Virt Gold had conceived of many possibilities: either being rejected, or being ignored.
But the current situation was truly beyond his expectations.
He never thought that after Pandora accepted his chocolate so calmly, she would ask such a question.
Shouldn't a girl who always reads books be gentle, reserved, and understanding?
Why would she ask about another boy right after a boy gave her Valentine's Day chocolate?
Was this behavior, devoid of any emotional intelligence, really something she would do?
Moreover, when she accepted the chocolate, why did she have no reaction at all?
Where was the shyness?
Where was the distress?
"What kind of person is she, really?"
Virt felt a trace of disillusionment.
It seemed that only at this moment did he suddenly realize that Pandora was not the image he had fantasized about, the one similar to his mother.
After a good while, he finally lowered his head and said, "No, I didn't see Dark."
Before his voice had even faded, he suddenly turned around and ran away without looking back!
...
"He doesn't know?"
Pandora looked at Virt's rapidly disappearing figure and couldn't help but sigh softly.
Then, she lowered her head and continued reading her book.
To her, Virt was a stranger with whom she had no interaction other than library registration.
A complete stranger; naturally, there was no need to care about his thoughts.
The fact that she didn't view him as a bug was only because she had grown up with the help of humans.
Her sense of identification with humanity still slightly outweighed her nature.
As for the reason for accepting the chocolate, it was merely because of a temporary need.
Moreover, so many people sent them that she had gradually become numb.
When she received Valentine's Day chocolate for the first time in the past, she had actually been confused.
But that was all in the past.
It was just a pity that she couldn't ask that boy for Dark's whereabouts, so she would have to find him herself.
"Could he be in the snow?"
"After the shift change, I'll go for a walk in the snow."
"If I meet him, it's fate."
"If I don't meet him, then let it be."
Thinking about walking in the world of ice and snow, Pandora couldn't help but frown.
She hated snow.
...
Valentine's Day is just like this.
Some rejoice, some worry.
Although Virt Gold wasn't rejected, it seemed more painful than being rejected.
He found that he was heartbroken, thoroughly heartbroken!
Before, he always felt that slowly getting in touch would be enough.
When talking with the seniors of the Marine Biology Research Department, they reached the same conclusion.
Faith will move mountains.
Start with the first gift to make her notice him.
Then give gifts every year to seek change.
For a boy chasing a girl, the most important thing is to have thick skin.
If he persisted for a long time, he would always get a response.
In short, the seniors of the Marine Biology Research Department helped him summarize various techniques.
He also secretly told himself to persist.
However, in fact, the first time he gave a gift, his defenses crumbled!
...
Robert, hiding at the door and eavesdropping, witnessed the whole process.
As a boy who also had no romantic experience, he could only pat his best friend's back and say a few words like "It's okay," "It will pass"...
He thought Virt was just sad because he was rejected in a disguised form.
Robert even thought that being rejected might be a good thing.
Virt should also rein in his heart.
They were only first-years and should spend more thought on their studies. Only by laying a good foundation could they have a better future.
Besides, isn't Magic Guide Chess fragrant?
"How about we go see the snow? After this year passes, who knows which year we'll encounter such heavy snow again!"
"Mhm."
...
In the snowy ground near the lake.
Dark asked the Magic Guide Spirits to clear an open space, and then began to unfold [Paradise].
Although he had thought about unfolding the entire [Paradise], he ultimately didn't do so.
Amidst the faint white light shining against the accumulated snow, the range of [Paradise] continued to expand, but only two round tables and a dozen stone stools appeared in that open space.
Although Rose and Diana already knew he had such a Field Card, seeing it now, they still felt it was magical.
Diana patted the stone table curiously, then sat on a stone stool and put her bags, big and small, on the table.
The snacks she brought were not a bit less than those of the Magic Guide Spirits.
The Magic Guide Spirits glanced at her, then followed suit, placing their small schoolbags on the other stone table, and impatiently took out snacks to eat.
The feeling of returning to the embrace of [Paradise] made them feel invigorated.
"Woo-fu~"
Popplio rubbed against Dark's calf, then pointed to the frozen lake surface.
Dark touched its head and smiled: "Go ahead."
Popplio immediately crawled toward the lake with joy, then began to slide on the lake surface.
Although its posture was clumsy, due to its body structure, there was absolutely no worry about falling; it was just that sometimes it couldn't brake when sliding.
The students skating on the lake suddenly discovered that a small sea lion wearing a scarf had joined in, and couldn't help but frolic with it.
No one dislikes cute small animals.
And in the snowy ground by the lake.
[Miltank] used [Defense Curl] and actually rolled around in the snow.
[DemiDevimon] flew in the air, chasing after it.
