Mobius was tidying up inside her wardrobe when suddenly, her fingertips brushed against a piece of exceptionally soft fabric—it definitely wasn't anything that belonged to her.
Frowning, she pulled the garment out. A pink lace-trimmed dress now lay in her hands.
Some pink-haired somebody must have stuffed this in here…
Damn it all… Elysia!
Mobius clenched her fist, gritting her teeth as she silently cursed the name.
Though she did... perhaps... like these delicate little dresses just a tiny bit, how could she ever admit to such a thing?
She decided to return it.
Just as she was about to go hand it back personally, a sudden thought struck her—wouldn't that make it seem like she cared too much about this whole affair? She was Mobius, after all!
How could she make such a fuss over a single dress?
...
"Vya, return this to Elysia."
Mobius found Vya and shoved the neatly folded dress into her arms.
Holding the dress, Vya tilted her head in confusion. "Why doesn't Sister Mobius want to keep it? Sister Elysia said it was a gift for you."
"I don't like it…"
Mobius tossed out the words stiffly, then turned and strode quickly back toward her lab.
"But why? Sister Mobius would probably look really pretty in it. Why does she want to give it back? I just don't get it…"
She muttered softly to herself.
Oh well, if she couldn't figure it out, she'd stop trying. Time to go find her sister!
...
Outside the training room, Elysia was chatting with Ato.
"Elysia, you'd better step up your game. Who knows, maybe one day that new guy will surpass you," Ato said with a laugh.
"Don't you worry, I'm not one to admit defeat so easily. Besides, even if he does surpass me, wouldn't that be a good thing too?"
Elysia replied with a smile. True, her scores in the simulation training were a bit lower than that Kevin's, but there was a reason for that…
Making combat more elegant and lovely—if she had to explain, that was the answer.
"Haha, you've got a point there…"
"Sister!"
Vya's voice called out from the end of the corridor. She came trotting over, the stack of dresses still cradled in her arms.
"Alright, I'll get going then. See you tonight," Ato said, taking his cue to leave.
"Okay, bye-bye~" Elysia waved.
"Goodbye, Uncle Ato."
Vya, seeing him about to depart, politely added her farewell.
Hearing that form of address, Ato's smile froze on his face.
"Come here, Vya."
"What is it?"
Elysia was already covering her mouth, stifling a giggle...
He crouched down, lowering his voice as if negotiating. "Could you maybe not call me 'uncle'? Doesn't that make me sound a bit old? What do you think?"
"Why not? I think it's nice," Vya asked, her face the picture of innocence.
"Alright, alright." Seeing it was hopeless, Ato didn't press further and quickly made his exit, picking up his pace.
...
"Sister, Sister Mobius asked me to bring this back to you!"
Vya said, presenting the dresses in her hands.
Elysia took the clothes, looking thoughtful. "My, Dr. Mobius really ought to like these. Why wouldn't she accept them?"
She smiled and decided to go have a chat with Mobius personally.
Why wouldn't she accept her goodwill?
It's so much better when girls are open and honest, after all~
And so, two pink whirlwinds once again swept through the base.
The passing soldiers were already used to this sight; some even greeted them amiably.
...
"Mobius~!"
"Sister Mobius! We're here again!"
"..."
Mobius paid them no mind.
Klein continued working diligently.jpg
"Mobius, why did you send these clothes back?"
"I don't like them."
Mobius answered shortly.
"You haven't even tried them on. How can you say you don't like them?"
Elysia pressed on, refusing to let it go.
"I'm not going to wear this kind of messy, random stuff."
Mobius stated firmly.
"Just give it a try~"
Elysia clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Even if not for my sake, do it for Vya~"
Beside her, Vya promptly turned an expectant gaze towards Mobius.
Klein had also slowly shifted her attention to their conversation long ago.
She had long since developed the ability to switch between work mode and relaxation mode at a moment's notice.
"Sister Klein wants to see too, right!"
Vya happily called out towards Klein.
"Hmm…?"
Mobius's gaze also landed on her.
"Ah, no, no!"
Klein hurriedly denied it, then with astonishing speed plunged back into her work to escape reality.
Although she was indeed quite curious about what Dr. Mobius would look like in a dress.
...
Mobius set down her test tube, looking directly at the other woman. "Elysia, I am not putting it on."
"Really?"
Elysia felt there was still room for salvage.
"Yes."
"Then you won't be going to the newcomers' gathering tonight either?"
"What's that?"
Mobius frowned.
"Eh? Mobius doesn't know? It's the welcome banquet M.O.T.H. is holding for the new recruits~!"
"So? Want to come with us?"
"No."
"Mobius~ come with us♪~"
"No."
"It's more fun with more people~"
...
No matter what schemes Elysia employed, Mobius remained an unshakable fortress.
Elysia's eyes darted around, and suddenly an idea struck her. "What if I borrow Klein then?"
Originally, in her plan, as long as she managed to 'trick' Mobius into going, Klein would probably just offer a few words of persuasion and then go along with it.
But given the current situation... well, there was no other choice.
"No."
Mobius flatly refused.
"Oh, come on~ Don't be stingy, Mobius~"
"She still has work to finish. She can't go."
"Sister Mobius…"
Vya joined the persuasion campaign, her voice soft. She really did want Mobius to come along.
"..."
Mobius glanced at Vya. Internally, she was actually beginning to waver.
She was just considering whether to find a way to gracefully back down when Elysia suddenly announced, "Even if it's for Vya's sake, Mobius, I'm going to have to resort to some special measures now~"
"Wait…"
Mobius took a wary step back. "Elysia, what are you planning?"
She watched as Elysia, smiling brightly, began advancing towards her...
Mobius had been just about to agree, but she hadn't expected Elysia to decide to go for the hard approach.
She was just a frail researcher, naturally incapable of resisting Elysia.
Just as Mobius was about to be backed into a corner, Elysia saw her chance. In a flash, she darted forward and, with lightning speed, scooped Mobius up into her arms in a princess carry.
"...Put me down this instant."
Mobius's voice was cold as ice.
She struggled symbolically a few times but didn't dare make any big movements—it would be far too undignified if she ended up falling.
"No~"
Elysia cheerfully adjusted her grip. "Not unless you promise to come to the banquet with us, and try on these pretty little dresses~"
Vya clapped her hands in delight beside them. "Yay! Sister Mobius will definitely look beautiful in a dress!"
"Impossible! Elysia."
"Well then, there's nothing to be done♪~ O(∩_∩)O"
Elysia held on even tighter…
…
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