Chapter 43
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At first, the mecha training was very tough. However, after several days of continuous training, Mu Cai felt an improvement in his physical and mental strength. He could persist for longer periods and hit more and more of the yellow squares.
On the first day when the training was over, Mu Cai mumbled something to Claire before passing out. Claire passed his words onto Master Baze. Baze agreed with Mu Cai's viewpoint, as what the latter said is exactly the contentious topic debated by mecha manufacturers since the birth of mecha.
However, Baze did not have a solid counter-measure to this issue. If they wanted to integrate the mechanism of the body's instinctual responses, there might be dramatic changes in the current mecha operations. Such modifications would not be achievable overnight.
Mu Cai was somewhat surprised when Claire relayed Master Baze's response. He didn't think that his casual complaint in his state of fatigue would be recognized by Claire and shared with Master Baze.
It appeared that his opinions as a new mecha tester were indeed significant.
Having deduced this, Mu Cai diligently tested Qingluan each day. He produced countless performance data on the new mecha and shared it with Master Baze and his team. He also honestly reported his feelings to Claire. Master Baze recorded all these opinions, sifted out the useful information, and made improvements accordingly.
As the difficulty of Mu Cai's training increased, he used more of Qingluan's features, gradually revealing some issues. Every day after Mu Cai finished his training, Qingluan would be sent back to the factory for modifications and returned to the training room the next day.
As the two-month break was coming to an end, most of the features of the B-level Qingluan had been tested and it could now serve as a model for the final product. Tomorrow afternoon, an A-level mecha would be placed in the training room.
Now, Mu Cai could step on all the yellow squares and was able to control the mecha to perform some simple actions, such as walking, turning, raising his arm, and grasping.
On the last day of training, Mu Cai gently touched the shell of the Qingluan, feeling a bit reluctant to let go. He now understood why his fellow mecha combat students cherished their mechas so much. After all, they were companions fighting side by side. Even though it was just a hunk of metal, people could still feel attached to it.
Claire watched as the young man looked up at the towering, silent mecha with eyes that seemed to be shrouded in a layer of watery light. Mu Cai's slim white fingers gently caressed the azure shell, shimmering with a metallic sheen, displaying a sense of attachment and reluctance to let go.
The scene was as beautiful as a painting.
As a mecha pilot himself, Claire understood Mu Cai's feelings in that moment. He walked over, gently grasped the young man's shoulder, and slightly pulled Mu Cai into his embrace, offering silent comfort.
The person beneath his grip had a faint peach scent. Having witnessed firsthand this person through two heat periods with a stronger, sweeter scent, Claire was unsatisfied smelling only this light aroma.
He desired to take Mu Cai home, to place his own ring on him. He wished for Mu Cai to remove the suppression ring, to imprint his own bite marks on the scent glands of his neck, to fill the air with a sweet peach scent intended only for him.
Claire's gaze darkened a little as he lowered his head slightly to take a deep breath in Mu Cai's hair.
Mu Cai was unsuspecting.
He touched Qingluan's shell, feeling a chill penetrating his fingertips. He felt the warmth of the person next to him – it was like a comforting heat from a human-shaped furnace.
Feeling nostalgic, Mu Cai retracted his hand and snuggled tighter into Claire's embrace.
As a response, Claire held him tighter.
Soft black hair brushed upon Claire's neck, inducing a ticklish feeling. Even his heart felt ticklish.
Mu Cai's natural closeness to him brought joy to Claire every time, no matter how many times he experienced it. In these past days, he tended to Mu Cai's bed and hung his quilts out to dry. They also trained and ate together.
Nearly two months of gentle care and nurturing were repaid by Mu Cai's subconscious display of intimacy.
Claire felt that everything was worth it!
Indeed, sometimes there were people who tried to disturb this harmonious atmosphere with Mu Cai. However, he always managed to ward them off. Even if some people managed to stay a while due to their relationship with Mu Cai, so what? Mu Cai was still naive and wouldn't harbor any thoughts towards an omega like himself.
Claire tightened his arm around the younger person, saying with a smile, "Don't be too upset; you deserve better."
