Kael's proactive embrace was like a powerful sweetener, leaving Theresa in a daze for several days, seeing everything through a pink filter.
And Kael, seemingly having acquired a taste for it, his unintentional display of gentleness and closeness became even more natural... Headquarters issued a batch of trial new combat suits, requiring all high-ranking Valkyries and commanders to go to the equipment department for adaptability tests and data collection.
Kael and Theresa were naturally on the list.
Inside the testing ground, various precision instruments gleamed with cold light.
Theresa changed into a form-fitting white basic combat suit and was stretching her limbs, adapting to the elasticity of the new material.
Kael, wearing his familiar commander's uniform, stood in front of the data monitoring station, watching the constantly fluctuating parameters on the screen.
"Theresa, try a set of standard tactical evasion maneuvers," Kael's voice came through the in-field communicator, steady and professional.
"Received!" Theresa took a deep breath, and her figure instantly moved, dodging and weaving, her movements fluid and swift, her white form leaving a series of afterimages in the testing ground.
Kael focused on the data feedback, occasionally prompting: "Third sequence movement, waist strength can be increased by another five percent... Very good... Maintain..."
After a round of testing, Theresa, slightly out of breath, walked to the monitoring station: "How was it? Kael, is the data okay?"
Kael pulled up the data curves and pointed to several nodes: "Overall, it's very good; your neural reaction speed and explosive power even exceeded expectations.
It's just that during the endurance test, your heart rate was slightly elevated in the latter half.
Are you uncomfortable anywhere?"
He looked at her with concern.
Theresa's face instantly flushed.
Elevated heart rate?
That was because in the latter half, her mind was full of that embrace from yesterday; she couldn't calm down at all!
How could she say that out loud!
"N-nothing uncomfortable!" She quickly waved her hands, her eyes darting around, "Maybe I'm just... a little tired! Yes, tired!"
Kael looked at her flushed cheeks and evasive eyes, seemed to understand something, and a barely noticeable smile played on his lips.
He didn't press further, only handed her a bottle of water: "Rest for a bit, we'll do the anti-interference test next."
During the anti-interference test, the simulation was combat in a complex electromagnetic environment.
The lights in the testing ground flickered on and off, and various noises and interference signals constantly sounded.
Theresa needed to complete a complex set of attack commands in this environment.
Halfway through, a particularly strong set of interference waves suddenly struck, her headphones instantly filled with piercing noise, and the virtual targets in front of her became blurry.
Theresa's movements paused, and she subconsciously frowned.
Just then, Kael's steady voice cut through the noisy interference, clearly reaching her headphones, unhurried and calm, carrying a strange soothing power: "Don't panic, Theresa.
Ignore the audio interference, focus on the visual marker at three o'clock, offset correction zero point seven, energy output maintain stable... Yes, just like that."
His voice was like an anchor, instantly steadying Theresa's somewhat flustered mind.
She immediately adjusted according to his instructions, and her movements became fluid again.
The test was successfully completed.
Theresa took off her headphones, let out a long sigh of relief, and ran to Kael's side, her eyes sparkling: "That was close!
Luckily, I had you, Kael!"
"You reacted quickly yourself."
Kael smiled and very naturally reached out, using his fingertips to brush away a wisp of white hair that was stuck to her forehead from sweat, "How does the new combat suit feel?
Do you feel any tightness or discomfort anywhere?"
His fingertips were warm, his movements gentle, bringing a subtle electric sensation when they touched her skin.
Theresa's heartbeat had just calmed down, then it suddenly accelerated again, and she stammered in response: "I-it's fine!
It fits well!"
"Hmm, that's good."
Kael didn't seem to think there was anything amiss with his actions, and turned to record the final data.
Leaving Theresa standing there alone, covering her forehead where she had just been touched, smiling foolishly for a long time.
After the test, the two walked side by side down the corridor leading back to the living quarters.
As they passed a smooth metal wall, Kael suddenly stopped, looking at their reflections in the wall.
"What's wrong?" Theresa asked, puzzled.
Kael pointed to Theresa's hair in the reflection: "Your hair here seems a bit messy.
Was it pressed down by your helmet earlier?"
As he spoke, he naturally turned around, facing her, and reached out to carefully tidy those unruly white strands of hair for her.
The corridor was quiet, with only occasional curious and kind glances from passing staff members.
Theresa looked up, gazing at Kael's close, focused and serious face, clearly seeing his long eyelashes and his deep eyes that reflected her own image.
His fingers gently brushed her hair, bringing waves of heart-pounding itchiness.
Her breathing almost stopped; she could only hear her own heart pounding like a drum.
"There, all done."
Kael finished tidying her hair, nodded with satisfaction, and then, as if discovering a new continent, said with a hint of "surprise," "Theresa, you seem to have... really grown a little taller?"
Theresa: "!!!"
Grown taller?!
Really?!
Is it because she drinks the milk he gives her every day?!
