The sharp sound of gunfire echoed in the training room.
Aleph took a deep breath and pulled the trigger.
BANG!
The bullet hit the target, though not in the center.
Arlan, watching from the side with his arms crossed, nodded slightly.
"You've improved."
Aleph sighed and lowered Ebony & Ivory.
"Yeah, but I'm still not good at this."
Arlan shrugged.
"Well, at least now you could actually hit someone if you really tried."
Aleph frowned at him.
"Great motivation."
[Master, considering your previous performance, hitting 13 out of 32 attempts is still… acceptable. Though you're still missing like a Stormtrooper with bad aim.]
Aleph narrowed his eyes.
"Burroughs."
[Yes?]
"Stop talking."
Arlan held back a smile, though the amusement in his eyes was obvious.
"In any case, you've improved a lot in just one day. If you keep practicing, maybe one day you'll manage to not miss half your shots."
Aleph holstered his pistols with a huff.
"I don't know if I'll live long enough for that."
Arlan smirked slightly and patted him on the shoulder.
"If you ever need more training, you know where to find me."
Aleph nodded and stretched, feeling the tension in his shoulders after training.
"Well, I guess it's time to see what everyone else is up to."
Without wasting more time, he left the training room.
Today was going to be another interesting day.
********
After leaving the training room, Aleph headed to the common area of the space station.
It didn't take long to find Dan Heng and March 7th, who were sitting at one of the tables near the massive windows that displayed the vastness of space.
March 7th greeted him enthusiastically, waving her hand.
"Look who's here! How'd training go?"
Aleph dropped into a chair with a sigh.
"Better than yesterday, but I still suck."
Dan Heng nodded calmly, not looking surprised at all…
Why was March 7th grumbling while handing over credits?
"That's progress."
March 7th smiled.
"So, if we keep up this rate of improvement, in a few weeks, you'll be a decent shooter."
Aleph rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, in a few weeks."
Honestly, he thought it would take even longer.
Maybe it was just in his genes? Italian-American, you know.
Just as he thought the conversation would continue, a noise in the hallway caught his attention.
Hurried footsteps.
Raised voices.
And then…
"The day of the canine revolution is near!"
Aleph blinked.
From the side hallway, Stelle came running at full speed with Peppy in her arms.
The puppy barked excitedly as Stelle, with her usual expressionless face, ran with the same energy she had when she once stole Jonathan.
Behind her, Asta and Arlan chased after her, visibly frustrated.
"Stelle, give me back Peppy!" Asta yelled, holding a leash and a frisbee.
"Stelle, damn it, let him go now!" Arlan demanded.
Aleph watched the scene, then looked at Dan Heng.
Dan Heng simply sipped his tea, completely calm.
Aleph turned to March 7th.
She was covering her mouth, trying to stifle her laughter.
…Was this a common occurrence? He noticed that the other people only glanced for a moment before going back to whatever they were doing like it was nothing.
Aleph exhaled, closing his eyes for a second before opening them again.
"…Why do I feel like I'll regret asking what's going on?"
And why didn't Stelle take me with her to have fun?
March 7th shrugged.
"Just accept it. Peppy has been 'liberated.'"
"Stelle is like that. She once said something about declaring the independence of pants."
Aleph rested his chin on his hand, watching as Stelle disappeared down another hallway with Peppy in her arms, followed by her two pursuers.
Asta yelled something about putting Stelle on a watchlist.
Arlan swore vengeance and said she'd be banned from eating desserts for the rest of her stay.
And Peppy… just seemed to enjoy the ride.
Aleph let out a deep sigh.
"This place is a madhouse."
[And that's why you love it, right, Master?]
"…I'd be lying if I said no."
********
After the chaos caused by Stelle and Peppy, the space station returned to its relative "peace."
Aleph, Dan Heng, and March 7th continued chatting until they eventually decided to go their separate ways.
As Aleph walked through the hallways, he took the moment to talk to Burroughs about some ideas he'd been considering.
"Burroughs, tell me something."
[Yes, Master?]
"In the Simulated Universe, what skill combinations that I haven't tried yet do you think I should test this time?"
