In theory, she and Rosia had both gone to bed early, but she simply could not fall asleep. Partly out of habit, and partly because Rosia was sleeping right beside her.
Bronya had habitually opened her eyes every so often to check on her.
Only when she could no longer keep her eyes open did she finally drift off into a dazed sleep.
"It's fine. As long as Mother Bronya gets enough rest, you don't need to worry about me."
Rosia shook her little head.
This body of hers was always energetic at the usual times every day, and most things still felt novel to her.
So, to her, every day felt quite full and fulfilling.
"Oh, right. You look very happy today."
Ever since they had come out, Bronya had noticed that Rosia had been smiling. She ate breakfast as she asked curiously.
"Mm, Mei helped me fix my hair just now. What do you think, Mother Bronya?"
Rosia looked forward to her reaction.
"My Rosia really does look even prettier than usual."
Bronya nodded approvingly.
Rosia was already exquisite normally. After being carefully groomed, she became even more captivating in the details.
"Mhm."
Hearing Bronya's words, Rosia's expression visibly brightened.
"Morning, Rosia..."
"Morning, Kiana."
Seeing Kiana's gloomy expression, Rosia was a little puzzled.
"Are you feeling unwell, Kiana?"
"No... I'm just in a bad mood..."
Though Kiana said that, no one who saw that expression would think she was fine.
"Okay..."
Rosia did not know what exactly had left Kiana so dejected.
"Bronya, can I borrow Rosia for the day? I'll take her out to have fun."
Kiana puffed out her cheeks and spoke to Bronya while eating.
"No, you idiot. Next time, don't wear your intentions all over your face."
Looking at the white-haired girl who might as well have had "I want her" written across her face, Bronya refused without hesitation.
"Don't push me, Bronya!"
Kiana began to throw caution to the wind.
"If you keep refusing, I'll call you the same thing Rosia does in class every day."
"You..."
Bronya was stunned by Kiana's words.
She did not want another idiot daughter.
"Mei, look at Kiana."
Bronya truly had no way to deal with this idiot, so she could only ask Mei for help.
"Huh?"
Raiden Mei had been eating with her head lowered, seemingly lost in thought. She had not listened closely to their conversation.
"What is it?"
Raiden Mei's face was still slightly flushed. When her eyes met Rosia's, her gaze noticeably darted away.
"Hmph, Bronya wants another daughter named Kiana."
Kiana made a face at Bronya.
"This... Kiana, don't make trouble. Don't say things like that carelessly."
Raiden Mei said helplessly.
Though she also wanted it, just a tiny bit, she could not make it that obvious.
"Fine, fine."
With Mei persuading her, Kiana could only wave her hand and let it go.
"By the way, Rosia, is there anything you want to do today? Do you want to go out with Kiana?"
Since she could not get through to Bronya, Kiana could only look for a breakthrough through Rosia.
"Um... I don't know either."
Rosia gently shook her little head. She did not know what she wanted to do lately, either.
Recently, she had planned to learn how to use Stigmata from "Rosia."
Both "Rosia" and she had full control over their Stigmata, but "Rosia" was clearly far more proficient in using hers.
In fact, she had already realized her current problem. Given the situation, six months from now, both she and "Rosia" would choose to activate the Life Reconstructor.
Rosia did not know what would happen to her after the Life Reconstructor constructed another body. Would her consciousness split again, or would it transfer?
But clearly, no matter what happened, she would have to leave in six months.
Because if her consciousness split again, her personality, which had already been affected, would likely suffer another shock. That would cause them a great deal of trouble.
And if her consciousness transferred, what would become of this body?
Rosia looked at "Rosia," who was still sulking beside her, and smiled faintly.
Compared to Black Seele, "Rosia" was actually more straightforward than her, because Rosia was even more timid than Seele.
Looking only at the future, her choice to come see Bronya had undoubtedly been a mistake.
A wrong cause would ultimately lead to a wrong result.
That was also why Rosia had previously said that she believed "Rosia's" idea was correct.
