"I say, have you guys touched enough yet?!"
Ellen sat on the chair, propping her chin with one hand, and glanced speechlessly at the spot behind her.
"Exactly, exactly, you guys are going too far."
"You've been touching for so long, when will it be my turn?"
Hoshimi Aya chimed in.
"Uh..."
Ellen rolled her eyes speechlessly upon hearing Hoshimi Aya.
"Alright, we're done touching."
After saying that, Ruby directly shoved Ellen into Hoshimi Aya's arms.
Hoshimi Aya:!!!
"Thank you."
After saying that, Hoshimi Aya grinned and started stroking Ellen's tail.
She went straight for a squeeze; last time, it was retracted after just one squeeze.
Being squeezed by Hoshimi Aya, Ellen reacted as if startled, turning her head to look at Hoshimi Aya beside her.
But since Ruby, Rin, and Mona were right there, she couldn't really lash out, so she could only glare at Hoshimi Aya resentfully.
"By the way, don't you guys have school?"
"I remember you're still a student, right, Ellen?"
Hoshimi Aya asked while playing with the tail.
"Oh, school is out today."
"It's Sunday today. If you looked at your phone, you wouldn't be asking such a question."
Ellen said in a flat tone while sipping her milk tea.
"Ellen, how can you talk like that?"
"We're friends after all, don't use that kind of sarcastic tone."
"Maybe she just hasn't checked her phone?"
Ruby said in a reproachful tone.
"Uh... Ruby, you can't put it like that either."
"Some people have a poor sense of time and just don't keep track of it."
"And they might not be clear on school holiday schedules."
Rin pondered.
"Yeah, true."
"I often forget what day of the week it is too."
Mona nodded.
Every time she forgot, she had to check her phone to find out.
"...Are you guys out playing together today?"
"Can I join you?"
"I happen to have no plans today, and I'm a bit bored."
Hoshimi Aya thought to herself.
She really was a bit bored today, and Belle didn't need her over there.
She could only wander around and see if anything was happening.
She didn't expect to run into Ellen.
She figured she might as well see if they could hang out together and bond a little.
Lucy and the others looked at each other, momentarily unsure how to answer.
They were indeed out to have fun today.
However, after exchanging looks for a moment, they nodded.
"Of course you can."
"Aya, come along with us."
Ruby said with a smile.
Since they all knew each other, there was no need to be stiff.
Besides, Miss Hoshimi Aya seemed to be on good terms with Ellen.
She also seemed very easy to get along with.
She gave off a naturally ditsy vibe, so there wasn't that awkwardness one usually feels with a stranger.
And from what they'd gathered just now, she was easy to talk to, not difficult at all.
"Great, I didn't know what to do today."
"Since you're willing to take me along, I'll be with you today."
Hoshimi Aya nodded.
The others nodded as well, preparing to set off.
Hoshimi Aya said goodbye to Coco and set off to play with the group.
...
The group played for the whole day, only saying their goodbyes as evening approached.
This shopping trip had been very beneficial for Hoshimi Aya.
Because they were all girls, they picked things that girls like when they went out.
Hoshimi Aya also learned quite a few little tips about being a girl that Belle had never taught her.
Sixth Street, Video Store.
"Aya, who did you go out to play with today?"
"How come you were out all day?"
Belle asked Hoshimi Aya as she returned home.
After all, this was the first time Aya had been out playing for an entire day.
Before, she would just go out to buy milk tea and come back after finishing it, usually bringing a cup back for them.
Being out for a whole day was a major event.
"Oh, didn't I go out?"
"I was having a cup of milk tea at Coco's place, and halfway through, I ran into Ellen and her classmates."
"I thought, you don't need me over here, and I was idle anyway."
"So I suggested joining them, and they agreed to take me along, so I went."
Hoshimi Aya explained, briefly recounting their outing at the same time.
"Ellen?"
"With Ellen's personality, she doesn't seem very easy to get along with. I didn't expect her to have so many friends."
"That's quite a surprise."
Belle nodded, feeling a bit surprised as she listened to Hoshimi Aya explain where they went and what they did.
"Yeah, any plans for tomorrow?"
Hoshimi Aya asked. Since her intelligence awakened, she felt everything was boring.
She didn't have many friends, except for Coco.
But Coco only had about three days off a month.
There were basically no opportunities to ask her out.
As for other Proxies, she felt embarrassed to ask them out.
Even if she did, she wouldn't know what to do.
She only knew about the few activities available in the game version of Zenless Zone Zero.
Now that this was a real world, there were many things she didn't know or understand.
So usually, she just did whatever Belle took her to do.
"There's something. We have to go to the Outer Ring again."
"Before you came back, Caesar and the others sent me a message."
"They said Perlman has woken up."
"I've already made arrangements with the Cunning Hares to set off for the Outer Ring tomorrow."
Belle nodded and shared the news.
"Going to the Outer Ring again?"
"Then I'll go pack."
"By the way, when are we leaving?"
Hearing Belle's words, Hoshimi Aya nodded and prepared to go upstairs for a bath—she had sweated a little today—but then she thought of something and stopped to ask.
"We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"Aya, you... should probably stay here."
"Your father sent my brother a message last night."
"He said you should try to stay in New Eridu as much as possible."
Belle went silent for a moment before speaking.
"???"
"What?"
"I'm going too."
"It's so boring staying here."
"There's nothing to do."
"I'll go talk to him later."
"On what grounds is he restricting me?!"
"I am now the complete aya."
"I'm not who I used to be. The current me is terrifyingly smart."
"I'm not like before. Haven't you noticed?"
Hoshimi Aya stated her stance, insisting on going along.
After all, there really was nothing to do if she stayed here, and she wouldn't know who to hang out with.
It was boring, she didn't quite understand how to use her phone, and there were some words she couldn't even read.
If she didn't go, she'd just be stuck at home being a shut-in.
"...Alright then."
"But Aya, you must be obedient. Don't make those unwise choices like before; it's very dangerous."
"The incident a few days ago was a good warning. You need to reflect on it constantly so you don't get tricked again."
"We won't be able to rescue you in time every single time."
Belle warned.
That time had been extremely dangerous, and she had even been locked in a lab for experiments.
It was quite perilous, but fortunately, nothing went wrong.
They had found her that same day.
"I know, but last time was just an accident."
"And I'm not who I used to be."
"Didn't I just say?"
"The current me is terrifyingly smart."
"In the next crisis like that, I won't hesitate."
"I will decisively swing my blade and keep you all safe."
Hoshimi Aya declared her stance, her eyes determined.
Seeing this, Belle could only nod helplessly.
After all, looking at Hoshimi Aya's current expression, it was clear she hadn't taken the previous incident to heart at all.
And no matter what Belle said, Aya wouldn't care, as Aya's strength indeed meant she didn't need to worry about schemes and plots.
In 99% of situations, she had the power to simply bulldoze through.
...
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