Whether by coincidence or design, Sora picked the very same room where Texas and Li Lin had been chatting earlier.
Her dim, warm-yellow figure flickered through the staggered furniture and uneven architecture like an elf. As if confirming his attention, she even made an adorably obvious "come here" gesture behind her back—curling a finger at him.
"…"
This was… troublesome.
Was she about to pull some "entertainment industry" thing?
He knew the industry was a mess and idols carried heavy pressure, but they'd only met yesterday. Moving this fast didn't feel right.
Li Lin glanced around.
Angel was humming as she charged the oven with two bags of apple pie like a missile.
Croissant had her head down, calculating how much the scattered debris on the floor was worth.
Texas held her Originium "light sword," staring down at the unconscious gangsters as if the moment someone woke up, she'd walk over and smack them back out with one swing.
Good. No one was paying attention to him.
Sorry, everyone.
I'm leaving first.
Li Lin stood up naturally, hands in his pockets, and walked toward the room where Sora had just disappeared.
But before he could even pretend to do anything casual, a hand yanked him—fast—into the darkest corner of the private booth.
Something soft pressed at the back of his head, accompanied by warm, damp breaths. He could feel a girl's slightly panicked, shallow breathing, and the heat of her body flowing close behind him.
"Shh… don't move, senpai… don't let everyone notice…"
"…Okay. I won't move."
"Good. Come in."
Li Lin nodded silently and stepped lightly into the room.
But as he reached the middle, he heard movement behind him.
Click.
A soft sound.
He turned instinctively.
Sora stood at the doorway, expression carefully neutral, as she locked the booth door completely.
As if she'd noticed his eyes, Lungmen's top idol flushed; her gaze turned slightly hazy.
"What happens next… can't let everyone know…"
She spoke softly and walked toward him.
The dim golden light of the booth, paired with the lavish décor, painted a dreamy, blurred sheen over the girl in front of him.
Her footsteps were a little heavy—full of life—and her eyes, though slightly muddled, were unmistakably determined.
Li Lin swallowed.
"…"
This development—could it be?
He couldn't remember what he'd dreamed last night, but maybe this was his dream manifesting?!
Watching the idol approach, loosening her bow tie to reveal a collarbone damp with sweat, Li Lin's eyes swept over every detail at lightning speed, his brain already writing the rest of the scene for him.
But before his imagination could finish a single paragraph, Sora rushed up and grabbed his hand.
"Li Lin-senpai, I actually… I've always wanted to ask you something."
She tugged open her bow tie again, took a breath, and looked up at him with wide, doe-like, watery eyes.
Then she suddenly let go, clapped her hands together once, and bowed deeply—seriously, earnestly.
"Please! Li Lin-senpai!"
Lowering her head, she spoke with all sincerity:
"Please tell me—what do I do to be able to work together with Texas?! I'm really so nervous! Honestly, my heart almost jumped out of my chest just now! I'm not afraid of the gangsters, but when I'm with Texas I get so nervous! What am I supposed to do at a time like this?!"
"…"
Ah. Right. This was the normal outcome.
Of course.
I knew it—how could something this good ever happen to me?
Nothing to be disappointed about. From the start, there was nothing to expect. Just… standard male delusion. A misfire. Normal.
Li Lin looked at Sora with dead eyes, took a deep breath, and slowly exhaled. Then he asked calmly:
"So you're sweating from nerves, and you couldn't stay near them?"
"Yes! I've had experience before, but I don't know why I'm especially nervous today! The moment I think everyone can smell me, and if I slip up then… hahah…"
Sora laughed awkwardly and waved a hand to indicate the sweat on her body.
So I don't count as "everyone," huh?
People's true feelings show in what they do without thinking. Honestly, Li Lin felt a little hurt.
But as he caught a glimpse of her collarbone while she gestured—and the semi-transparent fabric clinging faintly—he forgave her lack of courtesy immediately and started thinking seriously.
"This is completely normal."
"N-normal?"
"Of course. Working around someone you care about and feeling nervous is normal. Before, you were cooperating; now you're colleagues. The identity is different, so your performance and your mental state will naturally change."
Looking at Sora—flushed, with damp strands of hair clinging to her cheeks—Li Lin sighed and continued smoothly.
"A person's state changes with circumstance. I was the same at first. There's no shortcut. The only solution is to spend more time with Texas. I'll find opportunities for you to work with her. That will fix it."
"Really?! Thank you, senpai!"
"No need. But you'll have to help cover for me when the time comes. We're in a 'mutual support' relationship, after all."
Sora's face lit with determination.
After confirming she'd recovered, they nodded to each other and reopened the soundproof booth door.
There was no classic "locked in and caught" scene—the door opened smoothly.
And that made the person standing outside appear in their field of view.
Texas.
Black jacket. Black thigh-highs. Sneakers. Hands in her pockets.
She looked… mildly resentful as she stared at them.
"…You two talked in there for a long time?"
"Ah, not that long."
Li Lin answered naturally as ever.
"We were discussing what to do next, and some learning-related things. You know, I've always wanted to learn piano, but I can't find a good teacher. Sora said she could help—she's really helped me a lot. Right?"
"Eh? Ah—yeah! That's right!"
Sora instinctively brushed back her messy, sweat-damp hair at her lips, then turned to Texas and smiled brightly.
"Maybe senpai and I could be a really good team!"
"…Is that so."
Texas blinked at them, fell silent for a moment, then spoke quickly:
"It's decided. When we go out later, you and I will be one team. The others will be another team."
"Eh? Ah? I don't mind, but then who's driving on their side? That distribution seems off, doesn't it?"
"Croissant. And this is for combat reasons. If it's just me protecting you, I won't be distracted. Also, if Sora's Originium Arts are with us, there could be interference. Any objections?"
"Wouldn't it be better if I just stayed at the bar? You could go all out, and I can watch the intel feed—"
"Penguin Logistics. Work together. Move. Get in the car."
"But I still think you should at least bring Sora—fine. I'll go."
What is this?
Is she angry?
Did those gangsters say something during the fight—some kind of verbal landmine?
Texas kept her hands in her pockets, silent, staring at him with an icy expression that practically said: Say one more unnecessary word and I'll knock you out and drag you along.
Li Lin couldn't make sense of it at all.
-------
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