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"It's kinda embarrassing, isn't it?" Nico blushed under the eagle-like gazes of the crowd.
Even the usually daring Robin couldn't help but agree. "I'm fine with being glared at, but the way they're staring just kinda creeps me out."
The taller girl was used to being ridiculed by others for her looks and dressing choice, being a tomboy and usually acting quite unladylike, and such a drastic shift in how people looked at her obviously caught her off-guard. And while Nico was sometimes complimented for being 'cute', she also never expected Emilia's 'makeover' to be so effective.
It would have been fine if it were just a few more people thinking they were 'pretty', but with the kind of attention they were now getting, it was impossible for them not to worry.
After all, while some in the crowd really were just honestly appreciating what they saw, there were more than a few jealous and hateful glares mixed in.
If they really ended up attracting trouble for a reason as stupid as them looking 'too good', probably only someone like Emilia would be happy.
Danielle couldn't help but frown. 'If I'd known she was so 'good' at it earlier, I wouldn't have let her mess around so much.'
In fact, deep down inside, the drill-haired girl was well aware of the fact that she was just making excuses for herself.
Given how attractive Emilia usually appeared, and how straightforward she was, Danielle didn't need to be a genius to figure out that the girl must know her stuff. After all, Emilia's visual 'impact' was just too strong, stunning even those who usually would never be attracted to a girl like her, and not all of it could be 'natural'. Though it was probably true that Emilia's silly and easygoing personality contributed a lot to her 'charm', especially when it came to certain 'caring' girls.
Sensing the strange atmosphere around them, even Sylvia frowned. "Let's just go back."
Arcadia didn't have any special 'protection' features for players, whether they were in the city or not. And when surrounded by so many 'malicious' gazes, it was impossible for them to predict how the situation would pan out if things headed south.
Even though Sylvia believed that every member of their team should be much stronger than anyone else around, there was no way for her to be completely sure. And with Arcadia's restrictions on 'logging out', the yellow-eyed girl simply didn't think it would be wise for them to stick around and try their luck.
After all, they had little to gain from such a confrontation, and everything to lose.
The crimson-haired girl who was being 'carefully hidden' by the group couldn't help but pout. "No no, no way! How can we go back without checking Dolly's reaction?!"
Sylvia sneered. "Is what she thinks really that important?"
Based on their conversation, it was a little hard to believe that Dolly used to be Sylvia's 'best friend', and not the other way around.
Crystal coughed. "Hey now, don't fight. Since things are already like this, there should be no harm in just letting her look at Dolly."
Of course, the blonde girl only said so to support Emilia.
Danielle sighed. "Alright, fine… but we're going back as soon as we're done. Got it?"
Emilia squealed in delight, and the hushed whispers of the crowd got even more intense.
Clearly, they hadn't forgotten about the 'prettiest' girl in their group, though unfortunately it was hard to see her clearly since she was huddled up between the remaining five.
Since the rest of the group had undergone such a massive 'transformation', it was impossible to say that they weren't looking forward to what the last one looked like. Of course, most of them were already prepared for disappointment.
After all, when there isn't much room to improve something, it's likely only to get worse with change.
Under everyone's intense scrutiny, the group continued heading towards Dolly, who just stared at their arrival with a dark expression on her face.
Although they were surrounding Emilia in a tight five-pointed star formation, and Sylvia was at the rear left position, she was still the most 'noticeable' one in Dolly's eyes. "What, are you here to mock me again?"
It was hard to believe that the girl who'd usually only acted as her 'support' would one day come to 'attack' her in such a high-profile manner. And even if Dolly had already made up her mind not to care about Sylvia, her teeth still itched with inexplicable rage.
Her words immediately sparked a discussion in the crowd.
"So those two were friends, and had a falling out?"
"I don't think she's very approachable, but Dolly doesn't seem like a hateful girl. I wonder what could have happened…?"
The words were clearly 'uncertain', but the tone of the speaker subtly suggested that the fault must lie with Sylvia.
"Well, even if you stop getting along with a friend, it's strange to attack each other unless something extreme happened."
"Dang… now I really wanna know."
Dolly also realized she'd made a mistake, but it was too late to take back her words. 'If they make up rumors and slander me when I get more famous in the future, I'll never forgive her!'
Maybe her 'best friend' had already reached the peak of her potential fame, and was content with being a part of the 'top team' in the initial stage of such a revolutionary game. But her own future was limitless, and might even become a part of the world's history.
Such an incident might be insignificant in the long run, but Dolly found it hard to believe that her image could even be slightly tarnished by Sylvia.
She couldn't help but grit her teeth angrily. "You… did that on purpose, didn't you?!"
The yellow-eyed girl frowned and shook her head, but didn't respond to her so-called friend's words.
It was hard to believe that they'd once laughed joyfully on swings and slides, side by side. Dolly used to be her only solace, and someone Sylvia thought she would protect and side with no matter what, but… not anymore.
She didn't know when, or how, but a certain someone had already 'replaced' Dolly's position in her heart.
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