[Hawlucha] was attempting "snow sprinting".
[Magic Beast (Ditto)] was hurriedly protecting [Trash Slime], who was almost frozen into an ice cube.
The poor [Meowth], thrown into the swaddling cloth made of a scarf, could only look at the clouds in the sky aggrievedly.
"Eee-boo!"
[Little Eevee] took the opportunity to walk to Dark's side, rubbed its soft cheek against his calf, and then with a "biu" sound, jumped onto his thigh, curled up into a ball, and narrowed its eyes to enjoy its master's warmth.
[Sylveon] quietly bared its teeth at this side.
But it had just made a mistake and didn't dare to act spoiled or cute, so it could only unwillingly build a snowman.
Dark sat on the stone stool, gently smoothing [Little Eevee]'s fur, warmth flowing from his gaze.
[Shuckle] crawled onto a rock, holding a paintbrush with its tentacle, attempting to outline this heartwarming scene with the brush.
But its level was actually between kindergarten senior class and first grade of elementary school, using "abstract" techniques.
[Gatomon] simply sat on the stone stool beside Dark, spreading a book on the stone table to read.
But its gaze was still attracted by the Magic Guide Spirits rolling in the snow from time to time.
"Go play."
Dark said gently.
[Gatomon]'s expression struggled for a moment, and finally, it solemnly closed the picture book, stuffed it into the schoolbag, and then with a "meow," pounced toward the snowball!
Cats all like round things; this is innate nature.
"Mhm."
Dark finally remembered [Meowth].
He waved to [Magic Beast (Ditto)].
"Mang-mang."
[Magic Beast (Ditto)] shuffled over holding [Trash Slime].
Dark then took [Trash Slime] from its hands, took out the [Meowth] from the "swaddle," and activated Normal Summoning.
"Meow!"
[Meowth], finally seeing the light of day again, immediately meowed at the sky.
The grievance all over its body was released.
Then it landed on all fours and fiercely pounced toward where [Gatomon] was.
Two cats rolled around against the snowball.
...
Dark placed a thermos bottle in the "swaddle" for [Trash Slime] to cling to, then said to [Magic Beast (Ditto)]: "Now you can rest assured, right?"
"Mang-mang!"
[Magic Beast (Ditto)] immediately cried out happily, and then its body naturally changed, gradually transforming from a slime shape into a [Meowth], turning and pouncing toward the position of [Meowth] and [Gatomon].
The appearance of three cats rolling in the snow attracted countless gazes.
...
"So nice."
Rose hugged her familiar rabbit, unable to help revealing an envious expression.
After Diana stuffed her entire cheeks full of snacks, she climbed down from the stone stool and ran toward the three cats who had already started a snowball fight, laughing "hehe".
That panda familiar, wrapped tightly in small clothes, was ruthlessly abandoned on the table.
...
For a moment.
Under the clear sky.
On the snowy ground.
Laughter and joy.
Unending.
...
Dark narrowed his eyes as he watched this scene, a trace of trance occasionally flashing across his face.
The intersection of memories from two lives sometimes caused him confusion.
But the scene of this very day was actually what he had dreamed of for a long time.
However, to maintain this dream, equivalent effort was required.
No one can destroy it!
...
In the clouds.
Lily Laplace lay lazily in the sky.
Her wings didn't vibrate, yet they still supported her floating.
The pure white castle reminded her of some things.
But with the passage of time, memories had blurred.
Long life is a natural gift to fairies, but occasionally it also becomes a trouble.
Slowly.
She turned over in the air, her hands and feet hanging limply on her petite body.
Her eyes darted around at the crowd in the snow like a salted fish.
Suddenly her eyes lit up; she discovered the little sweetheart in the snow!
"Heh."
She grinned and flew down slowly.
But as she flew, she suddenly realized something and raised her hand.
"Hiss—"
"Gotta prepare something."
So she pulled a piece from here and a piece from there directly in the air, kneading them into a ball in her palm.
Then she activated Transmutation!
A trace of light flashed.
A nearly transparent cube appeared in her hand.
"Add some color!"
"Add some patterns."
"Add some packaging."
"Done!"
So a piece of counterfeit chocolate was forcibly created by her!
After having the "gift," Lily flapped her wings and flew down slowly.
...
Pandora, having finished her work a day early, walked towards the snow after asking her Magic Guide Spirit to send all the chocolates back to the dormitory.
She didn't specifically search, but merely strolled in the snow.
The cold wind made her feel somewhat uncomfortable, and she couldn't help but tighten her scarf.
Her fluttering long hair became increasingly striking against the backdrop of the snow.
A faint pressure radiated out.
The surrounding people unknowingly scattered to the sides.
