CHAPTER 164: BLURRY FRIENDSHIP LINE (III)

Ever didn’t immediately reply, instead looking at Rosa quietly before turning its attention back to Everlearn.

"May I have permission for a basic introduction?" It asked him, and he nodded.

"Hello there, Eva," it said, waving its hands, though the gesture came out strange since its hands were so flat.

For some reason, Rosa’s hands fell to her side as she stood there completely enraptured.

"I am Ever. The first AI module created by Everlearn Snowfall, and now implanted into his first Mech creation, the Everlight Mech."

"It’s a pleasure to meet a dear friend of his."

"I... I can’t believe it..." Rosa whispered, her breath catching as her heart thudded in her chest.

She turned back to Everlearn.

"You created a Mech!?"

"Yes. I did design one."

"How is that even possible? You’ve barely been in the Mech Institute division for a week." She moved closer to Ever, her fingers tracing the contours of the Everlight model.

It was incredible, and the fact that the one who had designed it was standing just a couple of steps away only heightened her euphoria.

Then she paused, realization crossing her mind.

"Is... is this... why?" she asked quietly, and he nodded.

"Yes. I’ve been working on a Mech project during my free time."

The truth finally dawned on her.

The second-year academy schedule was steep.

Even Rosa knew that, and she had a friend in the same Mech Design Institute as Everlearn, who had mentioned the grueling schedule, with free time only on weekends.

She had always wondered why he couldn’t see her even once during his weekends, but now, it finally made sense.

He was designing a Mech.

And looking at the Everlight before her, she quickly realized this was no ordinary hobby project.

The sleek form, the material she couldn’t even name, the overall design, everything reflected the extraordinary effort he put in.

A single project like this could take half a year for even large Mech organizations.

And yet he had pulled it off in three months, despite the steep academy schedule.

"I’m sorry," she whispered, turning her head down.

She had doubted him, thought so many wrong things about him, and even made him feel bad.

But the truth was exactly as he said, he had indeed been busy.

"No, I’m the one who should apologize," he said as she raised her head.

"I should have told you what I was doing to put your mind at ease, but I never did... I’m sorry." He turned his face to the side, though he couldn’t hide the red in his cheeks.

In the next second, Rosa stepped forward, flashing toward him, and he turned just in time for her to fall into his embrace."

"I’m happy."

A confused glint flashed in his eyes.

"And why is that?"

"I don’t know... but maybe because I was wrong," she whispered.

Everlearn paused, a glint of realization crossing his eyes, before he hugged her in return, whilst tapping her back twice.

"There, there, little pinky. It’ll all be okay."

His teasing words brought her back to her senses.

Her brows furrowed, and she suddenly grabbed at the side of his stomach, pinching his flesh tightly.

"YOW!" Everlearn exclaimed, jumping back from the sudden shock.

giggle

A giggle echoed through the snowy area as Rosa looked at him, wincing in pain.

"What did you do that for?"

"That’s your punishment for making me so worried," she said with a huff, turning to the side with a pout.

But her annoyed expression vanished the moment a snowball slammed into her face.

"YOU!"

"And that’s for the bullyings..." he said, holding a handful of snowballs in his hand.

"You donkey!" Rosa screamed, grabbing a handful of snow off the ground, but she was still too slow.

BAAAM!

BAAAM!

BAAAM!

Everlearn flung three snowballs at her, each bursting against her head, but she managed to scoop a few up and hurl them back.

A fierce snow battle erupted, and naturally, the mighty pink Rosa won, smashing him with a gigantic snowball that swallowed him whole.

She giggled in victory, but after ten seconds of silence, concern crept in.

"Hey, Everlearn, you there?"

No answer.

Her heart spiraled in panic as she dove into the snow to scoop him out.

When she reached the end, there was no sign of him. And in the next moment...

"BAAAAM!" Something knocked into her from behind, and she was sent flying into the snow hill.

"You! You donkey!" she screamed, popping her head out.

There behind her was Everlearn, standing there with a victorious grin, while dusting snow off his clothes.

"I guess we can both agree it’s my win..." he said.

She huffed angrily, but the expression quickly softened into a smile as she collapsed on the snow hill.

"I’ve always wanted to do this for so long. How I wish we could continue forever..." she mused quietly beneath her breath, but Everlearn’s sharp hearing caught it.

The words wiped the grin off his face, reminding him of that.

"Hey, Rosa."

She lifted her head to look down at him from the snow hill.

"About my leaving..." he said, pausing.

Realization crossed her eyes as she remembered.

"Will this really be the last time I see you?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"I plan to come back sometime later..."

"So, you really are leaving..." she whispered.

He remained silent, but that was enough of an answer.

"It’s just to get a couple of important things done."

"I’m still a second-year student in X-Guard, so you can take it as me just going on a quest..." he explained.

She hummed softly beneath her breath, a light of realization crossing her eyes, followed by an evil idea.

She sat up on the snow hill.

"Awwwn. Is someone trying to comfort me?" she teased.

Everlearn paused, his face turning red.

"You can’t be helped, can you?"

"Awwwn, and here comes his shyness." She teased further.

"Fine, I’m leaving," he said, turning his back, but he hadn’t taken a second step when he felt her hands wrap around him from behind, her breath sending a tingling sensation down his neck.

"Promise me..."

...