Time came to the end of the ball.
The drizzle had gradually stopped. Under the umbrella printed with Homu patterns, raindrops dripped onto the fresh ground.
Actually, rain was not suitable for a ball in the first place, but Theresa insisted that the rain made for a good atmosphere.
Everyone waited until the end, but Yunduo never arrived.
Instead, batch after batch of Valkyries from St. Freya Academy arrived. Among them were many Valkyries who liked Bitter Gourd Juice, and they shared a table full of bitter gourd products with Theresa.
With a piece of steak stuffed in her mouth, Kiana mumbled like a little squirrel, "What is that guy Yunduo doing?"
"It couldn't really be like what Bronya said, that he's still sleeping in, right?"
"That, maybe he's not feeling well. We'll find out when we go back later. I mean, Kiana..."
Beside her, Mei lowered her voice, attracting a certain Kiana's attention.
"Have you noticed? Bronya's mood seems a bit off today."
"Off? Could it be that time of the month?" Kiana swallowed a juicy piece of meat and suddenly remembered something, saying, "Eh~ Speaking of which, Fu Hua told me that in Shenzhou it's called 'Aunt'. Why say it like that?"
In the distance, Theresa heard the voice and shouted: "Kiana, you called me?"
"Oh, I wasn't talking about you, Aunt. I was talking about something else."
Hearing this, Theresa turned her head back in confusion and continued playing the Homu puzzle with Bronya.
At this time, before Kiana and Mei could figure it out, suddenly...
A large group of people wearing Homu costumes entered the ball, their true faces hidden.
It was just one big Homu family.
Homu, houmi, and Huola—they were all there.
Theresa brought a small chair, stood on it, and announced: "Everyone, it's now time for the final Homu game! Everyone gather around, let's play a little game together!"
Beside her, Bronya yawned, her expression calm.
She was interested in those Homu dolls, but little games weren't to her taste.
Several Homus surrounded everyone.
A yellowish, ugly Homu with patches on its costume also stood beside Bronya.
Looking at the motionless, silly-looking Homu in front of her, Bronya's lip twitched.
Mr. Homu isn't like this at all.
Homu's character is a hero, an existence that can break through all darkness.
Not... a bumbling fool who almost lost its head by bumping into a table.
"These Homus are all students from the Academy~ To help students get to know each other, each of them has a few small slips of paper in their hands. You pick one, and there's a random question on it. Please answer seriously."
"Whoever answers best and with the most sincere emotion will get a reward!"
After Theresa finished speaking, she pulled a set of manga from under the table. It was the latest roam adventure manga.
Hearing these words, everyone became interested.
Bronya was no exception; she hadn't bought that set of manga yet.
First was Kiana, who poked the houmi in front of her with great curiosity, looking at the several rolled-up slips of paper in its hand.
Then, she glanced at the motionless houmi, her eyes suddenly flashing with craftiness, and she whispered secretly: "Hey hey~ classmate! Can you tell me which one is the easiest? It's not a math problem, is it?"
"Hey hey! No cheating, or you'll be disqualified!!!"
Theresa shouted to stop her.
"Hmph, this young lady was just joking."
Kiana snorted, picked up a slip of paper at random, and unrolled it to take a look.
"What? Asking if I've done anything evil?"
"What kind of question is that?" Kiana was completely bewildered.
"Please answer truthfully, contestant Kiana!" Theresa shouted seriously.
"Uh..."
Kiana frowned, thought for a long time, and finally managed to squeeze out a few words.
"Maybe, once when a pizza delivery arrived, I was so hungry that I secretly took a bite out of the customer's pizza."
"But, but I know it was very wrong. It was just because I was starving. Later, I used my own money to buy an identical one and delivered it to that customer."
Her face turned beet red as she spoke of this.
The people around her let out a chorus of "ohs," as if they'd heard something incredible.
Only Tesla's eyes suddenly widened: "What? No wonder I thought there were teeth marks on the pizza I ordered last time, and then I inexplicably got a durian pizza. So it was from you!" "Eh heh~"
"Don't think you can charm your way out of this! I'm giving you a bad review!!!"
"What's wrong with it? Many people would fight for a beautiful girl-flavored pizza."
Everyone took turns playing, and then it was Bronya's turn.
She blinked, looking at the Patch Homu in front of her, who held several small slips of paper in its hand.
According to the rules, she was supposed to randomly pick one herself.
However, the Patch Homu, while no one was looking, secretly pinched the remaining slips of paper with its fingers, leaving only one within Bronya's reach.
It seemed to be secretly helping her cheat... Bronya thought of someone equally foolish at this moment, but her anger hadn't subsided, so she didn't want to bother with that person for now.
Perhaps in another second or two.
Or perhaps when that person appeared before her, Bronya's anger would finally disappear.
Looking at the silly, seemingly fawning Patch Homu doll, Bronya reached out her hand.
However, she didn't take the easily accessible slip of paper.
Instead, with her fingertips, she forcefully pried open one that Homu was holding down with its thumb.
"…"
Under its pleading, unwilling expression, Bronya increased her strength.
Although she couldn't see the expression of the person under the mascot suit, Bronya somehow felt it was very wronged, almost on the verge of tears.
And indeed, the Patch Homu's two yellow ears trembled slightly, utterly aggrieved.
Doing this made Bronya feel a little guilty, yet also a little happy.
Realizing that the slip of paper it least wanted to give away had been snatched, the Patch Homu tried to escape, taking a step backward.
This scene was seen by the domineering Little Rabbit, who quickly grabbed Homu's fluffy Tail with her hand, holding it back to prevent it from sneaking away.
"Don't go!"
Bronya said fiercely.
"…"
The Patch Homu doll trembled, standing still in distress.
"Bronya, what's written on your slip of paper?" Kiana asked.
"It asks—what Bronya dislikes the most."
Bronya replied, still holding Homu's Tail.
"Eh~ Is it me? It must be, right? Bronya calls me an idiot every day, hmph!" Kiana nodded.
"No, Kiana hasn't taken up such a significant position in Bronya's heart."
Bronya shook her head, temporarily releasing the Tail in her hand, and spoke a name that surprised everyone.
"It's Big Sister Yunduo!"
Her words made everyone's eyes widen, freezing in place, waiting for her explanation.
Did she make a mistake? She wasn't talking about what she liked most.
"Bronya really dislikes Big Sister Yunduo, of course, only right now."
"Because she always tries to make Bronya happy, then piles up all the pressure in her heart."
"She always likes to face difficulties alone, holding up a protective umbrella, but she doesn't know that everyone cares about her."
"She always anticipates something but doesn't dare to say it, her courage is too small."
"If she said it, Bronya would definitely not refuse..."
Under Homu's bewildered expression, Bronya took a deep breath.
"So, Big Sister Yunduo, I—"
She inhaled, her calm demeanor somewhat excited.
All her emotions, at this moment, transformed into the most heartfelt confession.
Just waiting to see that person's face, to say it amidst her moved expression!
Bronya, with the warmest gesture, slowly removed the Patch Homu doll's head.
The person she imagined did not appear!
—What was revealed was a bewildered Fu Hua, phone in hand, her face illuminated by the green light of a gacha pull!
Bronya: "???"
However, she didn't notice.
Nearby, at the last moment, Yunduo, who had secretly swapped places with Fu Hua.
As Bronya was dumbfounded, she quietly moved behind her and hugged her waist tightly.
She whispered in her ear:
"I won't hide anything from Bronya anymore."
"So, when will you fulfill what you promised?"
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