Chapter 199. Veliona: What Seele Has, I Want Too!
Sirin's sudden outburst left Kiana stunned. She looked at her best friend—face flushed, body trembling—and for a moment had no idea what to say.
After thinking it over, she tentatively reached out and patted Sirin's shoulder.
"What are you doing?!"
Sirin had already regretted her words the instant she said them. Now, seeing Kiana try to comfort her in return, she snapped.
"N-nothing. It's just… why be afraid?"
"I…"
At that, Sirin opened her mouth to argue, but quickly ducked her head with a bitter look. After a moment, a small, dejected voice came out: "I don't know either."
"Sirin…"
Kiana leaned over and lightly hugged Sirin's arm. This time, Sirin didn't refuse—she even scooted a little closer.
Silence blanketed the room until Sirin broke it again.
"Honestly, I've wanted to invite Xander so many times."
"Then why didn't you?"
Kiana didn't quite get why she, the one who'd come to consult Sirin, was now the one doing the counseling—but that didn't stop her from being a good listener.
After a pause, Sirin's gaze went a little vacant. "The moment I think about confessing to Xander after two more times, I… I get super agitated. I can't even play games. Every time, I find excuses to do something else, and the date never gets made."
"Pfft~"
The sudden laugh made Sirin glare up. Kiana waved her hands quickly with a grin. "N-no, I'm not laughing at you. It's just… the way you described it feels so familiar. Like before finals in high school."
Reining in her smile, Kiana went on, "You know you should study, but you just can't get into it. Two pages in and you're distracted. In the end, you don't play well and you don't study well. If Mei-san hadn't forced me to cram, I wouldn't have graduated."
"Isn't that just you being lazy?"
The deadpan jab made Kiana puff her cheeks. "You're the lazy one. And at least I passed my exams. You can't even bring yourself to ask Xander out."
"..."
Okay—Sirin couldn't argue with that.
A moment later she looked at Kiana with a trace of hope. "Then, Kiana… what should I do?"
"What about that 'do-anything' voucher? Use that."
"Eh? Wouldn't that be a huge waste here?"
Hearing that, Kiana eyed her suspiciously and frowned. "Then what were you planning to use it on?"
"T-that's my business."
Face reddening, Sirin turned away. That wish was way too embarrassing to say out loud—no way she'd tell even her best friend.
"Fine, fine. You gave me that voucher, so I can use it however I want!"
Seeing Kiana still staring, Sirin hurriedly pushed her shoulder.
"Tsk. Okay, okay."
That darn Sirin—keeping secrets even from her bestie. So much for satisfying Kiana's curiosity.
After grumbling twice in her head, Kiana heard Sirin continue: "So, besides that voucher, anything else?"
"If I knew, would I be here asking you today?"
Once again, the two girls on the bed ended up staring at each other.
After a while, realizing they were both absolute rookies at romance, they dropped the idea of asking each other. Thinking for a bit, Kiana made the first proposal: "Since neither of us can think of anything, why don't we ask someone else?"
"Ask who? Don't tell me Bronya. She'll beat you up."
"No, no—I meant Elysia-sis."
Sirin blinked, frowning. "Elysia-sis? Since when were you two so close?"
"Elysia-sis is just Elysia-sis. Aiya, Sirin, don't worry about that. I have a feeling she'd totally get this kind of thing. Should we ask her?"
"Elysia-sis… If it's her…"
Clearly tempted by Kiana's suggestion, Sirin met Kiana's eyes. In an instant, they understood each other. They sprang off the bed together and hurried to the living room.
By coincidence, Elysia had just returned from Eden's place and was sitting on the sofa. She held her phone to her ear, happily chatting.
"Elysia-sis… sis…"
Seeing her, Kiana wanted to call out excitedly, but noticing the phone, she quickly lowered her voice, tugged Sirin to sit opposite, and waited quietly.
Flashing Kiana a smile, Elysia kept on the call. "Strawberry flavor for me. Thank you, darling~"
"Mhm, mhm, got it. Love you, mua~"
At the end she blew a cute kiss into the mic, making Sirin click her tongue.
To say something that embarrassing so easily… as expected of you, Miss Pink Fairy.
When the call ended, Elysia set her sparkly, accessory-covered phone aside and looked over with her usual sweet smile.
"So late—what brings two cute girls to me?"
