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Watching Asta's hurried retreat, Hiroshi murmured dejectedly, "I'm so sorry, Station Master..."
"Um, Section Chief Hiroshi? What exactly happened between you two?" a junior staff member asked, their eyes gleaming with the unmistakable hunger of a dedicated gossip.
"It's nothing. Focus on your work!" Hiroshi snapped, his tone sharper than intended. After reprimanding the clerk, he left to handle the investigation Asta had assigned him, hoping the manual labor would clear his head.
The moment he was out of earshot, the Department of Applications exploded into whispers.
"Did you see how distraught Asta looked? And the guilt on Hiroshi's face? Something definitely went down!"
"I bet Asta confessed and got rejected. Think about it—she's always favored him, and he's the only one who gets to spend time in her private quarters. It's the only thing that makes sense!"
"Section Chief Hiroshi's charm is terrifying," another sighed. "First Madam Herta, now the Station Master. With the two of them doting on him, he's practically the uncrowned king of this station. We better start showing him even more respect..."
Meanwhile, Hiroshi finished his rounds, wiping sweat from his brow. "Phew... that's the last of the budget recordings. Time for a quick break before I resume the star search."
Before he could even sit down, he caught the scent of plum blossoms and sterile ozone. A curvaceous, elegant figure was approaching through the corridor. Persistent as ever, Hiroshi thought, a chill running down his spine.
He didn't wait for her to speak. He focused on a distant coordinate and triggered his Teleportation, vanishing into thin air.
Ruan Mei stopped exactly where he had been standing, her fingers pinching her chin in a cold, analytical gesture. "Disappeared again," she whispered to the empty air. "Every time I corner the little mouse, the trail vanishes instantly. It must be a Wondrous Item that ignores spatial laws."
Her eyes narrowed, the jade-like pupils flashing with a predatory intelligence. "I can't set a trap for him openly without Herta noticing. If I want to incapacitate him, I need to start with those he trusts. Herta is too sharp... so that only leaves Asta."
Noon. Inside the Space Station cafeteria.
Asta sat alone at a table, her tray untouched. She propped her head on one hand, staring blankly at the wall while her other hand tapped a chopstick against her bowl in a hollow, rhythmic beat.
How do I look him in the eye? she agonized. Do I just say, 'Sorry, my brain temporarily short-circuited and I tried to claim you'? He must think I'm a monster... She covered her burning cheeks, squirming in her seat. If I could just do it over, I'd never let that happen!
"What's wrong? No appetite?"
Asta jumped, turning to find Ruan Mei sliding into the seat beside her. "Madam Ruan Mei?"
"Would you like to try some desserts I made myself?" Ruan Mei offered, holding out a delicate, petal-shaped pastry. "Perhaps they'll open up your taste buds."
Asta hesitated. Ruan Mei was a distinguished guest and a legend. Refusing her would be a major diplomatic blunder. "Thank you, Madam. I won't be polite then." She took a bite.
A faint, triumphant smile tugged at Ruan Mei's mouth. "Well? How does it taste?"
Asta's eyes lit up. "Mmm! It's incredible! Crispy, yet the filling is just the right amount of sweet."
"I'm glad you like it," Ruan Mei said, her voice dropping into a comforting, sisterly tone. "By the way, you look troubled. Is it something I can help with?"
Out in the vast silence of the cosmos, Hiroshi was peerng through his space-folding telescope. Just then, his phone chimed. He opened the message, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the sender.
Asta: Brother Hiroshi, regarding what happened yesterday... I want to apologize to you properly.
Hiroshi felt a surge of guilt. She didn't do anything wrong; it was my ability! > Hiroshi: I don't blame you at all, Station Master. Can we... just go back to how things were?
Asta: Yes, but I still feel I should apologize in person. Let's talk privately. Just the two of us.
Hiroshi sighed. He didn't want her to keep agonizing over it. If a private meeting would help her move past the shame, he had to go.
Hiroshi: Okay. I'm heading back now.
He focused on the coordinates of the meeting spot, unaware that the words on his screen were being guided by a much more clinical, calculating hand.
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