[Hmm, your arsenal is still somewhat limited. The synergy between ice and electricity has already given you good results, but I think there's still room for improvement.]
Aleph crossed his arms and nodded.
"Bufula and Zio work well together, but I feel like there could be more options. Any suggestions? Maybe I could even equip the Demonica and test its enhancements."
Burroughs projected an interface in front of him, displaying a list of possibilities.
[Some options to consider:]
Bufula + Illusionist: Using illusions to disorient enemies could be an effective combat tactic while freezing their limbs to restrict movement.
Zio + Lord of the Flies' Swarm: Electrifying the demon flies could turn them into auto-guided projectiles.
Ebony & Ivory + Stellaron Energy: Enhancing the bullets with pure energy could significantly boost their destructive power. They might not cause status effects anymore, but in exchange, they'd deal more damage than regular and elemental bullets.
Stellar Ace + Illusionist: Creating illusions while using his strongest attack could confuse the enemy and make it more effective.
Aleph touched his chin, evaluating the options.
"The ice and illusion combo could be useful in long fights. And electrifying the flies… well, it sounds disgusting, but it might work."
[Exactly. You should keep testing combinations in the Simulated Universe to find the best synergy for your combat style.]
Aleph let out a huff.
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, Stelle and I were planning to come back later. We'll see how it goes."
He shoved his hands into his pockets and kept walking.
*******
Aleph and Stelle's return to Herta's office was just as straightforward as the first time.
Herta, looking bored as ever, let them enter the Simulated Universe without much fuss.
"You know how it works. Don't die, etc."
Aleph rolled his eyes.
"Such motivation. Boss, you're incredible."
As soon as the simulation activated, they once again found themselves in the cold, desolate landscape of digitized Belobog.
Stelle checked her equipment while Aleph looked around.
"Are we doing the same thing as yesterday?" Aleph asked, adjusting his newly crafted bat on his shoulder.
"Not exactly." Stelle approached a floating device and activated an interface. "Today, we're trying something different."
Aleph narrowed his eyes as he watched the interface.
"What's this?"
"The NPCs of the Simulated Universe."
Aleph raised an eyebrow.
Without changing her expression, Stelle explained.
"Herta digitized data on people we know to create virtual versions of them so they can be our allies here. Basically, companion bots."
Aleph watched as two figures began to materialize in front of them.
One was a young man with dark hair and a calm gaze, holding a spear.
The other was a pink-haired girl with a big smile, holding a camera.
Aleph blinked.
"… Dan Heng and March 7th."
The digital versions of their friends activated, their eyes glowing briefly before stabilizing.
Virtual Dan Heng nodded seriously.
"Ready for exploration."
Virtual March 7th grinned.
"Leave it to me!"
Aleph looked at them with a mix of curiosity and unease.
"… I don't know if this is cool or creepy." He commented as he poked Virtual Dan Heng's face with his bat.
Dan Heng quickly smacked his head with a hand.
"…Yeah, just like Dan Heng." Aleph muttered while rubbing his head.
Stelle spun her bat.
"Just use them as allies and stop overthinking it."
Aleph smirked.
"Alright, alright. Let's go."
With their team complete, they began moving forward through the simulation.
As they explored, they encountered more enemies, but thanks to the improved coordination with the digital NPCs, fights were quicker than before.
However, after a while, Aleph felt something strange.
It was the same sensation as last time.
That uncomfortable feeling that someone—or something—was there.
His body tensed instinctively.
Burroughs picked up on his reaction immediately.
[Master, is something wrong?]
Aleph looked around.
There was no one else but his group.
But the feeling wouldn't go away.
"No, it's nothing… just my imagination, right?" he muttered to himself, ignoring Stelle's questioning glance.
...
Aleph stopped in the middle of the path.
His group moved a little further ahead, not noticing his sudden pause.
The feeling of being watched wouldn't fade.
In fact, it was getting stronger.
[Master, your heart rate is increasing.]
Burroughs sounded more alert than usual.
Aleph frowned, slowly turning his head in different directions.
There was nothing.
Nothing in his immediate surroundings.
But he could feel it.
Something was there.
