"Nice to meet you both." Athena smiled politely at the two women, though most of her attention remained on Cloud.
For some reason, seeing Cloud again today gave her a strange sense of... familiarity.
As if they were kindred spirits.
Athena discreetly released a faint tendril of psychic energy, carefully probing toward Cloud.
The next second, her heart lurched!
I knew it!
She clearly sensed within Cloud a psychic wavelength—weak, but undeniably from the same source as her own!
He's... a psychic too?!
This discovery sent Athena's curiosity about Cloud through the roof.
A powerful fighter who was also a hidden psychic?
This was incredible!
The way she looked at Cloud instantly changed.
From initial gratitude and curiosity to the joy of finding a kindred spirit, mixed with an urge to investigate further.
"Mr. Cloud, I really can't thank you enough for last night. Here—let me toast you with tea." Athena raised her teacup, her beautiful purple eyes sparkling with warmth as she gazed at Cloud.
This scene, however, didn't sit well with Mai.
The little jealousy jar instantly tipped over.
"Hmph." Mai picked up her own cup and clinked it down loudly, interrupting their moment.
"Miss Athena, you're so famous. Why would you hold a concert in a dangerous place like South Town? Didn't you know how chaotic it is here?"
Her question sounded like concern but carried thorns.
Athena was sharp enough to catch the gunpowder in those words.
She smiled serenely. "Because my fans are everywhere in the world. As long as there are people who love my music, I'll sing for them, no matter how dangerous the place."
A flawless answer, brimming with positive energy. Even Yuri clapped enthusiastically from the side: "That's so beautiful! As expected of my idol!"
Mai was momentarily stumped but refused to back down. She pressed her attack: "Singing is great and all, but as a girl, you should really learn some self-defense. Like me—even if I run into bad guys, I can handle them myself. Unlike some people who need a man to rescue them."
As she spoke, she puffed out her chest, displaying her confidence as a fighter.
"Miss Mai is absolutely right." Athena maintained her perfect smile. "But sometimes, being protected can also be a kind of happiness, don't you think?"
As she said this, she cast a meaningful glance at Cloud.
"You—!" Mai was at a loss for words.
Seeing a silent "palace drama" about to unfold, Cloud quickly intervened.
He grabbed the menu and declared grandly: "Ladies, ladies, enough chatting! Miss Athena is treating us today—we can't hold back! Come on, Australian lobster, Kobe beef, black truffle pasta... one of each! Yuri, order whatever you want!"
"Really?! Then I want the tiramisu and the French escargot!" The little foodie's attention was instantly captured by the menu.
The undeclared war was forcibly interrupted by Cloud's simplest, most direct tactic—"food distraction."
The rest of the meal proceeded in a peculiar yet jovial atmosphere.
Cloud fully demonstrated his skills as a "master of balance."
One moment he'd be chatting with Yuri about anime and games, making the girl double over with laughter.
The next, he'd discuss combat techniques with Mai, offering "constructive suggestions" for her "Crimson Hornet" (such as: when fighting him specifically, her skirt could stand to be a bit shorter), leaving her both annoyed and amused.
With Athena, he showed his mature, sophisticated side.
He never brought up psychic powers. Instead, they discussed music, charity, philosophy—revealing depths that belied his appearance.
Cloud even hummed a song from before his transmigration—"Lady Shexiang"—for Athena:
"The Wumeng Mountains stretch beyond the peaks,Moonlight spills across the Xiangshui stream,Will someone tell me, is Heaven calling your name?One mountain crossed, then another, then a river's flow,Through endless miles, you'll never be alone,Your legend lives on through the years,A hundred miles of azaleas will never fade..."
Athena's eyes glowed.
Then she said with a hint of regret: "That song is beautiful! Who wrote it? I've never heard it before. It's a shame that grand, sweeping style doesn't quite fit my voice."
Cloud smiled faintly, his cool factor maxed out: "Actually, I wrote that song. Just something I composed casually."
He had no idea if Phoenix Legend existed in this world—probably yes, since he'd seen Michael Jackson posters. But even if they did, their debut was years away. If he claimed it was original, then it was original!
But innocent Athena was stunned!
She found this man increasingly impossible to read.
Sometimes he seemed like a carefree playboy, sometimes a passionate fighter, sometimes a worldly philosopher, sometimes a gifted artist.
He was full of contradictions, yet they merged into perfect harmony, radiating a fatal attraction.
Especially that faint psychic aura—it made her want to get closer and uncover his secrets.
By the end of lunch, everyone was satisfied (except for Mai and Athena occasionally rolling their eyes at each other).
[Target "Athena Asamiya" affection change: +20 → +40 (An increasingly fascinating kindred spirit)]
[Target "Yuri Sakazaki" affection change: +35 → +50 (Cloud is amazing AND he totally gets me! Plus the desserts he ordered were so good!)]
[Target "Mai Shiranui" affection change: +35 → +50 (Hmph, at least he has some conscience and didn't forget about me. But... the way that Athena looks at him is SO annoying!)]