The next day, the room remained dim.
In the haze between sleep and waking, Mobius unconsciously tightened her arms, giving the little darling in her embrace a couple of pats.
Vya immediately squirmed, burrowing herself deeper into Mobius's hold.
Mobius began to sense something was off—after all, she usually slept alone.
So what was this now...?
She gave another couple of pats, confirming it was indeed a human shape—small, soft, and radiating warmth...
Mobius slowly opened her eyes to find a head of white hair in her view.
The little one squirmed again.
"Wow, Sister Mobius, you're awake."
Vya whispered.
Her mind jolted fully alert.
Only then did Mobius realize she had slept with Vya all night, and by the looks of it, Vya had been burying her face against her chest the entire time...
Huh?
A wave of heat rushed uncontrollably to her cheeks.
But Mobius quickly composed herself.
"Mhm, I'm awake. Time to get up."
The process of getting dressed was automatically glossed over...
"Did Sister Mobius sleep well?"
Vya asked, tilting her little face up.
"It was alright."
Mobius replied, though she had to admit it was the most sound sleep she'd had in a long while.
"'Alright' means very well!"
Vya answered with a smile.
"Mhm..."
It seemed holding Vya to sleep was quite beneficial for sleep quality.
She really couldn't imagine what kind of wonderful life Elysia lived every single night.
And with Elysia's personality...
Thinking this, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy towards Elysia.
So, Mobius suddenly found herself nurturing the idea of claiming Vya for herself once more.
The last time she'd had this thought was shortly after first meeting Vya, when she wanted to study her.
But now, the motivation seemed entirely different.
"Yay, Vya's mission is complete!"
Vya cheered, spinning in a little circle.
"Just this once doesn't really count as completion, does it?"
Mobius said deliberately, a faint, elusive smile playing on her lips.
"Huh...?"
Vya was puzzled at first, but then instantly grasped Mobius's meaning.
"Oh, Sister Mobius, don't worry! Vya can come sleep with you often!"
Mobius crouched down, meeting Vya's eyes at her level, her voice carrying a rare softness:
"How about staying with me from now on? Don't go looking for Elysia anymore."
"No, no, Sister would worry."
Vya quickly waved her little hands.
Mobius had expected that would still be the answer.
So, she led Vya to the lab.
Elysia had risen early today, as she needed to retrieve Vya.
Thus, she also had to bid farewell to Eden's warm embrace...
"Vya! Mobius♪~"
Elysia waved, then ran over.
"Sister!"
Vya let go of Mobius's hand and threw herself into Elysia's open arms.
Elysia spun around once with Vya in her arms, then looked at Mobius. "Sleep well? Did our little supervisor cause you any trouble?"
Mobius gave a light humph. "Far less troublesome than you."
"Well, that's good too~"
Elysia said with a laugh, pinching Vya's cheek,
"We'll be off now, then~"
Mobius suddenly spoke up. "No. Leave Vya here."
"Huh?"
Elysia was taken aback for a moment, then instantly slipped into character.
"Waaah, Mobius..."
Elysia suddenly put on a pitiful expression, hugging Vya tighter against her, "Don't steal my sister away~ I'm begging you~"
Mobius raised an eyebrow, highly displeased with Elysia's dramatic performance. "Weren't you the one who insisted on dumping her here in the first place? Having regrets now?"
"We agreed it was only for one day~"
Elysia blinked her large, dewy eyes.
"I never agreed with you that it was only for one day."
Mobius crossed her arms, refusing to yield an inch.
Watching the two sisters argue, Vya suddenly had a bright idea. "Sisters, don't be like this! Vya has a solution!"
She wriggled out of Elysia's embrace and stood between them. "If the sisters stay together, then Vya can be with both sisters at the same time~"
"Aww♪~"
Elysia scooped Vya up and planted a kiss on her cheek. "Vya, you really are my wonderful sister~ What do you think, Mobius?"
"Not interested."
Mobius replied coldly.
Seeing Mobius remain unyielding, Elysia had no choice but to resort to a little scheme.
Her eyes darted, and she suddenly leaned in close to Mobius with a mysterious air:
"Come on, Mobius, don't be like that~"
"I have a certain someone's sleeping-face photo on my phone, you know~ Sleeping so soundly. Imagine if everyone saw it..."
Mobius's expression changed. "You...!"
"When did you take that!?"
"Hehe~ That's a secret~"
Elysia wagged her phone triumphantly. "So it's settled! Vya will come back with me, but she can come play with you often~"
Mobius gritted her teeth, but looking at Vya smiling sweetly at her from Elysia's arms, she ultimately gave in.
"Great!"
Then, still holding Vya, Elysia leaned close to Mobius's ear again and said,
"...If Mobius still wants to sleep with Vya tonight, that's not out of the question, you know~"
"How about I bring Vya over later?"
[Shocking News: Elysia, in order to win Mobius's favor, unhesitatingly sells out her own sister.]
"Not necessary. Just go."
Mobius made a shooing motion with her hand, seeming indifferent, but in reality...
"Really? Hehe~"
Elysia took a few steps back with Vya in her arms. "We're off then, Mobius~ Remember to sleep on time!"
Vya, resting on Elysia's shoulder, waved at Mobius. "Goodbye, Sister Mobius! Vya will come again!"
Mobius stood in place, watching their retreating figures, a smile unconsciously curling the corners of her mouth.
She touched her chest, where the warmth from last night seemed to linger.
Maybe... this wasn't so bad once in a while?
…
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