The two of them returned home as if nothing had happened.
Only after reaching home did they drop their facade and breathe a sigh of relief.
They felt something was off, but with so many people around outside, it hadn’t been easy to investigate.
Nana sat on the sofa, calming her mind to think.
“Mei heard a strange voice in the dessert shop, but I didn’t.
Not long after we stepped out, I felt eyes watching us from not far away…” “Who was secretly watching us?” She felt that person must be quite wicked.
Besides their looks, what else was there to peek at?
Lust?
Or did they know they possessed special powers?
■■■■: Is it possible they were just taking a simple look?
The former would be fine, easy to deal with…
But the latter would be a huge problem.
It was like bomb disposal; when you think one is the limit, there’s a web of tens of thousands beneath it.
They could be defused, but it was troublesome.
If handled poorly, one explosion could be dodged, but a simultaneous or chain reaction would mean she and Mei might end up in the research lab of the higher-ups next time they were seen.
They didn’t want to cause a stir with the higher-ups yet.
Their current daily life—training by day and cuddling by night—was actually quite nice.
She feared trouble most of all…
■■■■:…
*speechlessly facepalms* “Sigh…
Mei~ I suddenly have a headache…” Nana shifted from sitting to lying down, sprawling on the sofa and grumbling listlessly.
“Hmm?
Still thinking about what happened this afternoon?” Mei sat beside her, resting Nana’s head on her lap and gently rubbing it, helping to ease the pain through a massage.
“Yeah…” She just couldn’t figure it out.
Now that her IQ was back online, shouldn’t she think it through?
Right now, the enemy was in the dark while they were in the light, and they were suspected of being exposed.
Shouldn’t they work hard on a countermeasure?
If they were just watching from afar today, would they show up in public tomorrow?
■■■■: This silly child really can let her imagination run wild.
*complains* “Maybe they don’t have any ill intent?” “Mei…
what makes you say that?” Mei shook her head.
“Just a feeling.
After all, they didn’t do anything; we’re just speculating.” “I know…
but one must always prepare for the worst.
Being prepared is my style…” Nana felt a bit melancholy.
This world already had Honkai, and her power had temporarily become a trial card.
Then this happened.
She was already uneasy.
Now she was even more uneasy!
Why hadn’t Nana considered that she might have been outwitting thin air all along?
Well, Nana’s silliness wasn’t a new development.
The child was a bit smart, but not much.
“Ha~ ugh…” Suddenly feeling sleepy and considering that Mei was still giving her a lap pillow, she obediently got up to sleep at the other end.
Seeing that Nana had fallen asleep, Mei covered her with a thin blanket and began her own reflections.
Nana’s thoughts were a bit too jumpy and overly paranoid.
Mei felt she needed to review the situation.
“If I remember correctly, the anomaly started while we were eating cake, when I was chatting with Nana about the past.” She remembered that while listening to Nana’s childhood stories—after they finished talking about Nana’s mother and that “Purple-haired big sister”—she heard the first auditory hallucination.
But was it really a hallucination?
“It seemed to be…
something about…
the truth…?” For some reason, even though Mei usually had a great memory, she felt a sort of resistance blocking her as she tried to recall it, only managing to remember a few scattered words.
“There really is a problem.
Something is stopping me from remembering.” Then there was the scene where Nana sensed someone staring.
That was clear and not blurred, so the problem definitely lay with the auditory hallucination.
“Maybe it wasn’t a hallucination, but a one-way transmission?” Given that she could hear it but Nana couldn’t, it fit the description of a one-way transmission.
But why transmit to her?
It couldn’t be because I complained about that auntie, could it?
■■■■: Yes.
?
Did I…
just…
hear it again?
■■■■: Mmhmm?
…
It seemed she was right.
It really was a one-way transmission, and it came when she complained about the auntie.
Could the identity be…
“Ms.
Cécilia?” Mei’s heart stirred.
If it really was Ms.
Cécilia, what was she trying to convey?
Was it about Nana’s childhood, or related to the potential danger they currently faced?
While Mei was deep in thought…
Nana suddenly let out a mumble beside her.
Mei looked down and saw Nana’s brow slightly furrowed, as if troubled by something in her dream.
Mei gently patted Nana, wanting her to sleep more soundly.
And then, she heard that voice once more.
■■■■: I don’t understand what you two Little fellows are thinking.
Outwitting thin air?
“Uh…
excuse me, are you Ms.
Cécilia?” ■■■■: No.
…
■■■■: I suppose I am, in a way.
Mei complained internally: Please don’t leave things half-said!
■■■■: Just think of me as an Isotope, just like how the Little fellow is a Kiana Isotope.
“Then, why are you here today?” ■■■■: Simply to see the Little fellow.
“Ms.
Cécilia, you were just looking…?
You’ve made Nana so anxious and insecure…” ■■■■: What else?
By the way, don’t call me Ms.
Cécilia; it’s a bit awkward.
Just call me Cécilia Zero.
Don’t add ‘Ms.’ either, just a normal address is fine.
“So, why are you transmitting your voice to me?” Mei asked.
Cécilia Zero replied, “I just thought you were quite an interesting child, complaining like that, so I decided to chat with you.
Besides, seeing Nana so nervous was quite amusing.” Mei smiled helplessly.
“Nana just overthinks things; she loves to assume the worst.” Cécilia Zero continued, “This child is a lot like Kiana, but she has her own traits too.
Seeing her with you, her life seems quite pleasant—at least better than if she were alone.” Mei gently stroked Nana’s hair.
“Yes, our life now is simple and happy.
It’s just that Nana worries that exposing her identity will bring trouble.” Cécilia Zero: “Don’t worry, no one can harm you right now.
I only came today to see Nana, nothing more.
Just keep living your little lives.
I’m watching it like a drama; it’s quite fun.” With that, the voice vanished.
Mei breathed a sigh of relief.
It seemed it was just a false alarm.
There was no danger; they were just scaring themselves.
There was no need to worry about safety, as it seemed a parent was watching over them, though this one’s personality was a bit…
(?) After tucking the blanket around Nana, Mei leaned against the sofa to rest for a moment, and then she heard it again…
Cécilia Zero: “Oh, almost forgot.
Don’t tell Nana about this.
She needs to grow right now, so just keep training her.
That charge toward Kurikara was quite good.
I’m off.” Mei’s lips couldn’t help but twitch.
Senior Cécilia Zero’s personality was certainly unique…
After Cécilia Zero stopped the transmission, Nana’s brow gradually smoothed out in her sleep, as if the latent crisis had departed, leaving her at peace.