Chapter 39: Many More Next Times
[Check Out My P4treon For +20 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/talkfictome]
===
"Hmm... just as I thought, the coffee here is excellent. Is it because the owner is a machine?"
Zhu Yuan held her cup, took a slow sip, and offered her evaluation. The aroma had been drawing her in from across the street, and the flavor in her hand was impeccable from every angle.
"I'm glad you like it. Master Tingman has won more awards than I have fingers, and his robotic precision is... well, satisfactory," Kenji said with a smile. He was enjoying his own New Eridu Special Blend. It was pure, unadulterated coffee—the kind of flavor that, once it hooked you, made everything else taste like dishwater.
"Being able to get coffee like this just by walking downstairs... I'm actually a bit envious," Zhu Yuan noted, glancing up at the ceiling. To her, the idea of living above a shop was a novel, cozy experience.
Kenji bit his tongue to keep from blurting out that she could live there forever if she wanted to. Without Zero-Two Dad's predictive prompts, he was a complete amateur in the game of love, wandering aimlessly through the conversation.
"Next time... if there's an opportunity, I'll show you my place," Kenji ventured. He knew it was too late and too soon to invite her up tonight, but he wanted to test the waters.
"Okay. Then next time," Zhu Yuan agreed without a moment's hesitation.
Kenji was stunned. He wanted to call out to the 02 System and ask if this counted as a significant favorability spike or just a routine "subordinate inspection."
"It's nice to steal a moment of leisure like this," Zhu Yuan continued, her gaze drifting toward the neon-lit street outside the window. "The PSB's workload is constant. I rarely get time to just... breathe. This is only happening because you invited me, Kenji. Otherwise, I'd probably be at my desk right now, drowning in paperwork."
"Then we should make sure we have many more opportunities like this," Kenji said, his courage bolstered by the quiet atmosphere. Confidence was a dangerous thing; when things went this well, it was easy to get a little "inflated."
"Hmm. First, we have to ensure we survive the next mission. You need to take good care of yourself, Kenji." Zhu Yuan's orange eyes fell on him, her smile radiating a warmth that always managed to catch him off guard.
As he stared at her, mesmerized, her phone suddenly shattered the moment. Professional habit took over; she answered within a second.
"Senior Qingyi? Yes... okay, I understand. I'll tell Kenji." Zhu Yuan's voice faltered slightly. "Dating? No, no! How could you—? We're just having coffee. It's a work-related debrief!"
She hung up, her face flushed and her expression strained. Their "small secret" had been outed by Qingyi, who was clearly having the time of her life teasing them.
"Was it something urgent?" Kenji asked, trying to steer the conversation back to safety.
"Yes. Senior informed me that we're heading to Hollow Zero tomorrow for an Elimination operation."
Zhu Yuan's expression settled into a neutral, professional mask. For her, Hollow Zero was a regular occurrence, but Kenji was surprised.
"So soon? We didn't get a briefing or any lead time."
"Hollow Zero is different," Zhu Yuan said, lowering her voice. She glanced around the shop, realizing the public setting wasn't suitable for discussing the Old Capital. She got up from across the table and sat down right next to him.
Kenji felt a faint, feminine scent as she leaned in, her lips almost brushing his ear as she whispered.
"The cleanup schedule for the Old Capital isn't fixed. You can go every day, or once a month. But when the Ethereal activity spikes, the response must be immediate. Usually, once we neutralize the Ether-borne leader, the distortion stabilizes for a while."
Kenji's mind drifted for a split second—the proximity was intoxicating. When he refocused, her beautiful eyes were gazing at him with an intensity that demanded his full attention.
"I understand. I'll give it everything I've got," Kenji nodded.
Zhu Yuan saw no fear in him, only a quiet resolve. She admired that, but her worry was evident.
"Kenji, you just became a regular. Honestly, you shouldn't be going into a zone that lethal yet. But I know you won't stay behind, so just... prioritize your safety. This isn't just our squad; we'll be part of a larger strike team. Hollow Zero is stable in its geometry, so accidents are rare, but..."
She paused, the weight of her words sinking in.
"Hollow Zero has the highest casualty rate for new recruits. Over 90% of rookies who enter never walk out, and the ones who do often suffer from permanent Ether corrosion. It's a meat grinder, Kenji. The Ethereals in there are inexhaustible. Even veterans can disappear in a heartbeat. I've seen too many people lose their futures in that place."
She looked at him, her gaze lingering a second too long. She had developed feelings for him—feelings she wasn't quite ready to name—and the thought of his "future" being buried in the Old Capital was a reality she simply couldn't accept.
===
Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 55 on my patreon, go check it out
exclusive 18+ character images, and early chapters, please visit my Patreon. Thanks for your support!
p4treon.com/talkfictome
if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Every 10 Power Stones == Bonus Chapter
every three 5-star reviews == Bonus Chapter