Unknowingly, Pandora had arrived by the lakeside.
She walked along the lake, and a snowball half the height of a person rolled all the way towards her.
She narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't move out of the way.
But that snowball suddenly stopped abruptly, and a bat-like familiar landed on the snowball, leaving plum blossom-shaped footprints on it.
"Crash."
The accumulated snow on the snowball suddenly scattered.
A pink, small dairy cow wearing a scarf unfolded its curled-up body, looking at the girl in front of it somewhat dizzily.
Pandora couldn't help but think of her own Young Wyvern, and that Chinchilla Grass kept in the dormitory.
She bent down slightly, wanting to reach out and stroke the top of the small dairy cow's head.
But [Miltank] suddenly shrank its head, rolled back around, turned a big corner, and rolled quickly towards the way it came.
[DemiDevimon] flew blindly after it, emitting a rampant laugh of "Hahaha."
As if chasing a prey fleeing in panic.
The cold wind blew, mixed with scattered snowflakes.
Pandora straightened up, brushing back a strand of hair hanging before her body.
She continued walking forward.
Following the trajectory of [Miltank]'s rolling.
...
Magic Guide Spirits possessing such spirituality were not many within St. Marian Academy.
What's more, she naturally recognized them.
Before long, the person she wanted to find appeared in her field of vision.
But she stopped at the edge.
Magic Guide Spirits playing in the snow one by one.
A lively girl mixed among the Magic Guide Spirits.
A blond boy and a girl sitting on the edge of the stone table talking.
The faint warmth surrounding them.
It was the atmosphere she had always envied.
Just like a complete family.
A private domain had been cut out in this snowy ground.
There was a feeling of being unable to intervene.
...
But she quickly revealed a smile again.
The cute junior actively waved to her.
That was an invitation.
So she took a step and intervened in that private domain.
...
"Senior, are you not on duty this afternoon?"
After waiting for Pandora to sit down, Dark handed over a cup of hot tea and asked.
Pandora took the teacup very naturally, then cupped it in her palms, greedily absorbing the heat within.
She opened her mouth and said, "Earlier today, Ms. Bella let me come to see the snow."
Ms. Bella was naturally acting out of kindness.
But actually, she really didn't have much affection for snow.
At the time of heavy snow, plants wither, and animals hibernate.
Almost no food can be found in the Exile Forest.
One could only go hungry.
...
Dark vaguely remembered that she didn't like snow, so he didn't say much.
He turned and said, "Aren't you going to let your familiar out?"
Pandora smiled, then took out her Sorting Card and summoned her familiar—that fat and chubby Young Wyvern.
The Young Wyvern, having been consecrated by the [Major Sin Card], pounced onto Dark's face as soon as it came out, obviously very fond of his scent.
Dark pulled it off his face with a hint of indulgence, then placed it on the table, facing Pandora.
Pandora reached out and tickled the Young Wyvern's chin, muttering, "Traitor."
Only then did she turn to look at Rose beside Dark and asked, "This is?"
Rose hurriedly said, "Hello Senior, I am Rose Flotly, a first-year student of the Noble House."
Pandora nodded; she naturally knew these two girls who always followed Dark, but at this moment she was just finding a topic.
Rose blinked, observing this senior she saw almost every day, and couldn't help asking, "Senior, they always say you receive piles of chocolates and flowers every Valentine's Day. Is that true?"
Pandora paused, then said immediately, "Pretty much."
Rose: "Then, what if it's a gift sent by someone you don't know, or someone you don't like?"
Pandora: "Reject it, of course."
Rose: "Then what if the other party quietly put it under your desk?"
Pandora couldn't help revealing a trace of a smile: "You received a gift, right? I was as troubled as you when I was a first-year. If someone gives a gift or confesses in person, just reject it bravely. Hesitating will instead give that person unrealistic fantasies. And if it's secretly placed in the drawer, throw it into the trash can."
Rose couldn't help covering her mouth: "Is that okay?"
Pandora said without hesitation, "You have to know, if someone who doesn't have much contact with you suddenly says he likes you one day, then there will inevitably be a day when he suddenly says the same words to another person. There is no need to have contact with this kind of person at all."
Rose suddenly realized: "So that's how it is."
Pandora: "Why is Valentine's Day divided into two parts? It is to remind people that emotional matters must be carefully considered. Because it's not something that can be made up for if wrong. We girls are on the losing side in this aspect, so we should be even more cautious."
Rose nodded vigorously, goodwill +1.
...
Dark sighed as he watched the two exchange experiences.
Senior Pandora was truly quick, ruthless, and accurate in dealing with the matter of Valentine's Day gifts.
Someone like him simply couldn't do something like throwing gifts into the trash can.
