Messenger of Love: Are you all doing okay? Did you miss me?
Messenger of Love: I'm doing great over here. The scenery's beautiful, and so are the people!
Attached was a photo of a night city glittering with lights.
"…Took her long enough to message."
Bronya pressed her lips together faintly and looked out the window.
Here, the sun had only just slipped below the horizon. On the screen, however, the sky was already drenched in velvet darkness, scattered with diamond-like stars.
Time zones were troublesome.
From now on, staying in touch would take more effort.
"Ridiculous—!"
She tapped the edge of her desk unconsciously and muttered under her breath.
"Bronya, what are you thinking? Isn't it better that she left? From now on, the orphanage answers to Bronya!"
"Bronya doesn't have to live in Elysia's shadow anymore… Bronya is not some loser who can only look up at her!"
Ding.
Another notification.
Messenger of Love: Big Sister~ If you miss me, call anytime ♪
Bronya's fingers paused. Then she typed quickly and sent her reply.
Alloy Armored Bronya: Good night. Don't cause trouble over there. If anything happens—call me.
The moment she set her phone down, laughter drifted in through the window with the evening breeze.
She watched the younger children chasing one another in the golden afterglow of sunset. A barely noticeable curve tugged at her lips.
Hmph.
On paper, she was Elysia's older sister. The highest authority in this orphanage.
That much, at least, must not be forgotten.
Ding—
Elysia tapped open the message, her eyes curving into crescents.
Her account balance had mysteriously gained several extra zeros.
Bronya hadn't said a single unnecessary word.
And yet, Elysia could picture it clearly.
That stubborn little face, serious and childish all at once. Fingers tapping in the transfer amount with practiced speed. Refusing to attach even a single line of explanation.
"An older sister in name… but the younger one who secretly has your back the most."
Elysia pressed a hand to her chest, smiling so sweetly her voice carried a honeyed lilt.
"That's… way too cute~!"
That unspoken rivalry between girls, quiet but sparkling, had all melted into that silent bank transfer.
She gave her phone a gentle shake, the softness in her smile deepening.
Once she had played enough here, she would go back.
Back to see her stubborn, sharp-tongued, absolutely adorable "big sister."
After idly scrolling on her phone for a while, Elysia lay on her stomach and prepared to sleep. In a few days, it would be the entrance ceremony for Schicksal Academy.
"I'm so excited~!"
She had just set her phone aside when a knock sounded at the door.
"Hm? Who is it?"
"Open up! Second Sis!!"
"So loud!"
In the room next door, a white-haired girl pressed a pillow over her ears, irritated by the familiar voice outside.
"Although… judging by the voice alone, the person outside must be a pretty girl."
Elysia slipped into her sandals and tightened her nightrobe, strolling unhurriedly toward the door.
"Hellooo…"
The moment she opened it, she tilted her head instinctively and smiled.
Before she could see the visitor clearly, the opposite door flew open. A hand shot out at lightning speed and yanked the girl standing in front of Elysia inside.
"What are you doing—! Second Sis!"
Bang. The door slammed shut.
A flash of white passed through her vision.
Hair? Clothes?
Elysia froze, her raised wrist chiming softly as the bell on her bracelet rang.
"You knocked on the wrong door, idiot! How did I end up with such a stupid sister!"
"Go blame Mom! Stop calling me stupid! Wanna fight?!"
"Hah. If you don't want to cry and beg later, go ahead."
"…It sounds lively in there."
Elysia was tempted to peek in, but that would be far too abrupt.
It might ruin her first impression.
What if they thought she was frivolous? She was actually… very pure-hearted.
Her lips curved slightly. The tip of her tongue brushed lightly over her lower lip.
Moments later, the argument inside escalated into a scuffle. A series of clatters and thumps echoed, then suddenly—silence.
"Do you admit you were wrong?"
"I admit it—"
"Why didn't you say that earlier? Had to get beaten first, huh?!"
"Second Sis…"
Kiana held her cheek, looking pitifully battered.
"I was going to say it, but you hit my mouth first…"
"…."
Sirin fell silent.
She rolled her sleeves back down and put her jacket on properly before sitting on the small sofa stool. One leg crossed over the other casually.
Though barely over one meter sixty, her presence filled the room like a queen towering at one meter eighty.
"Behave from now on. Got it?"
"Got it…!"
Kiana answered quickly, though in her heart she had already cursed Sirin eight hundred times.
If she hadn't come here on an empty stomach, who would have won was anyone's guess.
Once she was fed, she would definitely return this beating double.
"Why did you come to see me? Finished your homework?"
"Mom… Mom's back…" Kiana muttered weakly.
"What?! Why didn't you say that earlier?!"
Sirin's voice shot up.
Kiana blinked, confused. "Why are you panicking? Didn't you already finish yours secretly? I'm the one who's doomed. You can't dodge it forever…"
Her voice grew gloomier by the second.
Sirin's panic, however, had a reason.
Her homework was untouched too.
She had only lied to Kiana.
"…Second Sis, don't tell me…"
Kiana looked up slowly, eyes narrowing at Sirin's stiff expression.
"…."
Sirin pressed her lips together.
Silence filled the room.
"Heh…"
Kiana crouched down somewhere nearby. Sirin sat with legs slightly apart, hands clasped, head lowered.
"…."
"Do you think we'll survive this?"
After a few minutes, Sirin finally spoke. Her once aloof, noble face now carried a trace of despair.
"Weren't you acting all fierce just now?" Kiana mumbled, face scrunched like a sulky kitten.
"Ki—"
"Hi there ♪ You're in trouble, aren't you?"
"Who's there?!" Sirin's head snapped up, sharp eyes locking onto the pink-haired girl at the door.
"Hello~"
Elysia closed the door behind her, leaning casually against it, ankles lightly crossed.
"Don't worry. I'm what you might call… a good girl who specializes in solving problems for beautiful girls~"
"…It's her."
Sirin vaguely remembered this "country bumpkin."
Kiana, meanwhile, assumed this was some romantic debt Sirin had incurred outside, now come knocking.
"Second Sis, you—"
"Shut up!"
"Oh…"
Kiana lowered her head, stomach rumbling.
She had rushed out without her phone. Maybe she could get a free meal out of this pretty girl later. Someone that good-looking had to be easy to talk to.
If Elysia knew, she would surely tease:
You can freeload a meal… but afterward, I get to freeload once too~
…
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