Endless Silver Machine

Lying in bed with sore eyes closed, Aika woke up from a light sleep for the third time.

Wei Xi tore off the blackout curtains and folded them on the bedside. When she opened her eyes, it was no longer completely dark.

Luoluo's eyes linger in the depths of his mind, appearing when there is no light in front of him.

"I'm sorry, did I wake you?"

A soft apology came from the bedside, and Aika turned his head in response.

The faint light brought by the night light reflected the figure sitting beside the bed. It was not Ling or Wei Xi.

Aika didn't expect that she was still awake at this time. Although Aika didn't know the current time, she only made a rough estimate based on the number of times she woke up.

"It's okay, it's just that I can't sleep." Aika sat up from the bed, holding her head, "Don't worry about me, you are the one who needs rest the most."

"I felt a little restless. When I came to my senses, I was here."

Lan Ming answered Aika with a chuckle. Everyone could tell that this was just a lie.

The last conversation between Aika and Lan Ming was underground in Rosenberg Prison. It's still a bit uncomfortable to sit on the bed and talk to her like this.

There was no chill in the night this season. Aika got out of bed and walked to the window wearing a hospital gown.

Maybe it's not too late now, and all the lights in the neutral area haven't been turned off yet.

From this window, you can glimpse a corner of the vast neutral area, where the faint night light comes from.

There was a sound of light footsteps behind him, and Lan Ming got up and followed.

From the hospital bed where the night light could not reach, to the light, Aika saw clearly that Lan Ming was not wearing the white hospital gown before.

"This is the condition in exchange for Frost Moon Academy agreeing to provide us with shelter. Thinking that this is a rare opportunity, I tried it on."

Lan Ming was wearing the Shuoyue Academy uniform that he had been away from for a long time.

The white petticoat and refreshing woolen coat changed Aika's previous impression of her.

Aika had become accustomed to Lan Ming's appearance in a noble dress, and she didn't come back to her senses for a while.

"Sure enough, I'm not suitable for this kind of clothing..."

Lan Ming put his hands behind his back and leaned forward slightly to look at Aika.

The lies he told just now were very natural, but now he became a little coy again.

Seeing the change in her expression, Aika realized that Lan Ming was just trying to behave inappropriately because of his own mood.

"I don't think there's anything inappropriate, but I never thought you would actually wear this uniform..."

"Eh? Ah... Speaking of which, you seemed to have known about it at that time."

"Just now you seemed to have said what kind of exchange was this?"

"Half a month ago, when I had a phone call with Principal Phyllis, you were right next to me, right?"

"Ah, um..."

"I once promised Principal Phyllis that after getting her help, I would come to Shuoyue Academy to study as a student."

Of course, Aika still remembered the morning when he was called to the principal's office. He also imagined the scene of Lan Ming entering Shuoyue Academy after learning about it.

I didn't expect that the fantasy at that time would come true so quickly.

Speaking of which, when everyone gathered in this ward, Lan Ming also called everyone "classmates".

At that time, everything in my mind was about Luo Luo, and I didn't pay attention to this detail.

"Very good……"

Lan Ming stood up again, caressing his chest and exhaled.

Aika thought she was reassured that the uniform fit, but that was not the case.

"Classmate Aika, your expression is much gentler than before. I know you can't despise classmate Luoluo, so that's why you can't sleep, right?"

"Haha, you have seen through it..."

"It's not just me, you can't hide it from classmates Ling and Wei Xi, but I didn't let them come here now."

"Why?"

"Because this is a problem caused by me, I must personally apologize to you. Actually... I didn't expect that I would have the opportunity to talk to you tonight..."

Before Lan Ming finished speaking, Aika shook her head and denied her request.

"First of all, just like Ling said, Luoluo left us without saying hello to anyone. She should apologize to everyone. Secondly, I am the one who must apologize to Luoluo, and you have no need to apologize. object."

"Classmate Aika, your rhetoric may be convincing enough in front of my family, but I also have my own principles."

Because Lan Ming was wearing a uniform, Aika temporarily forgot that her other identity was the princess of the Bis Empire.

Lan Ming took a step away from Aika and bowed his head deeply to him.

Lan Ming, who is wearing a royal dress, bows his head, which represents the bowing of a country, so Lan Ming will not bow his head easily.

But now, wearing the Shimozuki Academy uniform, she only represents herself.

It took dozens of seconds before Lan Ming ended this solemn silent apology.

Aika's heart was filled with mixed feelings in these tens of seconds. He didn't want to attribute Luo Luo's departure to Lan Ming, and he tried his best to avoid showing such negative emotions in front of Lan Ming.

This overly formal scene once again touched the most vulnerable part of this man's heart, but he had to ignore Lan Ming's feelings, and Aika couldn't look away.

"If you and them hadn't come to save me, I should be on the execution ground now. This life is a gift I received, and I will not waste it easily."

What Lan Ming reiterated to Aika at this moment was her position. The relationship between the rescuer and the rescued would not change. But from now on, that adventure is in the past, and they must face reality.

"After I woke up, Principal Phyllis talked to me about my future plans. I had not made a decision at that time, because I thought you were the only people who could decide whether I should stay or go, but now you seem to be unable to make a proper decision. judgment."

"..."

If Aika had to answer what she most hopes to do now, there is undoubtedly only one answer.

"So just after leaving here, I changed my mind."

"Indeed, until now I don't know what to do first. Originally, it was enough to only consider your affairs, but now Luoluo is added to it, and the whole plan is completely disrupted."

His embarrassment was clearly displayed in front of Lan Ming, and Aika vomited it all out without caring about covering it up.

Lan Ming has probably never seen Aika with such a self-destructive side. Perhaps the only person who can make his calmness completely disappear is Luoluo.

She regained the original distance from Aika, and stood side by side with Aika in front of the window where the night light shone.

"Classmate Aika, I think you should already know that rescuing me from the Bis Empire means becoming an enemy of the Bis Empire. Of course, staying in a neutral area is relatively safe, but it cannot break through the current situation."

"On the basis of knowing this, they all agreed to accompany me on the adventure. The Holy See also promised to provide us with help. As long as we find ways to find evidence of your innocence, and then use my and Ling's family status to support you, that's it. Cleared your name."

"Is the Holy See also involved?"

Lan Ming was a little surprised. According to the information she obtained, Aika and the others did not have a close relationship with the Holy See.

These boys and girls, who are just students, are far more powerful than the many nobles they know.

"But rather than clearing my name, Luoluo's safety should come first."

"Even if I believe that Luoluo was not forced, I cannot tolerate her staying in that place..."

Lan Ming has already told everyone that the Bis Empire cannot grasp the whereabouts of the Nemesis Society, and nothing can be done even if it is "in the first place".

"Classmate Aika, in this situation, do you still have the ability to take care of me?"

"You can have as much energy as you want, if you know what to do."

For Luoluo, Aika is willing to go through fire and water without even needing any reason.

"Then can you listen to our opinions now?" Putting aside his serious attitude, Lan Ming showed a sincere smile for the first time after entering the ward, "I'm sorry, I had to force you to make a choice just like that, because the results after our discussion were all different. Based on this premise.”