It was an ordinary yet extraordinary day.

For some, it was utterly mundane. But for someone as energetic as Melly, today was special.

"Hey, you two! Do you know what day it is?"

Early that morning, Melly dashed into the washroom, whispering mysteriously to the two sisters brushing their teeth inside.

"We know, we know!"

Cleyna sounded equally excited.

"?"

Alena didn’t catch on. "What day?"

"Huh? You really don’t know?"

Melly gaped, as if spotting a Martian.

"Today’s Valentine’s Day, silly girl," Cleyna said, hanging her towel back up, exasperated with her sister. She couldn’t believe Alena had forgotten.

"Oh~"

Alena’s eyes lit with understanding—then dulled back to her usual blank stare. Deadpan, she added in a faintly pitying tone, "But… what does it have to do with us?"

"!!!"

Her words hit like ice water.

Melly and Cleyna finally faced their grim reality.

Valentine’s tradition meant giving chocolates. Yet besides them three, only… a repressed stick-in-the-mud, a shut-in otaku… and the sole maybe-option, Lixin… whose mood depended on this airheaded girl…

They’d exchange chocolates among themselves, sure. But that lacked the thrill. No surprise when everyone knew.

Ugh…

"…………"

Silence hung thick. After an eerie pause, Melly chirped with forced cheer, "N-no worries! Even if giving them chocolates is pointless, we can still enjoy making them, haha…"

It sounded… unconvincing.

"Sigh…"

Hating to crush their spirits, Alena sighed. "Then let’s head out soon to buy supplies and make them back home?"

Homemade Valentine’s chocolates felt more meaningful than store-bought.

"Yay!"

Melly’s energy bounced back. Cleyna perked up too—they’d never properly celebrated this at the academy, so anticipation buzzed.

Elwin, usually the earliest riser, still snored deeply after Qin Fan and Lixin dragged him into all-night gaming. A perfect chance. The trio had to rush down for ingredients before those dead-to-the-world sleepers noticed. Surprise was key—they were certain none knew it was Valentine’s Day.

The Battleship hovered just above the blind spot of Huaxia’s eastern coastal defense line, facing the gap. Land wasn’t far. With Melly’s help, they reached a mall swiftly, ready for their shopping spree.

"Whoa…!"

Goodness. Barely past nine—they’d come early—but the mall was already packed.

"Why so many people!?"

Melly wilted. Stores blared Valentine’s deals. Most shoppers were paired girls or couples. The air hummed with lovelove vibes, thick enough to turn pink…

"…"

Cleyna and Melly felt the world’s malice. Hands clamped over mouths, tears welling, they choked on wordless sobs…

Alena just watched them spiral.

"No! We haven’t lost!"

Cleyna suddenly thrust a fist skyward, tears streaming, voice tragically determined: "Ignore these damn couples! Remember our huge advantage? We can get revenge!"

"W-what!?"

Melly snapped upright. "A way to get back at these jerks!?"

Like cartoon villains plotting chaos, they schemed.

"We’ll use our innate edge—our abilities—to snatch everything first! Leave them empty-handed!"

No, no—that had nothing to do with powers. Money mattered more.

"Oh! Brilliant!"

Melly, the gullible fool, bought it. Cleyna grabbed her hand, pointing ahead: "Charge! For our grand plan!"

"Hahaha…!!"

*Don’t cause trouble…* Alena stayed put, watching the power-blinded idiots vanish. *Ugh.*

Shopping with them would shred her decade-built dignity. She’d wander alone.

………………

………………

Meticulous Alena worked fast. Under half an hour, she’d bought chocolate-making supplies and molds.

"I’ll wait here…"

She’d heard a ruckus nearby while paying—obviously *them*. They’d be wild awhile longer. She settled at a rest area near checkout.

"?"

An electronics store caught her eye. Lights off, but blue display-glow pulsed inside. High-end. Seeing computers, last night’s memory flashed back.

Hmm… worth checking. Funds should hold.

Alena rose from her seat and stepped inside.

Dim. Quiet. Tech-heavy.

Her impression: display lights cast shadows; Valentine’s emptiness amplified silence; the sleek decor echoed the Battleship’s high-tech hum.

"Can I help you, miss?"

A salesperson in black workwear emerged—a thirty-something man, glasses perched, well-groomed yet radiating Elwin-level tech-otaku vibes.

"Um… I’d like to see portable computers," Alena said, shy but polite.

"Ah, any model preferences? Specs, OS, memory requirements?" he replied smoothly, professional.

But…

"………… Huh?"