"It's exactly as you say," Zhang Fan shrugged nonchalantly, wondering why Aria was so worked up. Her tsundere loli temperament always manifested in such sudden outbursts of temper.
"But even if it's just a temporary partnership, cohabiting at this late hour is inappropriate. Or are you two... dating?" Sayana's face was a mix of indignation and disbelief as she confronted Zhang Fan. Her voice faltered as she spoke the word 'dating,' her nervousness betraying her fear that Zhang Fan might indeed be in a relationship with Aria.
"Dating? What nonsense! Romantic entanglements are nothing but bothersome distractions!" Aria's face flushed a deep red before Zhang Fan could even respond. The topic of romance always seemed to make her embarrassingly flustered.
"Really? There's nothing between you two?" Sayana eyed Aria suspiciously, her disbelief apparent.
"Of course not! Love is just a waste of time. If you don't believe me, I might just put a hole in you!" Aria's flustered explanation led her to rashly draw her twin guns, a Colt 1911, from under her skirt. This threat, however, seemed more like a desperate attempt to cover up her true feelings.
Observing Aria's weapons - a pair of well-maintained black and silver Colt 1911 pistols - it was evident that she took great care of them. Despite their antique design, they had likely been specially modified.
"Hmph! Ashamed, are we?" Sayana's cold retort suggested she saw through Aria's act, believing her to be nothing more than a sly cat stealing a march on her beloved teacher.
"Not at all!" Aria's reaction was to fire her gun at the ceiling, startling Zhang Fan.
"What are you doing? This isn't Britannia! Don't fire guns in someone else's home!" Zhang Fan stepped forward, giving Aria a knuckle-rap on the head. Her audacity knew no bounds.
"But..." Aria tried to protest, but their conversation was interrupted by the doorbell and an anxious voice.
"Zhang Fan, are you alright? I heard a gunshot!" It was Bai Xue's voice. How did she end up here at this time, amidst such chaos? Hesitating whether to let her in, Sayana had already opened the door.
"Are you okay, Zhang Fan?" Bai Xue, dressed in a shrine maiden outfit, rushed to Zhang Fan's side, visibly concerned for his well-being.
"I'm fine, Bai Xue," Zhang Fan reassured her, appreciating her concern but aware of the complicated situation.
"That's a relief," Bai Xue sighed in relief, but then she noticed the unfamiliar girl, Aria, in the room, her guard instantly going up.
"Don't misunderstand, Bai Xue. This is Aria, my teammate, not an enemy!" Zhang Fan hastened to prevent any potential conflict between the girls. Bai Xue's transformation into a formidable warrior shrine maiden at the slightest hint of danger was something Zhang Fan was keen to avoid.
"Teammate?" Bai Xue's confusion quickly turned into suspicion, a dark aura seemingly forming behind her. The revelation that Zhang Fan had found a new teammate – and it wasn't her – didn't sit well with her.
"Umm... Bai Xue, let me explain," Zhang Fan intervened, knowing the importance of pacifying Bai Xue before she fully succumbed to her darker impulses.
A simple explanation to Bai Xue and Sayana about the team-up helped ease the tension in the room.
"So, it's just a partnership, right? Nothing more?" Bai Xue's smiling face, though seemingly cheerful, carried an undercurrent of coldness.
"Absolutely, just teammates! How could it be anything else?" Aria hurriedly affirmed, her agitation evident.
"Well then, I'm relieved. But, cohabiting with a young man and woman... Aria, perhaps it's better for you to find another place to stay," Bai Xue suggested, quickly reverting to her usual gentle demeanor, albeit with an undeniable edge in her tone.
"No! I'm staying here! I want Zhang Fan to fully acknowledge my presence and become my lifelong partner!" Aria's outright refusal of Bai Xue's suggestion left her taken aback, her previous warmth fading into a steely resolve.
"Ahem... Bai Xue, calm down. Let me explain," Zhang Fan interjected, knowing the importance of maintaining harmony. Balancing the dynamics between the three girls was proving to be a real challenge.
After a brief explanation to Bai Xue and Sayana about the team-up and its reasons, Bai Xue seemed somewhat reassured.
"So, it's just a partnership? Nothing more, right?" Bai Xue nodded, her smile returning, but with an unmistakable chill in her voice.
"Of course, just teammates! What else could it be?" Aria reiterated, her nervousness palpable.
"In that case, I'm relieved. But young men and women cohabiting... Aria, it's probably best you find another place to stay," Bai Xue suggested, her gentle persona back in place, though her authoritative tone suggested otherwise.
"No! I will stay here! I must ensure Zhang Fan fully acknowledges me as his eternal partner!" Aria firmly rejected Bai Xue's suggestion, her determination causing Bai Xue's expression to harden. Bai Xue's instincts told her that if she didn't act, this girl might steal Zhang Fan away.