cute~ Hmm~ Wang is also very handsome~?"

Gently taking the camera from Cang Xuan's hand and flipping through the photos just taken inside, Elysia said happily.

"Elysia, I hope you can learn to knock on the door and say hello next time you come."

Mobius said coldly.

"Next time, for sure~?"

"Ahem...um...Miss Elysia, can you give me back my camera? That was Danzhu's camera..."

"What?! I was wondering why I couldn't find my old camera! I ended up having to use my own pocket money to buy a new one...it turned out to be you!"

"I just want to make some money... Anyway... yours is mine and mine is yours. We are sisters, so there is no need to be so calculating~"

"Sisters should settle accounts! How dare you take my camera? I will fight you!"

"Shh..."

Elysia placed her finger on her lips, gently interrupting the quarrel between Danzhu and Cang Xuan, and at the same time slightly gestured to the other side of the one-way glass.

"Don't disturb them~"

......Turn your gaze back......

"Um... do you care about these ears?"

Seeing that Xi Wang kept his eyes on the pair of long and thin ears on her head, Sakura lowered her head embarrassedly.

"Um."

Xi Wang did not shy away from the question. He just nodded and asked proactively.

"...You want to touch them?"

"Please… please…"

Sakura closed her eyes, lowered her head slightly, and put her pair of slender ears in front of Xi Wang... but she seemed a little stiff, and it was obvious that she was very nervous.

"......"

Xi Wang also slowly reached out his hand, carefully, as if touching a fragile object, and gently stroked the pair of slender ears, of unknown type.

It was furry and felt very good to the touch, making people want to pinch it—and Xi Wang did so.

"Hmm—"

As if a switch was touched, Sakura hummed softly, her slender ears straightened instantly, and then quickly softened.

Looking down, you can see that Sakura's other pair of ears have also become slightly reddish, just like her slender ears.

It seems like the right person has found the right place with the right method. How great!

"Does it affect you?"

"No… no."

"It won't be a weakness in combat, right?"

"No, it was just... a special situation."

"......"

Xi Wang understood what was going on, touched it a little more, and then let go of his hand.

"Wha...what do you think? it is ugly...or something...?"

　　Sakura raised her hand to stroke her long and thin ears, then slightly shifted her gaze and asked casually.

"No, it's cute."

"Is that so... That's good..."

Sakura seemed to have let go of some of the worries in her heart.

"And if it's Sakura, I'd like her no matter what she becomes."

"......"

Sakura's body froze instantly, and her ears straightened instantly.

'Waaa~ As expected of Wang, she easily accomplished something that others couldn't~'

'But didn't he just say something extraordinary as if nothing had happened?'

'Ah… What should I do? What should I do… I should respond now, right? I should respond now, right?'

"I... am... also..."

The ears on Sakura's head trembled slightly, and the color of the cherry blossoms became even redder. The sound of her response was as thin as a mosquito, just like the falling cherry blossoms, which was difficult to detect.

Snap——

"?" x2

[If it's Sakura, I'd like her no matter what she becomes]

"???" x2

[If it's Sakura, I'd like her no matter what she becomes]

"???" x2

"Okay, ~ Recording completed~ Photo taken~ Playback is also OK~?"

"…Elysia?"

Xiwang and Sakura were a little surprised when they saw Elysia fiddling with a camera and a small speaker that came from nowhere not far away.

"Hi~ Did you miss me~ I'm sorry to bother you, but I just happened to record a crucial scene~?"

Having said that, as if showing off her achievements, Elysia pressed the play button on the small speaker again.

[If it's Sakura, I'd like her no matter what she becomes]

Xi Wang's voice came clearly from inside, and it was playing in a continuous loop.

And in Elysia's other hand, she was holding a camera. Sakura could clearly see the photo displayed on it...it was her and Xiwang.

An inexplicable feeling of shame surged into Sakura's heart.

"What a pity~ I couldn't record Sakura's response... Sakura should be bolder and more straightforward~ Just be as straightforward as Wang~?"

"......"

"Elysia!"

Facing Elysia's words, Xi Wang looked helpless with empty eyes, while Sakura was so anxious that she was about to "blush".

"Oh my~ Why is Sakura so anxious? Is she too worried that Wang will embarrass himself in front of others? The relationship between the two of you is so good~ I'm so envious~"

"So, you two, now..."

Although it was a pity that it was not fully recorded, Elysia still spoke happily and slightly cunningly, turned up the volume of the small speaker to the maximum, and then... ran directly out of the laboratory.

"Is it time to tell our friends this news~?"

But...how many friends does Elysia have?

Not many actually, probably about 90% of the Fire Moths members

…Wouldn't that be equivalent to telling everyone? !!

"Elysia! Wait!"

Sakura hurriedly chased after him, bursting into speed far beyond expectations.

"…Alas, I have to update the data again."

Klein glanced at the data about Sakura's speed that he had just temporarily detected and sighed helplessly.

"My camera..."

Cang Xuan looked at the two quickly disappearing pink figures and bit her sleeve unwillingly.

"No, it's my camera."

Danzhu corrected silently.

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(TL NOTE: I'm thinking of changing Xi Wang's name to Nozomi since they both mean 'HOPE'. What do you think?)