Endless Silver Machine

Chapter 1 The Season of Return

The cherry-colored petals were folded off the branches by the slightly warm spring breeze and flew among the school buildings in March.

This is a rainy season, and the moisture in the air makes the skin no longer appear so dry, but girls will not relax because of this level of moisture.

"This is a bit uncomfortable..."

In order to prevent the humid air in the room from getting worse, Ling closed the open window tightly.

There was a thin layer of fog covering the dressing mirror and vanity mirror. Even if you wipe it off with a dry towel, water marks will remain on the glass.

In order to find more absorbent paper towels, Ling went downstairs to the lobby.

"Want to go out?"

Aika, who was reading at the table, looked up and asked, because Ling was not wearing his familiar home clothes.

"I don't want to take a walk on a rainy day like this."

Ling replied casually, then came to the shelf and started rummaging around.

“Where did I put the tissues I bought during the holidays?”

The things he needed were not placed on the shelves, but Ling remembered that he had indeed put them in this position.

"Sister Ling, let me come and find it. Because the weather is a bit humid, I put all the things that absorb water easily into a box with better sealing."

Luo Luo, who was staying in the hall with Aika, put down the water glass in his hand as he spoke.

She knelt down in front of the storage shelf and dragged out the storage box from the bottom layer.

“There’s a few other things put together as well.”

"No wonder there are a lot of things missing here," Lingyao squatted down next to Luoluo, "By the way, do you want to buy a dryer and put it at home?"

"That kind of thing isn't very useful, although I haven't used it."

Aika leaned back on the chair and interjected.

"I haven't used it either, but it's better than nothing."

"The sunny days will last for a long time after the rainy season. At that time, it should be enough to take out your clothes and quilts to dry them."

The decision on how to use the family's funds rests with Luoluo, and she has no plans to use the money.

The current source of funds for the family is mainly obtained through the part-time work of four people at Shuoyue Academy. The basic needs of life can be met, but it has not yet reached the level that they can be used at will.

Aika continues to serve as the librarian of the Great Library under the guidance of Senior Sister Lilith.

Ringliu maintains order in Shigetsuki Academy through the "Discipline Team" headed by Tirua-senpai.

Luoluo and Weixi became popular as waiters at the academy restaurant "Yueguan Yu".

"Speaking of which, it seems that August's matter hasn't reached here yet..."

Everyone officially started class a week later than others. Now two days have passed, and Ling suddenly mentioned that matter.

"After all, this is outside the national border, so it may not spread here."

Aika didn't have the confidence to confirm his guess, but this statement could provide some reassurance.

A week ago, they received an invitation from the third princess of the Bis Empire, Lan Ming Yiela, and were invited to visit August, the capital center of the Bis Empire.

There, Aika and Ling underwent exercises proposed by the Senate. When faced with the suppression of two Templars, the family identity that had been hidden was exposed due to the use of magic equipment.

"Because this is a neutral area."

Luoluo agreed with Aika's speculation.

"That's right." Ling stopped thinking about it. After finding the absorbent tissue she wanted, she helped Luoluo put the storage box back to its original place. "Is Wei Xi still in there?"

After standing up, she gestured to the bathroom with her eyes. No movement inside could be heard here.

"It seems like I've been in there for a long time..."

Luoluo replied hesitantly.

"Did you faint in the bathtub?"

"It's possible..."

Thinking that the person inside was Wei Xi, Ling and Luoluo both nodded in agreement.

"Let me go inside and take a look."

Luo Luo said this and walked into the dressing room.

Wei Xi's clothes were neatly folded and placed in the laundry basket next to the door.

As I approached the frosted glass door of the bathroom, I could vaguely hear the sound of water dripping on the tiles.

"Xiao Xi..."

"Eh?" Wei Xi inside immediately responded to her voice, "Is it, is it Luoluo..."

Her tone sounded panicked.

"It doesn't look like she's dizzy."

Luoluo felt relieved.

"Sorry, I stayed here too long..."

"It's okay, no one wants to use the bathroom right now, I just came over to take a look."

When Luoluo returned to the hall, Ling was still here and had not gone upstairs.

"Don't worry anymore."

"Yeah……"

Ling responded nonchalantly, then walked up the stairs with the absorbent paper.

"Sister Ling is really an easy-to-understand person."