He tightened his grip on his bat, a small electric spark running along it.
"Stelle."
His companion turned calmly, noticing his change in stance.
"What's wrong?"
Aleph hesitated for a moment.
If he said he felt something strange, but had no proof...
Yeah, that would be pretty embarrassing.
He reconsidered.
"I'm going to explore a bit on my own."
Stelle gave him a slightly curious look.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah." Aleph grinned. "If there's trouble, I'll let you know. What could go wrong?"
Stelle simply nodded. There really wasn't a problem with it—after all, there was no real danger in the Simulated Universe, and even if they got separated, they would eventually meet up at the boss room.
"Alright. But if you find anything weird, say so."
"I will."
And with that, Aleph walked away from the group.
******
The silence in the simulation grew heavier as he moved alone.
The virtual alleyways of Belobog felt darker.
The cold in the air was much heavier than before.
Something was definitely wrong.
Maybe he had found a secret boss or something?
Should he go back and get Stelle to face it together?
Aleph took a deep breath and set those thoughts aside—maybe it wasn't anything important.
"Burroughs, are you detecting anything?"
Had he run into a glitch or something similar? He could never rule out that possibility.
[...No anomalous signals detected in the simulation.]
"That's not helpful."
The echo of his own footsteps sounded too clear.
Time seemed to stretch.
The textures of the area started fading, leaving behind a space of pure blackness that appeared endless.
Each second felt heavier than usual as he continued forward.
And then...
Laughter.
Not human.
Not mechanical.
Aleph froze in place.
The laughter came from everywhere—ahead, above, behind, below.
Enveloping, as if it came from every possible direction.
Light, mocking, fluctuating.
A chorus of laughter—children and adults, men and women, elderly voices—all resonating as one.
As if something found this entire situation incredibly amusing.
Aleph grit his teeth before forcing out a few words.
Was this one of the "events" Herta and Stelle had mentioned?
"Who's there?"
[Master, I believe you should run immediately. Please, do so while you still have the chance!]
There was no immediate response to his question.
Just more laughter.
Then, a voice echoed through the darkness.
[...It's too late... far too late... It's already here... Please, Master... Persist.]
Burroughs' voice distorted until it became completely silent. Aleph saw the light on his gauntlet flicker out as a faint wisp of smoke escaped from it.
It looked like it had overloaded.
"Well, well, what do we have here? A little lost one... Huh? But what is this?"
A shiver ran down Aleph's spine.
The voice was unlike anything he could describe.
It didn't sound human, but it didn't sound inhuman either.
It was something that defied all logic.
Just hearing it made his mind overload with bizarre and chaotic thoughts.
"Why do you bear all those marks upon your being?"
The shadow of a figure projected itself into the space before him.
Enormous—comparable in size to that figure he had seen when fighting Cocolia—but with a completely different presence.
Distorted.
A shadowy silhouette, covered almost entirely by masks, confetti, balloons, and all sorts of party decorations.
Aleph's eyes narrowed as he clenched his teeth and averted his gaze.
He could feel that if he kept looking at that thing, his mind would continue branching off in increasingly chaotic directions.
He barely managed to force out a few words.
"...Who are you?"
A murmur of amusement floated in the air.
"Ah… what a boring question."
The shadow moved slightly, as if floating.
The expressions on the masks twisted into massive grins.
"It's quite rude to ask questions before introducing yourself. How impolite~. But no matter—I can forgive you, as long as you answer a couple of questions for me."
Aleph felt his pulse quicken.
The weight of the presence before him...
It wasn't normal.
It didn't feel like it was part of the simulation.
It wasn't something that should be here.
Then, its voice grew more cheerful.
"But, since you asked… you may call me Aha."
Aleph felt his breath catch for an instant.
Aha.
The Aeon of Exultation.
The very one Zero had warned him to be wary of.
Before he could react, the shadow stretched.
The masks and party decorations drew closer.
Aleph felt his body freeze. His hand trembled slightly over his bat.
His mind screamed at him to run, but his legs refused to move.
And then...
And then Aha's voice whispered in his ear, laced with a twisted laughter.
