After a simple snack and some coffee with Miss Himeko in the parlor car, the hour had grown late.
They cleaned up the dishes together and went their separate ways.
Sylvia, naturally, headed back to March 7th's room.
The moment she stepped inside, she saw the girl sitting attentively before her computer, hard at work.
At some point, March 7th had changed out of her daytime clothes and into a cozy set of pajamas.
She didn't even turn at the sound of the door opening behind her.
"Back? What took you so long… Huh? Wait a sec—"
March 7th, who hadn't planned on looking back, suddenly lifted her nose and sniffed the air.
Then, she shot up and spun around to face Sylvia.
Grabbing Sylvia by the shoulders, she leaned in so close she was practically pressed against her.
Her cute little face was nearly touching Sylvia's.
Furrowing her brow slightly, she eyed Sylvia with suspicion, then sniffed her a few times.
"I smell dessert! Come on, fess up—did you sneak a snack?!"
"It wasn't sneaking. Miss Himeko offered it to me."
"No way?? Why her?! Himeko's never given me any!"
March 7th stared at Sylvia in disbelief, completely baffled as to why she'd been left out, and even more baffled that Sylvia had indulged without so much as a word to her.
"Plus, you hogged it all and didn't even call me! Hmph—and here I was, working so hard to pick out photos for you."
March 7th let go of Sylvia, crossed her arms, and tilted her chin up with an adorable huff, but Sylvia was unmoved. She even let out a huff of her own in reproach.
"Me, not call you? Wanna check your conscience? Ask yourself who exactly bailed halfway through."
"Uh… hehe… well, you see—"
March 7th froze, a blush creeping across her cheeks as she sheepishly scratched her head.
Her earlier indignation dissolved in an instant, replaced by a goofy grin.
"How 'bout we just talk about the photos!"
Chuckling awkwardly, she quickly ushered Sylvia into the chair and pointed at the computer screen.
Sylvia, letting it slide, played along and moved past the subject.
--+--
Late into the night.
"Haah… I'm so sleepy, Sylvia… aren't you tired at all…?"
March 7th's eyes were half-lidded now, her head resting on Sylvia's shoulder.
She let go of the mouse, rubbed her eyes with her little hand, and turned to look at Sylvia, but Sylvia didn't seem the least bit drowsy.
Sylvia tilted her head to glance at the groggy March 7th, about to speak, when March 7th answered her own question:
"Oh, right, you had coffee… or was it two cups… haah…"
Yawning wide again, March 7th twisted her head, nuzzling against Sylvia's shoulder. It was like she was trying to bury her whole face into the crook of Sylvia's neck.
"It's gotten way too late. You should get some rest."
Seeing March 7th so exhausted, Sylvia felt a twinge of guilt.
She'd dragged March 7th into taking photos and staying up this late—she herself could go without sleep, but March 7th was clearly fading fast.
"Mmm… what about you, Sylvia? Heading back now?"
Eyes still shut, March 7th mumbled, her voice muffled.
Sylvia smiled gently.
"Yeah, it's not far."
"It's so late, going back's a hassle… Why not just crash here for the night…?"
"Where? You've only got one bed."
Sylvia glanced around. It wasn't like they could make a floor bed.
But March 7th propped herself up on her elbows, looking utterly unimpressed.
She sighed with exasperation.
"Seriously? We're both girls… what's the big deal about sharing a bed? And it's plenty big enough."
With that, March 7th wobbled to her feet, using Sylvia's head for support. She rummaged through the closet, pulled out a set of pajamas, and stuffed them into Sylvia's hands.
"Haah… I'm dead tired. I'm crashing first, kay…? Change and hit the sack too. If you wanna freshen up, the bathroom's over there."
March 7th pointed to the door in the corner of the room.
Then, yawning, she flopped onto the bed, rolled over a couple of times, and bundled herself into the covers.
Her slippers went flying, almost landing by the door.
Sylvia, holding the pajamas, chuckled to herself.
She picked up March 7th's shoes, then headed into the bathroom.
A quick rinse, a change into the pajamas, and she slipped into bed beside March 7th.
March 7th was already clutching the covers, snoring softly, a silly, blissed-out grin on her face.
Whether she was dreaming of something nice, or sensed Sylvia's presence, she rolled over in her sleep, eyes still shut, and draped her bare arms and legs over Sylvia.
She scooted closer, too.
Even, warm breaths tickled Sylvia's ear.
Sylvia pursed her lips, turning her head to peek at March 7th's sleeping face.
This girl…
Is her sleep this messy?
The breathing in her ear was too noticeable, so Sylvia turned over, putting her back to March 7th.
A little while later.
Just as Sylvia's own breathing began to steady, March 7th inched closer again.
An arm snaked around Sylvia's waist, a leg hooked over hers.
Her whole body pressed tight against Sylvia's back.
Her face buried itself in the crook of Sylvia's neck, the warm, damp breaths on her nape making the sensation even sharper.
"…"
Sylvia opened her eyes, resigned.
She could even feel a hand resting on her rear—not moving, but it didn't feel like it was innocently placed either.
She was starting to suspect March 7th's motives for inviting her to stay.
Was this girl pretending to be asleep just to cop a feel?
The thought crossed Sylvia's mind.
She closed her eyes again, trying to blank her thoughts and ignore March 7th's terrible sleeping habits.
Just then—THUMP.
"Heheh~slrrp… Sylvia… hehehe… you smell so good~"
Lost in some dream, March 7th's lips curled into a grin, and she let out a voice like some weird old man's.
She even mumbled Sylvia's name.
"…"
Uh-oh.
She'd walked right into the lion's den.
Who knew that you, March 7th, with your innocent face, had designs on her too?!
Sylvia had thought Stelle was the only one like that. Never expected March 7th, quiet as a mouse, to be such a sneaky one.
Sylvia's eye twitched.
For a moment, she didn't know whether to throw off March 7th and make a run for it, or just pretend not to notice and keep her eyes shut.
--+--
The night passed without further incident.
The next day—
The Xianzhou's automatically adjusted sunlight filtered in.
March 7th slowly stirred from her dreams.
"Mmm… what's this… smells nice, feels soft…"
Still half-asleep, she pressed her face closer, nuzzling and sniffing.
A lovely fragrance.
When her eyes fluttered open, the first thing she saw was a stretch of fair skin.
Glancing up slightly, she spotted delicate collarbones and a slender neck.
"Ah—"
In an instant, March 7th realized where her face was buried.
Her cheeks flushed crimson.
She was wide awake now.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 3 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.