While sitting and watching Luche, I focused on my work. It seemed that Luche left her seat either because she thought I would be distracted by her watching or because she wanted to know more about the training schedule. After seeing her leave with a cheerful step, saying she would be back from the convenience store momentarily, I resumed my work.
Even though the overtime was unavoidable, I had some extra time due to working late. If I concentrated and hurried, I could manage to have a brief conversation with Luche. The fact that we hadn’t spoken properly for days made the prospect of spending some relaxed time with her quite pleasant, boosting my motivation.
Above all, if I didn’t properly address how Luche saw me kissing Esmeralda, there was a high chance of conflict. Even the look she gave just now felt different from her usual pout.
“I don’t think she acted like this before.”
After realizing Luche was actually Ati, memories of her became divided into two distinct images. Although they were the same person, sometimes Luche and Ati felt like separate entities. This was inevitable since Luche, during her Bio-Roid phase, hardly showed any expressions or emotions, and crying was unimaginable.
Seeing the change in her, I sometimes forget that Luche is actually Ati.
Whether it’s due to the passage of time or simply that Ati always kept her feelings hidden, I can’t tell, but it doesn’t matter much.
Since I’m not living in the past, the only thing I can do is accept the current Luche as she is.
Designing training turned out to be more work than expected. Since each training session was different, the amount of data I needed to find was vast. Given Spacystro’s long history, finding similar data for new training wasn’t hard, but sorting through such extensive archives was challenging.
The team leaders, who had experience, could quickly find the necessary data, but as a novice, finding the data was my first task. Fortunately, my experience helped me recall which data was useful when planning.
Thinking I’d sort and organize the required materials later, I looked up and noticed Luche standing beside the door, watching me.
“Did you finish?”
“Not exactly, I’m taking a break.”
Luche, smiling, held a bag from the convenience store. Approaching me, she took my hand.
“Let’s go to the office.”
“Go upstairs?”
“It’s familiar with the seniors in Team 3.”
Though I initially planned to rest in Team 1’s office, I decided to follow Luche’s preference and rest in Team 3’s office.
With only essential lights on, we walked together down the dim hallway to the third floor and entered Luche’s room in the office.
After turning on the light, she placed items she brought on the table. Nothing special—just coffee and snacks, including sweet treats Luche enjoyed.
“I haven’t been to the office in a while.”
“I usually come up here when I visit headquarters.”
“I didn’t come because of work.”
Just like when I worked in Team 3’s office, there was no need to visit Team 1’s office unless absolutely necessary.
Although Team 3 had people I knew, I rarely visited unless needed. So, there was no reason to go to Team 3’s office just to see people.
Luche, understanding me well, nodded in agreement without further questions.
“How was today’s match? I heard you faced SpecialForce.”
I briefly received the updated match details. While I had all the information, I couldn’t remember specifics due to focusing on training design.
Based on what I remembered, I asked Luche, and her expression changed as she sipped her coffee.
“……Ah.”
“Yes?”
Her small voice made me lean in, and her face flushed with frustration. She then loudly declared,
“I lost!”
“Is that so?”
Asking further might make her cry again. I anticipated this, considering she likely cried on the bus ride back.
I was unsure about the match between Team 3 and SpecialForce, but imagining them in a simulation, victory seemed unlikely.
Team 3 wasn’t at full strength, and teamwork was lacking. Even without one member, our team wasn’t weakened, but individual contributions mattered, especially after significant changes.
With crucial roles unoccupied by key members, it was fortunate that the team’s dynamics hadn’t completely fallen apart.
“Kruger seems to be struggling with his condition since returning.”
“Kruger came back?”
Surprised by this news, Luche stared at me with wide eyes.
“Weren’t the Team 1 members supposed to inform me?”
It seemed I missed important details about Kruger. Despite lying in hospital, he had returned, and I somehow overlooked this.
“I guess they did. I was preoccupied with work and didn’t catch it.”
“Ugh.”
Luche narrowed her eyes, looking at me as if I were her superior. I couldn’t say anything.
“His condition isn’t surprising after being bedridden for months.”
This match against SpecialForce meant he fought Silver. Given his poor condition when I last saw him, this wasn’t an easy fight for Kruger.
He needed time to regain his senses after a long rest, compounded by facing a former lover as an enemy.
