Mon3tr sat in Kal’tsit’s original seat, tilting its head as it sized up March 7th, who was lying on the bed and giggling stupidly, frowning slightly: “Ah, this… could this child have been addled in the head?”
Sensing the gaze, March 7th turned her head to lock eyes with Mon3tr, puffing out her cheeks: “You aren’t thinking that I’m being a complete goofball, are you?”
Mon3tr was momentarily taken aback by the question, its fingers unconsciously rubbing its chin; it couldn’t just directly admit that it really was thinking that, could it?
Hesitating for a moment, it finally reached out, gently poking March 7th’s soft cheeks with its slender fingers: “Mm… bouncy and smooth.”
“Mph!” March 7th grabbed Mon3tr’s mischievous fingers, her pink-and-blue eyes blinking.
“Big Sister… don’t poke my cheeks.”
“Big Sister?” Mon3tr was slightly stunned, then nodded thoughtfully.
“Calling me Big Sister? Mm… I suppose that’s right.”
Seeing that it acknowledged the title, March 7th’s eyes lit up, and she immediately tried to sit up.
However, the moment she propped up her upper body, the blanket slipped down, and the chill abruptly made her realize—she wasn’t wearing any clothes yet!
“Wuwah!” She instantly shrank back under the covers, leaving only a pair of eyes exposed as she looked pitifully at Mon3tr.
“Big Sister… could you get me a set of clothes?”
Mon3tr chuckled softly, turning to take a brand-new pink-and-blue dress from the cabinet beside it, and handed it over: “This might suit you better; Himeko bought it temporarily yesterday. The size might not be entirely accurate, so make do with it for now.”
“Thank you, Big Sister!” March 7th snatched the clothes, diving entirely under the covers and wriggling around like a caterpillar for a few moments.
Before long, she flipped open the cover and jumped out of bed, her bare feet stepping on the floor, hands on her hips, and announced full of vigor: “Hmph hmph! This lady has made a full reco—”
“Hey hey hey?!” Before she could finish her sentence, her legs went numb from a lack of activity for so long, and she stumbled, falling right back down onto the bed.
Mon3tr raised an eyebrow: “What? You just resurrected and you’re already falling down?”
March 7th rubbed her numb calves, raising her face to flash a flattering smile: “Um… Big Sister, could you pick me up?”
Mon3tr stood up, looking down at her from above, and suddenly reached out to gently pinch her peach-like cheeks, its tone teasing: “Well, little March 7th, if Big Sister picks you up, do you think your silliness will rub off on me?”
March 7th froze, then instantly bristled: “Ahhh! Big Sister, you actually look down on me for being silly! No, no, this lady is not silly at all!”
Looking at her puffed-up appearance, Mon3tr dazedly recalled a scene of teasing Rosmontis back at Rhodes Island—that soft little fellow always blushing and saying in a soft, sweet voice: “Big Sister Mon3tr… don’t bully Rosmontis.” Get faster updates on novelping.com.
It couldn’t help but chuckle softly, reaching out to ruffle March 7th’s head: “Alright, alright, you aren’t silly.”
Then it bent down and scooped her up into its arms: “Let’s go, little fool, I’m taking you to eat.”
March 7th was startled by the sudden lift into the air, instinctively wrapping her arms around Mon3tr’s neck, and then smugly swung her feet: “Hehe, Big Sister is the best!”
Mon3tr shook its head helplessly, holding her as it walked toward the dining car, sighing silently in its heart: “Doctor Kal’tsit, you really went and picked up a little sister for me this time…”
March 7th tilted up her small face, her pink-and-blue eyes looking watery at Mon3tr, and pouted in protest: “Big Sister~ I’m not silly, this is called playing the fool to hide one’s brilliance!”
Mon3tr glanced down at her, the corners of its mouth curving into a teasing arc: “No, I don’t think you’re playing the fool; you’re just ‘greater than a moron’.”
“Wuwah!” March 7th instantly turned red in the face, like a bristling kitten, and took a bite out of Mon3tr’s shoulder.
However, Mon3tr merely raised an eyebrow, without even frowning—that bit of force felt practically like an itch-scratching to it.
“Hm?” Kal’tsit pushed the door open carrying a meal tray, happening to catch this exact scene.
Her silver-white cat ears twitched gently, and she said expressionlessly: “Mon3tr, put March 7th in front of my desk. Right after eating, you will help her with rehabilitation training.”
March 7th immediately let go, stretching out her hands toward Kal’tsit with sparkling eyes: “Mom!”
This form of address caused Kal’tsit’s mouth to twitch imperceptibly, but she still maintained her usual composure.
Mon3tr sighed helplessly, placing March 7th at the designated spot while muttering quietly: “Clearly I was the one holding you, how is it that you changed your heart the moment you saw Doctor Kal’tsit…”
March 7th sat in the chair, swinging her legs and making a face at Mon3tr: “Because Mom is the best!”
After speaking, she looked at Kal’tsit expectantly: “Are you going to accompany me in my training, Mom?”
Kal’tsit put down the meal tray, picked up the medical clipboard, and said without raising her head: “Focus on training. Mon3tr, start with the basic muscle strength test.”
But no one noticed that when she turned around, the tips of her cat ears faintly flushed with a pale pink.
“Ah?
I didn’t expect time to pass by so quickly, it’s already noon in the blink of an eye.” Mon3tr stretched lazily, turning to look at March 7th, who was exercising her ankles: “March 7th, let’s go, time to eat.”
Pushing open the door of the Parlor Car, the rich aroma of food washed over them.
Welt was gracefully cutting steak, Dan Heng was quietly eating a vegetarian meal, and Himeko held a cup of coffee, leisurely flipping through a data pad.
Pom-Pom was busy tinkering with the dining cart in the corner, humming a little tune.
“Mm~ what should I eat?” March 7th stood in front of the food counter, supporting her chin distressedly, her pink-and-blue eyes sweeping back and forth among the dazzling array of dishes.
“March 7th.”
A cool voice came from behind.
March 7th whipped her head around, her eyes instantly lighting up: “Mom Kal’tsit!”
“Pfft—!” The rice in Dan Heng’s mouth spewed right out, choking him into a coughing fit.
Welt’s glasses dropped to the floor with a clatter, freezing him in place.
Himeko calmly took a sip of coffee, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly—after all, she had already heard this form of address yesterday.
Kal’tsit’s cat ears instantly went rigid, and she expressionlessly shoved a nutritional meal into March 7th’s hands, her voice twice as fast as usual: “Ahem, nutritional meal, eat it for at least a week. I still have matters to attend to, I’m leaving first.”
Having said that, she turned and left, her pace thirty percent faster than usual, the hem of her lab coat even stirring up a gust of wind.
March 7th hugged the meal tray and blinked: “Is Mom shy?”
Mon3tr facepalmed: “…No, she just didn’t want to be watched by the entire Astral Express.”
Dan Heng finally caught his breath and wiped the corner of his mouth: “…I need to reevaluate the family relationship entries in the Archives.”
Welt silently picked up his glasses and muttered to himself: “Young people these days… are their terms of address so advanced now?”
Himeko chuckled softly and gracefully put down her coffee cup: “You’ll get used to it, after all—” She looked at March 7th meaningfully.
“Being a ‘mom’ is quite difficult.”
Himeko gave a soft cough and tapped the table with her fingertip: “Right, who’s going on the next Trailblaze mission?”
Welt pushed up his glasses, a flash of light reflecting across the lenses: “Let’s leave this kind of mission for the young ones to gain experience.”