"Ikaros, this green round thing is called a watermelon. You can hold it and play with it from now on."
"Understood, Master."
Su Xiaoqi smiled as he watched Ikaros cradle the watermelon in her arms. This was the Ikaros he remembered.
"Ikaros, can you create humans in this world?"
Ikaros shook her head. "Apologies, Master. That is beyond my capabilities."
Patting her head, Su Xiaoqi chuckled. "No worries, I was just asking casually. Let's go pick out some clothes for you to wear later, then head home for dinner."
"Understood, Master."
After dinner, as Ikaros cleared the dishes, Su Xiaoqi smiled. Finally, in this world, he had someone to talk to.
---
The next morning, when Su Xiaoqi opened his eyes to find Ikaros sleeping beside him, his first thought was that he must have woken up wrong.
But when he blinked again, Ikaros' face was even closer.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning my foot!"
Startled, Su Xiaoqi leapt out of bed. Last night, he had specifically explained certain boundaries to Ikaros and even instructed her to sleep in her own room hugging the watermelon.
Ikaros pushed aside the blankets and approached him. "Master, are you unwell?"
"Oh my god!" Su Xiaoqi panicked at the sight of her naked form. "Wh-where are your clothes and armor?!"
Ikaros replied flatly, "The armor was cumbersome for sleep, so I removed it like you did. Was this incorrect?"
"W-we'll discuss that later! Put your clothes on first!"
"Understood, Master. Shall I assist you with dressing as well?"
"I CAN DRESS MYSELF!!!"
---
After the chaotic morning, a fully dressed Su Xiaoqi eyed Ikaros. "Why did you come to my room last night? And where's your watermelon?"
"I covered the watermelon with a blanket before joining you, Master."
Su Xiaoqi: ???
"Are we even speaking the same language?"
Realizing reasoning was futile, Su Xiaoqi sighed. "Ikaros, I have a mission in another world today. Whose world would you like to visit?"
For once, Ikaros didn't respond immediately. After a long pause, she met his gaze.
"Master... I don't wish to go elsewhere. May I remain by your side?"
"But we agreed yesterday—"
"Are you discarding me, Master?"
"What? No! I would never—"
"If you command it, I can be decommissioned."
As Ikaros' card morphed into a pink handgun, Su Xiaoqi hastily intervened:
"Ikaros, I hereby order you to accompany me on today's mission! But you must obey my instructions, understood?"
A faint smile graced Ikaros' lips. "Understood, Master."
"Wait... did you just smile?"
"Master, what is a 'smile'?"
"Never mind. Let's eat breakfast."
---
**Slam Dunk World - Gymnasium**
In the locker room, the Shohoku team gaped at the girl beside Su Xiaoqi clutching a watermelon.
They'd seen people hug toys before, but a watermelon? That was new.
"Quit staring! Focus on the match! Today's opponent, Tsunobu, is weak, but I expect you five to score 100 points by halftime."
"Hanamichi, take the others out first. We have private matters to discuss."
"Ayako, Haruko, and... you there, stay behind."
Once the room cleared, Su Xiaoqi addressed Mari Kawai.
"You know about us now, right?"
Mari nodded. For days, she'd tailed Hanamichi and Haruko like a third wheel just to learn Su Xiaoqi's secrets from the former.
"I had Hanamichi tell you deliberately. Now that you know the truth, you understand I already have girlfriends, right? There's no future for us."
Mari studied Ikaros. "Are you one of his girlfriends?"
Ikaros shook her head. "No. He is my Master."
"'Master'?" Mari muttered before eyeing Su Xiaoqi. "So interdimensional guys are into this kinda play?"
"That's NOT the point!" Su Xiaoqi groaned. "The point is—you need to give up!"
"Why should I?" Mari countered. "I like you regardless of which world you're from! Besides, if you can handle three girlfriends, what's one more?"
Su Xiaoqi laughed. "We've barely interacted! What exactly do you 'like' about me?"
Mari pondered. "You're my type. And you look cool playing basketball."
Su Xiaoqi's expression turned grave. "Mari Kawai, what you've seen is just a facade."
"Do you know how many I've killed? My true nature? I could obliterate this world effortlessly."
"Your 'liking' is just infatuation with a fantasy. We're from different worlds with different values. Frankly, I have zero interest in spoiled rich girls like you."
"You—!" Tears welled in Mari's eyes as she screamed, "SU XIAOQI! I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"
As Mari fled, Haruko fretted, "Big Bro... wasn't that too harsh?"
Minato smiled. "Not saying it would've been crueler. Could she really accept our reality?"
Ayako added, "Haruko, you've been too sheltered by Hanamichi."
Kaito sighed. "Too bad Gin-san's not here. He'd give some 'samurai' speech about now."
"That lazy idiot," Su Xiaoqi grumbled before turning to Haruko and Ayako. "Look after Ikaros today. And check on Mari when you can."
---
The arena erupted when Su Xiaoqi's group appeared, fans chanting their names.
After the Kirisaki Daiichi match, Shohoku's reputation had skyrocketed across Kanagawa. Spectators came hoping to witness their legendary skills again—only to be disappointed when none of the star players started.
Only Rukawa's flashy moves provided entertainment as Shohoku's "normal" lineup dominated, leading by 50 points by halftime.
In the stands, Su Xiaoqi eyed Mari beside him. "Thought you never wanted to see me again?"
Mari huffed. "Don't flatter yourself. I'm just doing my job. Don't speak to me."
Su Xiaoqi chuckled and focused on the game.
---
Then disaster struck.
Enthralled by a powerful dunk from Akagi, Ikaros accidentally crushed her watermelon in excitement.
And everyone knew—when Ikaros loses her watermelon, consequences follow.
Spotting Ikaros shifting into combat mode, Su Xiaoqi instantly grabbed her hand and bolted outside before warping them home.
"Master, the watermelon broke."
"We'll get a new one."
"Master, I want to play with that round ball everyone was using."
"Okay, that's called basketball. But remember—you can dribble basketballs, not watermelons."
"Understood, Master."