"Mmm~ Aleph, right? I was so kind to introduce myself, so could you tell me why, despite following the Path of IX, I can sense the marks of Nanook, Tayzzyronth, and even myself within you? Why do you feel like an Emanator despite lacking the corresponding strength? How delightful—it's been a while since I've seen such an exciting riddle! Isn't it just incredible?"
Aleph felt his vision begin to distort again, his thoughts once more spiraling toward dangerous directions…
Dangerous for himself.
And for everyone else.
"Oh, oh, how thrilling! A walking puzzle, a living enigma. Oh! Should I shake you a little and see if any more answers fall out? No, no, even better… What if I open you up and search for them inside?~"
********************************************************************
Omake: Mei, the Unbeatable – Part 2
Act 1: The Empress Returns to Battle
Throughout human history, there have been emperors, conquerors, and legendary strategists…
But none as determined as Mei Raiden when it comes to conquering Kiana and Aleph.
After her absolute failure, Mei secluded herself in her laboratory (room), reflecting on her past mistakes.
"I can't keep losing to cruel fate."
"I can't give up here."
"I have to be smarter..."
And so, after weeks of planning, Mei finally emerged with a new strategy.
A strategy that would guarantee her victory.
This time, she wouldn't make any mistakes.
...Or at least, that's what she thought.
*******
Phase 1: "Operation Seduction"
Mei decided that instead of forcing a date with Kiana and Aleph, she needed to make them want to be with her.
How?
By appearing spontaneously in their daily lives, in such a charming and irresistible way that they simply couldn't resist.
Objective:
Make Kiana and Aleph seek her out instead of her chasing them.
Ideal scenario:
"Hey, Aleph, lately Mei looks even more amazing than usual. Don't you think?"
"Yeah… it's like something about her is mysteriously drawing us in. My heart won't stop racing when she's near."
"Maybe… maybe we're starting to fall for her."
"Perhaps we are. Should we invite her out? Maybe even start planning a secret wedding for the three of us?"
Mei watching from the shadows with a satisfied smile.
"Everything is going according to plan."
"Now, I just have to make it a reality…" she murmured, her eyes shining with determination.
...
Mei's plan began with carefully calculated situations to make Kiana and Aleph notice her "casually."
Mei made sure to prepare both of their favorite dishes.
Kiana and Aleph sat down to eat together.
"Wow, Mei, this food is amazing!"
"Yeah, this tastes like something a mom would make."
Mei smiled in satisfaction. Yes, the foundation had been successfully laid.
Stomach conquest: complete.
...….
Mei expected the rain to trap them together under the same roof.
Her idea was quite simple.
"The cold atmosphere will make them seek warmth in me."
But reality is never like fantasy—things don't always go as one wishes.
Kiana started jumping in puddles like a child.
Aleph pulled out his phone and started playing an RPG while waiting for the rain to stop.
Mei was shivering from the cold, hoping that at least Aleph would lend her his jacket.
Instead, Aleph gave it to Kiana.
"Thanks, Al, you're the best."
Mei clenched her teeth as she muttered.
"This… is not… going as planned…"
Why did these two idiot siblings seem to have more chemistry with each other than with her?
...….
Mei thought a "strategic fall" would work to make Aleph or Kiana catch her in a perfect romantic moment.
Mei tripped…
Aleph instinctively stepped aside.
Mei fell face-first to the ground.
Kiana helped her up.
"Wow, Mei, that fall was amazing! Did you do it on purpose?"
Mei collapsed onto the floor, staring at the sky in despair.
"Why does everything go wrong for me?"
But then…
She discovered something.
Something terrifying.
While on the ground, she saw Aleph talking to Himeko.
She saw him blush slightly in her presence.
…
Later that same day.
She saw the same thing when he talked to Fu Hua.
At that moment…
Mei understood the truth.
Aleph, that damn idiot, had hidden fetishes.
And she didn't fit any of them.
Her body went completely rigid as realization hit her like a professional boxer landing a knockout punch.
"…That idiot… prefers redheads and older women?!"
Then, a dark aura emerged around Mei.
An aura of pure frustration and jealousy.
