Perhaps it was the blow of not being able to use her ultimate move that was too great, but Maria seemed to be in low spirits all day today. Although she completed her training diligently, Noah still keenly noticed Maria's low mood, even bordering on depression, during the training.
So, after training, Noah proactively approached her and asked, "Does not being able to use Repentance Sword make you that sad?"
"...After all, it's an ultimate move I trained to protect Sister Noah in the future... to have it denied all at once is definitely hard to accept," Maria didn't intend to hide it from Noah, complaining immediately. "But I also know that this move itself isn't mature yet... In the future... maybe it will be useful."
"Hehe, an ultimate move to protect me, huh?" Noah smiled and reached out her hand. Maria immediately cooperated by extending her little head, letting Noah pat her head. This had become their tacit habit; on one hand, Noah couldn't accurately locate her head, and on the other hand, Maria especially loved Noah's intimate gestures with her, so this is basically how the tacit agreement was formed. "Then if Kuro retires in the future, I'll hire you as my bodyguard, right?"
"Hehe, it's not impossible ~" Noah's words made Maria ecstatic, her two small ears wiggling happily. Under Noah's superb technique, it transformed into an electric current passing through Maria's nerve cells, delivering waves of pleasure to Maria's brain. However, as she continued to stroke, Noah inexplicably spoke, "Speaking of which, Zofia said you and Margaret are very similar, right?"
"Hmm... I guess so?" Actually, Maria wasn't sure. To her, she and Sister Margaret were poles apart, but everyone who had seen the two sisters said they were practically cut from the same mold. While it made her happy, she couldn't be sure if it was just a polite remark, as the name Margaret was pretty much synonymous with praise. Saying you resembled Margaret might not mean you truly looked alike, but rather just a compliment.
"Speaking of which... I've only seen Margaret when she was little..." Noah unconsciously moved her hand downwards, from Maria's head to her cheek. Her hand was light and cold, and it felt ticklish as it brushed against her face. Maria knew this was Noah exploring her appearance; for Noah, this was the most intimate gesture. She had touched her face before, using her fingers and touch to confirm her looks, and then praised her for being beautiful.
Noah would never do this to just anyone, as it would be impolite. She would only do it when she fully acknowledged someone and the other person was willing. Currently, only Kuro, young Margaret, Yolanta, Maria, and the few others like Zofia and Viviana had this privilege. She touched very slowly and carefully, afraid of hurting Maria or touching sensitive areas like her eyes. After confirming Maria's face in her mind, she showed a knowing smile.
"Indeed, very similar—" Noah said with a smile, "If Margaret grew up, she might look like this..."
"Sister Noah, could it be... you miss Sister Margaret?" Maria looked at the excited blush on Noah's face, her head turned, and she immediately said, "Is that right?"
"Ah... that... not really." Noah awkwardly withdrew her hand. "I was just... confirming. After all, everyone keeps saying you two look alike, but I didn't pay much attention when I touched your face before. Now I'm just specifically comparing."
"I think Sister Margaret must miss you very much too—" Noah's shyness was practically overflowing, and Maria immediately became excited. As a die-hard CP fan, her mind was full of shipping, and she was also a staunch solo stan.
"Is that so... Even if she's out there, she's probably swamped with work, very busy. And what if she made other friends outside?" Noah smiled somewhat awkwardly, "It's been a long time since we last met, only exchanging letters, and I've changed quite a bit... I feel like she might not even recognize me when she comes back."
"How could that be!" Maria confidently said, "Sister will definitely come to find you immediately. And Sister will absolutely not have any other close people outside. You two are childhood sweethearts! Childhood sweethearts are the best in the world!"
"What are you saying?" Noah shook her head, blushing. "Don't talk nonsense. What does it have to do with me if Margaret has other friends outside? Can I stop her from making friends? What would that make me?"
"...Could it be that if Sister Margaret has other very close people outside, Sister Noah, you wouldn't be jealous?" Maria asked seriously, "Really not?"
Although it felt absurd, Noah actually imagined it for a moment, and she didn't feel strange... It wasn't odd for someone as excellent as Margaret to attract people outside. And what was there to be jealous about? She wasn't someone with overwhelming possessiveness. Even if Margaret had other close people outside, Noah would only accept it with a smile, and might even be happy.
After all, this meant that Margaret wasn't lonely outside either, which was clearly a good thing.
Even if an accident were to happen in the future, Margaret could continue forward with the company of others... that would be enough.
"...Ah, never mind. Sister Noah's face always shows such a lonely smile." Maria felt a pang of sadness looking at Noah's smile. This kind of smile, both happy for you and a little lonely, always brought a heartache to Maria whenever it appeared. "I won't say anymore, Sister Noah, you shouldn't think about it either. I don't want you to be sad."
"With you here, why would I be sad?" Noah shook her head. "And, you're right. After all, Margaret is such an excellent person. I'm just one of the many who are attracted to her."
"... ..." Although Maria was happy that Noah said she still had her, she also felt that the sentence was a bit strange. However, with her emotional intelligence, she probably couldn't quite understand such feelings. So, she could only temporarily hold Noah's hand, warming her cold palm on behalf of her Sister Margaret, and lightly rubbed her own cheek against Noah's, trying to warm Noah's heart slightly with her own body temperature.
For some reason, Maria's heart seemed to have gained something new.
After all, Noah said she was very similar to her Sister Margaret. Was it only their appearance that was similar... or were... other aspects similar too?
Since we're similar... then why can't I be Sister Margaret?
This thought flashed through Maria's mind, and then she immediately dismissed it. What was she thinking...? Sister Margaret would absolutely never abandon Sister Noah, after all, Sister Noah had waited for her for so long...
Absolutely impossible!
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