A Few Minutes Ago
Master Control Zone
Himeko sat elegantly on a long bench, gracefully holding a cup of coffee.
A magazine rested on her lap, and her head was tilted slightly to the side, her phone held between her shoulder and cheek.
"Understood. I'll send someone over."
The screen went dark.
Himeko's gaze slowly shifted to March 7th and Dan Heng, who stood before her.
"There's a small task at hand," she said calmly. "Which of you would like to take it?"
"What kind of task?" Dan Heng asked, arms crossed and face expressionless.
"Bai Ming and Asta are trapped in a place called the Analysis Room," Himeko explained. "They need someone from our side to go help."
"Us?" Dan Heng frowned slightly. "Wouldn't it be better for the Space Station's personnel to handle something like that?"
"They've already been contacted," Himeko said with a small smile. "Arlan will be going along as well."
"I see. Then I'll—"
Before Dan Heng could finish, March 7th set down her coffee, raised her hand, and shouted excitedly:
"I'll do it!"
"The place is called the Analysis Room, right?"
"Yes," Himeko nodded. "That's the one."
"Then I'm off! See you later!"
Without another word, March 7th turned and dashed away.
Watching her departing figure, Dan Heng glanced at the untouched coffee she'd left behind and muttered,
"She didn't take a single sip..."
"Indeed."
Himeko took a leisurely sip of her own coffee.
"But it's not necessarily a bad thing."
"Saving the time spent drinking coffee lets her do other things she wants to do, don't you think?"
"Is that so?" Dan Heng didn't reply further.
Elsewhere
March 7th raced through the corridors of the Space Station.
She wasn't entirely sure why she felt such urgency—but she had a strong feeling that if she didn't hurry, something terrible would happen.
No—it might already be happening!
She had to move faster!
However— When March 7th finally arrived at the Analysis Room, she realized a problem:
She had no idea how to fix the door.
Staring at the tightly shut entrance, she panicked.
How could she get it open?
She racked her brain—and then a scene flashed through her mind.
That's it!
Kick it open!
Just like Bai Ming did!
Although she didn't have Bai Ming's terrifying strength, kicking it a few more times should work just as well, right?!
Completely unaware that her thought process was starting to resemble Bai Ming's, March 7th took several steps back to gain enough distance for a running start.
"Hiii-ya! This lady is coming through!"
With a shout, March 7th charged toward the door.
Jump—!
Flying kick—!
Take this!
But then—something unexpected happened.
Just as she was about to land the kick, the control panel beside the door suddenly flickered to life, glowing orange.
It was a sign of successful activation.
Clearly, the door hadn't been broken at all—it had just malfunctioned temporarily.
If someone had kicked it from the inside, the result would've been the same!
But for March 7th, these details were irrelevant now.
Because she had already jumped—and there was no stopping midair.
Whirr.
Sensing her approach, the previously sealed Analysis Room doors slid open automatically.
"Eeeeeeek—!!!"
March 7th flew through the doorway and landed flat on the floor with a thud.
"Oww..."
Clutching her head, she slowly pushed herself up.
Her head hurt—but she couldn't help feeling a little proud.
After all, she'd made it in!
However, that sense of triumph lasted less than two minutes before being replaced by a mix of emotions—regret? sadness? disbelief?
March 7th couldn't even tell.
Because her gaze was already fixed on one thing.
Bai Ming's hand.
It was—on Asta's chest!
In a secluded place where no one would normally come...
Doing that kind of thing... secretly...
Was this the real reason the two of them had come out here?!
Seeing March 7th enter, Bai Ming was at first overjoyed.
She was just about to greet her—until she noticed March's expression.
Meanwhile, Asta hadn't forgotten that Bai Ming's hand was still on her chest.
This—this—this!
Wasn't this bound to make March misunderstand everything?!
Just as Asta was about to explain—
Another figure appeared in the doorway.
It was Arlan.
Logically speaking, with injuries to both his hand and foot—even bandaged—he shouldn't have been assigned to this kind of task.
But the moment he heard that Asta was trapped, Arlan had insisted on going.
After all, she was his benefactor.
Forget fixing doors—he'd risk his life if necessary.
However, despite his determination, his injuries slowed him down.
March 7th had run far too fast, and it took him quite a while to reach the Analysis Room.
But... wasn't the door already open?
Was there even a need for him to come anymore?
Harboring that thought, Arlan stepped inside.
And the moment he did, a chill ran down his spine.
That feeling again—
The feeling that his presence was completely unnecessary.
March 7th stood frozen, staring blankly at the scene before her.
And at the center of her gaze—
Asta, with Bai Ming's hand on her chest.
Arlan's mind went blank.
Wait!
Hold on!
Wasn't Bai Ming all over March before?
Why had it changed to Asta now?!
Various thoughts spun through his head until, after a long pause, he finally managed to speak.
"Miss."
The single word broke the frozen silence, and time began to move again.
Asta quickly took a few steps back, putting distance between herself and Bai Ming.
"Um, March 7th, let me explain," she stammered. "It's not what you think!"
"..."
March 7th was silent for a moment.
Then she lifted her head, put her hands on her hips, and smiled brightly.
"Why do you need to explain to me? What you do is none of my business, right?"
"Anyway, we should head back now. Himeko's still waiting for us!"
"Okay, okay!" Bai Ming said hurriedly, stepping toward her—
but March 7th stopped her with an outstretched hand.
"Don't touch me."
Turning away, she walked out of the room without another word.
She left Bai Ming standing there, speechless.
Watching this, Arlan quietly moved closer to Asta and whispered,
"Miss... did I come at a bad time?"
"...I... I don't know either..." Asta muttered, scratching her cheek awkwardly.
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A/n: While I am a new translator, I have a Patreon! While it may be a bit empty right now both this and the other book on my page has advanced chapters posted on patreon.
patreon.com/deadlygoober