Suddenly, I recalled the match right after dating Yubin. Although I’ve adapted now, I was initially flustered and slow-moving.
I didn’t think having a girlfriend would affect my performance in matches.
“I get it, but he seems different. Not like himself lately.”
I understood his situation.
“He must have been shocked. He’s never taken such a long break.”
I tried to defend him, but Luche shook her head in disbelief.
“But if he returned, he should have said something. He hasn’t said a word.”
“Probably because he knows the seniors are designing the training. He’s serious about it.”
I agreed; Kruger, who usually led team dynamics, viewed this training as critical. He might avoid discussing it to prevent distractions.
On the other hand, he might think discussing it would help find easier solutions, but Kruger is rigid and inflexible, unlikely to do so.
Meeting Luche’s eyes over a sip of coffee and a snack, I realized how she felt about me. Seeing her smile whenever our eyes met confirmed her affection for me. It was strange that she had shown such affection without revealing it sooner.
“Too bad.”
“Huh? What?”
Smiling, Luche spoke cryptically.
“I thought we’d spend more time together if you knew more about me. Things got complicated.”
“That’s true. How did the timing work out this way?”
Luche waited long for me to realize her identity. When the moment finally arrived, circumstances kept us from spending time together.
There was a period when nothing happened. Soon after learning about Luche, I found myself constantly busy.
“If I knew this, I would have told you sooner.”
“That wouldn’t have been the same feeling.”
“Why?”
If Luche had revealed her identity early, I would have felt only joy.
Though I understood the value of others’ affection, I was indifferent until meeting my girlfriends.
Thinking it irrelevant, even if Luche had revealed everything quickly, I wouldn’t have cared much.
“Before, I thought I was perceptive.”
Luche glared at me with narrowed eyes. It made sense; someone who couldn’t recognize her identity for ten years wouldn’t believe she was perceptive.
“Don’t look at me like that since you know.”
Laughing awkwardly, I continued.
“After meeting girlfriends, I realized I’m late in noticing things. I try hard to understand, but it’s not easy.”
My understanding of others’ affection deepened thanks to my girlfriends. Without them, I might still misunderstand Esmeralda’s feelings.
“If Luche had told me everything earlier, I wouldn’t have noticed your true feelings.”
Hearing this, Luche stood up, walked around the table, and sat next to me. Drinking coffee, she leaned against my shoulder.
“Now?”
If Luche had told me earlier, I wouldn’t have noticed. Now, this is the only answer I can think of.
But now, with a busier schedule, even knowing everything, I can’t spend much time.
Luche wants to confirm something.
“I know. How much you’ve thought about me. How much you’ve wanted to take care of me. How long I’ve waited for you to notice.”
When someone I care about doesn’t reciprocate, it’s painful. Realizing this after meeting girlfriends, I might have hurt Luche if I hadn’t understood her feelings earlier.
Perhaps, like with Esmeralda, I might have caused a long gap.
“…Jealous.”
“Huh?”
Leaning on my shoulder, Luche whispered. Putting down her coffee, I glanced at her.
“I wanted to be the one sharing many moments and knowledge. It feels like I’ve lost my place to Team HunterKiller.”
“You can think that, but…”
Feeling the loss when unable to do what you want can be significant. However, I found it hard to empathize with Luche.
“Luche has a unique place only she can occupy.”
Girlfriends are precious. Saying it too often makes it redundant.
Luche is equally precious. Everyone is.
Though she didn’t get her desired position, she has a unique role that only she can fulfill. And Luche, who remains by my side and holds her ground, is precious enough.
Silent, Luche pondered my words.
Then suddenly, lifting her head, she stared at me with wide, curious eyes.
Reflecting my face in her clear eyes, we silently gazed at each other for a few seconds.
“…Did you kiss me?”
A chuckle escaped.
“Why are you laughing?”
Seeing Luche blush, I couldn’t stop laughing.
Thinking she wanted to kiss me because she saw me kissing Esmeralda made the idea amusing.
“Did you want to kiss me?”
“Of course, since Esmeralda did.”
Not far from me, she still blushed. Approaching her, I kissed her.
She flinched, surprised by the request. Without breaking the kiss, we shared a tender moment, and Luche, relaxing, leaned closer.
