Halftime

“Still awake, Analyst Reine?”

Nakatsugawa, the Dimensional Analyst, handed Reine a cup of black tea. He took a fortifying sip from his own coffee before returning to his post.

“If Kotori hasn’t mistaken her identity, then this substitute teacher is likely the Dancer,” Reine began, her voice trailing off.

Her gaze was fixed on the data displayed on the screen, her words abruptly halting.

“All the data, from her birth until now, seems perfectly normal,” she continued. “If she truly is the Dancer, then she’s a completely different type from Tohka.”

Senbon, the President, also brewed himself a cup of coffee. He then pointed out the most vexing issue they currently faced.

Tohka, being a Spirit, possessed virtually no understanding of everyday life. She was, in essence, a complete novice.

In stark contrast to this highly suspicious teacher, Tohka seemed like a newborn child, utterly clueless about everything beyond combat.

One was utterly naive and inexperienced, while the other’s records indicated at least twenty-three years of integration into society. If subduing Tohka was the tutorial level, then this new target felt like the final boss of the game.

“I believe we shouldn’t attempt to make contact with this Spirit,” Kawagoe stated, his voice reflecting his growing weariness. “Her records show she’s been living within society; in other words…”

“Indeed,” Nakatsugawa agreed, taking another sip of coffee to ward off impending sleep. “Shido, at present, can barely defeat the weakest goblin. This opponent, at the very least, is a fearsome dragon. A rash approach could lead to disastrous consequences.”

“However, if we attempt to subdue other Spirits first,” Reine countered, “the Dancer’s abilities would likely make her aware of our actions. If this deepens her suspicion and vigilance towards Shido, subduing her later will become exceedingly difficult.”

“On the other hand,” Senbon mused, “what if this approach actually increases her affection for Shido?”

“It’s not impossible,” Reine conceded, “but…”

The discussion stalled. Unable to formulate a definitive course of action, they could only compile all possibilities and data, awaiting Kotori’s arrival to make a final decision.

Before they knew it, the only sound left on the Fraxinus bridge was the soft click of keyboards.

Yina continuously added strange ingredients to a bucket of water. Some resembled medicinal herbs, others flowers, and there was even tree bark among them.

“Yina, how much longer? I’m boiling hot!” Yisha complained, submerged in the water.

Yisha’s pretty face was flushed crimson from the high water temperature, a beautiful sight, like a lotus emerging from the water.

Yet, these delicate images hardly suited Yisha.

“Who told you to summon Zadkiel and use it in battle, without even doing any emergency treatment?” Yina retorted, her hands still busy.

Despite her displeasure, Yina’s hands never paused. She ground the plants and poured them directly into the water without a second glance.

“I had no choice!” Yisha puffed out her cheeks. “I can’t exactly use a bow in close combat, can I? And my opponent knew the Eight Extremities Heaven style!”

The young woman vehemently rebutted Yina, seemingly desperate to prove she wasn’t at fault.

“Then why didn’t you just run?” Yina challenged. “Was turning the tables so amusing?”

Yina cupped Yisha’s face, forcing her to meet her gaze. After a moment, Yisha, who had been so self-assured, averted her eyes.

“I was doing it for Princess, wasn’t I?” Yisha mumbled. “Who knew he’d hit so hard?”

“Please, look at me when you speak.”

Evidently, Yina wasn’t convinced by Yisha’s excuses. After another moment, Yisha finally succumbed to the humiliating scrutiny, giving up entirely.

“Alright, I’ll tell you!” Yisha burst out. “I just couldn’t stand him, always blaming me for everything, acting as if they were so noble! I just wanted to beat him up!”

“So you risked your entire body’s injuries potentially relapsing, just to inflict severe wounds on him?” Yina’s voice was laced with anger.

Yisha detected the fury in Yina’s voice. She dared not refute her, nor could she, for Yina spoke the truth.

“How many times have I told you?” Yina demanded. “Don’t push yourself so hard in battle! Why won’t you ever listen?”

