No Sneaking Ahead! (Continued)

However, now that he has possessed Reanna, the body lying on the bed is Liu Bai's original body. A space slightly larger than a single dormitory bed is going to be quite crowded to accommodate an adult and two little girls.

(It's been pasted... it's been pasted... it's been pasted...)

After burying her brother's arm in her chest, Seele lowered her head to avoid letting Liu Bai and Bronya see her face, which was flushed red.

"Hmm... it does look a bit cramped now, otherwise..."

"It's... it's okay!"

(Isn't your waist quite wide?)

Dark Seele stirred things up in Seele's mind again.

Of course, Seele ignored this suggestion.

No matter what, you can't just ride on it in public!

No, even if it's not in public, you can't do that! My brother will definitely hate me if I do it now, right?

"Then let's squeeze in..." Liu Bai sighed, "Come on, let me free my hand to hold the book..."

Downstairs

"So do you understand what I'm saying? You're in the same situation I was back then."

Edison patiently guided him.

"Back then, although I had a pretty good relationship with the others, there was always the barrier of Lab 42 between us, and you and Bronya were separated by the barrier of Cocolia Orphanage."

"... This is the first time I've heard that there are factions within Anti-Entropy."

Mei didn't know how much of Edison's words she took to heart, but the first thing Mei complained about was this.

"If I may ask, are the factions in our Anti-Entropy actually factions focused on 'how to seize the Alliance Leader '?"

Mei's expression was strange. This faction was completely different from the power struggles she had seen in TV dramas before...

"Ahem... That's quite a sharp point."

Mei said that, Edison knew that his plan had failed.

(They actually want to find a seventeen-year-old girl as an ally or something...)

"—But I agreed."

Mei suddenly changed the subject and agreed.

"Thinking about it carefully, it's really scary to be enemies with Sister Einstein, Sister Tesla, and Professor Planck... Thinking about it this way, I realize I have a lot of rivals."

"... Wait, why do you only call me 'Auntie'?"

Although somewhat surprised by Mei's sudden Mei, Edison was more concerned about the form of address at this moment.

"... Because Edison... Sister, you give off a very dignified feeling? Like, not very approachable. Before coming here, I always felt that I hadn't exchanged more than ten words with you, Sister Edison —even though we've met quite a few times."

After all, Edison's direct subordinate was Raiden Ryoma. As Raiden Ryoma's daughter and Stigmata holder, Mei would meet Edison more or less a few times.

"In comparison... although it's not nice to say it like this, the few times I met with Sister Einstein, Sister Tesla, and Professor Planck were all very warm and friendly."

"..."

Edison rubbed his forehead.

"No, it's just that those guys have nothing better to do. Mei, do you know how many documents I have to process every day? How many things do I have to approve? How can I have time to look after kids? But then again, Tesla is indeed very popular with kids."

It's worth mentioning that Tesla was the kind of older sister who would take children around to disassemble electrical appliances or show them her inventions, which had a touch of childish eccentricity. She satisfied the children's curiosity while enjoying their admiring gazes... In some ways, Tesla was quite childish.

However, ignoring her drinking habits and self-care abilities, Tesla might be able to be a good mother.

Well, ignoring drinking etiquette and self-care ability.

"But thankfully, I've been leaving everything to Planck during this time—so, Mei, now you can see that I'm actually a very easy person to talk to, right?"

"...Um."

"... What are you trying to do with that reluctant tone?"

"It's nothing. I've just gotten to know you, Sister Edison, much better during this time."

For example, Edison was his great-grandmother.

"I have a feeling you're implying something in your words..." Edison with slight dissatisfaction. "But right now, the most important thing is Bronya, you know what I mean."

"... I understand."

Mei nodded after a moment of silence.

Leaving without permission is absolutely unacceptable.

What's more, Bronya dared to run away at the age of fourteen, and Mei doesn't even dare to imagine what she'll dare to do when she's seventeen!

Should we sneak a bite now?

With that thought in mind, Mei headed towards the kitchen.

What are you doing?

"Baked cookies."

Knock knock knock~

Halfway through Liu Bai's story, there was a sudden knock on the door.

