“Mm~”
Facing the setting sun, Lynae stretched lazily to her heart’s content.
Megumi then remembered that she had mentioned taking him and the Rover to collect some kind of tapes earlier.
However, looking at it now, it seemed she just wanted to drag him and the Rover along to play for a while longer.
“Phew, the weather today is great. Racing through the breeze with the sunset is definitely the best!” As she spoke, Lynae turned to look at Megumi and the Rover.
“So, how was it? Isn’t racing exhilarating?”
Megumi could feel that her question was mostly directed at him.
The Rover had been very calm throughout the journey, quickly adapting to Lynae’s speed.
It seemed as though she was used to facing such thrilling scenarios.
But Megumi was not.
Lynae could see Megumi’s stiffness while riding the motorcycle along the way.
“It was okay. It was my first time riding a motorcycle so fast.”
Megumi savored the feeling he just experienced.
To be honest, he used to look down on racing, as it easily brought to mind negative things like noise pollution or delinquent youths.
However, after being taken for a spin by Lynae, he no longer felt that way.
With the unprecedented high speed combined with the beautiful scenery and the company of friends, Megumi felt that during the ride…
“It felt very free, very carefree, as if everything was being left behind.” This was his formal reply to Lynae.
“Right, right! If you race with me more in the future, Megumi, you’ll definitely come to love this feeling even more!”
After hearing Megumi’s response, Lynae activated the rollers on her shoes and began circling around Megumi and the Rover.
“You should also pay attention to safety occasionally and not speed recklessly.”
To this, the Rover offered a helpless reminder from the side.
Recalling her previous explanations and care, Megumi felt that the Rover had quite a few ‘motherly’ traits.
“Hehe, I’ll be careful.”
Lynae pressed her palms together and winked apologetically at the Rover, then faced the sunset again, reaching out her hand toward the horizon as if to grasp it.
Megumi remembered her saying that the sky here was fake.
“Thank you, Rover, Megumi, for being willing to race with me.” Lynae’s expression suddenly became serious.
“Talking like that all of a sudden makes people worry, as if you’re about to do something big,” Megumi joked.
Hearing Megumi speak like that, Lynae’s brow twitched slightly, and then she revealed her signature bright smile again.
“It’s nothing, I’m just really grateful you guys were willing to come for a ride with me. Everyone in the Academy is usually very busy.” Lynae spoke as she looked toward the Academy.
“But I don’t blame them. On the contrary, I really like how they strive so hard for their goals. It’s very vibrant, and seeing it makes me want to do the same.”
Hearing her say this, Megumi couldn’t help but look toward the Academy as well.
Even though the sun was about to set, many students were still rushing about.
Megumi thought they were probably doing so for their studies.
“To be honest, I don’t really understand,” Megumi said suddenly.
In his impression, rushing about for studies wasn’t something particularly worthy of praise.
Everyone usually frowned and cursed while being forced to move forward.
Most people came to university just so they could leave it faster.
It wasn’t where their goals lay; at most, it was just a transit station or a waiting room in life.
Hearing Megumi’s words, Lynae didn’t rush to contradict him, but simply continued to spin around casually.
“That’s because you’ve just arrived at the Academy, Megumi. Later on, you’ll see it—the way students smile and then resolutely march forward.”
As she spoke, Lynae circled around Megumi.
“Then you’ll understand why I love the Academy so much. Maybe you’ll even be infected by it later.”
Pat.
At that moment, the Rover came to Megumi’s side and placed her hand on his shoulder.
Megumi looked at her face and found that her beautiful golden eyes were looking at him intently.
Although the Rover said nothing, he felt as if those golden pupils were encouraging him.
“Thank you both.”
Faced with their kindness, Megumi certainly wouldn’t be so tactless as to say anything discouraging, so he smiled and thanked them.
“Hehe, let’s go. Next, as your senior, I’ll take you to the place where tapes are imprinted.” Saying this, Lynae hopped back onto her vehicle.
“Then we’ll be in your care, Senior Lynae,” the Rover teased.
Hearing this unusual form of address from the Rover, Lynae scratched her head in embarrassment.
Besides, she felt that being called by her name made their relationship feel closer.
Vroom vroom vroom!
Afterward, Megumi and the Rover rode the motorcycle, following Lynae to the Intermodal Vertebra she had introduced earlier.
After parking the vehicle, Lynae pointed out the vertical track that reached straight into the sky for Megumi and the Rover.
“This is your next destination. Once the train arrives at the track, just board it to reach the Research Institute above.”
Upon closer inspection, Megumi found that this track was much larger than he had previously imagined.
“Because the Void Magnetic Storm has been active recently, the Academy has closed the path to the surface of the Roya Frostlands.”
While introducing this to Megumi and the Rover, Lynae scratched her cheek sheepishly.
“I’ll have to take you up there when there’s time in the future. After all, these are extraordinary times.”
She seemed to feel a bit guilty that, as their senior, she couldn’t lead the way for them.
“It’s okay. The Rover and I have only just arrived. We’ll probably get used to life in the Academy first before considering going to the icefield surface.”
Megumi’s consolation made Lynae breathe a sigh of relief.
“Then it’s a deal! However, I can’t take you to imprint the tapes next because…”
Vroom vroom vroom vroom!
Before Lynae could finish her sentence, the train arrived at the nearby track with a roar.
“So fast! Uh… I’m really sorry, Megumi, Rover! If I skip any more classes, I’ll definitely fail!”
Saying this, Lynae pressed her palms together and bowed slightly to apologize.
Megumi and the Rover weren’t angry; they just smiled helplessly.
“Go on and get busy. Megumi and I will have each other’s company, so it’ll definitely be fine,” the Rover said gently.
“Yeah! If anything happens, contact me via feixun on your Terminal!”
Lynae said as she ran off.
Afterward, the Rover looked at Megumi beside her.
“Let’s go.”
“Yeah.”
Since Megumi didn’t have a Terminal, even if Lynae really sent them a message, he could only stay close to the Rover.
And just as Lynae left the Rover and Megumi’s sight, her expression suddenly turned solemn, completely unlike her previous cheerful and lively self.