Getting your head patted... was it such a comfortable thing?
If he kept getting hurt and sick, could he keep getting head pats from Kafka... from Big Sis Kafka?
Zāwù had tried calling Kafka "Mother" twice.
Neither time had she responded.
That meant Kafka had not yet agreed to become his mother.
So, afraid of making her angry, Zāwù chose to restrain himself. Even in the depths of his own heart, he didn't dare call her by that sacred title.
As for the dangerous thought that had just popped into his head, he quickly tossed it into the mental trash heap of redundant thoughts.
Deceiving Mother... is for bad children.
He didn't want to be a bad child.
If he wanted Big Sis Kafka's touch... he would just have to work hard to be a good, useful boy.
—Good children get rewards.
He didn't know where he learned that principle, but it existed in his body as if it were embedded in his genes.
"You're awake."
Kafka gently took off the goggles covering the boy's eyes and returned them to Silver Wolf. It was the first time Silver Wolf had ever lent her goggles to someone. Maybe it was because Zāwù was a soft, fragrant boy? For some reason, she didn't find it repulsive. After taking them back, she even gave them a sniff for no reason.
Is it my imagination? There seems to be a faint scent of plum blossoms...
Realizing what she had just done, Silver Wolf's face flushed red. She quickly hid the goggles behind her back and glanced around nervously. Thankfully, Kafka and Blade's attention was on Zāwù, and Zāwù was completely focused on his conversation with Kafka. No one had noticed her little action. But even so, the girl's heart wasn't at ease. Instead, an awkward feeling began to sprout...
Damn it! Am I the third wheel in this family!?
A faint blush appeared on Zāwù's pale little face, as stunning as a winter plum blossom falling in the snow.
"Mm... Thank you, Big Sis Kafka, Big Sis Silver Wolf, Big Bro Blade."
"Heh, the little guy's a smooth talker."
"How come you're not calling me Mother anymore~" Kafka teased Zāwù mercilessly. So, she had noticed his sensitive withdrawal of his feelings. But instead of letting it go, she pointed it out to his face, leaving Zāwù with an unspeakable sense of shame and confusion. With a mind that was also a hundred times faster than a normal person's, Zāwù could have instantly analyzed the countless meanings behind Kafka's words. But he didn't. He just blushed, not knowing what to say.
Still just a kid~
Kafka patted his head again, her smile filled with a strange sort of doting affection. She messed up his snow-white hair a little, then left the room with a smile.
Zāwù stared blankly at her elegant, curving back until that secretive purple and alluring black disappeared behind the door.
Silver Wolf waved a hand in front of his face, breaking his reverie. But he wasn't angry. Instead, he mobilized what little strength his thawed body had recovered and with great difficulty, sat up in bed. It was clear he was still struggling, as fine beads of sweat appeared on his handsome face. Seeing this, Silver Wolf grabbed his shoulders without another word and pushed him back down onto the bed.
Zāwù had a look of pure innocence and confusion.
"Big Sis Silver Wolf... what are you going to do to me?"
"After you're done, can I get up and practice my sword?"
"???"
"I just want you to take care of your own body!"
Ever since the "Stellaron Hunter" game had begun, this was the first time someone had made Silver Wolf break a sweat with words alone.
"But, I want to stay..."
If I don't practice the sword, I can't become useful to Big Sis Kafka. I can't stay by her side...
Zāwù's voice, though clear and weak, held a persistence and stubbornness unimaginable to an ordinary person.
Silver Wolf was so exasperated she almost laughed.
"Aren't you staying right now, you fool!"
In a single day, Zāwù had achieved the accomplishment of being called a "fool" by two members of the Stellaron Hunters.
But judging from his suddenly brightening, jade-green eyes, he didn't seem dissatisfied at all. In fact, he looked extremely excited.
So, this already counts... as staying!
Even Blade, seeing this, couldn't help but let out a soft, huffed laugh. He crossed his arms, the Shard Sword tucked in the crook of his elbow, and turned to leave with a cool demeanor.
For a time, only Zāwù and Silver Wolf, this younger "brother and sister" pair, were left in the supply base's infirmary.
"Perfect. Since you're just lying around in bed with nothing to do, you can play games with me!"
"Games?"
Although Zāwù knew the definition of games, it seemed he had never actually played one since his birth. That is if the games of Go he played against himself in his head didn't count. And right now, they certainly didn't. The boy's memories were completely sealed. Whenever he tried to touch them, it was like facing an insurmountable, endless high wall.
"What, interested?" Silver Wolf could hardly wait to share the two-player games she had been collecting for years with Zāwù!
But Zāwù hesitated, looking at her expression, which was clearly one of distress! After a moment's pause, the boy answered honestly.
"But I'd still rather practice my sword."
Silver Wolf was about to lose it! No wonder people say, "No man can refuse a long, straight stick! For it is their holy sword!"
But as a genius girl with the title of universe's super hacker, how could she be defeated by such a small obstacle! Obviously, Zāwù just hadn't experienced the beauty of the gaming world yet. She just needed to cater to his interests and guide him step by step. Silver Wolf wasn't worried. The day Zāwù became her good gaming buddy would come!
I've got it!
"But you can practice swords in games, too!" Silver Wolf put on an expression that said, "You're so ignorant," and successfully fooled the inexperienced Zāwù.
"Really?"
"Of course!"
"And swords aren't even the strongest weapon in games. The strongest is the long sword!"
"Have you ever heard of a sword technique that falls from the sky?"
Zāwù quickly shook his head, his eyes revealing a clear yearning (and foolishness).
Silver Wolf was instantly energized. She had never realized she enjoyed teasing soft, fragrant boys until she met Zāwù and a whole new world opened up to her. Probably no one could resist the boy's clear eyes.
Silver Wolf put on a mysterious expression, squinting as she bragged.
"That's a dragon-slaying art you'll never learn from your Big Bro Blade!"
"Master it, and even Kafka won't be able to look away from your handsome, heroic figure."
Zāwù's cheeks turned red.
He had clearly been thoroughly hooked by Silver Wolf.
"So this move... what's it called?"
The boy had successfully taken the bait.
Silver Wolf smiled faintly and pulled a terminal out of some pocket dimension, tossing it to Zāwù.
"It's called..."
"Helm Breaker!"
-------
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