What's next? Kiana being a brocon or a lolicon?
Her next phase of plans was about to begin.
But now, she was no longer playing around.
...….
Act 2: The Revenge of the Empress of Thunder
Mei was no longer playing around.
If subtlety and seduction didn't work…
If her gentleness and natural charm were useless…
If Aleph was a damn fool with a very specific taste…
Then she would ruin his chances with any other woman!
...
Phase 2: "If I Can't Have Him, No One Can"
Mei now had two objectives:
1. Prevent Aleph from getting too close to Fu Hua or Himeko.
2. Make Kiana and Aleph realize how attractive she was.
And so, she began her plan… with less subtle tactics.
...
Aleph had agreed to meet Fu Hua at the library to study.
Nothing suspicious.
Just a quiet moment between two friends.
But Mei wasn't going to allow it.
So she did what any reasonable person would do.
She sabotaged the date.
Just as Aleph was about to sit next to Fu Hua, Mei appeared out of nowhere and took the seat before he could.
Aleph looked at her in confusion.
"Mei? What are you doing here?"
Mei smiled innocently.
"Oh, nothing. I just thought it would be nice to keep you company."
Fu Hua blinked in confusion.
"But Aleph and I were going to—"
Mei slid a book in front of Fu Hua.
"Shh. Let's not talk about boring things. Did you know that Aleph is terrible at math?"
Fu Hua raised an eyebrow.
"Is he?"
Mei nodded solemnly.
"Awful. Once, Bronya jokingly told him he couldn't divide by zero. He tried anyway and almost had a brain explosion. Even Kiana got worried when she saw him lying on the floor, motionless, with smoke coming out of his ears."
Aleph frowned.
"That was an accident!"
Fu Hua let out a small laugh.
Aleph blushed slightly as he looked at her.
Mei clenched her teeth.
No, no, no.
Don't let her laugh enchant you, Aleph!
Mei decided to take her sabotage to the next level.
Just as Aleph was about to ask Fu Hua something, Mei "accidentally" dropped her pen to the floor.
Distraction tactic! This will work!
Mei slowly bent down to pick it up, making sure Aleph got distracted by her instead of Fu Hua.
But there was a problem.
Aleph…
Aleph didn't even glance at her.
He was too busy asking Fu Hua about ancient history.
Mei felt a dagger pierce straight into her pride.
How was it possible that he preferred learning history over looking at her?!
She only had one card left to play.
The "classic romance accident."
She waited for the perfect moment…
…and then "tripped" against Aleph to fall onto him.
If all went well…
Aleph would end up in a romantically compromising position with her.
…
But instead, Aleph simply caught her like a sack of rice and set her back down without thinking too much about it.
"Are you okay, Mei?"
Mei didn't know if she wanted to die or kill him.
"Yes… yes, thanks…"
Why was this idiot so dense?!
********
Second Attempt: Plan 'Aleph, Notice Mei Already, Damn It.'
After her absolute failure at the library, Mei decided her approach was all wrong.
If she sabotaged too much, Aleph might start getting suspicious.
So this time, instead of ruining his dates…
She would try to seduce him directly.
Her strategy was simple.
Be the perfect woman for him.
So she began researching his preferences.
For that, Mei secretly spied on Aleph for an entire day.
And she gathered some important facts about him:
1. He likes redheads.
Damn it! I'm not a redhead!
Should I dye my hair? No, that's too desperate!
2. He likes older women.
What the hell?! That's even worse!
Does he see me as a kid?!
3. He likes spicy food.
At least I can win here.
4. He's completely clueless about hints.
Which explains why EVERYTHING HAS BEEN GOING WRONG.
It's not that I don't have charm—it's just that he's too stupid to notice!
After analyzing everything, Mei decided to go with the ultimate test.
She asked Aleph to go eat with her.
To make sure he wouldn't reject her, Mei cooked something special just for him.
When Aleph saw the dish, his eyes sparkled.
"Oh! Spicy food! This looks amazing!"
Mei smiled in satisfaction.
Now… now I've got him in my hands.
But.
But then…
Himeko appeared out of nowhere and sat down next to Aleph.
