After saying her piece, Eternal Meteor tried to pry Tokai Teio's fingers off her sleeve while Teio was still dazed.
She tugged twice—gently at first—then, doubtful, added more strength.
Nothing.
No matter how hard she pulled, she couldn't get free. She quietly withdrew her hand, pretending nothing happened.
Why is this kid so strong? My sleeve's about to tear off—this is new clothes, you know!
She cleared her throat softly and reached toward Teio's head, hoping to calm her down and get her to let go. In that clenched fist, Eternal Meteor could already almost hear fabric starting to rip.
But her hand only got halfway up before Teio's other hand snapped around her wrist.
Teio lifted the head she'd lowered during the scolding.
There weren't any traces of tears on her face.
Instead… she was smiling.
A smile that looked downright dangerous.
What…?
Eternal Meteor blanked out.
Shouldn't you be moved right now? Shouldn't you be crying while reflecting on your behavior? What is this smile supposed to mean?!
Don't tell me the blow was too big and she snapped?
No way—Tokai Teio's mental resilience can't be that fragile, right?
Eternal Meteor swallowed, staring at Teio with growing unease.
If Rudolf came back and saw this—great. The junior she'd been nurturing all this time had been sent straight to a psychiatric ward. Eternal Meteor would be finished.
"By strength… huh?"
Teio murmured something so softly that Eternal Meteor could only see her lips move.
"What—whoa!"
The question had barely left her mouth when Teio shoved her back two steps, until her back met the cold wall in a very intimate collision.
In front of her stood Teio—half a head taller—still wearing that inexplicable smile.
Alarms detonated in Eternal Meteor's mind, sirens screaming at full volume. Her entire body went tense.
She struggled twice—
—but Teio's hands were like iron rings bolted into the wall, pinning her in place. No matter how she fought, they didn't budge even a millimeter.
What is this? A kabedon? From Tokai Teio—on me?!
Eternal Meteor flicked her eyes toward her own legs, hesitating.
She really didn't want to do that—especially since afterward she'd have to explain herself to Rudolf.
Maybe observe a little longer? If things truly crossed the line, she could still act then. Teio didn't look guarded at all.
That hesitation cost her.
Teio stepped in closer—close enough that their bodies nearly touched—and then used her legs to force Eternal Meteor's legs apart.
"T-Teio… what's wrong? What are you doing? Let's calm down first, okay?"
Eternal Meteor forced a shaky smile, trying to talk her down.
She'd been thinking: if things really went bad, she could hold back and kick Teio in the stomach, then run to fetch Rudolf to clean up this mess.
Better that a random passerby saw Teio get kicked down than… saw anything else. Otherwise Teio's career would be over.
"Meteor," Teio whispered, resting her head near her shoulder, speaking right by her ear. "You said earlier you have to win the fruit of victory… by strength, right?"
Eternal Meteor could even feel Teio's breath stirring the soft fuzz by her ear.
Her waist and back tightened instinctively. The warning sirens in her head were so loud they felt like they were about to rupture. Even pushing with hands and feet at the same time did nothing.
"Y-yeah. I did."
"Then… does this count as using strength too?"
Teio's face by her ear was so close it was like she could lean in and lick it.
Eternal Meteor's skin prickled. She nearly wanted to cry.
Serves you right. You could've just refused. Why did you have to stick your nose in and "teach" her?
If she really couldn't pull herself together, Rudolf was right there—Eternal Meteor could've just let Rudolf handle it!
Cursing her own stupidity, she forced herself to focus. She had to stop Teio.
"But that logic doesn't apply to feelings," Eternal Meteor said quickly. "In this kind of thing, forcing someone only makes them dislike you more."
"Dislike…?"
"Yeah! At times like this, you're supposed to attract them with your brilliance on the track—your character, your charm—not by forcing them."
Like grabbing the last rope before drowning, Eternal Meteor latched onto Teio's reaction and kept talking.
"Don't… dislike me, okay?"
Teio's voice turned tearful again.
So you didn't listen to a word I said earlier, huh?
Whatever. It didn't matter. If this angle worked, she'd take it.
"Then let go of me first."
"No! If I let go now, you'll definitely run away!"
Her voice tipped toward hysteria. Teio had read romance novels on Heavy Artillery's bed—people who failed their confession always vanished from the story forever.
She refused to become that.
Eternal Meteor shut her eyes—not for any dramatic reason, but because the shouting right next to her ear made her eardrum hurt.
Even if she tried to turn her ear away, Teio's face blocked her.
"Don't worry," Teio said, voice suddenly soft again.
"I won't abandon you."
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 126)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter140)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter89)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (Chapter1165)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 145
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 135
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass 84
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 150
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 125
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 105
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player 53
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 80
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 66
Uma Musume: From Beginner 80
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 52
Uma Musume: I Want All 55
I Can Copy Unique Skills 53
Summoning an Evil God, but the 27
Supernatural Multiverse 27
My Harem Is Indescribable 26
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