Sakura brought Rin to the place Elysia had mentioned. After looking over the seating, she thought for a moment before placing Rin next to Kosma, while she herself sat beside Hua.
Compared to Hua, at least Kosma had experience taking care of children.
Only after sitting down did Sakura notice something was… off about the atmosphere.
She was just about to ask when Dystopia spoke up first:
"The problem's actually pretty big, Hua. You don't know, but I grew up with Kosma. I know his personality inside and out. Whenever we had conflicts before, it was usually Kosma who apologized first. So waiting for him to apologize this time is perfectly normal, right? But Kosma, why are you clinging so hard to this issue?"
Thankfully Pardofelis had bought her enough time to think up a countermeasure, or else she might've been outplayed by that block of wood, Kosma.
Kosma stayed silent, briefly analyzing the situation.
(Felis is clearly siding with Dystopia. Silas is completely unreliable here. But Hua—although she doesn't understand what's going on—based on what she said earlier, she can at least be counted as an ally. For now, I'll just have to take it step by step and respond as it comes.)
By this point, Kosma had completely forgotten his original purpose. All he had left was his stubborn pride.
So he said:
"This time, I really don't think what I did was wrong… But Hua isn't wrong either. I should admit that my words back then might've been too harsh. Still, that alone isn't enough reason to apologize. People grow, Dystopia. People can't always live in the past."
Silas lifted his eyes, staring.
Kosma, what are you doing—trying to compete for the third-most stubborn mouth in the Elysian Realm? People can't always live in the past? Sure, that's true, but wasn't it you in the last era who treated the harmonica Dystopia gave you like a treasure, playing it from time to time? You even brought it along when fighting the Finality.
Elysia raised her eyes, staring.
Kosma, and you're calling her out? What's changed about you since before? You're still just as awkward—saying the opposite of what you mean. That's not a good thing, you know~ Look at Silas. When there's a problem, you're supposed to learn to talk things out, not snap at each other like this. …Wait, but in the last era, Silas didn't even bother snapping back—he just outright refused to communicate… ah, stabbed myself in the heart again… At least—at least this time, I managed to clear things up with Silas, didn't I?
Mobius raised her eyes, staring.
So young people nowadays are all this dishonest? Even when you lost your rationality during Active Honkai Reaction, you never once threw away the harmonica Dystopia gave you. Not even a scratch on it.
Pardofelis squinted, staring.
Kosma… if it weren't for the memories of the last era, we'd all think you really meant to cut ties with Sis Dys for good. But the thing is—even me, someone who only joined Fire Moth years after she sacrificed herself—I knew you were still mourning her!
Hua looked at Silas and the others, then at Pardofelis, bewildered. She wanted to say something, but everyone's gazes felt so strange… Maybe it was better to just stay quiet.
Sakura more or less pieced together what had happened. She wasn't completely sure, but… couldn't Kosma just apologize? Or rather, couldn't they both take a step forward, talk to each other, and settle this?
How did it end up turning into this back-and-forth contest, each trying to outdo the other in words?
Silas leaned back against his chair, face blank, and spoke:
"Because it's a boy's pride, and a girl's reserve. Isn't that it?"
The so-called boy's pride meant that Kosma, having lived through everything in the last era, now saw himself as a mature warrior. His judgments were rational, correct. To him, apologizing to Dystopia was equivalent to denying his past stance. Since he didn't believe he was wrong, why should he apologize?
In truth, what he needed to apologize for wasn't his position, but the way he spoke.
The so-called girl's reserve referred to Dystopia. As Kosma's senior and childhood companion, she occasionally wanted the boy she liked to spoil her a little. Was that wrong? Besides, she hadn't done anything wrong. Kosma was the one who said they should part ways. So how could she be the one to approach him? In the past, it was always Kosma who admitted defeat first.
Stop playing these Flame-Chasers' love-brain mind games. Can't you just talk properly and then have a nice meal together?
Elysia: "…"
This… this really cuts straight to the heart of it… But saying it out loud so bluntly—won't that be a little unfriendly to the people involved? Still… things have to be broken before they can be rebuilt. Only when it's all laid bare is there a chance for real communication, right?
Mobius looked at Silas and let out a faint smile. As expected of him. She had wanted to keep watching the show, but with Silas cutting in like that… somehow it got even more entertaining.
Pardofelis: "…"
Bro Silas is invincible!
Hua, thoughtful: So that's how it is? No wonder… as expected of you, Silas. You cut right through everything in one stroke.
Sakura, on the other hand, glanced sympathetically at Kosma and Dystopia. Having your inner thoughts laid bare by Silas so bluntly… If she were in their shoes, she'd feel embarrassed too.
Rin blinked her big eyes, looking utterly confused.
What just happened? Why aren't all the brothers and sisters talking anymore?
Dystopia was the first to recover. She coughed lightly and said:
"Ahem. Silas's right—this is just us girls being reserved…"
She hadn't expected Silas to be this sharp. No wonder he could attract so many girls at once, a total playboy. Hmph! No way. She was definitely going to help Pardo cure Silas of this awful, womanizing habit!
In her eyes, Silas had just evolved from a reliable but tsundere senior… into a reliable, tsundere, calculating playboy senior.
Silas: I wasn't thinking that deeply. I just wanted to eat in peace. And seriously, aren't you all tired pulling this back and forth like that?
Elysia narrowed her eyes at Dystopia. She didn't even need to guess anymore—Dystopia was definitely scheming about helping Pardofelis steal Silas away or something along those lines.
Kosma also came back to his senses, speaking with an equally blank expression:
"You have your girl's reserve, and I have my boy's pride. On that front, we're equal."
Dystopia retorted instantly:
"But Kosma, you're a boy, and I'm still your senior. What's wrong with showing me a little more respect and care?"
