Chapter 161: Hidden Relationship

The next day—

It wasn’t until the afternoon that Ephnel arrived at headquarters, together with Yukina.

Originally, Ephnel had planned to come first thing in the morning to discuss the matter she had mentioned to Masaki Hinaki on the phone two days ago.

In addition, getting Yukina registered in the combat identification system as an official Agent and undergoing her own post-operative check-up were also on Ephnel’s to-do list at headquarters.

However, despite intending to come in the morning, waking up at noon was a long-lost experience for Ephnel—and there was no doubt it was all Yukina’s fault.

Unlike the weary-looking Ephnel, Yukina seemed to be full of energy.

The rain last night didn’t stop until midnight, so naturally, Ephnel and Yukina’s “homework” continued late into the night before they returned home.

And after that, Ephnel was not let off easily.

In the bathroom while showering, in the kitchen while preparing a late-night snack, in the bedroom while sleeping… in short, Ephnel was tormented by Yukina for several hours straight.

The enhancement from Order energy provided benefits to all aspects of the body.

Thanks to this, Yukina didn’t feel tired from this level of physical exertion.

But Ephnel was different.

Because she was in a passive position at the beginning, Ephnel was at a disadvantage throughout the whole night of “homework.”

While enduring a trance that nearly overwhelmed her sanity, she also had to go along with Yukina’s pranks, being used carefully yet wantonly until Yukina was satisfied and she was finally released from her clutches.

By that time, she was already completely drained of strength.

It had to be said that Yukina’s aptitude for Order energy was indeed very high, which gave her great power and stamina.

But this was a torment for Ephnel.

After all, she was the one being “used,” while Yukina just had to play with and enjoy her.

Compared to the loss of physical strength, it was Ephnel’s long-strained mind that gave out first.

But thankfully, with the enhancement of Order energy, Ephnel didn’t completely lose consciousness and her dignity as an older sister in front of Yukina.

Of course, a retaliatory sleep-in was unavoidable, which was why Ephnel didn’t bring Yukina to headquarters until the afternoon.

“You’re not allowed to do that anymore. I’m your older sister, you know.”

Ephnel said, not forgetting to lecture Yukina a bit as she pressed the elevator button.

Yukina, however, just stuck out her tongue and gave a playful smile.

“I’ll listen to you, sis!”

‘Is she really listening!?’—Ephnel really wanted to ask that, but seeing Yukina’s smile, she suddenly couldn’t bring herself to say it.

After all, it was her own request at the beginning.

Even if she wanted to blame Yukina for it, she didn’t have solid ground to stand on.

Ultimately, being loved so intensely by Yukina was not something Ephnel herself found repulsive.

After the last time, and then again last night, her dignity as an older sister had been utterly destroyed.

“Ah, forget it…”

Ephnel sighed, not lingering on the topic.

“Later, I’ll have Hinaki register your name in the official Agent roster. From then on, you will act as an official combatant alongside me, facing the Erosion Organisms as a true warrior…”

She paused, looked at Yukina seriously, and asked softly, “Starting today, you’ll have to say a complete goodbye to your old life.”

“Mhm.”

What she received was Yukina’s blooming smile.

“As long as I’m with Naoko, I’m not afraid of anything.”

Ephnel looked at the determined glint in Yukina’s eyes, pursed her lips, and said no more on the matter.

“I will train you.”

“Mhm! I’ll work twice as hard to stand by Naoko’s side!”

Yukina gently hooked their intertwined fingers, touching them to Ephnel’s lips.

Ephnel first went for a post-operative check-up and had her medicine changed, then went straight to the command center to find Yonomori Nami.

Today, Yonomori Nami was back to her usual flashy, girly attire.

Seeing Ephnel and Yukina, she took the initiative to greet them.

However, Yonomori Nami noticed that Ephnel seemed a little strange today.

“Ephnel, you look a bit pale… Are you feeling alright?”

Yonomori Nami asked with concern.

In Yonomori Nami’s impression, Ephnel rarely showed such a look of listlessness.

And now, not only did Ephnel give off the illusion that she “would fall over with a light push,” but she also constantly exuded a fragile, girlish aura.

Yonomori Nami didn’t know how to describe this feeling—should she say her weak-girl aura had suddenly increased?

Or was it because of the gauze over her eye that one couldn’t help but associate the current Ephnel with words like “sickly”?

When Ephnel was hospitalized, Yonomori Nami had learned from the Commander that Ephnel’s right eye had gone blind.

She had been very worried about Ephnel’s condition.

Now that she finally had a chance to see her, seeing Ephnel’s right eye bandaged and her looking so listless, it was naturally even harder for her to feel at ease.

“Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing…”

Ephnel replied.

‘Is the soreness in my body that obvious?’

Being watched by Yonomori Nami’s sincere and concerned gaze, Ephnel subconsciously shied away, her face flushing slightly with embarrassment.

But this immediately made Yonomori Nami misunderstand in another direction.

“Ephnel, could it be… you’re on ‘that’? Should I get you some brown sugar ginger tea? I happen to have some in the office…”

“…”

Ephnel didn’t say anything, just shot Yonomori Nami a sharp glare.

It was true that “those days” were coming soon, but her slight discomfort right now wasn’t because of her “period,” but just the lingering soreness from overexerting herself during last night’s “homework.”

No matter what, this was still something Ephnel had a hard time getting used to.

Suddenly being brought up by Yonomori Nami, Ephnel just felt extremely embarrassed.

She really wanted to stuff Yonomori Nami’s mouth shut.

But faced with Yonomori Nami’s concern for her, she couldn’t just ignore such kindness.

“I’m fine…”

Ephnel waved her hand, her gaze shifting to shoot a resentful glare at Yukina beside her.

Yukina’s eyes curved slyly.

She covered her mouth and giggled, dodging Ephnel’s accusatory gaze.

“I just didn’t sleep well last night, so I’m a bit tired…”

This wasn’t a lie.

It really was just fatigue.

Although she felt a slight discomfort, it wasn’t a problem that would affect her activities.

Yonomori Nami obviously wouldn’t know what had happened between this intimate pair of sisters, and just tilted her head strangely.