Euphemistically called "gentlemanly demeanor."
But in the end, it was "indecisiveness."
Not clean and neat enough when cutting ties.
But if he really did that, it would probably spread a not-so-good reputation.
Girls could be clean and neat in this regard, but boys couldn't.
...
Just as they were speaking.
The fluttering sound of wings suddenly came from above the three.
When they subconsciously looked up, Professor Lily suddenly broke out from her invisible state and flew to opposite Dark with a "biu".
The little fairy, who looked to be in the exact same age group as Dark, threw the freshly counterfeited "chocolate" into the snack pile with a giggle, then pretended nothing happened and said, "What, everyone playing here?"
Dark didn't pay much attention to that "chocolate" and said immediately, "One always has to experience the first snow of the transition from winter to spring."
Professor Lily rolled her eyes, observing the girls in this private domain, and suddenly said, "Did they all give you Valentine's Day chocolate?"
Dark was stunned upon hearing this; he hadn't expected Professor Lily to ask such a question.
But in this situation, telling the truth would suffice.
So he spoke directly: "We are just frien..."
But out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly glimpsed Rose silently taking out a square gift box from her schoolbag, and then imitating Professor Lily, she carefully placed the gift box into the snack pile.
So Dark's voice came to an abrupt halt.
Professor Lily's gaze immediately glanced toward Pandora.
Pandora smiled calmly, pulled a bar-shaped chocolate directly from her sleeve, and stuffed it into the snack pile as well.
Finally, both of their gazes glanced toward Diana, who was still rolling in the snow with the three cats.
Dark said awkwardly, "Sent, sent, Diana sent one."
"Boo-ee!"
[Little Eevee] seemed to sense a threat and suddenly unfolded from its ball form, lying prone on its master's chest with force, emphasizing its right of possession!
Dark subconsciously reached out and hugged it.
Professor Lily looked sideways at that [Little Eevee] and suddenly said, "Dark, I want to build the biggest snowman in St. Marian!"
"Are you Diana?"
This sentence, of course, could only be held in his stomach.
"Together?"
Dark asked.
Pandora cupped her hands around her mouth, blew a breath, and said, "Sure."
Rose nodded reservedly.
The four then stood up and found a piece of ground to start building a snowman.
...
Only at this time.
Did Mike Owen appear nearby.
He looked at the people around Dark Demon with a dull face and couldn't help rubbing his eyes.
A third-year girl beside him couldn't help furrowing her brows and scolded, "What's going on, Owen? This is the easy-to-bully first-year student you mentioned? Dark Demon? Look who is beside him? The fourth-year Pandora Dragon, and the little fairy professor who has lived for over a hundred years! If you can't even see this, I think you should go back to the furnace for reconstruction!"
"Cough!"
Owen gave a dry cough: "Don't be like this, Maggie. I was just following orders. Although Jeffrey acted a bit impulsively, he isn't actually stupid. He actually wanted to use this method to gradually establish the Noble History Research Society as the opposite of Dark Demon. Many people in our club are fence-sitters who sway with the wind; we always have to give them some spurring."
Maggie: "I said you are stupid!"
Owen: "..."
After a long while.
Owen stared into Maggie's eyes and said, "Maggie, you know, I'm not stupid either."
Maggie Gaskell, a third-year girl with golden-red medium-length hair.
Her facial features were quite exquisite, especially a pair of eyes, beautiful like rubies.
Under Owen's gaze, Maggie snorted coldly: "If you aren't stupid, how could you come up with such a terrible idea?"
Owen shrugged: "Indeed terrible. Jeffrey chose me to lose this face not because he wanted to give Dark Demon a display of power, but because he wanted to give me a display of power."
Maggie: "You knew yet you still did this?"
Owen: "I had no choice. How about this, you go over later, just put the chocolate on the table, say nothing, and leave directly. Leave the rest to me."
Maggie picked up a chocolate gift box and couldn't help growling low, "This is the chocolate I made for you!"
Owen: "Don't worry, after I finish losing face, I'll bring it back and eat it."
Maggie: "Get lost!"
Then she threw that chocolate fiercely onto Mike Owen's face, turned around, and walked away without looking back.
"Sigh."
Owen couldn't help inserting his hand into his curly hair and rubbing it vigorously.
Too difficult!
Why suffer like this on a perfectly good Valentine's Day?
He bent down, wanting to pick up the chocolate box that rolled to the ground, lamenting, "I wonder if the chocolate inside is broken."
But that chocolate box was picked up by someone first.
"Senior, your chocolate."
Virt Gold handed the chocolate box to Owen, unable to help thinking in his heart:
"So pitiful, he must have been rejected just like me, right?"
...
...
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