NIKKE: Max Bonded but System Gone

"..."

"Forget it, since the Commander and Rapi said it that way, I won't press further."

Anis pouted, releasing the grip she had on Marian's shoulder, deciding not to pursue the matter any longer.

Although her instincts told her something had definitely happened in the Commander's office earlier, it was probably best not to ask now.

"Mm... But I really felt that Rapi seemed particularly... feminine just now," Neon said, adjusting her glasses. Although she appeared to be emotionally oblivious, her sharp intuition had already picked up an ambiguous air surrounding Rapi.

Rapi coughed lightly, offering no defense. Instead, she stood up. "We haven't completed today's patrol yet. Marian's education is up to you two for now."

"Nooo! Rapi~!"

"I don't want to babysit!"

Not bearing an ear, Rapi turned and walked off, as though making a decision.

Green, on the other hand, sat back in his chair, replaying the sensation of her warm lips in his mind.

Although he knew many Nikkes with all kinds of personalities, there was something uniquely alluring about Rapi. Beneath her strict exterior, she carried an undeniable, subtle sensuality that he hadn't encountered in anyone else.

After savoring the thought for a moment, Green stood up and addressed Anis and Neon in the room. "This afternoon, I'll be holding consultations with the Nikke as usual. Neon, Anis, Marian's education is in your hands for now. Also, there might be some supplies delivered to the Command Center's entrance. Please help me get them into the warehouse when they arrive."

"Got it, Master!"

"Understood, Commander~"

Anis saluted Green, but a faint frown tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Commander, is there really nothing between you and Rapi?"

Green walked over and gently patted her shoulder as if implying something. "Anis, sometimes you need to believe in yourself, don't you?"

"Oh! Got it! Commander, I understand what you mean."

Anis chuckled to herself. Since Green could say that, it meant that her relationship with him was closer than she thought. But upon reflection, that made sense.

Someone like Rapi, who was as stiff as a log, could only get a kiss or a hug from the Commander at best but Anis had already crossed into "Forbidden Zone" territory with him.

Thinking it through, she was clearly the one ahead in this "race."

"Heh heh! Don't worry, Commander, we'll take good care of Marian's education." Anis chuckled, "I'll make sure to teach her well, especially when it comes to snacks and sodas. She can't keep being this spoiled."

"Waah, Commander!!" When Anis gave Marian a fierce look, Marian immediately clung to Green's clothes and hid behind him. "Anis, you're bullying me!"

"Marian, get out from behind the Commander. Didn't I tell you not to touch the fridge earlier?"

"Commander, good! Anis, bad!"

"Whaaat?! Marian, you little troublemaker, I'm so mad!! I've never seen a brat like you in my life. Stand still! Today, I'm going to teach you a lesson!" Anis glared at Marian before raising her hands like claws.

"Anis is weak! She can't catch me!" Marin mocked Anis.

"What did you say? See if I don't smack you right here!"

Like a cat-and-mouse chase, Anis and Marian ran around the room, causing a whirlwind of papers and chaos. Even Neon had a helpless look on her face.

Green glanced at the papers flying through the air, sighed softly before he quickly left the commander's office.

Better to leave for now.

...

The afternoon passed in the usual fashion. Green arrived outside the consultation room at the Command Center, hung up the "Open" sign, and soon after, a Nikke knocked on the door.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Commander, are you there?"

"Come in."

The sound of high-heeled boots clacked against the floor as the door opened.

The first to arrive at the consultation room was none other than Privaty, dressed in a white uniform.

As a Nikke affiliated with the Central Government, Privaty was usually quite free, spending most of her days casually strolling around the Outpost base, stopping by for consultations and a little chat, before leaving flustered and red-faced.

"Privaty, are you usually this free?" Green asked as he stood up, poured a cup of instant coffee, and pushed it toward her.

"No, it's not that I'm really free. But compared to those Nikke who are often sent to the surface, I do have quite a bit of free time."

It seemed like being a civil servant on the Ark had its perks.

It was barely 2 p.m., and Privaty had already made her way to the Outpost base.

Meanwhile, other Nikke were either dispatched or executing surface tasks. Aside from special Nikke with named roles, most of the mass-produced Nikke rarely had any time off.

Perhaps this was the difference between contract workers and outsourcing.

Green took a sip of his coffee and continued, "So, what brings you here today?"

Privaty hesitated for a moment before asking, "Can't I come to see you if I don't have anything urgent?"

"No, it's fine," Green replied.

"Well then, I don't have anything major... I just happened to pass by," Privaty stammered. "Y-You shouldn't think too much into it! I definitely didn't come to the Outpost base just to see you or anything!"

"...." Green was speechless at this overly obvious tsundere.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Privaty, realizing she had said something wrong, turned slightly red in the face. After a while, she bit her lip and quietly said, "Alright, Commander, I admit it... I do have something I want to ask you."

"Hmm? What is it? Are you asking about the stage of my relationship with Rapi?" Green teased.

"Th-That's not it!"

Privaty blushed and lowered her head.

Green was such a fool, always teasing her about Rapi. Did he really understand how a girl's heart worked?

"Alright, since it's not that, what do you want to ask?" Green asked.

"Commander, wait a moment... let me gather my thoughts."

Privaty took a deep breath, organized her words, and then slowly began, "Actually, I have a friend..."

Green tilted his head, "A friend? Wait, is that friend actually you?"

"Commander! How do you know? Wait, I haven't even finished asking my question! Can't you just let me ask it first?"

"Sorry, go ahead," Green said, motioning for her to continue.

"Well then, I'll just say it plainly. Commander, do you believe in divination?" Privaty suddenly asked, staring at Green's face.

"Well, yeah. Sometimes, during holidays, I'll draw a fortune slip," Green replied casually.

"That's good then. Earlier, when I was out shopping, I passed by a fortune-telling shop. The fortune-teller said that my love life was unlucky and that I might never find my ideal boyfriend. Can you believe that? I paid for the reading, and she said such cruel things to me!" Privaty huffed, as though ready to roll up her sleeves in frustration.

"So, Privaty, are you upset because of that?" Green asked.

"Sort of, yeah."

"In that case, how about I do a reading for you?"

"Huh? Commander, I didn't know you could do divination!" Privaty blinked in surprise.

"I learned it back in school," Green explained, pulling a stack of tarot cards from a drawer and placing them on the table.

"Now, Privaty, close your eyes and ask your question. I'll draw the cards for you and give you an answer."

"Okay!" Privaty nodded, still feeling a bit uneasy.

"Remember, you can only ask one question. Too many questions and it won't work."

Privaty nodded and shut her eyes tightly.

Her mind raced with many thoughts, but in the end, her thoughts fixated on Green. The reason she was so upset today was because the fortune-teller had said she would never find her ideal man.

But her ideal man... was the Commander.

How could that fortune-teller say such things?

Privaty muttered in her heart, but then, a bit of fear crept in.

What if the cards turned out to be bad? Maybe she should ask a less direct question to avoid bad luck.

After thinking for a moment, she gathered her courage and, with a hint of shyness, asked, "Commander, how much longer will it take for me to find a boyfriend?"

As soon as the words left her lips, the sound of cards being shuffled filled the air.

Green glanced at the cards and placed them back down, then smiled at her and said, "Five."

"Five? What do you mean by five? Five years, five months, or five weeks?"

Privaty stared at Green, anxious. But the handsome man in front of her just continued, counting the numbers out loud.

"Four..."

"Three..."

"Two..."

"One..."

"!!!"