Kosma: "And since you're my senior, shouldn't you also consider my pride?"
Silas stood up:
"Looks like the dishes are ready. I'll go see if I can help bring them over."
Hopeless. Absolutely hopeless. This was the time to soften things, admit where each of them went wrong, and let the matter go. Instead they're doubling down with hard mouths? Still pulling like this? Fine then. If the Elysium doesn't have these two, I'm not watching.
"I'll go with you." Elysia also stood, smiling. "Oh, right, Kosma, Dystopia—sometimes being a little more honest between boys and girls isn't a bad thing. Just like Silas and me"
Honestly… If someone had given me an assist like this back then, would there even have been a Lilith? By now Silas and I might've already had children, instead of ending up unable to even see each other at the very end…
Sigh. Well, no helping it. Might as well give them another push.
Pardofelis tilted her head. I mean, I'm pretty open with Bro Silas, right? …No wait, that's just the surface. If I really said it out loud—forget Silas getting thrown in jail—I'd be way too embarrassed myself… Could it be… Sister Elysia already confessed everything? As expected of you, Sis Elysia!
Mobius squinted at Elysia. She knew Elysia had indeed shared many things openly with Silas, and given his personality, he in turn had shared plenty with her. Their relationship had grown deeper because of it, though not quite to the level of lovers yet.
But Kosma and Dystopia? They were obviously on a trajectory toward becoming something more. And Elysia, with that little speech, had just pulled a classic sleight of hand—sneakily planting the suggestion that Kosma and Dystopia were already like her and Silas.
You think I'll just let you have your way?
Mobius spoke lightly:
"Yes, only after sharing your thoughts can you truly understand one another. And then, perhaps, you can even take the next step forward in your relationship."
Elysia: "!"
Ah, my little scheme got spotted, huh? But that's fine—it's Mobius. It's no surprise she'd notice something like this. Still, I won't give up that easily~
Pardofelis: "…"
She didn't really get it, but… after hearing Snake-sis put it that way, she suddenly felt fired up again.
Silas: If possible, I'd really prefer you all put that fighting spirit into something else… like battling the Honkai.
"About the dishes you ordered, I've already finished them."
A weary, dispirited voice drifted over.
Everyone turned to look—it was Vill-V. But her expression seemed heavy, almost gloomy, and even her voice carried that same weary tone.
Except for Rin and Dystopia, the others instantly understood. This was Flavorful Vill-V, one of her eight personalities. She always looked this downcast, and she really did lose confidence easily.
"Miss Vill-V… she can actually cook? No, wait, why is she like this?" Dystopia hadn't quite caught on. "What… happened to her?"
She hadn't met Vill-V many times, but in her impression, Vill-V was definitely not like this. This was the same woman who, at the last ball, had the confidence to redirect all the spotlights onto herself and Silas! That kind of confidence… was the complete opposite of the way she was acting now.
Multiple personalities or not, from what Dystopia had seen—the Great Magician, Pure Evil—they were both overflowing with confidence. And according to what Pardo had told her, every single one of Vill-V's personalities was a genius in their own field. So Dystopia had always assumed the rest of her personalities would be the same. But this gloomy one? Could such a downcast persona really belong to a genius?
In her mind, Dystopia quickly spun a story: a girl who deeply admired an outstanding young man, but upon realizing that he was growing closer to other brilliant girls, suffered such a crushing blow that she fractured, splitting off a gloomy personality.
Silas, you really are a sinful man!
Noticing Dystopia's strange look, Silas suddenly felt as if he'd been saddled with yet another false crime. So he explained, "This is Flavorful, one of Vill-V's eight personalities. She's always like this. Her specialty is cuisine. When it comes to her cooking, I trust her completely."
Hearing his words, Flavorful's expression softened a little, less downcast than before. "I heard you were planning to have dinner here this evening. Since the others didn't have much to do, I came to help out."
Of course, the truth was different. All of Vill-V's personalities had overheard the plan through eavesdropping, then discussed it together and decided to send Flavorful. They couldn't just let Elysia keep pulling ahead, after all.
"Eight personalities?" Dystopia's eye twitched. "And you know them all?"
"Yeah." Silas replied casually, then turned back to Flavorful. "Since you handled our food, why not join us too? We can always pull up another chair."
He didn't think much of it. Most of the people here already knew about Vill-V's personalities.
But he had no idea that those words only darkened Dystopia's impression of him even further.
So he knows all eight personalities? And judging from how familiar he seems with this Flavorful one—and how she reacts to him—don't tell me Silas has managed to charm every single one of them?
Dystopia's conviction only deepened: helping Pardo was going to be a long, grueling road. Still, she absolutely couldn't give up. Little Pardo had already been working so hard to support her—she had to do her part in return!
…Though maybe she should keep an eye on how much time Kosma was spending with Silas. If he picked up Silas's habit of drawing in girls left and right, that would be a disaster.
And his other close friend, Kevin? He didn't seem too reliable either. Dystopia couldn't shake the feeling Kevin might not survive another two months.
Behind Flavorful stood the temporary automated food cart created by Pure Evil. The dishes Elysia ordered were all prepared inside.
"In that case, Flavorful, why don't you sit next to me?" Elysia said as she sat back down. "Hua, do you mind?"
"Of course not." Hua shook her head. She knew Flavorful was easily discouraged and needed to be near someone familiar. Out of everyone here, Elysia was the most approachable, the one who had good relations with everyone.
"Before we sit down." Flavorful pulled out the order slip. "There were also a few extra vegetable dishes added. Since they were specially noted as being for Mobius, I tried creating some new recipes."
Mobius: "…"
Specially noted? …Elysia!
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