"What are you thinking about?"
While "Rosia" stood with her arms crossed in anger, she noticed that Bronya and Kiana were endlessly arguing about where to go next, while Rosia kept swaying her little head and grinning foolishly.
"Hm?"
Rosia came back to herself, somewhat puzzled. She had thought "Rosia" would stay angry for quite a while.
"I was thinking... will there ever be a day when you cry?"
"Hah? How could that happen? What are you thinking? Do you think I'm you? Little crybaby."
"Rosia" gave a light snort.
"If I ever cry one day, it'll definitely be because you were stupid enough to make me cry."
"Then if I become smart, will you never cry?"
"If you really become smarter and braver, that'll be the time when I can feel most at ease about you."
"Rosia" said confidently.
Seeing "Rosia's" disbelieving look, Rosia did not argue. Instead, she quietly took her hand, smiled sweetly, and murmured in a voice only she could hear.
It's a promise.
There is an illustration here. It can be viewed after updating the version.
P.S. I'll be getting recommended tomorrow, so it'll probably be two updates a day from then on, meow.
The early tone of this story will probably be lighthearted, happy, and sunny, probably...
First time asking for some votes, meow. It seems Cat Guest started an event, but I never noticed, meow.
Meow?
Meow meow?
Meow!
"Rosia": Hello, My Mother
"Auntie, why are you here?"
Before Kiana and Bronya had finished arguing, Theresa poked her head in through the doorway.
"You're all here? I came to see Rosia."
Theresa said, looking a little embarrassed.
After all, Rosia had encountered danger because of her own recklessness earlier, so she had come to apologize and check on her.
"Headmaster, you needn't worry. I was simply too slow to react."
Bronya naturally saw why Theresa had come. In fact, compared to Theresa, she blamed herself more.
If only she had reacted a little faster at the time...
At first, although she had said she accepted Rosia, there had still been a trace of resistance in her heart.
It was contradictory, yet inevitable.
But the moment Rosia stood in front of her, no matter who she was, Bronya had accepted her from the bottom of her heart.
"Come to think of it, Rosia took out three Honkai Emperors in an instant back then..."
Everyone had been anxious because Rosia was unconscious. Now that they had time to calm down, they remembered what had truly happened.
As the first person to witness Rosia's actions, Bronya had seen it most clearly.
"According to the system's estimate at the time, Rosia's instant burst had an overall rating equivalent to an S-rank Valkyrie."
Afterward, Bronya had checked St. Freya Academy's simulated combat system. When she saw that estimate, she had been stunned for quite a while.
She had not been surprised that Rosia could unleash the strength of an S-rank Valkyrie. Rather, she wondered just how violently Rosia's emotions had fluctuated for her Stigmata to erupt with such tremendous power.
Whenever Bronya thought of it, she felt guilty.
Whether in the past or now, she had always wanted to protect something, yet in the end, she was the one being protected...
"Rosia, how are you feeling now?"
Theresa had mainly come this time to see how she was doing.
"I'm great. I'm fine, Theresa... um... Headmaster..."
Rosia was somewhat conflicted over how to address Theresa.
In truth, she was also a little conflicted over how to address Kiana and Raiden Mei.
After all, they were Mother Bronya's classmates. Logically, she should call them aunties.
And Theresa was Kiana's auntie, which put her far too high up in seniority.
She could not possibly call her big sister like Mei and the others did, could she?
"It's good that you're fine. I brought some food. Don't worry, it's not bitter melon-flavored..."
The moment they heard that Theresa had brought food, even Kiana, who was usually so greedy, changed expression.
"What a bunch of boring little brats."
Looking at Kiana and the others before her, "Rosia" lightly shook her head, then returned to the consciousness space.
Rosia liked the feeling of talking and spending time with others, but she did not.
The power she had unleashed earlier had actually been somewhat excessive. After all, "Rosia" had not been sure how great the threat before them was, so she had poured out nearly all the power of her Stigmata at once.
Before you continue