A surprised voice made Bianka jump. At the same time, some memories from about half an hour ago suddenly came back to her.
Weren't they still playing hide-and-seek?
Himeko raised an eyebrow and turned her head to see the orange-haired girl, panting but with eyes brighter than the stars in the sky. A hint of surprise appeared on her face.
"It's Susannah," Himeko subconsciously wanted to greet this person who she was very "familiar" with. But perhaps because she hadn't drunk much yet, the words had just left her mouth when she realized she "shouldn't" know her.
Forget it, Susannah probably won't notice. After all, according to the story, she was someone similar to Kiana...
"E-e-eh?! Senior Murata actually r-r-recognizes me?!" A small bomb exploded on top of Susannah's head, creating a small mushroom cloud.
Senior Murata?
Himeko was clearly stunned for a moment. After confirming that she had never met Susannah in any capacity, she shook her head with a smile.
After the Great Honkai, this was the first time Himeko had heard such a formal and respectful address.
She didn't know when, but she had gotten used to being called Teacher Himeko, Senior Himeko, or even Aunty Hime...
Senior Murata... that was a title more often used to address...
Himeko's expression darkened slightly. She tilted her head back and downed the beer in her hand in one gulp, then crushed the can with one hand and tossed it into the cockpit of her Titan mech.
"Alright, since someone has found you, I won't disturb you any longer," Himeko said, getting up and patting Bianka on the shoulder.
"If you have time, come visit me. I can make you a private meal, you know."
Bianka whipped her head around and looked at Himeko, who had already jumped back into the cockpit, with a bewildered expression.
Why did Senior Himeko specifically mention a private meal?
Bianka had to admit, she was tempted for a moment.
The Titan mechs rumbled away, seamlessly replaced by a panting Susannah who ran over.
As Susannah approached and placed her hand on Bianka's shoulder, Bianka finally remembered the specific requirements of this game of hide-and-seek.
Any direct contact was considered a successful capture.
"Senior Bianka! I caught you!" Susannah seemed to have been running for a long time. She was so out of breath that she couldn't even speak properly, but her eyes... calling them a bright star was no exaggeration.
I've been caught twice?!
Belatedly, Bianka suddenly realized this. Although she didn't feel any pressure from the assessment, to be caught twice in a row...
Rita... probably... wouldn't...
Alright, she was done for.
Ding.
A slight vibration came from the phone in her pocket. Bianka took it out with a dejected expression and glanced at it. She immediately wilted even more, looking like a sunflower that hadn't seen the sun.
At the same time, Susannah, Ana, Azhar, and the hiding Shu all received a text message from Rita.
"The assessment is over. Everyone, come back. We'll gather at the camp entrance."
Shu finally breathed a sigh of relief. He put away his phone, turned around, and stepped out of the darkness.
Not counting Azhar, who had stayed in place, Ana was the first to return to the base entrance, followed by Shu.
As soon as he entered the base, Shu felt an intense gaze on him.
Following the gaze, Shu met Ana's eyes. Ana didn't shy away at all, but sized him up with an almost piercing intensity.
Shu felt uncomfortable under this gaze, which was not malicious but full of fervor. He could only look away and pretend not to see her.
It must be because she saw me sparring with Bianka... Although Shu hadn't expanded his perception over a wide area at the time, Ana's gaze was so intense that it was hard for him not to notice.
The last to return were Susannah and Bianka, who presented two completely different styles. Susannah's hand was still on Bianka's shoulder.
"Senior Rita! I caught Senior Bianka!" Susannah couldn't help but start bragging as soon as she returned.
Bianka scratched her head in embarrassment, not daring to speak.
Rita smiled and nodded at Susannah. "Congratulations, Team Member Susannah."
Team Member Susannah!! She called me Team Member Susannah!!
Mom! I've made it!
Susannah's excited face flushed red. Her hands pressed against her chest couldn't stop her heart from pounding.
"Team Member Ana, your performance was also excellent," Rita said, turning to Ana, who was still staring at Shu.
Ana's gaze finally moved away from Shu. Her face was also slightly flushed as she bowed slightly to Rita. "Senior Bianka is really strong... I couldn't keep up with her at all."
This was indeed the truth. She had no chance of catching up to Bianka's incredible speed without using her full power.
And with Bianka's effortless demeanor at the time, Ana felt that even if she really "got serious," it was questionable whether she could even make Bianka get serious.
The only reason she had completed the mission was by... a trick.
And as the one who had been "tricked," Azhar kept her head bowed deeply, silent.
Everyone had completed their mission, right? Except for her...
She was supposed to be the one hiding, but she was the first to be caught. She couldn't even carry out her own suggestion, and in the end, she had cried and begged to come back...
Just the fact that she had cried was probably enough for Rita and the others to not let her join...
"Team Member Azhar also did a great job, far beyond my expectations," Rita's words made Azhar look up in disbelief. She pointed at herself, then looked at Rita and nodded. A feeling of having lost and then regained something suddenly filled her heart.
"Can I... really pass?" but Azhar still asked, very unconfidently.
Rita smiled and nodded, then turned to look at the person in the group who was truly the most nervous.
If it were Otto, Shu would be almost certain that announcing his results last was definitely one of Otto's twisted pleasures.
But this was Rita... although she was a little devious, she shouldn't be as bad as Otto, who could blacken his surroundings without even being cut open.
So Shu didn't know if she was unaware of his spar with Bianka.
Was Otto reliable?
Probably... right?
Shu pondered for a moment.
It would be more reliable if Bianka explained it herself!!
Why not explain it himself?
He was already feeling nervous because he was in disguise. And now he had to speak up?
Kill him now!