Mu Cai was an S-level mental power user, capable of operating S-level mechas. If Mu Cai truly couldn't bear to part with Qingluan, Claire could ask for Master Baze's help, enabling Qingluan to continue being a part of Mu Cai's life in a new way.
But for now, there was no need to tell Mu Cai this. He had to save some surprises for this kitten.
With this in mind, Claire softened his tone even further, "A new A-level mecha will arrive tomorrow. Once you've adapted, I'll begin teaching you some simple combat movements."
Mu Cai nodded.
After thinking a bit, Claire added, "The academy will reopen soon. You'll have to stay at the military base. But if you do not want to fall behind in your studies, I can arrange for a tutor to help you catch up. You'll be able to take the exam directly, no need to take a leave of absence."
Mu Cai had anticipated staying at the military base after the vacation ended. After all, it took over two months to complete the B-level mecha testing alone, and there were still two levels left to test, which obviously wouldn't be done in time.
Mu Cai recalled that the timeline in the original plot should roughly have ended by his third year. Now that the plot has been sped up so much, the subsequent timelines might also move ahead.
Thus, he no longer had to worry about not graduating.
Thinking this, Mu Cai said decisively, "No need, I'll just take a leave of absence."
How great it was not having to study!
Claire looked at the young lad's eager expression and couldn't help but chuckle.
Well, it was a good idea. After all, Mu Cai had been through a lot for the mecha testing. It was the military that insisted on retaining him, and naturally, they couldn't interrupt his normal life.
Just like heroes always receive more honor and rewards, Mu Cai's contributions to the military were immeasurable. When the time comes, Claire could file a report, declare Mu Cai's meritorious service, thereby ensuring a glamorous graduation.
Thinking this, Claire put his arm around Mu Cai’s shoulder and said, "Let's go eat. We have the rest of this afternoon and tomorrow morning off."
Thrilled by the rare break from training, Mu Cai cheerfully agreed. However, before they left, he politely asked, "Are you returning to school, brother Claire?"
Claire smiled saying, "No, I'll stay here with you."
Recalling the original plot, Mu Cai couldn't help but ask, "What about the mecha tournament? Isn't Brother Claire participating?"
In the original plot, at this time, they hadn't yet found a pilot for the new mecha. So, Claire was still attending school normally, regularly signing up for the mecha competitions organized by the academy.
Claire smiled, "Does Cai want me to participate?"
Naturally, Mu Cai replied, “Of course, I hope Brother Claire participates.”
He thought for a moment and then murmured, "We need to send Mu Feng back, too. He should also compete."
In the original plot, both Claire and Mu Feng participated in this tournament, where they met people from the Kale Federation, paving the way to the plot's development.
Claire, happy to hear the previous sentence, was now slightly annoyed to find Mu Cai still concerned about his brother.
Even though he was called ‘brother,’ did it truly mean that he was regarded as a brother?
Claire, unwilling to have Mu Cai dwell on Mu Feng, changed the subject. "There's a meteor shower from the Aquarius constellation tonight. Would you like to watch it? It’s said the grand Aquarius meteor shower only happens every forty years."
Mu Cai was thrilled. He had only seen such a spectacular meteor shower in films, this would be his first time watching it live. He immediately responded enthusiastically, "Yes, that sounds great!"
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After dinner, Mu Cai set his alarm and went to bed early. When the alarm went off at 2 a.m., he grumbled in his blankets. Eventually, he got up, put on some clothes at the sound of Claire's knocking, and opened the door for him.
A gust of cold wind blew in.
Claire's silhouette in the dark night seemed ghost-like, startling Mu Cai for a moment. However, once Claire entered and touched Mu Cai's hand, the abundant warmth transferred from him, and Mu Cai instantly dismissed his previous thoughts. Half-asleep, he said, "Come in quickly, it's so cold outside."
Claire's mind was clear, and he chuckled softly in the dim lightless room. His gentle voice blended smoothly with the watery night, "Alright."
After closing the dorm door again, Mu Cai, with sleepy eyes, could hardly see anything in the darkness. He stumbled forward and nearly tripped over a small table. Claire quickly caught him and escorted him back to the bed.
