Following close behind the little rabbit... was also Lyudmila, who, with small mincing steps, gazed at Su Yuzu with an almost cautious look.
Perhaps it was because, the day before yesterday, Su Yuzu had told the little rabbit that she could pack a little extra luggage, since Su Yuzu would put everything away for the girl anyway.
And so the little rabbit had prepared a full three cases of luggage.
Aside from the one case the girl dragged along herself, the Saintess, lips lightly pressed together, was also helping the little rabbit—dragging one case and carrying another.
Su Yuzu raised her hand and, smiling, greeted the little rabbit and Lyudmila.
"Good morning~"
"Student Saotome Yukina, and... Student Lyudmila."
The little rabbit had already set down her luggage and trotted over, hugging one of Su Yuzu's arms.
She blinked her eyes in the direction of Ms. Unohana.
Actually, Saotome Yukina had anticipated that this academic exchange would involve others besides herself and Yuzu-senpai, but... the one thing she had never imagined was—
that the teacher taking part in the academic exchange would actually turn out to be Unohana Chiyo, the P.E. teacher whose classes were so often commandeered by other teachers because she was "frail."
Whether in terms of combat power or from the angle of academic subjects, it all seemed just a touch inconceivable.
Ms. Unohana's greatest advantage was perhaps that she was very familiar with Yuzu-senpai.
After all... after all...
Inside the little rabbit's heart, a pitiful Q-version chibi was biting down on a handkerchief.
After all, Ms. Unohana had once "lived together" with Yuzu for a stretch of time.
But the little rabbit probably didn't know that, during the days she stayed over at Unohana Chiyo's home, Su Yuzu hadn't even once made up a bed.
Every night, Su Yuzu would cling to Unohana Chiyo and sink into a sweet dream woven from peach-flavored cotton candy.
The little rabbit only knew... that this great advantage belonging to Unohana Chiyo was, for herself, a disadvantage.
Su Yuzu merely gently stroked the little rabbit's little head.
With her index finger and thumb, she caught the root of the ahoge atop the girl's head and gently rubbed it.
Watching that ahoge—which seemed alive... and possessed of a strange sensitivity—twist this way and that, until at last it submissively let her toy with it.
And along with it... the ahoge's owner seemed to turn obedient and docile as well.
Su Yuzu looked toward Lyudmila.
No words were needed; a mere smile was already enough to break that Lady Saintess.
The holy maiden greeted Su Yuzu with utmost reverence, her body bowing down, faintly revealing her lovely curves.
"Yuzu-senpai."
That respectful manner once again reminded Su Yuzu of the first time she and Lyudmila had met.
Only, the reverence of that time and the reverence of this moment... had completely evolved into two different flavors.
Although... both were equally charming.
Actually, compared to the little rabbit, Su Yuzu still preferred taking Lyudmila out on missions.
It absolutely wasn't because the little rabbit was merely a starter five-star Operator,
while Lyudmila was a noble six-star healer.
It wasn't that Su Yuzu wanted to put together some golden squad or whatever.
It was just that... the strong-luck effect brought about by the little rabbit's [Dragon King] Talent was, until the girl's Talent broke through once more, a rather delicate Buff.
Though she could grant Su Yuzu more spoils after battle,
and grant Su Yuzu more combat experience during battle,
it also meant... that it would cause the entire team to encounter more battles.
And what's more, every Operator besides the little rabbit might suffer more misfortune.
Just like... a certain Auspicious Sign named "Yukikaze."
Just like last time—
In Zero's assault, even someone as strong as Lyudmila was injured and sent to the hospital, and even disgraced herself by fainting clean away right in front of Su Yuzu.
But the little rabbit herself was none the worse for it.
There were actually plenty more examples like this.
A situation like this wouldn't change until the little rabbit's [Dragon King] broke through to its maximum; only then would the girl become a true, genuine lucky star.
And not an Auspicious Sign.