Before the words even faded, she clapped her hands in delight. "Don't tell me you want to spend a lovely evening with Elysia? That can be arranged~"
"Wha—!!! W-what are you even talking about!!"
Faced with Elysia's wild remark, Sirin shrank back at once, drawing a regretful look from Elysia.
"Eh? Not that? I thought the three of us could have a nice heart-to-heart and grow even closer tonight~"
"Ahem, Elysia-sis."
Realizing it was just a joke, Kiana cleared her throat, a little embarrassed. "I… Sirin and I wanted to ask your advice."
"Mhm-hmm~"
The disappointment vanished at once. Elysia propped her chin on her hand, a mysterious smile on her lips. "Let me guess—is it about~ romance?"
"H-how did you know?"
"Can't hide anything from Elysia-sis, haha…"
Watching the two girls turn shy in a heartbeat, Elysia's lips curved up. Delight rose in her heart.
In her mind, after her most beloved Xander, the second thing she loved most was cute girls—especially cute girls in love. That pure beauty was irresistible!
Exchanging a look, Kiana and Sirin both hesitated. They pressed their foreheads together and whispered.
Sirin: "Should I say it?"
Kiana: "I can say it too."
Sirin: "Then you go."
Kiana: "?"
Watching Sirin instantly retreat, Kiana's mouth twitched.
Turning back, she met the pink curiosity in Elysia-sis's gaze—those crystal-bright eyes looked like they could see straight through her. Resigned, Kiana braced herself and slowly recounted what happened tonight.
As she listened, Elysia's eyes grew brighter and brighter. When Kiana finished, she couldn't help but laugh.
"You two are just too cute~"
"Please stop teasing us, Elysia-sis. Do you have any advice?"
This wasn't like with Sirin. Saying it out loud was embarrassing enough—hearing Elysia laugh made Kiana want to dig a hole and hide. Look, Sirin had already covered her head with a pillow.
"Advice? Then—go with the flow~"
"Huh?"
Go with the flow? That's the advice?
Propping her chin, Elysia smiled at Kiana. "After this afternoon, will you still treat Xander the same way you used to?"
"I-I don't think so."
"Then there's no problem~ After that, don't fight your heart. Do what you want—don't leave regrets~"
"Is that how it is?"
Suddenly, the four-point plan she'd racked her brains to write flashed in Kiana's mind. Was she really going to follow it?
Thinking that, her face turned redder and redder.
"As for Sirin, it looks like you just need someone behind you to give you a little push~"
"A… a push?"
Hearing her name, Sirin quietly lowered the pillow a bit, revealing long purple hair and a pair of gold eyes misted with tears. Meeting Elysia's gaze, she darted about like a startled little animal—so cute that Elysia couldn't help pouncing over to hug her tight.
"Ahh, Sirin's so cute—come let big sis hug you~"
"Mm—E-Elysia-sis…"
She hurriedly pushed away the embrace that nearly smothered her. After a quick, envious glance, she asked in a tiny voice, "H-how do you give me that push?"
"Mm, just like Kiana said. Back then, Mei-san had to push her to study, and that's how she passed. So this is when you need someone behind you to give you that push~"
"Is that it?"
Hand over her chest, Sirin's expression went a bit vacant.
Seeing that, Elysia opened her arms and gently embraced her. "Don't worry, Sirin. The reason you're nervous—doesn't that mean you know you can actually do this?"
"I can… do this…"
Murmuring, Sirin fell into thought.
Click.
Just then, the front door opened.
The sound naturally drew their attention. Before Kiana and Sirin moved, Elysia hopped off the sofa, slid into her slippers, and ran over, eyes sparkling.
"Xander, welcome home~"
At the door, Xander Masato had just set a big plastic bag aside to change his shoes when Elysia's voice made him notice the quick little glances she kept sneaking at the bag.
He chuckled and teased, "Are you welcoming me, or the ice cream?"
"Hehe, both of course. I want the ice cream, and I want Xander too!"
Clenching her fists, she made an "I want it all" gesture. Too cute—Xander couldn't help walking over, hugging her, and giving her lip a playful bite.
"How nice~"
Watching Elysia and Xander being so naturally affectionate made Kiana bite her lip in envy.
"Too much ice cream at night will upset your stomach."
Behind them, Mei-san appeared with a smile.
Seeing Mei come in with Xander, Kiana suddenly froze.
