They arrived at the meeting spot Nekomata and Nicole had agreed on, but it was still empty. Nekomata looked around, squinting, then frowned.
"Where is she?"
"She clearly said this was the place…"
"Three more minutes and she's officially late."
Zane, carrying a cardboard box, spoke up. Cats swarmed around his feet. This time, he had brought out the entire "staff" of the cat café.
"Zane! Over here!"
A voice called from not far away—just in time. Zane turned toward it and saw a flash of pink.
Nicole was jogging over, suitcase in one hand, the other waving high as she smiled brightly.
"You came alone?"
Zane looked at her, then at the cats gathered around him and the cart full of items behind, and asked curiously.
"Of course not. The orphanage isn't close—we can't exactly walk there."
Nicole shook her head at him.
Then she turned to Nekomata and said with a light smile, "Thanks a lot, Nekomata."
Nekomata smiled back, looking a bit bashful.
"Nicole, that's not fair. I came with you, too, and I don't even get a thank you?"
Zane raised a brow, his tone teasing.
"Oh come on, Zane. You're actually keeping score? Alright, thank you, too!"
Nicole patted his shoulder playfully as she joined him.
Nekomata glanced at the two of them. She knew Nicole wasn't thanking her for the cats—but for managing to bring Zane along.
"So how are we getting there?"
Zane asked again.
"Heh, just wait..."
"Nicole! Move!"
Just as Nicole was about to explain, a shout rang out. She instinctively turned—and saw a small truck barreling toward her.
Nicole's reflexes kicked in, and she leapt aside just in time. The truck screeched by, did a stylish spin, and came to a halt.
With a loud bang, the door flew open and Billy climbed out, looking at the truck in relief.
"Whew… good thing my driving's amazing…"
"Amazing, my ass, Billy!"
A snow-white fist slammed down on his head with a thud. Billy saw stars instantly.
"Zane, get in!"
Nicole called out and began loading the cats and gear with Nekomata. Zane scooped up the black cat, glanced at Billy on the ground, and raised an eyebrow.
"Is he seriously okay?"
"Relax, Zane. Billy upgraded himself with an adaptive stabilizer after his last repair. He'll be fine in no time."
Nicole waved it off casually.
"Hmm… alright."
Zane shot Billy a sympathetic look and continued helping.
Soon, all the cats and supplies were loaded onto the truck, along with several boxes of unknown contents.
When everything was set, Billy "just so happened" to wake up and headed toward the driver's seat—only to get smacked back by Nicole.
"Billy, your job's done. Head back. I heard there are still a few small tasks waiting at Hare's House—those are all yours now."
Nicole gave a sweet smile and winked. Truthfully, she didn't need Billy to come along to the orphanage—and now that the truck was full, she wasn't about to let him drive.
"Huh? Nicole, after everything I did to help, you're kicking me out? I—"
"You what?"
Billy froze, then grinned sheepishly and leaned in, rubbing his hands together.
"Nicole, boss… about that new co-branded motor oil…"
"Approved."
"Woohoo, yes!"
Watching Billy bounce around excitedly, Nicole shook her head helplessly, then climbed into the driver's seat and waved to Zane.
"Come on up!"
Zane hesitated, frowning at her.
"Nicole... can I really trust your driving?"
Even Billy, a robot, drove like that—and Nicole didn't exactly scream "responsible adult."
"Don't worry, Zane! Billy might do most of the driving during missions, but I've never crashed once when I'm behind the wheel!"
She thumped her chest with pride. With no better option, Zane reluctantly climbed in.
Nekomata, still standing with Billy, gave him a puzzled look.
"Is Nicole really telling the truth?"
She couldn't remember ever seeing her drive.
"Uhh... depends how you define truth."
Billy hesitated before giving her a vague answer.
Sure, she hadn't crashed—not once. Neither the Public Security Bureau nor enemy units could stop her. But the process... well, it felt more like playing a VR racing game.
Only a game could truly capture the chaos that was Nicole behind the wheel...
"Alright, let's go!"
Seeing that Zane had boarded, Nicole fired up the engine.
"Wait, aren't we buckling in?"
"Oh, right! Everyone buckle up!"
"All set, ready..."
"Nicole, what about yours?"
"Eh, it's just a seatbelt, no big deal…"
Under Zane's steady stare, Nicole finally clicked her belt into place.
With that, the truck roared to life and drove off.
Billy and Nekomata stood there watching it disappear. A thoughtful glint flickered in Nekomata's eyes as she turned to Billy.
"You were totally slacking just now, weren't you?"
"No way! I was just... processing. C'mon, Nekomata, as a new colleague, you gotta trust me..."
"Swear on the name of the Starlight Knight."
Billy immediately froze. His expression locked up. He scratched his head, trying to change the subject.
"Uhh… so… think Nicole will succeed?"
Nekomata didn't press him further—it was just a passing question. She paused to think before replying,
"Knowing Zane, I'm sure she will. After all, based on what's been happening between us lately..."
She tilted her head, recalling recent events with Zane, and felt even more certain of her answer.
"You've got a point… Man, if only I were more like Zane. Maybe then I could star in a spin-off with the Starlight Knights…"
Billy drifted off into fantasy while Nekomata rolled her eyes. Since joining Hare's House, she'd gotten a much clearer picture of Billy's personality.
He was an amusing friend and colleague—no doubt the comic relief of Hare's House.
"Billy, don't forget what Nicole told you. I'm heading out."