Time was nearing midnight, a time Bologue was very familiar with. During his internship, he would often roam the city at midnight, hunting demons, traversing between city districts, and pausing under high bridges.

After joining, Bologue would often spend time with Palmer at the Undying Club, usually until midnight when Serey would head out for his side job as a pole dancer, and everyone would disperse then.

The song from earlier still echoed in the car, the man kept humming along.

"What is love?"

Compared to the crowded joyful atmosphere on the way here, now only Bologue and Aimou were left, and the city outside the car window had fallen asleep. No matter how cheerful the song, it carried a bit of desolate joy at this moment.

"Quite like the atmosphere after a revel," Bologue broke the silence, "Although it truly is."

The items scattered all over the ground, wine glasses lying and rolling on the long table, water stains everywhere on the red carpet; the guests had long left, only the phonograph was still singing, echoing in the empty hall.

Aimou lazily leaned to one side, she just managed to curl up in the seat, hugging herself.

"Thanks."

"It's nothing," Bologue said, "Helping people to the end, we all often meet together, you'll know them all sooner or later."

"Mm..."

Aimou looked out the car window. The street shops had long closed, but the lights on the signboards hadn't gone out, they were connected together, like an aurora floating above the ground.

The rain had just fallen in the morning due to Opus's gloomy weather, even now the water hadn't dried, leaving a shallow puddle on the ground, reflecting the neon lights.

The street was desolate at night, only the red light was obstructing the progress of the two. At the current speed, they would soon return to the Order Bureau, leaving Aimou not much time.

Aimou was just about to say something, ready to start an attack, but Bologue spoke before her.

Bologue looked ahead, "I also have to thank you, Aimou."

"Thank me for what?"

"Without the excuse of you, I wouldn't be able to invite everyone over, to cook together, watch movies, and whatnot."

When he said these, Bologue had a smile on his face.

Aimou didn't think it was a problem, "Mm? What's difficult about that?"

"How to put it," Bologue pondered for a moment, "Suppose one day Lebius invites you to an amusement park, what would you think?"

A vividly colored X floated in Aimou's eyes, "Damn, it means I'm about to receive a task that's bound to be life-threatening."

"What if Lebius goes to the amusement park by himself?"

"The team leader is kind of pitiful..."

"Then Lebius says, this month we have a team-building event, everyone's going to the amusement park," Bologue said, "What would you think?"

"The team leader is really nice."

"See! See!"

Bologue emphasized repeatedly, and then with some embarrassment said, "I often say, I don't care much about others' opinions, but when it involves these things, I actually feel a bit embarrassed. Having you as an excuse makes it much easier."

This gathering was not only for Aimou, but also for Bologue himself.

"This is a win-win scenario."

Aimou didn't respond, Bologue glanced at her with his peripheral vision, only to see Aimou suppressing a laugh, which she soon couldn't hold back, and burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"I'm just laughing at the fact that you have this side," Aimou said, "Your cooking skills are pretty good, you must have practiced for a long time."

"I often bring breakfast for Palmer, that counts as basic training," Bologue emphasized, "Those today, they were really my first time making them."

"Then your cooking potential is truly limitless."

Aimou sighed, rolled down the car window, resting her hand outside, feeling the aftertaste of the revelry.

Bologue said, "Actually, I was a bit afraid you wouldn't be happy."

"Why?"

"You reached out to me, yet I brought a whole bunch of people along."

"It did bother me a bit at first," Aimou didn't hide her emotions, "Especially when seeing Palmer with that conspiratorial smug smile."

"But you also said that you needed me as an excuse."

"Yeah, so shall we hang out again tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow what?" Aimou didn't understand. "What's happening?"

Bologue stopped at the red light, turned his head, and said, "A date, of course. This time it's my turn to invite you. I happen to know a nice place."

Aimou thought she misheard and kept repeating, "You... invited me?"

"Yes, today doesn't count because we got interrupted by the crowd, so I'm making it up to you."