Eh—no, wait?
She rubbed her eyes and looked again carefully.
No mistake—it was Mei. Judging by the looks of it, the two had definitely come back together.
Thinking of what Mei told her at noon, then looking at the intimate scene not far away—and Mei standing so close to Xander…
Alarm bells exploding!!
Mei—did you backstab me too?!!
I was betrayed three times… wait, wrong story.
"Kiana, Sirin, how come you two are in the living room today?"
Entering and seeing them sitting together, Mei smiled right away.
Normally, this would be their gaming time.
"N-nothing really. It's just—Mei, you…"
Kiana, who had been mentally gearing up for a showdown with Mei at the Valley of the End, was forcibly yanked back. She eyed Mei warily and asked, careful: "Mei, did you just go out with Xander?"
Kiana watched Mei's face closely as she spoke, only to find Mei didn't react at all. Calm as usual, she nodded. "Yeah. After dinner, Xander and I wanted some fresh air, so we went for a walk together. We could chat while walking. Why—was there something you needed?"
"N-nope, nothing, hehe—just asking~"
Hearing that, Kiana let out a long breath—missing how Mei's hand, hidden behind her back, quietly clenched. She knew it—Mei was her best friend. How could she ever backstab her~
Thinking about it, it made sense. Mei wasn't the type to block a friend and then sneak off to steal a march. She'd just overthought it.
"Why are you asking that? Anyway, Xander just bought some ice cream. Kiana, want one?"
"Yes~"
"What about you, Sirin?"
"Same here."
"Only one each~"
Slapping away Elysia's little paw as it reached for a second, Xander brought the bag to the living room and let Kiana and Sirin each pick one.
He didn't think much of the quietness in their attitudes—his heart had already flown to the second floor.
On the way back, he'd received a photo from Bronya.
She, Kaguya, and Seele were lying in a row on the bed, wearing nothing but sheer gauze. Under the hazy light, their exquisite figures were tantalizingly hidden and revealed.
And Bronya was a master of camera angles—key points were either covered by arms or swallowed by shadow, making him itch to tear those flimsy veils and explore within.
He stuffed the ice cream into the freezer in a hurry, said a quick hello, then rushed upstairs to the bathroom. A few minutes later, he was showered.
He couldn't wait. Battle!
"Aiya, looks like Xander's going to be busy tonight~"
The soft pink tip of her tongue lightly licked the ice cream. Watching Elysia tease the tip with her tongue and then take the end into her mouth, Kiana felt—strangely—like there was something a little spicy about it. Just her imagination?
"Busy? Busy with what? Need my help?"
Hearing Elysia, Sirin asked, puzzled.
Elysia's lips curved. "Grown-up business, of course. Wanna go? I can tell Xander for you~"
Sirin: "?…!!!"
In a flash, she understood and immediately ducked her head, not daring to speak.
"Elysia-sis."
Mei had already taken an ice cream back to the bedroom. Kiana paid no mind to the exchange between Elysia and Sirin; she'd been thinking the whole time.
"What is it?"
"If I invite Xander on a date this Saturday, will he say yes?"
Thinking it over and over, she decided to take the initiative. Being passive just wasn't Kiana Kaslana's style!
"Nope~"
"Eh? Why?"
Kiana blinked. Sirin also peeked up.
"Because Xander already promised me—he's spending the whole day with me. Sorry~ I got there first."
Elysia grinned and flashed a peace sign.
"I-I see."
If he'd promised Elysia-sis the day, then nothing to be done. And Sunday was already booked for a group hangout. Looked like this week was out.
Rubbing her chin, Kiana asked, "Then can I ask Xander out next Saturday?"
"Hm…"
Elysia blinked, pulled out her phone, tapped a few times, then shook her head regretfully. "Still no. That day is Bronya's slot."
"What about Sunday?"
"Seele's."
She didn't stop: "Not just next week. The week after that, Xander's going to Italy, so he's out. The week after, Kaguya has Saturday reserved, and Griseo's been clinging to him for Sunday. Then next month…"
Listening to a schedule that was basically packed end to end, Kiana's face twisted.
"Seriously—he's that busy?"
"Can't be helped. That's Xander. Even I can't cut the line~"
Seeing Kiana so deflated, Elysia suggested, "How about waiting until after the Pokémon tournament in the second half of the year? Xander should take at least a two-month break then."