Immense joy instantly overcame her shyness, and she excitedly grabbed Kael's arm: "Really?!
Kael, do you really think I've grown taller?!
Quick, let's compare again!"
She eagerly straightened her body and leaned towards Kael, insisting on comparing their heights.
Kael looked at her childishly excited expression and couldn't help but laugh out loud.
He cooperatively stood up straight and gestured with his hand to compare their head tops: "Hmm, though not by much, you do seem to have grown a little bit taller."
"Yay! That's great!" Theresa was so happy she almost jumped, shaking Kael's arm, "It's all thanks to your milk, Kael!"
"Yes, yes, it's the milk's credit." Kael smiled indulgently, letting her cling to him, "Then you'll have to keep drinking it even more in the future."
"Mm! I promise one bottle every day!"
Theresa nodded vigorously, her heart so sweet it felt like honey was about to overflow.
Growing taller was certainly happy, but what made her happiest was that Kael noticed her change and even helped her tidy her hair!
She felt herself a little closer to him!
... In the evening, Theresa, hugging her newly acquired soft Haxxor Bunny-patterned blanket, knocked on Kael's dorm room door.
The reason was—"The new blanket has a strange smell, I need to borrow Kael's balcony to air it out under the moonlight for sterilization!"
Kael merely raised an eyebrow at this outrageous reason, then stepped aside to let her in.
Thus, on Kael's small balcony, such a scene appeared: two lounge chairs placed side by side, Theresa wrapped in her new blanket, only her small head peeking out, comfortably nestled in the chair.
On the small table beside them were two hot drinks—one was Kael's clear tea, and the other was Theresa's self-brought, strangely flavored bitter melon milk tea.
Kael sat in the other lounge chair, casually flipping through a physical book.
The moonlight, like water, spilled over the two of them, quiet and peaceful.
"Kael," Theresa spoke softly, breaking the silence, "Tonight's stars don't seem as numerous as that meteor shower day."
"Hmm, there's a bit of thin cloud cover," Kael's gaze lifted from the book page, looking up at the night sky.
"But the moon is very bright." Theresa looked at the moon, then secretly glanced at Kael's profile outlined by the moonlight, and quietly added, "...And very gentle."
Kael seemed to hear it, and yet seemed not to.
He put down his book, picked up his teacup and took a sip, then suddenly said: "Speaking of which, next week there's a short-term patrol mission, going to circle the border with the Third Empire, about three days."
Theresa's ears immediately perked up: "Patrol mission?
I want to go too!" She didn't want to be separated from Kael for a moment now.
Kael smiled: "You were already on the list.
The intensity of this mission isn't high; the non-aggression pact between Schicksal and the Third Empire has been in place for a long time, so just consider it a scenic drive."
"Yay!" Theresa immediately became happy, already planning in her mind what snacks and games to bring.
The two chatted idly, most of the time Theresa was talking, and Kael listened quietly, occasionally responding with a few words.
The evening breeze was gentle, and time seemed to slow down.
As Theresa spoke, her voice gradually faded, and she yawned.
Between the test and the excitement today, she was indeed a bit tired.
She snuggled in her warm blanket, her nose filled with the fresh scent of sunlight and the plants on Kael's balcony, as well as the reassuring aura of the person beside her, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier.
Kael noticed her silence, turned his head to look, and found that she had already fallen asleep with her head tilted, her breathing even, her long white eyelashes casting faint shadows beneath her eyes, still tightly hugging that Haxxor Bunny blanket.
He smiled helplessly, put down his book, and softly called out: "Theresa?
Go back to your room to sleep, you'll catch a cold out here."
Theresa mumbled something incoherently, and not only did she not wake up, but she instinctively snuggled towards the heat source—which was Kael's side.
Kael looked at her defenseless sleeping face, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately did not wake her again.
He quietly stood up, went inside the room, took out his usual thin blanket, and carefully, with extremely gentle movements, covered Theresa with it, meticulously tucking in the corners.
After doing all this, he did not leave immediately, but instead, by the moonlight, quietly watched her for a while.
The sleeping Theresa had put away all her liveliness and mischief, appearing exceptionally well-behaved and quiet, like an angel unaware of worldly affairs.
His gaze swept over her smooth forehead, her upturned nose, and finally rested on her slightly pouted lips, which were a healthy pink.
Kael's heart inexplicably skipped a beat, as if something had gently bumped it.
He quickly averted his gaze, took a deep breath of the cool night air, trying to calm that momentary flutter.
He sat back in the lounge chair, but did not pick up his book again.
He simply clasped his hands behind his head, gazed up at the starry sky, listened to the even, shallow breathing of the person beside him, and a gentle, silent smile curved his lips.
Tonight the moonlight was beautiful, and the wind was gentle.
And with her by his side, even the starry sky seemed to become more brilliant and charming.
Strange... what exactly is this feeling...
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