‘Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up.’ The late-morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a streak of white across the blanket.
The long legs of a white-haired Damselette, pale as moonlight, were wrapped around her salted-fish pillow and exposed outside the covers.
This was Kiana’s room, and Ling Yi was trying to wake her up.
“Let me sleep for five more minutes…
Just five minutes…” Kiana habitually rolled over, turning her head away from the window.
‘…’ She was pretty cute.
Maybe she should let the kid sleep a little longer.
No, no.
She had to wake her up, or she’d be late for school.
‘Wake up!’ In the mindscape, Ling Yi finally lost patience and forcibly tossed out the little avatar representing Kiana’s consciousness.
“Eh…
Huh…?
What’s going on…?” Still bleary-eyed, Kiana abruptly shot upright in bed and stared blankly around her.
Then she saw the digital alarm clock on her bedside table displaying 7:50 as the time continued ticking onward.
‘You’re finally awake…’ “I just…
slept a little longer…
Wait!” A chill ran up from the depths of Kiana’s spine, instantly waking her up.
“Oh no!
My homework!
I didn’t do any of it!
No…
I don’t want to be punished.” Ling Yi’s words immediately reminded Kiana that she had been doing her homework before falling asleep—and now it was already morning…
Kiana instinctively leaped over to her desk and hurriedly opened her workbook, only to discover in astonishment that all her homework had somehow been completed.
The handwriting was neat, the layout orderly, and the solutions…
She couldn’t understand them, meow, but they looked amazing.
“Thank goodness!
I won’t have to stand as punishment!
My other self, look!
Look!” ‘I see it, I see it.
Just this once.
Next time, do your own homework.’ Sitting in the mindscape, Ling Yi sensed the joy surging through Kiana and shook her head helplessly.
“So it was you who finished it, my other self…
I’m so touched.
I love you.” Kiana was genuinely moved.
She truly hadn’t expected her other self to help her.
‘All right, all right, Pigiana.
Hurry up, brush your teeth, wash your face, and go to school.
I want to rest.’ Ling Yi yawned.
“I’m not a pig!
Hiss…
Wait, my other self.
You didn’t do anything else last night, did you?
Why does my body feel a little sore?” Kiana rubbed her calves.
Her body felt as though she’d slept after intense exercise, and her muscles were slightly sore.
‘After finishing your homework last night, I went out for a walk.
I was curious about what Nagazora City was like.
Then I came home and cleaned the apartment.’ “I see.” ‘Yeah.
Didn’t you notice how clean the place is?’ Ling Yi thought Kiana was rather silly.
She hadn’t even noticed that her home was clean.
“No, I mean…
My other self, have you never seen what the outside world looks like?” Kiana sounded a little downcast.
Just imagining what it must be like to stay inside someone’s head all the time felt stifling.
‘I only meant that I’d never seen Nagazora City with my own eyes…
Idiot.’ Ling Yi was surprised that Kiana had noticed such a minor detail in her words.
But after thinking about it, she realized it wasn’t that strange.
Kiana had always been a gentle, thoughtful girl.
She just looked a little silly most of the time.
Probably only looked that way.
“Hmm…
Then it’s settled!
I’ll leave the daytime to you today, my other self!” After a moment’s thought, Kiana made her decision.
‘You just don’t want to go to school, do you?’ The daytime…
What a nice way to put it.
Wasn’t that just school hours?!
“Hehe, of course not.
I-I just want you to come out and get some fresh air, my other self.
You can attend school for me while you’re at it…” Kiana’s voice grew quieter and quieter until it was almost inaudible.
‘Hurry up, get ready, and go to school.
Buy breakfast on the way.’ In the mindscape, Ling Yi repeatedly knocked on Kiana’s little head, urging her to hurry to school.
When Ling Yi returned home last night, she’d discovered there was nothing in the apartment that could be cooked.
There was nothing but instant noodles…
Left with no other choice, she could only tell Kiana to buy breakfast on her way to school.
“Boohoo, fine, I got it.
By the way, my other self, do you have a name?
What should I call you?” With a thump, Kiana flopped onto the bed and stretched her slightly sore body.
Her slender legs, wrapped in white over-the-knee socks, swayed gently.
Her rounded toes half-hooked her pink slippers, making them scrape against the floor with a soft rustling sound.
‘Ling Yi.
That’s my name.
Stop dawdling, or you’ll be late.’ “I know, I know!
But your name sounds really nice.” ‘Naturally.’ …
Under Ling Yi’s constant urging, Kiana finally set off for school.
Before long, she was seated by the window in the back row of her classroom, resting her cheek on one hand as she gazed outside and waited listlessly for class to begin.
“My other self, my other self.
If the teacher calls on me and I don’t know the answer, can you help me?” ‘No.
But…
Hmm…
Don’t you feel like something was missing when you came to school today?’ Sitting cross-legged in the mindscape, Ling Yi pondered the matter.
She felt as though Kiana was missing something, but she couldn’t remember what it was.
“Nope.
I washed my face, brushed my teeth, ate breakfast, and I didn’t even put on mismatched socks.” As Kiana spoke, she lifted her feet to check the color of her socks.
‘Hiss…
Is that so?
Then I guess everything’s fine.
Enough talking.
Pay attention in class.’ Ling Yi thought about it for a long time but still couldn’t remember what Kiana was missing, so she could only remind her to pay attention.
“Hmph, just watch me!
With Ling Yi by my side this time, I definitely won’t fall asleep in class!” Kiana looked utterly serious, a confident smile on her face.
She would win.
‘…’ Don’t talk as if staying awake in class is something to be proud of!
Click-clack— Click-clack— The sound of high heels drew closer.
Kiana knew her math teacher was coming.
Normally, Kiana would have dreaded the dull math class, but not anymore, because she had Ling Yi.
Although they’d only known each other for a day, Ling Yi gave Kiana an incomparable sense of security.
As long as the two of them were together, there was nothing to fear!
“Zzzz…
I’m a great hero…” ‘Feeling safe doesn’t mean you can sleep soundly!’ Anyone who claimed Kiana wasn’t a pig might as well claim Ling Yi and Mobius weren’t friends!
Ling Yi drew a deep breath and looked at the snoring little Kiana avatar in the mindscape, intending to wake her up so she could pay attention in class.
But…
Kiana probably wouldn’t have many carefree days like this in the future.
…Forget it.
Let her rest.
Perhaps Mobius had rubbed off on her, because Ling Yi was also becoming unable to express her emotions honestly.
Silently telling herself that this was the only time, Ling Yi seized control of the body and opened her eyes—only for her breath to catch.
A girl with silver hair styled in spiral twin tails stood at the lectern, with Kiana’s math teacher beside her.
“This is our new classmate, Bronya.
Everyone, make sure you get along with her.” Huh?
★ ★ ★ T/N: If you spot mistranslation, do tell me!
★ ★ ★ Shilling time!