"That's still half a year away?!!"
"But that really is the only way."
Elysia had her own little selfishness too—giving up her own date time? Out of the question.
"I-I'll think about it."
Scratching her head, Kiana spoke in frustration. As for Sirin beside her—she'd gone glassy-eyed, thoughts blank.
Late night.
The sheer clothes that hid nothing at all were scattered in disarray on the floor. The warm-colored night light emitted a hazy glow, its light spilling over the spacious bed, illuminating the several figures upon it.
Their completely naked bodies pressed tightly together. The air, even after the frenzy, still carried an ambiguous scent. Bronya and Kaguya had already fallen into a deep sleep, one lying on each side, hugging Xander's arms, sleeping quite peacefully.
Lying in the middle, the warmth covering half his body stirred no waves in him now. Half-lidded eyes stared up at the ceiling light, deep weariness in them.
Kaguya joining in had made his already battered waist even worse. Glancing at the sweet sleeping faces of his lovers, he smiled at first—but then, thinking of recent days, he let out a long sigh.
Pay five grains today; pay ten grains tomorrow; one night's rest gained. Raise your eyes to the four corners—enemy troops arrive again.
Finally… he could rest…
Rustle, rustle, rustle.
Skin sliding against sheets sounded. Xander lowered his head—and met a pair of crimson eyes.
"You can't rest yet~"
That sultry voice plucked at his heartstrings, and those bewitching red pupils put fear into his eyes.
"Veliona, weren't you…"
"What Seele did—what's that got to do with me, Veliona?"
"No, you two…"
Licking her lips, Veliona slowly pushed herself up. Feeling the languor still lingering after the storm, she let out a pleased little moan.
Unhurried, she straddled him bit by bit.
"H-how about we skip tonight…"
Really—he didn't have a drop left.
"No. If they have it, I want it too!"
A hint of grievance colored Veliona's voice. "You said it yourself—I'm Seele too. Whatever Seele has, I'll have."
Those large red eyes glared at him, making Xander's scalp prickle.
Even though he'd coaxed Veliona for so long that she finally accepted she was as important to him as Seele—which felt great—there were times when fairness shouldn't apply to this kind of thing!
"C-can we do this in installments?"
"Nope~"
"B-but I really…"
"It's fine. I'll help you~"
…
Two days passed in a flash. On Sunday morning, the soft dawn light woke Xander. He slowly opened his eyes.
The girl in his arms hadn't stirred yet. Her pink hair spilled over both of them, brushing their skin with his every breath and tickling a little. Her sweetness lingered at his nose. He couldn't help tightening his arms, burying his face in her hair, and breathing deep.
Elysia was still sleeping soundly. Her full chest, pressed to his, was squashed into a pancake. Her ample, soft thigh hooked up to clamp his waist. A thin sheet lay between them, outlining the round curve of her hip.
Sadly, he had no worldly desire right now—he just wanted to hold this girl tight.
He'd spent the past two days at Elysia's—no special reason, just fleeing for his life. The girls (Seele counts as two) were still a bit too terrifying.
"Mm… Xander."
With his string of movements, the girl in his arms naturally woke too. She squinted, nuzzled his shoulder, then wrapped her arms around his neck and brushed her lips to his.
"A beautiful day begins with seeing Elysia first. Love you~"
Her sugary coo put a smile on Xander's lips. He patted Elysia's bottom with a laugh. "Okay, up you get. Didn't we say we're hosting Dr. Mobius today?"
"Oh right—Mobius is coming."
That cleared some fog from Elysia's mind. She propped herself up—her chest, flattened into a pancake, bounced twice back into a perfect teardrop shape—and Xander's eyes couldn't help lingering.
"Mhm-hmm~"
Delighted by her lover's captivated gaze, Elysia tugged Xander up and pressed his face into her chest.
"It's still early. Let me hug you a little longer~"
...
Mobius's lab. Danzhu and Cang Xuan had just clocked in and stepped inside when they froze. What they saw was unbelievable: the Mobius they knew—always at her bench or on the way to the test rig—was, for once, sitting on Klein's office desk.
Most critically, she'd set up a makeup mirror there, with a whole spread of bottles and jars across the surface. They watched Dr. Mobius dabbing at her face again and again.
"Am I dreaming?"
Danzhu said blankly.
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