Chapter 393: Big Family (2)
"Coco."
"Miranda."
"We're the Master's little sisters too." Coco and Miranda struck dramatic poses like the Ginyu Force while introducing themselves.
Lacus, watching from the side, couldn't help but burst out laughing.
However, Yulia, Erica, and the others were busy working on the Kusanagi, Mina was still guarding the Pillar of Heaven, and Goudria and Fumitan were originally from other worlds, so they didn't join the introductions.
Earlier, when Lacus first saw the four maid-dressed Shumagias—Izu, Yua, Juster, and the fourth one—she looked very curious and asked, "Are they really robots? They feel exactly like real people."
"Sis-in-law, their bodies are built almost the same as real humans too. Wanna take a closer look?" Lynn Minmay, who had been clinging to Lacus's arm the whole time, grinned as she answered and playfully lifted the hem of Izu's skirt.
Izu immediately responded with a deadpan face: "No sexy stuff allowed."
After a round of cheerful messing around, Tolle looked at the beautiful scene in front of him and said to the girls, "Let's go hang out with Yumi for a bit. Being a tree all by herself must be boring. How can our whole family get together and leave her out?"
"Let's go see Yumi!" Coco and Miranda shouted happily.
Lacus, however, looked confused and asked, "Yumi… a tree?"
"Yeah, exactly. She's basically the central nervous system of this core space. You'll love her once you meet her, I promise."
So everyone headed together to the very center of the battleship's core space.
When Yumi saw them coming, she happily shook the leaves on her branches, making a crisp rustling sound.
Thin beams of light also shot out from her, gently stroking everyone like soft caresses, clearly showing how excited and happy she was.
Everyone gathered around her and started playing and laughing together.
With them by her side, Lacus finally dropped the mature, composed mask she usually wore. She had a genuinely happy time and, for a while, forgot the fresh pain of losing her father.
Evening.
Cagalli tracked Tolle down, her face bright red, and blurted out, "Tolle, are you even a man? You've been leaving me hanging this whole time—what the hell is this? You got the guts to fight me one-on-one or not?"
Tolle gently brushed Cagalli's hair back, pressed his forehead lightly against hers to feel the heat, and said, "Yep, you're definitely running a fever."
"You big jerk! I'm not letting you off tonight!"
Everyone was stunned by the little lioness's fierce attitude—especially Lacus, whose face turned scarlet as she desperately avoided looking at the two of them.
But Lynn Minmay and Sora were both wearing sly, mischievous grins, clearly scheming something.
Then, still flushed bright red, Cagalli grabbed Tolle and dragged him off alone, insisting they play a video game—Beast King Showdown.
As soon as the match started, she immediately picked a female lion as her character. Tolle went along with it and chose a Siberian husky.
Once they entered the arena, the lioness and the husky kept circling each other warily, neither willing to make the first move.
Finally losing patience, hot-tempered Cagalli took the initiative. She made the lioness lunge forward and clamp her jaws around the husky's entire mouth, refusing to let go.
Even though Tolle frantically mashed the controller, making the husky claw wildly in retaliation, the lioness just wouldn't release her grip.
First round: Tolle loses.
Second round: Both sides were fired up and refused to back down, so they picked the exact same animals again.
This time Tolle played more cautiously. He went full dirty tactics—immediately rushing behind the lioness and biting her rear end.
Cagalli wasn't about to lose. She was forced into the same dirty tactic, and the two animals tore into each other.
But this time the husky got the first solid hit and, with a sliver of health left, managed a comeback kill. Tolle won round two. Score tied 1–1.
Third round: They made a gentleman's agreement—no more cheap butt-biting tactics. Real fight, winner takes all.
So the final match began. Both animals charged straight at each other and started tearing into one another again.
The lioness and husky fought tooth and nail. In the end Tolle had no choice but to use the death roll.
He clamped onto the lioness's neck, used his body weight and momentum, and started rolling with her nonstop.
They tumbled down the mountain, rolled across the grass, splashed into a stream, and finally plunged into the roaring river.
In the end, both the lioness and the husky drowned together. Another draw.
After still failing to settle the score, Cagalli caught her breath, spread her legs in a huff, and stormed off angrily.
Tolle was left alone in the room, staring at a single bright red stain.
He just shrugged, snipped that plum blossom, and added it to his collection.
Later that night, Tolle noticed Lacus standing alone on the balcony. He climbed over from his own balcony, came up behind her, and asked softly, "What's wrong, Lacus? Can't sleep?"
"Yeah… a little. I just wanted to look at the night sky." Lacus nodded, then turned to him and asked, "Tolle, is this starry sky real or fake?"
"These stars may be artificial, but even if they're man-made… they're still stars." Tolle gently wrapped his arms around her from behind, nuzzling close to her ear, and murmured, "Want to go see them up close? See what they really look like?"
Lacus, nestled in his arms, shyly whispered, "Mm… yes. I want to see."
"Then hold on tight—we're going up." Tolle turned her around so they were face-to-face, holding each other tightly, and said, "You ready? If you're ready, we're taking off."
"Mm, I'm ready." Lacus's face was burning red. She clung to him tightly, her whole body trembling slightly.
Tolle slid one hand under her thigh and wrapped the other around her waist. Using his nano-armor and reaction-force wing system, he lifted off with Lacus in his arms and soared into the artificial sky.
"Ahh! So high! This is crazy!" Lacus shouted excitedly, feeling the altitude.
"Want it even more exciting?" Tolle flipped them over so Lacus was sitting on top of him. Like revving a motorcycle, he accelerated wildly through the sky.
At some point, the wind had torn away both of their pajamas.
To keep Lacus warm, Tolle pulled her even closer—until they melted completely into each other.
High in the sky, they truly made their own rain. Gentle droplets pattered down from above…
Mixed among them were soft pink flower petals drifting slowly through the night.