Chapter 9: Weightlessness

Due to the weightlessness—Claude’s golden-brown hair floated up, and his neatly arranged military uniform was tugged by his movements—softening everything around them. “This feels completely different from usual… It’s as if all constraints have disappeared.”
“Just like with the Pristine Lady—when you let go of the constraints that bind your thoughts and habits, you can also be completely free.” Claude released Levi’s wrist and gently pushed him—sending Levi soaring towards the ceiling.
The ascent felt like a scene from a movie, and under Claude’s gaze—Levi slowly floated back, instinctively reaching out to grab Claude, but his back hit the ceiling while Claude lay on the floor—the two separated by the entire space. In this room—perhaps there was no distinction between sky and ground.
“I can feel it, thank you.” Levi smiled, never thinking Claude would guide him this way.
“Now you can rest well,” Claude reached out, supporting himself on the floor—then pulled Levi down.
“Too bad there’s no beautiful woman with me,” Levi touched his nose—appearing a bit disgruntled.
“What about me?” Claude intentionally blew a breath into Levi’s ear, causing Levi to flinch. “You’re so cute.”
“You’re really creepy.”

The next day—when Li Wei soared freely in the Pristine Lady’s simulation system, everyone was amazed.
Even Major Miller, who was analyzing data, couldn’t help but massage his eyelids—“Could it be that a miracle has occurred?”
“Oh my god—this system is amazing! It can even do backward movements like this!”
“Ha! This is so fun—I can spin like this!”
“I’m in love with this directional system!”
The communicator was filled with Levii’s excited voice—but Miller frowned, “Why is he still so loud?”
“Why are your fingers trembling?” Claude leaned in and whispered in Miller’s ear.
Today’s data was outstanding, and the entire Z-Zone was immersed in joy.
During lunch—Levi devoured his steak while Miller pushed a vegetable salad in front of him, “How many times have I told you? You need to eat vegetables. The fiber is good for your brain’s judgment.”
Levi smacked his lips—pushed the salad aside, and casually took off Miller’s glasses.
“What are you doing?”
“You look so good without glasses!” Levi grinned playfully, making a cheeky expression as he hooked Miller’s chin with his hand, “If you sit in front of me without your glasses every day—I promise I’ll finish everything on my plate, including the vegetables.”
“You—” Miller was so exasperated that his pale cheeks turned a faint red.
Levi laughed even more joyfully—stretching his neck and planting a loud “smack” on Miller’s cheek.
Instantly, the entire cafeteria fell silent, and Miller slammed his plate down on Levi’s face, “I’ll kill you—kill you—”
A few colleagues quickly pulled him back, “Don’t be impulsive! Major!”
“If you injure him, he won’t be able to train tomorrow!”
Mushroom and onion sauce dribbled down Levi’s mouth, and he stuck out his tongue to lick it—helplessly saying, “Why do good-looking people always have such bad tempers?”
As usual—Levi slept for half the afternoon.
At dinner, he invited Sherron to a restaurant named ‘Dawn and Lanterns.’ The holographic starry sky overhead made Sherron gaze up for a long time.
“Only an S-level pilot like you can afford to dine here.”
“S-level pilot? I was just a junior fighter pilot—when did I level up to this status?” Although Levi didn’t have any aristocratic flair, he never skimped on treating women he dated, ordering everything from the last meal Claude had ordered.
“I didn’t expect you to have such taste,” Sherron smiled—clinking glasses with Levi. “Perhaps we military officials are well-informed—your performance in the simulation system today was perfect, and Major Sean has already applied for you to become an S-level pilot. Within a week, you should be promoted—at least to second lieutenant.”
“Ha?” Levi thought he’d never have a chance to become a second lieutenant in his life.
Being an S-level pilot meant Levi would qualify to pilot spacecraft, and all pilots at the Glimpse Space Station were S-level.
“Don’t get too smug—you haven’t learned to fly yet.” That voice… why could he never escape meeting him no matter where he went?
Sherron stood up, “Major Sean!”
No need for too much formality—it’s rare to see Ensign Sherron in such lively colors. They suit you well.” Claude flashed his graceful fake smile—which irritated Levi to no end, even prompting him to mischievously step on Claude’s shoe.
“I didn’t expect to see the major here.” Sherron’s face flushed red—according to what Levi had heard these past few days, Claude was the dreamboat of every woman at K11 base, married or single, adult or underage.
Levi stepped on Claude’s foot harder—almost throwing down the knife and fork in his hands.
Claude casually said something else, making Sherron laugh, and the awkward atmosphere completely disappeared. Claude stood by the table, chatting amicably with Sherron—while Levi suddenly felt as if he didn’t exist at all.
“Claude, you’re not dining here alone, are you?” Levi feigned concern for his friend’s social life.
“Oh, yeah, just me,” Claude replied casually.
“Oh—in that case, Major Sean, why don’t you join us?” Sherron pulled out a chair next to her—inviting Claude to sit down.
At that moment, Levi wanted to bite his teeth in frustration—he had no idea why he had given up the cozy two-person table for a larger one just to stretch out.
The dinner felt like chewing wax, and he sensed that Claude wouldn’t give him the opportunity to enjoy the night with Sherron.
“Sherron, I think I need to head back to rest early—you know I have training tomorrow. But I believe Major Sean won’t let you get bored.” Li Wei elegantly stood up to bid farewell to Sherron—showing no signs of his inner fury, except for stepping hard on Claude’s foot again as he left the table.

