"So you came to me just for this?"
In Mobius's laboratory, the green-haired scientist crossed her arms, watching Vya float back and forth in mid-air.
At first, she'd been quite interested in Vya's newfound ability to fly, but upon closer inspection, she realized it was just simple airflow manipulation—nothing particularly special.
"Not just for this, it's only a side thing~!"
Elysia said with a beaming smile.
"What is it, then? Out with it."
Mobius replied somewhat impatiently. She'd known the moment Elysia showed up unannounced that it couldn't be for anything good.
"The two of us would like to go out again."
Elysia clasped her hands together in a pleading gesture. "Mobius, could you do us a little favor~?"
"Why come to me?"
Mobius raised an eyebrow.
"Well, mainly because we've used up all our vacation days~ Could you help us out, please?"
Elysia batted her eyes. "Do this for us, won't you? We want to go home for a visit."
Elysia continued to plead.
"Big sister Mobius! How about it~?"
Vya gazed at Mobius with her big, dewy eyes, full of longing.
Mobius held Vya's stare for three full seconds before finally relenting.
She waved a hand irritably. "Just go. Quickly."
"Ah… Mobius…"
"Didn't you say you wanted to go home?"
Elysia let out a cheer. "Alright, thank you so much♪~ Mobius~"
"Yay! Thank you, big sister Mobius!"
Vya also laughed happily.
Mobius: "…"
"Alright then, Vya, let's be on our way!"
"Mm! Let's go!"
Mobius watched as the two departed once more, unsure of what to say.
She shook her head helplessly, observing their jubilant figures retreating into the distance.
She walked to the other side of the lab, looked at Klein napping on the workbench, and sighed.
The recruitment notice for the lab had been posted for ages now, so why was no one willing to come?
Was it really impossible to find a few naive (read: foolish) and daring (read: stupid) people?
The compensation was clearly quite generous…
…
Vladivostok-51.
What kind of place was this?
Perhaps it had remained unchanged since long, long ago.
Beautiful, plain, peaceful.
People lived quiet lives here.
Even though an organization called MOTH had sealed the area off a few years back, after they left, everything quickly returned to how it was before.
A remote paradise—that's what it should be. Limited contact with the outside world had instead become a form of protection.
So it was.
At the edge of the forest, two figures, one tall and one small, slowly emerged.
Elysia took a deep breath of her hometown's air.
"Hmm… we're really back."
Elysia gazed at the familiar town, speaking with a touch of nostalgia.
"Mm-hmm!"
Vya looked very happy, though a hint of sadness flickered across her face as she remembered certain things.
Elysia took Vya's hand. "The town doesn't look like it's changed much~ Vya, let's hurry back and take a look!"
"Okay."
Vya replied softly, but her eyes remained fixed on the town, lost in thought.
This was her earliest memory, too.
…
Just then, a voice came from behind them: "Um… hello? Are you visitors from outside?"
The two turned to see a young woman with a basket over her arm looking at them curiously.
She appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen, with long brown hair braided and draped over her chest.
"You're… Marianne, right?"
Elysia's eyes lit up, immediately recognizing this childhood playmate.
She remembered quite clearly.
The girl's eyes widened in surprise, and she examined Elysia more closely. "How do you know my name? Wait… you… you're Elysia?"
The confusion on her face swiftly turned to delight.
Elysia walked forward with a smile. "That's right, it's me~"
"It's been such a long time, hasn't it?"
"You've grown taller, and you've become even more beautiful~"
Elysia stepped closer, giving her a thorough once-over.
"You too, you too! How have you been all these years outside?"
Marianne said happily.
After the two exchanged a few brief pleasantries, Marianne's gaze shifted to Vya.
Her expression instantly turned to astonishment.
"This… this can't be Vya, can it??"
"Mm, it's me, big sister Marianne."
Vya nodded in confirmation.
Marianne looked back at Elysia, puzzled. "How is she with you?"
"We… met by coincidence."
Elysia selected the most plausible explanation from the many excuses she'd prepared—she'd found the lost Vya by chance in the city and decided to take care of her.
After hearing this.
"…Is that so?"
Marianne looked at the two of them, nodding with a mix of belief and doubt.
She crouched down and gently stroked Vya's hair. "I see. The important thing is that you're safe. Back when we realized Vya was missing, the entire town was searching…"
Marianne's voice softened. "…Mom Seria blamed herself for a long, long time because of it."
Hearing this, Vya's little face slowly crumpled again.
"…It was all Vya's fault. Vya shouldn't have made Mom Seria worry."
Marianne quickly comforted her. "It's alright, it's alright. Being safe is all that matters. Hurry back and let Mom Seria know you're okay!"
"Mm!"
Vya nodded vigorously.
"Alright~ Marianne, we'll see you later~ We're going to the orphanage first."
Marianne stood up. "Mm, okay. I'll go back and tell everyone about this. They'll definitely be overjoyed."
"Bye-bye~"
…
Watching the two figures walk away, Marianne stood thoughtfully for a moment.
"It's a bit too much of a coincidence…"
She murmured to herself, then shook her head. "Never mind, never mind. I'd better go share this news with everyone first. To think I'd be the first to know…"
…
Elysia and Vya headed straight for the orphanage.
The familiar building, the memories of the past, overlapped with the present.
"Vya, go on ahead."
Elysia released Vya's hand.
Vya stood still, quietly watching.
The matron of the orphanage was still here. She could see that familiar figure in the courtyard—Mom Seria was hanging laundry out to dry.
Time didn't seem to have left many marks on her; she still looked just as she had when Elysia left.
After all, when Elysia first departed, Seria had been quite young.
Something in Vya's heart seemed stirred…
It was true. Since reuniting with Elysia, Vya had gone from initial ignorance to now understanding human emotions… she was really becoming more and more like a "person"…
"Go on."
Elysia gave her a gentle pat on the back. "Mom Seria will be so happy to see you."
"Mm."
Vya nodded.
…
I have completed the author to TL pipeline, 2 chapters per day. Advanced chapters available on patreon.
patreon.com/intraneer
Give power stones please I survive solely off of number go up.
Check out my other fics