Returning to the Sky City, Gojo Sorai moved toward the sixth-floor training hall just like Sakashita Tomoyo. Both had the same determination - strength was necessary to protect what mattered most. Yet hidden beneath Gojo's resolve lay a secret ambition... she wanted to outshine every other woman and stand at the very front!

Not everything that shines is gold, and even rusted iron can glow when polished. Though Sorai didn't consider herself mere scrap metal, she wasn't yet the radiant gemstone capable of casting light on her own.

This yearning for brilliance, for surpassing those women, had become an obsession. It was also why she'd chosen not to form a bond with Lin Luo...

Lin Luo walked beside her until they reached the sixth floor. The moment Sorai opened her training hall's door, two adjacent rooms suddenly cracked open as well.

"Haaah, this nosebleed was really tough on me, Miss Kira... Ah!" "I thought I'd die from it all, Yellow Spring Senior, how are you?"

Two girls' voices echoed simultaneously through the doors before halting mid-sentence. Their surprise crystallized when they spotted Lin Luo and Gojo Sorai standing there.

Lin Luo recognized them instantly - on his left stood a girl with waist-length black hair wearing flowing white sleeves, her tired yet carefree face betraying no tension as she spoke in Kansai dialect. Her companion was the exact opposite - the girl with a single ponytail exuded solemnity despite her pretty features, fingers ready to draw her sword from its scabbard.

These were of course Konoe Mononoke and Sakuramon Chisa. Though time had passed since their last meeting, their essences remained unchanged while their strength had grown noticeably deeper.

From the right emerged another pair - one girl with cascading black hair wearing a tight-fitting black dress that accentuated her perfect figure, radiating mature charm. Beside her stood the younger girl in similar attire but wrapped in iron chains around her arms, her bobbed hair contrasting with her slightly awkward appearance.

Of course these were none other than Ienaga Yellow Spring and Dozuki Jinra. While Yellow Spring remained unchanged save for added restraint, Jinra had transformed dramatically - from a childlike figure to the confident heroine of the main story arc.

Four girls stood before them: one lesbian maid-and-mistress duo, another set of sisterly bonds. Though originating from different worlds, their similarities were striking. The conversation that had flowed between them froze instantly upon seeing Lin Luo.

Chisa and Yellow Spring maintained composure despite inner turmoil. But Mononoke and Jinra simply could not contain themselves any longer.

"Sensei!"

"Onii-sama!"

Lin Luo was caught in a sudden whirlwind of affection as both girls rushed into his arms, tears streaming down their cheeks.

The physical comfort felt natural yet oddly burdensome. Since teaching at Mashiro Academy, Mononoke had always addressed him formally as "sensei," while Jinra's gentle nature led her to call him "older brother." Though neither relationship was official anymore, these ingrained habits created an undeniable tension.

Especially since Gojo Sorai stood watching them from just a few feet away.

As Lin Luo soothed the weeping girls, he glanced toward Sorai who caught his gaze and shot him a venomous glare before striding into her training hall with regal hauteur. The door slammed shut behind her - she knew such situations were inevitable, but witnessing it still ignited her fury.

Lin Luo's chuckle turned to discomfort as he noticed his shirt now soaked in tears. As the so-called "King of Conquests," he loved dramatic comedies with tearful twists. But actually experiencing this? It left him feeling awkward and overwhelmed. He preferred facing life's challenges with casual ease, not drowning in emotional storms.

"Sensei really did return?" Mononoke murmured dazedly.

"Of course - flesh and blood, no imposter here."

"Onii-sama, it's so good to see you again..." Jinra's eyes misted over anew.

"I'm just as happy to see you both," Lin Luo smiled softly, gently wiping away their tears. Yellow Spring and Chisa joined them moments later - their calmer personalities allowed graceful greetings instead of dramatic sobs.

Soon the tearful reunion gave way to casual conversation at the main hall's first floor, where they shared meals while catching up on lost time. Lin Luo inquired about Ayao's whereabouts without mentioning her name outright. The others confirmed she'd been absent - a logical explanation given his month-long absence equated to only three or four days in this world.

Interactions with these four girls proved surprisingly harmonious compared to other relationships. Mononoke's inherent generosity was evident from how she introduced Chisa to their group at Mashiro. For Jinra and Yellow Spring, while not entirely free of jealousy, their feelings for Lin Luo remained more familial than romantic - a dynamic that had persisted since the beginning.

Even when sibling-like conflicts arose between them (like competing for attention), they never escalated due to their mature approaches.

Time flowed peacefully until it came time to renew their heart contracts. The girls needed no convincing after agreeing before, unlike Sakashita Tomoyo or Gojo Sorai who required trials.

Mononoke and Jinra unexpectedly disputed the signing order - the former insisted on first-come-first-served while the latter argued for numbers superiority. Their argument amused Lin Luo; apparently even reserved women had their moments of possessiveness.

After Chisa and Yellow Spring mediated, they finally agreed to follow the original sequence.

As Mononoke closed her eyes awaiting the kiss, she noticed Lin Luo's hesitation toward Chisa watching intently beside him.

"Because I'm the lady-in-waiting - my duty is constant vigilance," Chisa stated matter-of-factly.

Lin Luo found this odd change in demeanor suspicious. Previously Chisa would blush at romantic topics now she seemed unnaturally composed, though sweat was already pooling on her back beneath that cool exterior.

"Don't mind it, she's practically family!" Mononoke shrugged off the situation with surprising nonchalance.

"Very well," Lin Luo nodded before pressing his lips to hers.

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