Luoluo sat down next to Aika again, the wall of the water glass was still warm.

She hugged the water glass with both hands and took a sip.

Only the brother and sister were left in the hall again.

"You seem to be very free today. Don't you have anything to do?"

Aika looked away from the page and struck up a conversation with Luoluo.

"Can't you stay here if something happens?"

Luoluo asked Aika.

"...As you like."

"Um."

All that was left was the sound of the pages turning.

The second-year curriculum at Shimozuki Academy is divided into two parts. In first-year courses, theoretical classes to deepen concepts are held in the morning and are not affected by subject division. In the afternoon, students will study specialized subjects chosen by themselves. Different subjects have corresponding teaching locations.

Aika's situation is somewhat special, because his recommender is Professor Cocona, so he only accepts personal teaching from Professor Cocona. The teaching location is in her laboratory, so the time is relatively free.

Now Aika is reading an introduction to magic mechanics. Professor Cocona said that there was nothing worth wasting time on talking about this part, and then threw the standard textbook to him.

After only one day of class, the weekend entered. People around him looked enviously in their eyes, but Aika didn't know the real reason for their envy.

The excuse that Instructor Letika helped them cover up was that Aika and Luoluo were going home for a week, but she forgot to explain the reasons for Ling and Wei Xi. As a result, Aika and the three girls were absent from classes for a week. Most students can only think of one situation.

Aika was still concentrating on reading the nouns she didn't understand, and casually went to get her water glass from the table, but there was nothing left in it.

"Want to drink?"

A warm water glass touched his hand.

"Ah, thank you."

Aika took it without looking. Just as he was about to put the cup to his mouth, he stopped.

"Did you drink this?"

"Ah ha ha……"

Luoluo, who didn't succeed, obviously showed a disappointed smile.

"Really, don't be so careless."

"It's not accidental..."

Returning the water glass to Luoluo now seemed to make her even more disappointed, so Aika had no choice but to turn the water glass aside.

Did you add anything else to the water? It seems to taste sweeter than ordinary water.

"I said……"

Aika was just about to confirm with Luoluo when she saw her holding her somewhat too long sleeves with both hands and covering half of her face, her face flushed and staring at the rim of the cup where Aika's lips had just touched.

"What’s wrong with you……"

"No no……"

She shook her head in confusion.

"It's not a fever, right? You can catch a cold if you're not careful in this weather."

Aika put the book on the table, lifted up Luoluo's bangs, and put her forehead against it.

"It seems a little hot..."

He muttered to himself and let go of Luo Luo's shoulders.

During the whole process, Luoluo's body remained stiff and did not make any movement, letting Aika play with it.

"Would you like to go back to your room and take a nap?"

"Need not……"

Luoluo put down his hands that were covering his face, lowered his head and took the water glass from Aika's hand.

"Brother, how does it taste..."

She turned her side face towards Aika and asked in a low voice.

Aika was stunned for a moment, this question came a bit suddenly.

When I just took her temperature, I did smell the faint fragrance emanating from her long sky-blue hair.

Aika knew that wasn't the scent of shampoo.

"It smells pretty good... um..."

Aika thought that this answer should still be within the acceptable range. He just didn't expect that Luoluo would suddenly ask such a question.

Because we are family members, we generally do not pay attention to such details in our daily interactions.

"No, no, I didn't mean that!" This answer made Luoluo shake his hands in panic, "Although I am very happy that my brother has this idea, but don't say it in a serious manner!"

"I thought……"

"I just wanted to ask how the water tastes!"

Luoluo blushed and defended desperately.

"By the way, I just wanted to ask you this question." Aika almost forgot the original purpose, "Is there anything added to the water? It feels a little sweet."

"Nothing has been added..."

"That's weird."

If Luo Luo said this, it was probably his own illusion.

"Brother, don't you like this smell..."

"No, I can taste it differently than usual. I actually quite like it."

"Really..." Luoluo hugged his water glass and smiled happily, "I like it..."

"But that must be my misunderstanding, since nothing was added."

"Maybe it's not an illusion."

Luoluo did not tell the truth in the end, but kept the secret in his memories.

She is not such a careless girl. When passing the water glass, he faced Aika with the side he had not used.

What he didn't expect was that Aika would repeat his actions.

Although he had no such thoughts, he felt inexplicably relieved when he saw Aika put the rim of the cup to his mouth.