Yina gripped Yisha’s arm, her frustration palpable, like trying to temper steel that refused to harden.

“Your old injuries were only seventy percent healed until now!” Yina continued, her voice rising. “You had your fun fighting, but do you even realize how much your wounds have relapsed?”

Yisha submerged her mouth in the water, unable to face Yina, and simply blew bubbles.

Seeing Yisha’s childish evasion, Yina decided against saying anything further. She simply returned to concocting her remedies, hoping to suppress Yisha’s injuries as soon as possible.

Silence descended between them. One soaked in the water, gazing at the sky and blowing bubbles, while the other moved back and forth between the house and the yard, plucking and grinding the necessary ingredients.

It seemed peculiar, yet utterly harmonious.

“Yina,” Yisha asked suddenly, “do you think we can deal with that guy?”

“I don’t know,” Yina replied without turning around. “But he’s certainly a threat.”

“Tell me,” Yisha began, her voice tinged with wistfulness, “how wonderful would it be if we could just live like this forever? Bringing gifts to visit them, you running your shop, me teaching my students, and occasionally having picnics and outings together…”

The young woman’s voice, initially clear, gradually deepened, as if even she knew such a dream was impossible.

Yina offered no reply. Yisha only heard the grinding sounds grow louder.

“Once you’re done soaking, let’s go for a walk,” Yina eventually said.

The young woman nodded, continuing to add ingredients according to the proportions in her book.

A faint smile touched Yisha’s lips.

They continued in their comfortable silence, though now Yisha rested her chin on the edge of the wooden tub, watching Yina.

“Mmm!”

With a single bite, the soft, fragrant kinako bread exploded with flavor in her mouth, causing Yisha to close her eyes in pure enjoyment.

“Slow down, there’s no rush,” Yina gently advised.

Yina opened a cabinet and retrieved the ingredients she had prepared the day before.

She washed, chopped, scrubbed the pan, and heated it. Then, she added seasonings and food in sequence, stir-frying them before plating the dish.

“Yina, you’ll definitely make a wonderful wife someday,” Yisha remarked, a smile playing on her lips.

Yisha watched Yina, clad in an apron, move with effortless grace, and smiled as she spoke.

“If you’re so idle, then carry the dishes to the table,” Yina said, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

Yina was slightly speechless. It wasn’t that Yisha couldn’t cook, but for some peculiar reason, her dishes always possessed an indescribable flavor. Thus, Yina usually prepared their meals.

“Yes, Your Royal Highness,” Yisha playfully replied.

The young woman made a comical butler’s bow, then carried the freshly cooked dishes one by one to the table outside.

Their current location was a bakery named “Xin Yue,” owned by Yina.

Considering their ingredients at home had run out and Yisha urgently needed nourishment, Yina had simply brought her here. Yisha would eat bread to stave off hunger while Yina went to buy groceries.

Fortunately, it was only six in the morning, and the market had just opened, allowing Yina to purchase fresh produce.

Yet…

‘Just how hungry is she?’

Recalling Yisha grabbing five or six loaves of bread and devouring them immediately, Yina worried she might have cooked too much.

However, as she emerged with the final plate, Yina realized her error.

Yisha was already brimming with impatience, her eyes sparkling, as if she had been waiting solely for Yina to join her so they could finally begin eating.

‘It seems the bread earlier was truly just to tide her over.’

Shaking her head, Yina placed the plate on the table. Once she was seated, the two individuals, who had been awake all night, began their second day’s breakfast.

Shido frantically chased the girl ahead of him, but his stamina failed him. He could only watch helplessly as she pulled further and further away, until she finally stopped at a particular spot.

“Shido, what’s that? It looks so delicious!”

Tohka, the girl with night-dark hair and eyes like amethyst, pointed at the items behind the glass, her voice loud with curiosity.

“Haah… haah… haah…” Shido panted, struggling for breath. “Those are… kinako… bread.”

The breathless Shido answered the girl’s question in broken phrases.