"I... I just..." Yelena's ears drooped completely. She twisted her wet fingers together. "The shirt... it fell... I was just hanging it back up..."
As she was trying to explain, Killer Queen materialized behind Yu Yachen, its pink cat-ears twitching. "Yelena was sniffing it for exactly forty-two seconds."
"...I didn't need to know that."
Yu Yachen rubbed her forehead. The kid is too young. She probably doesn't understand. She just... likes me. Besides, I'm not interested in kids.
If the real FrostNova ended up liking her because of this, that would be useful. Yu Yachen checked the favorability: 30 points.
Current overview: Alina 80, Talulah 55, Exusiai 45, FrostNova 30, Texas 10, Ch'en 0.
Alina was the most likely to hit 100, but favorability always slowed down after the initial boost.
It had only been about a week. The day she could use two Stands at once was getting closer.
Yu Yachen sighed.
The [Third Bomb] experiments were mostly done. She had been with Yelena for over a month. Her real body was only sleeping... if her mind was too active, it might cause problems. Yelena was taken care of. It was time to leave.
"Give me the shirt, Yelena."
Yu Yachen held out her hand. The rabbit obediently picked it up and handed it to her.
"If you ever dare do that again... I'll spank you."
This time, her voice was colder.
But just as she was about to shut the door, Killer Queen reappeared and whispered to Yelena:
"Spanking is how she shows she loves you, Yelena."
Yelena, who had been crestfallen, suddenly brightened. Her droopy ears shot straight up.
She padded across the wet floor, ran to Yu Yachen, and threw her arms around her waist, hugging her tight.
"Sister, I like you too," her soft voice echoed.
"..."
Yu Yachen frowned. The Cautus girl's wet body was soaking her clothes. But... she didn't push her away.
[Host, it seems raising a kid really does make you softer~(;´_`)]
"Go... take your bath."
Yu Yachen closed her eyes and gently pushed the clinging child away.
"Sister! I have a little surprise for you tonight!"
Yelena giggled, then peeked out from the doorframe before closing it.
"..."
After her bath, it was time for bed. To instill good habits, Yu Yachen made Yelena go to bed early, just like her parents had.
The night deepened. Yu Yachen closed her book.
Yelena was already curled up, breathing evenly. Yu Yachen was about to turn off the light when she noticed a colorful ribbon peeking out from under Yelena's pillow.
"?"
Curious, she pulled it. Yelena's rabbit ears twitched.
"..."
She's faking. Yu Yachen pulled out a long, carefully wrapped box. On the front, in crooked Yanese, it said: "For Sister."
Yu Yachen hadn't given her an allowance... but then she saw the Penguin Logistics logo on the back.
She smiled.
Inside was a crystal-clear ice rose, its petals still frosted.
There were two small notes. One said, "Happy Birthday."
Yu Yachen froze. She grabbed her phone. It was December 24th.
The other note read: "The ice rose was my idea, but Yelena made it herself! ~" with a little Exusiai emoji.
Only Exusiai would remember her birthday. She didn't even remember it herself.
Yu Yachen picked up the ice rose. It must have been made with Yelena's Arts. She wasn't interested in flowers, but... since it was a gift, she'd accept it.
"Happy birthday, Sister."
Yelena, who had been listening, opened her eyes.
"Thank you, Yelena."
She reached out and gently rubbed the rabbit's ears.
"Can't sleep, Yelena? Want a bedtime story?"
"Yes! You've never told me one."
Yu Yachen leaned back. The little rabbit snuggled into her side, her voice full of complaint.
"Once upon a time, there was a little prince, who lived on a tiny planet."
"There were only three volcanoes, baobab trees that only came up to his knees... and a rose."
Yu Yachen looked at the ice rose. Without Yelena's Arts, the stem was already melting from her body heat.
"The rose was vain and demanding. She made the prince cover her with a glass dome, and catch caterpillars. The worst part was... they loved each other, but they didn't know how to love. So, the little prince left."
"He crossed deserts, climbed mountains... and finally, he met a fox. The fox wanted the prince to 'tame' him. To tame... is to establish ties. If the prince tamed him, they would need each other."
"The prince tamed the fox. The fox grew to love the sound of the wind in the wheat fields, because it reminded him of the prince's golden hair. Later, the prince found a garden of roses. He thought his rose was unique, but there were so many."
"But the fox told him... his rose was not an ordinary rose. She was his rose."
"The prince understood. When he had to leave, the fox told him, 'It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.' And, 'You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose.'"
It was late. Yelena seemed to have fallen asleep.
The white-haired woman opened her hand. The ice rose had melted. Yelena was nestled against her, clinging to her arm.
It's about time to end this. She had completed the mission. Yelena was a normal kid now. And the [Third Bomb] experiments were done.
[Simulation Mission Complete. Return to reality?]
Return.
Yu Yachen looked at Yelena. She gently stroked her head.
"Time goes by so fast."
The scrawny Cautus girl had become a normal child. Without Patriot's training, she was nothing like the "Snow Princess" she was supposed to be.
But... this is good. There was nothing wrong with being ordinary.
It's a shame... she's just a simulation.
"We'll probably meet again, right, Yelena?"
The white-haired woman smiled, her face quickly returning to its blank mask.
Yu Yachen was always thinking.
Her feelings for Yelena... it was mostly pity.
She was born this way. She would never truly love anyone.
"It's late. Sleep."
Yu Yachen looked at the young rabbit one last time. She reached up and turned off the nightlight.
The cold glass of the rose melted from her fingertips.
The white rabbit snuggled deeper into her embrace, her forehead pressed against her arm, mumbling: "Sister... strawberry cake tomorrow..."
[Simulation End.]
[Congratulations on acquiring the Stand: [Scary Monsters].]
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