"Oh, spicy food? I didn't know you liked it that much, Aleph."
Aleph smiled slightly.
"Yeah, it's one of my favorites."
Mei felt a sharp pang in her heart.
Why was he blushing?!
How was it possible that Himeko was winning without even trying?!
Himeko simply took a bit of food with her chopsticks and fed it directly to Aleph.
"Open your mouth."
Without thinking, Aleph obeyed like a well-trained dog.
Mei felt an inexplicable surge of rage.
That should have been her victory!
That should have been her romantic moment!
And the worst part…
Aleph looked happy.
Mei clenched her fists and muttered.
"I'm going to kill him."
Aleph tasted the food, and his face lit up with joy.
"Wow, this is amazing!"
Mei felt a small victory.
Himeko raised an eyebrow and smiled with interest.
"Did you make this, Mei? Hmm, you must be really good. It's clear he loves it."
Aleph nodded excitedly.
"Yes, Mei, you're incredible at cooking! Thank you!"
Mei froze.
…Aleph was looking at her with admiration.
…wait…
…wait, wait, wait…
"Did it work?!"
Her heart pounded.
Aleph was showing signs of interest!
Mei couldn't believe it.
…And then Kiana arrived and stole all the food.
"Thanks, Mei! You're the best friend in the world!"
Mei dropped her head onto the table again.
**********
Act 3: Operation "The Last Bastion of Pride"
Mei was fed up.
It was no longer a matter of love.
Or romance.
It was a matter of honor.
She had been defeated too many times.
And every time she thought she was making progress, something got in her way.
Kiana saw her as "Mei-Mom."
"I'm not old! I can't be considered a 'Mom'!"
Aleph blushed around older women.
Himeko and Kiana had ruined her romantic moment.
Mei felt like she was losing on all fronts.
So now…
It was time to execute her final plan.
...
Mei realized a great truth.
Subtle hints didn't work.
Romantic moments were wasted.
So the only option left was… to be direct.
Very direct.
The plan was simple.
Aleph had to see her as a woman.
If that meant openly flirting, she would do it.
If that meant wearing a more provocative dress, she would do it.
If that meant putting him in awkward situations until he understood, she would do it.
This time… she wouldn't fail.
...
Mei knew Aleph had a weakness.
He was a man.
And like any man… there was a limit to what he could ignore.
So… she put on a red, elegant, and form-fitting dress.
Discreet enough not to seem desperate.
But revealing enough that Aleph would have to look at her.
She stood in front of him with a confident smile.
"What do you think, Aleph?"
Aleph looked at her.
He examined the dress.
Mei waited for his reaction.
And then…
Aleph smiled and said:
"You look very sophisticated! Like you're going to an important gala."
…
"Like… a gala?"
Mei felt a blow to her heart.
No, damn it! That's not what she wanted to hear!
**********
If clothes didn't work…
Physical contact would.
So Mei started looking for any excuse to touch Aleph.
She grabbed his arm when they walked together.
She leaned in a little closer when they talked.
She even tried resting her head on his shoulder when they were sitting.
This time, it would work!
...
It was working!
Aleph didn't seem uncomfortable at all.
Was he finally noticing something?!
Or at least that's what she thought…
…Until she heard Aleph murmur with a gentle smile.
"She reminds me a bit of Stelle and Kiana. They also lean on me when they want to."
Mei felt a second blow to her heart.
"I don't want to be like Kiana and Stelle! I want you to see me as a woman, damn it!"
But she took a deep breath and calmed herself.
There was one last tactic left.
If subtle gestures were ignored…
If everything else failed…
Then there was only one path left.
She would be clear.
She would be brave.
A direct confession.
...
Mei mentally prepared herself.
It was now or never.
She waited for the perfect moment…
And when they were finally alone in the park, she took the first step.
She stood in front of Aleph and stared at him.
Aleph raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm? What is it, Mei?"
Mei took a deep breath, trying to calm her anxiety, her nerves.
This time, there would be no mistakes.
This time, she would do it right.
All for a good cause, for a future where she could have a Mei Sandwich with Kiana and Aleph as the bread.
She looked at Aleph with determination.
