Lin walked into the room with heavy steps. The moment he entered, the door behind him slammed shut. He turned silently to look at the closed door, then back at the smiling Aponia.
[Griseo is still sleeping.] His fingers trembled slightly as he typed.
"It's alright... I will try to be as quiet as possible..."
Is being quiet the issue here?
However, no matter how reluctant Lin was, this was a promise he had made, and Lin would never betray his word.
"Please... come over."
Aponia beckoned. Lin could only move his legs and walk toward her.
"Please, lie on my lap."
Lie on her lap?
In this massive "prison," the only place where light could penetrate was in front of Aponia. It was exactly where her fair, smooth thighs were as she knelt on the floor. It didn't seem particularly strange—at least not as bizarre as Vil-V.
"What is the matter?" Seeing him hesitate, Aponia tilted her head, her beautiful brown hair spilling from her veil.
"...It's nothing."
Lin took a deep breath and removed his helmet. Aponia gazed at his face after the helmet was removed, catching a glimpse of the inconspicuous silvery-white at the tips of his hair. He slowly leaned down and lay on Aponia lap, face outward.
...And then?
Then, Aponia seemed to have no further instructions. She sat in the side-glow of the moonlight, looking down at the profile of Lin face in the moonlight on her thighs. Her gaze softened considerably when she saw the cross around his neck through his collar.
Lin stared at the darkness outside the bars. Was this the world Aponia had always seen?
Shh... shh...
Suddenly, a slight sound resonated in Lin ears, one that instantly soothed the brain.
"On that day, He fell from the heavens. The people on earth looked up and saw the starry sky..."
Aponia hummed a low nursery rhyme, holding a small ear-pick in her hand, gently rotating the tip and stroking the inside of Lin ear, producing a pleasant, soft rustling.
Lin lay still, dazed. Although he had no sense of touch, he felt Aponia tenderness transmit into his mind through those tiny movements, and his tensed spirit relaxed. Just listening to that sound rubbing in his ear gave him a long-lost feeling of total physical and mental relaxation.
In the quiet Deep End, even the intermittent low growls had vanished. Only Aponia low humming and the bell-like sounds echoing in his ears remained in the world.
Unknowingly, a long time passed. Aponia stopped, leaned down to blow gently into Lin ear canal, and whispered: "Is it comfortable?"
"..."
Lin did not answer. Aponia leaned forward slightly and saw Lin serene sleeping face glowing white under the moonlight. She smiled gently, stroking his hair, sitting in the light with her eyes closed, peacefully enjoying this corner of tranquility.
Time was stretched very thin.
...
When Lin woke up again, he felt as if he had slept for an eternity, as if a century had passed between closing and opening his eyes. His whole body felt a lazy sense of satisfaction, much like waking up on a school morning and not wanting to leave the warm covers.
Did I fall asleep?
He lifted his head slightly, then stopped. Something soft that he could sink into was pressing against his head.
"..."
Aponia was also resting with her head down, and her overly magnificent bosom was draped over the side of his face, making it impossible to even see her face. That bountiful beauty rose and fell with its owner's sweet breathing.
...Wait, why did he use the word "sweet"?
Lin could actually smell a faint fragrance coming from Aponia body, filling his nasal cavity and flooding his consciousness.
Has my sense of smell returned?
No, aside from this fragrance, Lin couldn't smell anything else.
In his confusion, he didn't realize that Aponia had long since opened her eyes, the crimson within them swirling.
...As a nun, her patience was high, but she wasn't someone who could endure everything. For instance, when Lin arrived here carrying more than one scent from other people, her mood wasn't necessarily as good as it appeared.
Therefore, the most direct way of "revenge" was to replace the scents of others. Furthermore, she could use her ability to make Lin consciousness "think" he was smelling her scent—something no one else could do.
Thus, Lin lay there for several hours wrapped in Aponia body fragrance, smelling that scent he found somewhat strange, until Aponia "woke up."
...
On the transport plane back, Lin ate simple carbohydrates for breakfast, contemplating as he ate.
Currently, Prometheus had been handed over to Vil-V for repairs. Elysia went to handle the Honkai energy disturbances in certain areas following the eruption. Mei was tirelessly researching the Eighth Herrscher. Everyone else had things to do; only he was nominally an "injured person" who seemingly could do nothing.
How did I suddenly become so idle?
But it gave him time to consider a few things. Just as he connected to the Fire Moth database to look up some information, his communicator rang. He glanced at the contact and paused for a few seconds.
Then, he closed the database and answered the call.
"..."
"..."
Both sides were so silent that only the sound of breathing remained.
"...Lin, can I come to see you now?"
"..."
There was much bitterness and sorrow in the voice; Lin almost didn't recognize it as Sakura. Did something happen to her?
"..."
However, Lin couldn't speak now either. He could only listen silently to Sakura, hoping she would understand his silent consent. But this silence, falling on Sakura ears, carried a different meaning.
"I see... I'm sorry..."
... Why apologize for no reason again?
Ever since Lin met Sakura, he hadn't quite understood this lady assassin. She seemed to always think about many things in her head, and when she did speak, she often only stated the conclusion, leaving others completely confused about what she meant.
Lin listened to the busy tone of the disconnected call, bewildered. It seemed he would have to find Sakura after he got back.
Am I really that bad at socializing? It felt like something unexpected always happened when interacting with girls. Either things weren't explained clearly, or only half was said, and he had to guess what they were thinking or which trivial matter was the cause of their anger.
He finished his breakfast gloomily. The transport plane had landed on the helipad. However, what Lin could never have imagined was that what was about to happen next would multiply his troubles tenfold.