The three of them looked at this "new teammate" before them who was very enthusiastic but seemed a bit dim.
Then they looked at Cloud beside them, the "mastermind" behind all this, wearing an expression of "isn't my arrangement great?"
The same thought surfaced in all their minds—
Is this team... really reliable?
Why does it feel like...
A "tsundere chuunibyou teenager," along with a "dad-like cyborg," a "femme fatale agent," and a "hot-blooded idiot wrestler"...
Going to participate in a world-class counter-terrorism operation?
Isn't this aesthetic a bit too weird?!
...
The KOF 2000 tournament, under NESTS organization's borderline "suicidal" global promotion and Heidern's forces' "turning the tables" official push, swept across the globe at an unprecedented pace.
This time, it was no longer just a "fighting feast."
It had been imbued with tags like "counter-terrorism," "justice," "global trial"—all sounding "noble and grand."
The eyes of the entire world were focused on this destined-to-be-turbulent "game."
And as the "designated protagonist" and "final trump card" of this "game," Cloud was currently lounging leisurely in the hot springs at Kagura Shrine, enjoying the "meticulous" personal service of the Kagura sisters.
"Cloud, is the water temperature alright?"
"Cloud, would you like to try my newly-brewed sake?"
Cloud closed his eyes, feeling this "left and right embrace" decadent life, and couldn't help letting out a satisfied sigh.
"Ah, what a sin."
While enjoying himself, he was still "acting cute after getting the benefit."
"Why does the heavy responsibility of saving the world always fall on an ordinary person like me who just wants to live a peaceful life~"
He sighed in a "Versailles" style to the air.
"From Rugal to Goenitz to Orochi, and now to NESTS... this KOF tournament is basically an annual event, always causing some trouble every year. And I'm that unlucky guy who's forced to work overtime every year."
[Ding! System detects Host engaging in Versailles behavior. Special comeback initiated.]
The system's voice, emotionless yet full of "mockery," sounded in his mind.
[If there wasn't trouble every year, please explain, Host, where would you get the opportunity to heroically save beauties?]
[If you weren't saving the world every year, please explain, Host, where would you get the capital to build your massive harem spanning the divine, human, and demon realms?]
[According to this system's big data analysis, the growth in your harem members shows positive correlation with the frequency of world crises.]
[Therefore, Host, please stop your hypocritical complaints. You should be grateful for crises, grateful to villains. They are the ones who created the conditions for your harem-building.]
Cloud: "..."
Holy crap!
System, did you poison your tongue?!
Why does every sentence stab right into my heart?!
This is clearly "with great power comes great responsibility"!
How did it become "the bigger the crisis, the larger the harem" in your words?!
Although it does seem to make sense!
Just as Cloud was struck speechless by the system and preparing to "physically shut it down."
An anxious and worried phone call came in.
Caller ID—"My Exclusive Little Honey Athena."
"Hello? Athena? What's wrong? Why so urgent?" Cloud answered the phone, his tone instantly becoming gentle.
"Cloud-kun! Wuwuwu... please come help me! Something terrible happened!" From the other end came Athena Asamiya's anxious, tearful voice.
"Kensou, he... Kensou's psychic powers... are gone!"
...
One day later, deep in a cloud-shrouded mountain somewhere in China.
Cloud, aboard his private aircraft (the one "acquired" from NESTS), landed directly at Elder Chin Gentsai's secluded dwelling.
The moment he stepped off the plane, a beautiful figure threw herself into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest.
"Cloud! You finally came!"
Cloud looked down at the girl in his arms, who was nuzzling her little head against his chest, a flash of amazement in his eyes.
It was Athena Asamiya.
But not the Athena he remembered.
Today she had cut off her signature long purple hair, replaced by a neat, refreshing shoulder-length bob.
The slightly inward-curled ends perfectly framed her already cute and pretty face.
Gone was some of the gentleness and quietness of her long-haired days, replaced by the playfulness and liveliness unique to short hair.
She wore a modified white dress with Chinese-style elements. The hem was decorated with light pink cherry blossom embroidery, gently swaying with her movements.
On her feet were a pair of white cloth shoes, making her appear even more petite and adorable.
If the long-haired Athena was a gentle girl-next-door who needed protection.
Then the short-haired Athena was an energetic first-love girlfriend full of vitality.
The same beauty, but a different flavor.
"Our big star changed her hairstyle?" Cloud smiled, reaching out to habitually ruffle her head.
But halfway there, he realized the silky long hair had become refreshing short hair.
So he "naturally" changed his motion.
His hand slid from the top of her head to her delicate cheek, giving it a gentle pinch.
Mm, the texture was as good as ever, full of collagen and bounce.
"Hey!"
Athena, caught off guard by his sudden "taking advantage," blushed prettily and swatted away his "salty pig hand."
"You... why do you start taking advantage of me the moment we meet!" She pouted in complaint, but those watery big eyes were full of the joy and shyness of reunion after a long separation.
...
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