And with the most confident and seductive voice she could muster, she said:
"Aleph… have you ever considered the idea that we could be more than friends?"
Aleph stared at her.
Mei felt her heart pounding.
…Did it work?
Was he finally going to get it?
Aleph seemed thoughtful.
Then he opened his mouth to respond.
Mei held her breath.
Aleph crossed his arms and replied:
"You mean like battle partners?"
Mei felt her soul leave her body.
…
"No, damn it! No!"
…
…
Mei collapsed to the ground.
Defeated.
Destroyed.
Aleph approached her with a friendly smile and said:
"It was just a joke, Mei. You're one of the people I trust the most. I don't know what I'd do without you. Didn't I tell you before? You're irreplaceable, both for me and for Kiana."
Mei remained silent.
"…Mei?"
Aleph waved a hand in front of her face.
…Mei was lost in happiness.
***********
Act 4: The Ultimate Betrayal - Is Aleph on a Date?!
The beach vacation should have been perfect.
Mei had accepted that her attempts to win over Kiana and Aleph had been a disaster.
But she was enjoying the sand, the sea, and the tropical weather.
Until she saw something that almost gave her a heart attack.
Aleph.
Fu Hua.
Leaving together.
ALONE.
Mei blinked.
"…No."
"This must be my imagination. That idiot is so dense that such a thing should be impossible."
But no.
It was real.
Aleph was with Fu Hua.
And from the way they were looking at each other…
The pink aura surrounding them…
It was a damn date.
…
Mei felt something inside her collapse.
"This isn't possible! Aleph is too dense to understand romance!"
"He's an idiot! A rock! A cement block!"
"How the hell did he manage to go out with Fu Hua before me?!"
And then, she saw it.
Aleph looked nervous.
He was blushing.
And he was acting like a gallant gentleman!
Electric sparks crackled around the girl.
***********
Fu Hua and he were walking together along the shoreline, enjoying the peace.
"It's a beautiful place." Fu Hua smiled softly.
Aleph nodded.
"Yeah. Though honestly… I find it hard to believe I'm here with you."
Fu Hua looked at him curiously.
"Why?"
Aleph scratched the back of his neck.
"Well… it's just that… I feel like you're out of my league."
Fu Hua was surprised.
Then she smiled in amusement.
"Wow. I didn't expect to hear that from you."
Aleph looked down, visibly embarrassed.
"I'm just telling the truth…"
Fu Hua remained silent for a few seconds.
Then, she gently took Aleph's hand.
Aleph turned completely red.
Fu Hua looked at him with a slight smile.
"Come on, let's keep walking."
Aleph nodded automatically, almost in a trance.
From the shadows, Mei watched everything with the expression of someone who had just lost all hope in humanity and was ready to start a massacre.
***********
Act 5: Mei Descends into the Abyss
Mei felt like she had reached her limit.
Aleph…
That idiot man.
That insensible fool.
He hadn't been able to notice her advances!
But he melted in front of Fu Hua like some damn shoujo protagonist!
It was too much.
Mei staggered backward and fell sitting on the sand.
She had lost.
"How did this happen?"
"How did I get to this point?"
Her pride was in shambles.
And then, she remembered.
Aleph had a damn fetish.
Older women.
And not only that.
He also had a weakness for redheads.
Mei recalled the way Aleph looked at Himeko that one time.
And then she compared that to how he ignored her.
Mei grabbed her head with both hands.
"Damn fetishist… DAMN… FETISHIST… DAMN IDIOT!"
…
Kiana, who was eating ice cream nearby, blinked in confusion.
"Why is Mei screaming alone on the beach?"
Bronya, who was beside her, watched the scene and sighed.
"Bronya suspects this is another episode of her mental drama."
Seele, who didn't understand anything, just smiled.
"Well, as long as she doesn't blow up the cabin again, it should be fine."
******
After spending the night cursing Aleph's existence and his stupid preferences, Mei got up with a new determination.
"Alright…"
"If that's what he likes…"
"Then I'll become his ideal woman!"
…
Bronya, who was listening, sighed.
"Mei, please, don't do anything stupid."
