"Just let me help you get everything in order~"
Elysia still wouldn't give up, her fingers prying at the changing room door crack.
"Unnecessary."
Sakura decisively locked the changing room door.
Elysia drew out a disappointed sigh, "Aww~ How could you! I don't have any bad intentions, you know~♪"
She turned around to see Rin and Vya, the two little cuties, covering their mouths and giggling.
"You two little troublemakers~ Haha~"
She put her hands on her hips, pretending to be angry, but couldn't help laughing herself.
Sakura changed at top speed, just in case Elysia tried something…
The changing room door finally opened, and Sakura walked out, looking somewhat ill at ease.
The icy blue dress perfectly accentuated her cool, elegant temperament. The tie at the waist outlined her slender figure, and the skirt swayed gently with her steps.
"Wow! Sis, you look so pretty!"
Rin was the first to exclaim in admiration.
Vya also widened her eyes: "Mhm! Sakura-nee looks just like a princess!"
"I knew it would suit you~♪"
Elysia clasped her hands together, then subtly wiped a tear from the corner of her mouth. She was so moved!
It felt like witnessing some sacred moment…
Sakura's ears flushed slightly from the praise. She tugged at the hem of her skirt, uncomfortable. "Really? I still think it's a bit too flashy…"
"Not at all!"
Sakura was a beauty to begin with, and good clothes only amplified the effect.
Elysia circled her once, as if admiring a work of art, practically itching to get her hands on her. "Just wear it out! It's my treat!"
"No…"
Sakura shook her head. "It's inconvenient. And there aren't many chances to wear it."
"Then at least buy it~"
Elysia pleaded. "You can wear it at home for Rin to see~ Or you could wear it out for me to see~♪"
Mentioning her sister softened Sakura's stance considerably, to the point she overlooked the dangerous implication of Elysia's latter suggestion.
She looked at her reflection, then at Rin's expectant eyes, and finally gave a slight nod. "…Alright. But I'll pay for it myself…"
"Now, how could I let you do that!"
Elysia immediately protested, already pulling out a shiny credit card. "I said I was treating~"
She suddenly leaned close to Sakura's ear, her warm breath making Sakura instinctively pull her neck back. "My, my, Sakura, don't tell me you don't want to owe me a favor~♪"
Sakura frowned slightly but didn't push her away.
"Don't worry~" Elysia took a step back, her smile radiant. "This is just a gift between friends~"
"…"
Sakura didn't want to say anything more. She just hoped this 'friend' really was just a friend.
At checkout, Elysia not only bought the dress Sakura tried on, but also quietly had the clerk wrap up several other outfits suitable for different occasions.
By the time they left the mall, laden with bags large and small, the sunset had dyed the sky orange-red.
"I had so much fun today!"
Rin, holding Vya's hand, said reluctantly, "Can we play together again next time?"
"Of course we can~♪"
Elysia bent down and ruffled the two little girls' hair. "But sadly, it's time to say goodbye~"
"Bye~!"
"Sakura-nee, Rin-nee, bye-bye!"
The farewell under the sunset was especially warm, the shadows of the four stretching long on the ground.
…
Back home, Sakura changed out of the clothes and carefully hung the icy blue dress in her wardrobe.
Her hand gently stroked the fabric…
She was thinking… besides her sister, when was the last time someone had given her a gift? It was so long ago…
"Sis?"
Rin's voice came from outside the door. "I'm hungry."
"Dinner will be ready soon."
Sakura tied on her apron, pulling her thoughts back to the present.
She deftly began preparing dinner, the knife making a rhythmic sound on the cutting board, different from usual…
In the living room, Rin curled up on the sofa, flipping through the latest issue of a magazine.
She read the lines on the page softly: "Because that little blue flower… it's right in front of me now… She, is right in front of me too…"
"Hey! Sis! What are you…"
The magazine was suddenly snatched away. Rin looked up, protesting unhappily.
Sakura glanced at the magazine her sister was reading and the 'Forget-Me-Not' on the page, a complex look flashing in her eyes.
"Children shouldn't always read this sort of thing, Rin. Time for dinner."
"…Sis, give it back. I was almost finished."
"All that fighting and killing… reading too much will give you nightmares, Rin."
Sakura lied without batting an eye, placing the magazine on a high bookshelf.
"It won't."
Sakura's voice softened. "Alright, Rin, be good."
"Okay…"
Rin finally relented and obediently walked to the table. Though her beloved magazine had been confiscated, the steaming hot food on the table quickly captured her attention.
Sis's cooking is always the best!
…
Meanwhile, in Mobius's lab, the light cast two long shadows on the wall.
The atmosphere was practically palpable.
Mobius's voice held a note of sarcasm. "See, I knew that group would never agree."
"Remember, don't stop the research."
Mobius instructed Mei.
"I know, Mobius."
"Mhm, I trust your ability… And, be careful yourself."
Mei raised a brow slightly. "You're worried about them…"
"Yes. It's best not to be alone these days. Have that boy follow you around."
She meant Kevin, though she never called him by name.
"That group doesn't want to openly tear up the pretense, but who knows what they're plotting in the shadows."
"Mhm, Mobius, I'll be careful. But if it really comes to that, I'll have no choice but to consider some measures of my own."
"That's more like it, Mei…"
Mobius laughed. She understood exactly what kind of person Mei was. In some ways, Mei was even more 'crazy' than she was.
The lab light cast their shadows on the wall, slightly distorted, barely recognizable as human…
Click
In an instant, the surroundings brightened up.
"Doctor… why didn't you turn on all the lights…"
Klein asked, looking puzzled.
The two of them: "…"
…
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