“Sorry, I got so caught up in the conversation that I lost track of time,” Sherron said apologetically.
“You didn’t forget the time—you just forgot me,” Levi replied with a bright smile, surprising everyone around with such a comment directed at a lady.
Sherron was taken aback. In that instant—she realized it was her who had neglected Li Wei, but she had never encountered such a scene before and didn’t know how to respond.
“Being straightforward is indeed Lieutenant Levi Van Pelt’s character,” Claude said—resting his chin on his hand, confirming what Sherron had said—Li Wei was getting promoted.
“Fair enough,” Levi said, shaking his napkin and leaving in a carefree manner.
Back at the dormitory—as soon as he turned on the light, Levi said, “Lilith, listen up! You’re not allowed to mention Claude Sean in front of me again! Don’t let him into my room!”
After saying this, he flopped down on the bed in a starfish position and suddenly flipped over, pounding the bed—“Why—why—has it been almost a month since I’ve been with a woman! I’m going crazy!”
A few seconds later—he took off his snazzy suit and threw it on the floor, “Wearing a suit doesn’t make me as charming as Claude!” He took a quick shower, came out wrapped in a towel—but the moment he lifted his head, he nearly lost it.
“Claude Sean! Why are you here! No, wait—how did you get in?” As Levi was about to point at Claude—the towel around his waist almost slipped down, and he had to quickly grab it.
Claude appeared completely at ease, sitting on the couch sipping tea.
Levi regretted not throwing out all the tea leaves.
“Lilith let me in,” Claude’s gaze swept over Levi’s towel. “I thought maybe you were mad at me—so I came to apologize.”
“If you really want to apologize, then don’t broadcast your damn announcements or come flirt with my dates while I’m with a woman!” Li Wei pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and casually sat next to Claude—drinking noisily.
His long legs were strong and smoothly curved.
Claude smirked self-deprecatingly, turning his head away.
“What are you laughing at? Are you mocking me for not having your charm?”
“Not at all.” Claude continued to sip his tea.
“Then what are you laughing at?”
“You wouldn’t want to know.”
“Actually—I do want to know.” Maybe aside from training—Levi’s life had become stagnant, and bantering with Claude had become his only source of entertainment.
“You’re very interesting.”
Levi’s eyes felt heavy—he felt like a machine that stopped working once the power ran out.
As Claude leaned forward to put down his teacup—Levi leaned against him.
After a two-second pause—Claude chuckled. Just as he was about to get up, he noticed Li Wei’s legs. Under some sort of spell, he reached out to touch Levi’s calf—slowly moving his hand up, but just as he was about to reach the hidden area beneath the towel, he suddenly pulled his hand back.
“I must be going crazy…” Claude sighed—closing his eyes.
Levi, however, slept soundly on his back. Claude could only slowly turn to his side. When Levi’s head fell on his shoulder, he reached out to support him.
At that moment, the towel completely came undone, and just as it was about to fall—Claude quickly pressed it back in place.
Levi remained deeply asleep. Claude’s face lost its smile.
He simply laid a blanket over the couch and stood there for a long time.
The next day—a shooting system was added to Levi’s simulation training, which increased his focus. When the cockpit opened, he fell asleep in his seat.
Claude sat in front of the computer typing away when Miller turned his head. “You’re acting strangely today.”
“What do you mean?”
“You didn’t even tease Levi.”
“Do I often tease him?”
“What do you think? He’s asleep, and you’re not taking him back to the dorm?”
“I need to adjust the system functions.” Claude’s voice became completely professional—devoid of any emotional fluctuations.
When everyone in the data lab had left—Claude leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh, “This is really bad.”

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Proofreader/Editor: meowrii