Tokyo's night sky.
A sky-blue swallow traced an azure trail across the heavens before alighting on the railing of a three-storey villa's balcony.
As the swallow landed, the cerulean flames dissipated, revealing Meer adjusting her wide military cap before nimbly jumping down from the railing.
Her AT rollers scraped against the balcony tiles with a spinning sound.
Accompanying this sound came Meer's cheerful greeting:
"Good evening~"
As Meer spoke, several round Haros came rolling out from inside the room onto the balcony.
A crisp electronic voice suddenly rang out.
"Haro~ Meer~ Haro~ Meer~"
"Good evening, Haro-kun." Meer bent down to pick up a pink Haro, then leaned forward and glided into the room propelled by her AT roller skates.
Inside the room, Lacus, in white pyjamas, set down her book and looked up at Meer sliding in, her expression showing slight resignation:
"You went to see him."
Meer spun around and flopped onto a long white sofa nearby, bouncing a few times:
"Well, since Verde-san considers him the best husband candidate~ How could I not go vet him for you?"
Hearing Meer's lively voice, Lacus placed the book on her lap. As she reopened it to read, she asked:
"So what was your verdict?"
At Lacus's question, Meer spread her arms wide as if embracing the ceiling:
"He's still just a fledgling~"
"No thoughts, no drive, like a leaf fallen into water drifting with the current."
"But somehow, if you blink, he might grow from that leaf into an enormous tree you can't ignore."
"Oh, and he seems to really hate people discovering his secrets. He's wary of everyone, like an anxious little bird."
"Mm, that last bit is just my personal impression, don't mind me."
Hearing Meer's assessment, Lacus seemed somewhat relieved:
"It sounds like you quite like him."
"Of course~" Meer answered cheerfully with a laugh. "Watching a clueless fledgling flap its wings in my arms and gradually take to the skies is my absolute favourite thing~"
Meer brought her outstretched arms back to hug herself, then pushed up from the sofa with a delighted smile:
"Slowly instilling our twisted thoughts into him, moulding him into our ideal shape... when you think about it, this husband-raising process really does make my heart race."
"Should we start thinking about how to eat him when he grows up~"
Lacus sighed helplessly and shook her head slightly. "There you go again with your strange remarks."
Holding a book, Lacus said calmly:
"Ensuring and protecting the peaceful continuation of humanity amidst increasingly dangerous Abyss Artefact incidents... Why does Meer see this as a twisted ideology?"
"Because it's thankless labour~"
Meer lay sprawled on the sofa, lazily complaining:
"No one will be grateful. Instead, they'll resent us for meddling. Even those we save will only briefly thank us before complaining we didn't arrive sooner."
"We're called crazy idealists by every faction."
"Most importantly, managing those Abyss Artefacts and special races costs a fortune!"
At the mention of money, Meer's delicate little face immediately fell:
"The latest internal financial report shows we're apparently in deficit again."
"Mr Verde has also requested additional research funding for solar furnaces and Demon God development. Not to mention the constant project proposals for Dying Will Flames equipment research."
Hearing this, even Lacus wore a grave expression.
Meanwhile, Meer propped herself up, leapt off the sofa, and glided towards the bed on roller skates with her hands behind her back:
"Should we contact the R&D department to commercialise some research findings for funding?"
"I'm already considering it." Lacus sighed before adding, "But it'll take time."
"Which research are you planning to release?" Meer flopped onto the bed face-first.
Soon, faint rustling sounds of clothes being removed reached Lacus's ears.
After some thought, Lacus replied:
"The virtual reality technology has progressed well. Commercial development could quickly secure us funds."
"Oh? So it seems I'll be able to buy VR games on the market soon."
Now under the covers, Meer clutched the white bedsheet, smiling at Lacus:
"Well then, your loyal stand-in Meer is going night-night~ Goodnight~"
Seeing Meer already in her pyjamas, Lacus sighed helplessly: "Taking over my bed again?"
Meer stacked two pillows together while teasing:
"If you don't mind, you could join me, Lacus. Getting used to sharing a bed now would make Luo Shu-kun very happy when he joins us later, wouldn't it?"
Hearing such risqué remarks, even the normally composed Lacus flushed slightly:
"Did you tell Luo Shu something you shouldn't have?"
Giggling in bed, Meer said:
"If you mean the secret about how, as long as either your stand-in, me, or the Chairwoman, you, survives, the other is guaranteed safety - I definitely didn't mention that~ It's a secret after all~"
However, Lacus showed no trust in Meer's words, simply watching her calmly:
"So you gave a roundabout explanation then? Or perhaps something even more ambiguous?"
Noticing Lacus's irritation, Meer immediately shrank back:
"I just kindly reminded dear Luo Shu-kun that if he marries you, I'll come along as part of the dowry."
"And what else?" Lacus asked in a firm tone. "Knowing your personality, this should be bait to manipulate Luo Shu into acting according to your plans, right?"
Seeing this, Meer pouted and said, "I can't hide anything from you, can I?"
She muttered under her breath before clasping her hands behind her head and giving up entirely:
"Fine, I'll confess. There's been a new type of Ghoul causing quite a stir recently, right? I dumped the United Nations' species hazard level assessment work on Luo Shu to handle~"
"It's a reasonable test from his senior~"
Hearing Meer's words, Lacus frowned slightly and shot her a sidelong glance.
Based on her understanding of Meer, whenever she gave someone a test, she would also hint at generous rewards to motivate them to take it seriously.
And given Meer's personality, if the person in question was Luo Shu—whom she considered a potential husband—the reward would most likely involve certain... suggestive implications.
At this thought, Lacus couldn't help but chide, "Meer, your body isn't a weapon."
"That's such a harsh way to put it," Meer retorted, burying her entire head under the blanket, making her voice sound muffled. "You make it sound like I'm being frivolous, when I'm actually doing what you should be doing."
Lacus was momentarily speechless at this remark.
Meer then peeked out slightly from under the blanket, squinting at Lacus as she said:
"My dear Chairwoman, you really don't understand men, especially inexperienced ones like Luo Shu."
At this, Meer flashed a knowing smile:
"The best way to handle a man who lacks security but has an overly strong sense of responsibility is to give yourself to him completely~"
"If you do that, no matter what mischief you get up to, as long as you don't cross his moral boundaries, his tolerance for you will be limitless~"
Then, she playfully winked at Lacus:
"Besides, leaving the mind to you and the body to me—isn't that a double insurance?"
Lacus pinched the bridge of her nose in exasperation upon hearing this.
"I'll find an opportunity to inform Luo Shu about your remarks."
Meer knew her too well. When unable to persuade her, Lacus had no choice but to introduce a new variable.
Hearing this, Meer was stunned.
She stared blankly at Lacus for a long moment before finally mumbling:
"No wonder I've always been the stand-in. I admit defeat when it comes to pleasing Luo Shu."
"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping? Then go rest properly," Lacus chided, giving Meer a reproachful look.
"Yeees~~" Meer replied weakly.
Seeing this, Lacus shook her head, stood up, and walked toward the window.
Soon after, the floor-to-ceiling window closed, and the chandelier in the room dimmed.
"Goodnight, Meer."
"Goodnight, Lacas~"