Mu Cai's bed was located near the window. Sitting on the bed and opening the curtains, one could look up and see the sky. Sector F differed from other bustling areas of the capital, as it had no neon lights, making the nights particularly dark and tranquil.
Mu Cai looked up, tugging at Claire standing beside the bed, "Come sit on the bed. I’ll share the blankets with you. Standing there won't keep you warm."
Claire felt the fingertips much colder than his own body temperature and immediately held Mu Cai's slender hand. The slight coldness didn't make him feel chilly; on the contrary, it fueled the fire in his heart.
Mu Cai was inviting Claire to join him on the bed.
Although Claire knew Mu Cai didn't mean anything else by it, he felt like his head was about to explode. The dormitories at the mecha manufacturing base were heated, but not as intensively as in other districts, making the temperature slightly lower. Mu Cai's fingers were cold, so he felt cold and assumed Claire must feel the same.
Moreover, Claire had long noticed that Mu Cai did not profoundly identify with specific gender norms. He rarely distinguished himself from others. When he was at the academy, if Mu Cai saw an alpha and omega together, he wouldn't automatically assume they were dating, like others might. Instead, he thought they could be discussing their studies.
Now that Mu Cai was half-asleep, he likely had no idea what he was doing.
Almost mechanically, Claire sat on the bed, pulled his legs up, and was immediately met with a warm blanket smelling faintly of ripe peaches, thrown over his face by Mu Cai.
While Claire was caught off guard, a pair of slender legs wormed their way between his own, landing on his waist.
He heard Mu Cai murmur, "Brother Claire, you're nice and warm."
Claire's heart skipped a beat, but before he could respond, Mu Cai exclaimed excitedly, "Hey, I just saw a shooting star!"
While a meteor shower is generally visible to the naked eye, it doesn't cluster in large groups as it does in movies. Instead, one appears, then another follows, and sometimes two or three would dash across the sky concurrently.
Upon seeing the meteor shower start, Mu Cai immediately became excited. He patted Claire on the shoulder, his voice filled with enthusiasm, "The meteor shower is here! Make a wish quickly!"
Claire smiled in the dark night. He slightly closed his eyes, peeking at Mu Cai through the gap, and silently wished in his heart: May Cai Cai have a life full of happiness and peace.
The meteor shower that night lasted for more than ten minutes. In the end, Mu Cai became so tired that his eyelids were fighting to stay open, and he almost fell asleep on the bed.
The dormitory was pitch dark, but Claire's night vision was excellent. Although he couldn't see everything clearly, he still clearly remembered the outline of Mu Cai's face as he gazed out the window.
After waiting for Mu Cai to fall sound asleep, Claire quietly covered him with a blanket, suppressing his own desire to kiss him, and silently left the dormitory.
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The next day, Mu Cai followed Claire to the training ground as usual.
Normally, Claire would walk in front, swipe his card to open the door, and Mu Cai would follow behind. Today, when Claire got to the door, he suddenly turned around and said, "I forgot my card. Can you swipe yours, Cai Cai?"
Although Mu Cai was puzzled that the usually cautious Claire actually forgot his card, he obediently took out his card and swiped it to open the door, walking in first.
Then, he saw a mecha standing silently in the center of the training ground.
With smooth lines, the sky-blue shell shimmered in the light, reflecting the metallic luster like a clear sky after the rain.
It was Qingluan!
Mu Cai's face bloomed like a flower unveiling instantly, gradually showing signs of immense surprise and excitement.
Watching this, Claire felt a wave of joy flowing within his chest, and he said with a smile, "I communicated with the teacher, and he has directly modified Qingluan, adding parts, upgrading its core. It's now an A-class mech."
He then looked at Mu Cai and asked, "Cai Cai, would you be willing to fight along with me in the mecha competition?"
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Author's Note:
Claire: It appears he has no sense of gender, he doesn't bat an eyelid seeing an alpha and omega behaving intimately. Maybe he just thinks they are very good friends!
Mu Cai, who grew up in a modern society and thinks differently from the local people: ...
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