"Huh?"

The halo in Aimou's eyes widened slightly, and with an incredulous expression, she then held her head and sighed, "Bologue, sometimes I really can't figure out if you're dumb or smart."

Bologue defended himself, "Actually, you can think of me as someone who is wise and appears foolish."

Aimou rubbed her face vigorously, perhaps because of the wind, she felt her cheeks were a bit warm.

"Looking back at everything that's happened, you're always so efficient. Why would you do those extra things for me?"

Aimou looked at Bologue's profile. Whenever she thought she could grasp Bologue's inner thoughts, he would dart past like a nimble deer. But when she felt hopeless, he'd peek out from behind the jungle,

"Extra things... how should I put it?"

Bologue leaned forward, lying on the steering wheel. This red light was unexpectedly long.

"Every time I see you, it's like I'm seeing myself, the old me."

Bologue tried to recall his childhood. His childhood wasn't bad, but not good either, mediocre like the general populace, where you could easily lose track of him in a crowd.

"In the past, when I faced some difficulties, I would wonder if someone could come help me. Regrettably, no one came to help me.

When I was sad, when I was heartbroken, when I failed miserably, I thought like this, but regretfully no one came..."

A gentle figure flashed by in front of Bologue's eyes.

Bologue murmured, "No, it's not that no one came."

"So when I see you, it's like seeing myself who was once in trouble. I faced the same troubles as you, experienced the same pain. Back then, no one came for me, but now I can help others."

Bologue turned his head, "Helping you feels like helping my past self."

"It's that complicated?"

Aimou felt a bit cold, she rolled up the car window, vigorously rubbing her hands together on her chest, "I thought experts only have work and how to improve work efficiency on their minds."

Facing Aimou's teasing, Bologue smiled, then sighed, "How could that be? Even the most efficient experts grew up from kids."

This statement moved Aimou. She carefully examined Bologue's face, an indescribable feeling rose in her heart.

The demeanor of an expert like Bologue impressed deeply, so much that Aimou often forgot that Bologue was a person too. He likes his friends but doesn't have a good way to express emotions.

Yes, just like when Lebius invites you to an amusement park, if one day Bologue suddenly becomes extremely enthusiastic about his friends, they would likely think they are terminally ill.

Aimou found it difficult to imagine what Bologue was like as a child, as if he was born with cold steel, fiery flames, and blood scattered in a storm.

But Bologue still inherently has the essence of a human. He was once an unruly child…

Growing up is like putting on heavier armor, burying the childish and youthful parts deep in the darkness of the armor, leaving only the strong side to face the enemy.

Aimou thought this was a suitable opportunity, she wanted to ask Bologue, what does it mean to truly grow up? After all, it's her first time being human, and she doesn't have much experience.

"Bologue..."

Aimou was about to ask her question when she noticed Bologue's expression changed, from being relaxed and comfortable to very tense and focused.

Aimou also became tense along with Bologue; there weren't many situations that could make Bologue reveal such an expression. The Blessing·Doppelganger was on standby, transforming Aimou into a Steel Body.

Bologue said, "Aimou, put on your seatbelt."

Aimou obediently fastened her seatbelt, then a figure approached from the roadside and knocked on the car window.

"Sir, may I have a moment of your time?" Rolling down the car window, the sheriff said to Bologue, "Recently, there have been frequent street racing disturbances in this neighborhood..."

He said this while glancing inside the car, "Could you please show me your driver's license?"

Bologue didn't respond, and Aimou nudged him, whispering, "What's wrong? Just give him your driver's license."

Bologue turned his head, his face ashen. Aimou suddenly felt a bit confused, and the next moment Bologue slammed the accelerator, the engine roaring under the night sky.

As a Field Staff car, though it looked unremarkable, its body was bulletproof, and the engine was a product from the Sublimation Furnace Core, the roar of which was ear-piercing.

"Damn it!"

Bologue cursed, starting to reconsider whether he should get a driver's license.

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