"Lumina feels like a despicable old man, tricking and abducting Acheron, a pure and innocent child who knows nothing."
In the real world, in the live stream chat, Little Bear vividly expressed the relationship between Lumina and Acheron after hearing Acheron's words.
[Your analogy is terrible! What creepy old man looks this good? She's more like a creepy older sister! (smirking)]
[Who cares if she's a creepy old man or older sister? As long as it's Lady Lumina, I'd gladly be tricked by her! Even better if she does some... ahem... hehehe~... AHHHHH! things to me during the deception! (lewd)]
[I ship this couple! No one can change my mind!]
[If Acheron and Lumina get together, what about Herta? (crying)]
[What else? Herta will be with me, of course!]
[Honestly, in a second-dimensional game world, three-way, four-way, five-way, six-way, seven-way, eight-way, nine-way, ten-way... relationships should be considered normal, right? So, Acheron, Herta, March 7th, Sparkle, Black Swan, Jingliu, Fu Xuan, Lumina, and the whole gang living together—what's the problem? No problem at all!]
[You call that normal?!]
[Heaven-defying!]
"Heaven-defying!" Upon seeing this slightly outrageous comment, both the viewers in the live stream and Little Bear couldn't help but exclaim the same word.
Yet, despite finding the comment "heaven-defying," nearly half the viewers couldn't help but imagine a blush-inducing, nosebleed-inducing scene...
-
"Based on their reactions earlier, the word 'date' doesn't mean what you think it does, does it?"
Under the astonished gazes of Firefly, Stelle, and the others, Acheron and Lumina walked side-by-side down Penacony's bustling streets. Acheron asked Lumina, her voice utterly devoid of emotion.
"Lady Acheron, I wasn't lying," Lumina replied, shaking her head without a flicker of change in her expression. "They simply misunderstood."
"In their minds, the word 'date' seems exclusively reserved for romantic couples, but that's not the case."
"A 'date' is just a shorthand for an agreed-upon meeting. It means arranging to meet at a specific place."
"Therefore, the parties involved can be friends, strangers, or even acquaintances—it's not exclusively about romantic partners."
Lumina spoke with unwavering sincerity, her expression earnest and tone completely devoid of any hint of deception, as if she were stating a simple fact.
Well... not just as if. Lumina was stating a simple fact. The word "date" has never been exclusively reserved for romantic couples to deepen their relationship. It naturally applies to prearranged meetings between friends, strangers, or anyone else who agrees to meet at a specific place.
So, no matter how others might interpret the usage of "date," Lumina herself was certain she hadn't used it incorrectly.
Acheron and I are on a date right now!
Even though we hadn't explicitly agreed on a location beforehand... No matter. The final interpretation rests with Lumina.
[Just fool Acheron. Just don't fool yourself.]
Just as Lumina was thinking this, a snarky comment suddenly appeared on the screen.
"I'm not lying, nor am I deceiving anyone," Lumina said, shaking her head. "I genuinely have no ulterior motives. I simply want to be friends with Acheron."
"As for what others might think, I have no idea."
Lumina spread her hands, indicating her pure intention of friendship with Acheron, without any bad intentions.
"Is that so? Then they must have misunderstood," Acheron nodded. Seeing Lumina's earnest explanation, she no longer doubted her.
Hmm... Of course, Acheron hadn't actually suspected Lumina or thought she was trying to deceive her. She was merely curious about why Stelle and Firefly's expressions had instantly turned so shocked when Acheron had stated, "Lumina and I are on a date."
After all, if the word "date" meant what Lumina had said earlier, Stelle and Firefly wouldn't have reacted the way they did.
Hearing this explanation, Acheron nodded in agreement.
A couple's date is a way for romantic partners to deepen their bond. Since she and Lumina weren't a couple—and were both women besides—a romantic date was clearly out of the question.
Therefore, their outing must be a date between friends.
Hmm... friends, huh?
Acheron glanced sideways at Lumina, who was smiling brightly beside her, radiating the confidence of someone at the center of the world. She murmured almost inaudibly, "Friends?"
"Shall we go play over there?" Lumina asked, pointing toward Eden Park in the distance. Whether Acheron suspected her or not, Lumina didn't care. After all, when it came to beautiful girls, she had virtually no boundaries.
Pretending not to hear Acheron's murmur, Lumina gently took Acheron's wrist and led her toward Eden Park.
Hmm... Compared to holding hands directly, grabbing her wrist like this is considered proper, right?
Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~
"Hmm? Acheron, let me check this message."
Lumina and Acheron's pleasant time in Eden Park was abruptly interrupted by a Special Group notification.
"Of course, go ahead," Acheron replied with a nod.
Lumina smiled at Acheron before pulling out her phone.
The ringtone didn't surprise her; given the time, she had been expecting it.
March 7th: Sister Lumina, Sister Lumina, Sister Lumina! Have you seen Stelle?
March 7th: She's gone! I can't find her anywhere, not in reality or in the Dream!
March 7th: Could she be in danger?
March 7th: Wait, didn't the Family promise there were no dangers in Penacony's Dream?!
"And you believe everything they say?" Lumina muttered, looking at the barrage of messages from March 7th. Imagining March 7th jumping up and down anxiously on the other end of the line, Lumina chuckled helplessly and began typing a reply.
Lumina: Little March, don't panic. Where are you now? I'll come find you.
Lumina: Stelle has the ring I gave her. She'll be safe, I assure you.
March 7th: We're at The Reverie Hotel. In reality.
Lumina: Okay, I'll come find you right now.
After sending the message, Lumina put her phone away and turned to Acheron, saying apologetically, "I'm sorry, Miss Acheron, our date might have to end early. Some issues have come up that I need to take care of."
"Mm, no problem," Acheron replied, shaking her head. "Do you need any help?"
"Well..."
Acheron paused, then quickly added, "If it's anything dangerous, you can count on me."
"Mm... If it's anything else, you can count on me too."
During that brief silence, Acheron had been racking her brain for ways she could assist. After a moment's thought, she realized her only real option was as a bodyguard.
Still, if Lumina asked, Acheron would agree to anything, even tasks she disliked or didn't know how to do.
"Don't worry, it's just a minor matter."
"But if I need your help, I won't hesitate to ask, okay?♪"
Lumina clasped her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and winked playfully at Acheron.
At that moment, Lumina seemed to embody all the world's beauty, inspiring an irresistible longing in others.
Acheron was no exception. The corners of her lips curled slightly upward as she nodded almost imperceptibly, a fleeting expression of tenderness flickering across her face.
Lumina: o( ̄▽ ̄)ブ
Though the expression lasted only an instant, in Lumina's eyes, it might as well have been frozen there forever.
Given Acheron's current level of affection for me, she definitely wouldn't refuse if I suggested we become friends now, right? Lumina thought, watching the faint curve of Acheron's lips.
However, Lumina had no intention of making the suggestion herself. Well... Perhaps more accurately, she wasn't going to be the one to propose friendship again.
Since I took the initiative last time and Acheron stubbornly remained silent, don't blame me for being merciless.
Lumina wanted Acheron to be the one to say it, to propose friendship herself.
That was precisely why Lumina had refused Acheron's help earlier.
After all...
Only by letting Acheron briefly reclaim the emptiness in her heart, temporarily vacated by Lumina's presence, would she truly appreciate Lumina's goodness.