"... This is the third time."

"?"

Was there another one before?

Seele's expression was a little strange.

"I'd like to know who it is this time?" Liu Bai didn't notice Seele's expression; he was just looking at the door with some curiosity.

"Let me guess, who is it this time? The Arlene sisters? Or that Xing kid?"

Liu Bai sighed slightly, and when he looked at the time again, it was almost eleven o'clock.

"Please come in?"

"Brother, are you asleep?"

To Liu Bai's slight surprise, it was Mei.

"I've done it here..."

Mei walked in carrying a plate, but the next moment, she froze when she saw Bronya and Seele lying on the bed on either side of her.

"May I ask... what are you doing with Bronya and Seele, brother?"

Mei tried her best to keep smiling.

She'd only been gone for less than an hour! And now there's someone else in the bed?

And it's Seele...

No, it's not that Mei has any issues with Seele, but after getting to know her better these past few days, Mei has a general idea of just how "filthy" Seele's heart really is—not referring to Dark Seele.

Okay, Mei just has some issues with Seele.

This person is clearly dangerous!

"It's just telling a story."

Although it was true, Liu Bai still felt a little guilty.

After all, Mei's face... well, right now Liu Bai feels like he's been caught cheating by Mei.

"Really? I believe the police will believe my brother's words too."

Mei placed the plate on the cabinet next to her and took her phone out of her pocket.

"Wait, wait, wait! Mei, what are you doing?!" Liu Bai quickly stopped her, "Putting aside the fact that Anti-Entropy is none of our business... it's just too late to bother them, isn't it?"

"Just kidding, of course Mei will believe her brother."

"... Why are you starting to use the third person to refer to yourself too?"

"Because this makes it feel more like a younger sister?"

Mei smiled and glanced at Bronya and Seele, whose expressions were slightly uncomfortable.

Previously it was just interference, but this time... although nothing actually happened, it can still be loosely called "catching someone in the act".

"Your way of putting it is really awkward..."

Liu Bai twitched the corner of his mouth, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Mei's statement.

After all, there are quite a few children in the orphanage who speak in the third person.

"Speaking of which, this plate... is it... made of cookies?"

Liu Bai quickly changed the subject.

"Well, I couldn't sleep, so I baked a batch of cookies. Would you like to try some, brother?"

"Let me try it... Hmm, it's pretty good." Liu Bai praised sincerely.

"Brother, is this all you know how to say?"

"Sorry, I am illiterate."

Liu Bai shrugged. "Bronya and Seele, would you like to try some too?"

"...Um."

When Bronya and Seele came down, they both felt Mei's scrutinizing gaze.

This is terrible...

"Let's just treat it as a late-night snack."

Mei kindly handed the cookies to the two of them, then gave them some instructions like a mother hen.

"But remember to go back to your room to sleep after you finish eating~ You're all big kids now, don't cause your older brother any trouble."

"Yes, I understand."

Bronya is doing a little better, but Seele is practically mortified.

(Ugh... I knew it was impossible... and Mei caught me Mei...)

(It's okay! This is a good start! It's already up and running today! We can take it a step further tomorrow!)

Dark Seele, on the other hand, was full of fighting spirit and cheered Seele on.

(But speaking of which, Sister Bronya probably sneaked off today too, didn't she? Seriously, can't she just be a little less worrisome?)

(I think you're probably the most troublesome one...)

(...)

"If you think it's delicious, I'll grill some more."

Mei watched with a smile as Liu Bai ate the biscuit.

... No, why does it feel so strange, like a yandere?

This doesn't fit Mei's character, does it?

"But then again, even though I already knew... it's still really unbelievable to see you cook so smoothly, Mei."

Speaking of cooking, Liu Bai thought of Mei again.

I can eat dishes that are made without permission, but I can't eat the ones I make myself.

"Hey? What's wrong with cooking?"

Mei completely misses the point.

"Isn't this just a normal thing? A skill that a Yamato Nadeshiko (ideal Japanese woman) must master."

Yamato Nadeshiko...

Bronya and Seele glanced at Mei silently at the same time.