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February 20, 2026 at 1:22 PM
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The ninja's senses, heightened by training, became tense. Sheena and Colette were strolling near the camp while the boys went scouting, and Raine studied some strange inscriptions on a pillar—the only remaining trace of the ruins. Sheena tensed. Noticing this, so did Colette. Their worried gazes met! However, they didn't have long to look at each other… With a loud squeal, the girls fell into the hole. Fortunately, it wasn't deep, so they escaped with only a slight fright and minor bruises.
"I thought I was the only one in our group who has a strong affinity to falling into holes," Sheena noted, shaking herself off. She didn't like how this was starting to become a habit, but she tried to maintain a positive attitude.
"I just came along for the company,"Colette laughed awkwardly, following her example and straightening herself up. "If I don't fall funny at least once, the day will be a waste!"
"Funny!?" Sheena couldn't contain her surprise. She didn't see anything funny in falling. For a nimble ninja, such a thing was downright shameful…
"For example, I once fell at school and punched a hole in the wall."
Although there was a hint of awkwardness in Colette's voice, she spoke as if leaving holes in the wall was a normal occurrence. However, for Colette it was like that… As for Sheena, falling into holes.
"And falling together is more fun!" Colette laughed, as if it didn't hurt at all.
"Maybe it's better not to fall, but to support each other, so we can stay on our feet together?" Sheena said with a hint of resignation.
"Well, that's the ideal. For now, this is what we have."
Colette staggered, almost tripping again. However, she managed to stay on her feet! Which didn't stop her from hitting the lever covered in grass with her hip. Remembering her previous experience, Sheena braced herself for the worst, unable to avoid the inevitable: the ground beneath her had already opened up…
With a truly feminine shriek, Sheena plummeted into the dark unknown, mentally bidding farewell to life. Without feeling the impact with the ground, she opened one eye. Seeing that painfully familiar face, the very sight of which could cause nerve cells to die, Sheena wished she could fall through the earth again, just so Zelos wouldn't hold her in his arms anymore. And what? Three times in a row—that would be her record. A small achievement, but an achievement nonetheless.
"I hope you won't make a habit of falling on me?" Zelos grumbled: the catch, however wonderful, had taken its toll. His arms ached mercilessly, but he didn't let go of the pleasing girl. "You're not exactly a lightweight—your breasts alone are worth something. And from this height—even more so."
"You're a jerk!"
"But I said it with all my love."
Zelos dared to smile, either flirting or mocking, causing Sheena to desperately want to either break free or strike the insolent man harder. In the end, they both fell. But Zelos had the opportunity to hug Sheena tightly. Not so much out of love, but in self-defense, to keep Sheena from flailing her arms. And quietly, reproachfully and resentfully, he said in her ear:
"You could at least say thank you…"
This calmed Sheena down. She even felt a slight twinge of guilt: after all, Zelos had saved her from a senseless death.
Lloyd looked up, then at the couple who continued bickering—they always found a reason—then back at the hole, trying to understand what had happened. Everything fell into place when he spotted Colette's silhouette, illuminated by the sun, and waved.
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