As the morning sun illuminated the room, I groggily awoke from my slumber, only to find that my shirt was missing. I glanced around, searching for its whereabouts, and eventually spotted it discarded on the floor.
"Did she do this?" I muttered to myself, sighing in exasperation.
Shaking off the mild annoyance, I got out of bed and made my way toward the bathroom, intending to freshen up. However, as I reached the bathroom door, I immediately froze in my tracks, my cheeks flushing crimson.
Inside the bathroom, Hoshiko was taking a shower, seemingly unaware of my presence. I quickly averted my gaze and slammed the door shut, my heart racing with embarrassment.
"My, my, how perverted of you," Hoshiko's voice echoed from the other side of the door, teasingly.
"Shut up!" I retorted, my face burning with embarrassment. "I didn't notice!"
Hoshiko chuckled mischievously. "Hehe~ It's fine if you want to join me, you know?~"
I'll seriously smack you if you keep this up!"
Covering my face with my hands, I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. "Damn, it..."
I settled down on the sofa, waiting patiently for Hoshiko to walk out from the bathroom.
Finally, she stepped out, dressed in a school uniform.
"Rei, are we going to Aegis today?" she asked, adjusting her collar.
"Yes, they want to test your abilities," I replied, nodding.
Hoshiko's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "I wonder if we'll end up on the same team..."
I sighed softly, my gaze dropping to the floor. "Unfortunately, that won't be possible. I'm currently assigned to the lowest-ranked squad."
Hoshiko looked at me, her eyes filled with disbelief. "But Rei, you're strong, aren't you?"
I sighed, "I wish that were true, Hoshiko. But the reality is, I lack combat abilities. My stats are nowhere near as impressive as yours or the other skilled fighters."
Hoshiko approached me, placing a hand on both my cheeks. "Rei, being strong isn't just about combat abilities. Your intelligence, strategic thinking, and leadership skills make you a valuable asset to any team."
I looked into her eyes and smiles. "Thank you, Hoshiko."
"Hehe~ No problem!~ Plus, since I'm contracted to you, I doubt they'll separate us," Hoshiko said, nuzzling into my chest with a playful grin.
I smiled and gently patted her head. "You're probably right."
As we entered the Aegis building, we made our way through the bustling corridors. However, a sudden collision interrupted our path, causing me to bump into someone. I quickly apologized, but the person turned around with a condescending expression.
"Huh? If it isn't the incompatible weakling... You're still here?" he sneered, his words laced with arrogance. His gaze then shifted to Hoshiko. "Oh? Did you bring your girl?" He directed his attention towards her, his tone dripping with superiority. "You know, he's the weakest here, right? You should join my squad instead. I'll even help you rank up."
I shook my head in disapproval as I exchanged a glance with Hoshiko. However, to my surprise, her usually gentle eyes transformed into crimson red fixated on the person who had insulted us moments ago.
The guy stumbled backward, his face filled with fear. "A-A monster!? Hey, weakling! You're bringing a monster now!?" He then turned to me, seeking confirmation for his accusation.
I narrowed my eyes, my voice laced with an edge of warning. "Don't call her a 'monster'."
Hoshiko's gaze remained fixed on him, her crimson eyes filled with an intensity that made him falter even further.
"Oh? So she is a 'monster'?" He laughed arrogantly, swiping the air to reveal a mace that glowed with a blinding white light. "Then I'll have to exterminate her!"
As he charged towards Hoshiko, a look of determination crossed her face. She smiled at me, nodded, and swiftly summoned her signature weapon from thin air. The blade emanated a radiant red hue, which gradually transitioned to a soft pink.
"What!?" The guy's confident expression faltered, his attack effortlessly blocked by Hoshiko's weapon.
With a swift movement, Hoshiko deflected his mace, sending him stumbling backward.
"Fuck!" He growled, unleashing his mace skill with a shout. "Stone Surge: Earthquake Smash!" He brought the mace crashing down, causing the ground to tremble violently and sending debris flying toward us. Reacting swiftly, I evaded the incoming debris.
Hoshiko stood her ground, her blade glimmering, She effortlessly sliced through the incoming debris, reducing them to harmless fragments without even shifting her stance.
The guy's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the fuck is wrong with her!?"
Hoshiko approached the trembling guy, her sword pointed directly at his face. A mischievous smile played on her lips as she spoke. "Are you done?"
Fear washed over him, causing him to bow hastily. "P-Please don't kill me!"
Hoshiko withdrew her blade, satisfied with the display of his submission. She then turned towards me, "Let's go, Rei~"
I glanced at her, appreciating her calm demeanor despite the recent confrontation. With a nod, we continued on our way, leaving the defeated guy behind.
How could she remain so collected in such a tense situation?