Kiana, on the other hand, looked at her curiously.
"How do you plan to do that?"
Mei closed her eyes and smiled confidently.
"It's simple… I'll make him notice ME, even if I have to learn from Fu Hua and Himeko."
She soon left the room in a hurry.
Kiana and Bronya exchanged glances.
"…This isn't going to end well, is it?"
"Bronya estimates a 99% probability that it will be a disaster."
And so, Mei began a new training arc.
Mei's plan wasn't dead.
It was just beginning.
**********
Act 6: Mei Becomes "The Danger"
Mei stood at the shore, the night breeze moving her hair.
After going through all the stages of grief (denial, anger, despair, and depression), she had reached a new phase:
Absolute Determination.
"If Fu Hua and Himeko can do it…"
"If Aleph really has a weakness for them…"
"THEN I'LL BECOME A WOMAN WHO MAKES HIM FALL AT MY FEET!"
A dark smile appeared on her face.
"Whether he wants to or not!"
…
Bronya watched Mei from a distance, her expression one of absolute concern.
"Bronya doesn't have a good feeling about this."
Kiana, on the other hand, looked at Mei with curiosity.
"Why is she smiling like that? Is she happy?"
"That's not happiness… that's the face of someone about to do something crazy and possibly stupid."
Seele, who was with them, tilted her head.
"But Mei is a responsible person, right?"
Bronya and Kiana looked at her as if she had just said the most absurd thing in the world.
"Seele, please, don't be naive."
"Yeah, Mei can be responsible most of the time… but sometimes she's also a complete disaster."
*********
Mei had her plan in motion.
But first, she needed information.
How could she improve her attractiveness?
Her first logical option was to ask Himeko and Fu Hua.
But that would be too humiliating.
So she went to the only person who could help her without asking uncomfortable questions.
…
"…Mei, why did you bring me here?"
Mei stared at her director, the person who had been in charge of her for years.
"Director, I need help with something."
Theresa blinked.
"Help with what?"
Mei took a deep breath and spoke seriously.
"How can I become a woman who makes men fall at my feet?"
Absolute silence.
Theresa spit out the juice she was drinking.
"WHAT?!"
********
Special Training: Operation "Femme Fatale"
Mei somehow managed to convince Theresa to train her.
Theresa was in shock, but in the end, she agreed because Mei seemed desperate.
"I can't believe I'm doing this…"
"How did my life come to this?"
But despite her doubts, she began the training.
First Phase: Elegant Attitude
"Mei, if you want to attract someone, you have to move with confidence and elegance."
"Like Fu Hua?"
"Exactly. But without looking like a wise grandma."
Second Phase: The Lethal Smile
"A femme fatale must have a seductive smile."
"Like this?"
"NO! That looks like you're about to give me life advice! Put more charm into it!"
Mei tried several times…
But every attempt ended up looking too maternal.
Theresa grew frustrated.
"Why does it feel like my mom is smiling at me?!"
Third Phase: Control Over Aleph
"Alright… now, Mei, we're going to test this with Aleph."
"Wait, what?"
"Yes. You're going to approach him and apply what you've learned."
Mei swallowed hard.
It was the moment of truth.
…
Mei approached Aleph, who was casually eating a meat skewer.
With her best smile, she spoke in a soft tone.
"Aleph… would you like to take a walk with me?"
Aleph looked at her.
Mei awaited his reaction.
Blushing?
Surprise?
Maybe nervousness?
Aleph blinked and nodded.
"Ah, sure. Let's go."
Mei was stunned.
"Wait, that worked?"
THAT WORKED?!
.....
From afar, Bronya, Kiana, and Theresa were watching.
Theresa nodded.
"Well, at least she didn't fail this time."
Kiana crossed her arms.
"Yeah, but… are we sure Aleph understood what just happened?"
Bronya sighed.
"Probably not."
********
Mei was radiant.
She did it!
She would be alone with Aleph with no interruptions!
Now she just had to erase Himeko and Fu Hua's influence on him completely.
And then… she could begin her attack on Kiana!
…
But she didn't notice one small detail.
Aleph thought it was just a friendly walk.
THE END?