In the game, Su Yuzu of course wouldn't have cared about a side effect like running into more battles, but... in reality, Su Yuzu was still a little afraid of it.
What's more, the companions on this trip included not only herself but also Sakura Mai, and... Soga Yura.
On top of that, Lyudmila, being the "reincarnation" of Saint Michael, was surely stronger than the little rabbit in combat at crucial moments.
After all, she was a noble six-star healer.
And a battle-healer at that.
But—
When it came to the selection of personnel, Sakura Mai and Soga Yura hadn't had time to consult Su Yuzu and had already picked the little rabbit, and Su Yuzu couldn't bear to let the girl go home disappointed.
She took the girl's luggage from Lyudmila's hands.
Under Lyudmila's astonished gaze and the little rabbit's curious one, she stuffed all of the girl's luggage into the Material Inventory.
The luggage could be opened directly even while inside the Material Inventory.
Just like opening a supply crate in the game.
Whatever the little rabbit wanted to take out, she could just hand straight to her.
The Material Inventory had an unlimited number of slots; Su Yuzu had created a dedicated "tab" for each girl, specially for storing the girls' belongings and Favorability Gifts, so there was no worry of misplacing anything.
At the instant Su Yuzu's and Lyudmila's fingertips touched, Su Yuzu checked "confirm" on that rose-gold 「Intermediate Combat Records」.
The lip-pressing Saintess gave a stagger, and was then gently steadied by Su Yuzu's hand on her shoulder.
Completely different from her resistance every previous time.
This time... Lyudmila accepted the power of this Blessing with a heart full of joy.
In her heart she prayed to her own deity, inquiring... how the divine one felt.
By this point, Lyudmila already understood that Saint Michael felt exactly as she did, and also understood... that before Su Yuzu returned,
this would be the last Blessing she received.
She was moved to tears of gratitude toward her deity.
"Ah, that's right~"
"This is for Lyudmila." Su Yuzu fished an exquisite black Thorned Crown out of the Material Inventory.
That hair ornament woven from thorns symbolized suffering, and symbolized happiness as well.
Lyudmila was stunned for a moment.
That Thorned Crown had appeared in her memories.
In the 「Inquisition」.
Was it a replica?
But the instant her fingertips touched the Thorned Crown, the "deity" dwelling within the Saintess's heart confirmed it in a sobbing voice.
It was, without a doubt, the very Thorned Crown she had once worn.
Only... why would it appear in Su Yuzu's hands?
Just like the 「Godmother's Laurel」—just as that, too, was worn upon Su Yuzu's body—it left Saint Michael utterly baffled.
But... clearly today was not a good time to ask.
Lyudmila merely bit her lip and carefully put on the Thorned Crown.
The little rabbit was counting the gifts Su Yuzu had given Lyudmila—three of them! Three already!
Su Yuzu gave a wry smile at the sight of the little rabbit's cheeks about to puff up.
Could this really be blamed on her?
Although Lyudmila's Favorability Gifts looked a touch masochist, at least they were still presentable enough to hand over.
But... what about the little rabbit's Favorability Gifts?
Those—truly, not a single one was fit to be given.
The equally lewd Mihou Sakai at least had a bit of cookware and a cooking manual and such.
But the little rabbit...
If she so much as gave away a single one in private, the little rabbit would probably go and gift-wrap herself as a return present.
Su Yuzu could only put on a perfectly solemn, dead-serious air.
"We should get going."
____
________________________________________
🌸 Help Love Bloom!
Our girls need a little push... and you can help!
💖 Gift for Everyone: Once we hit 50 Powerstones, I'll release +1 bonus chapter to warm your hearts.
🚀 Community Reward: If we reach 20 supporting members, we'll have a +5 chapter marathon across all stories! The romance won't stop.
👻 Come to our secret corner: Search for GirlsLove on (P). You know that's where the magic happens... 😉