“Here, tell me if you want to eat something sweet in the future.”
She placed the candies on the table, “But you are not allowed to touch things in the office randomly, understand?”
Mon3tr immediately resumed her human form and happily pounced toward the candies.
“Got it! The doctor is the best!” She impatiently unwrapped the package, her emerald-green eyes shining brightly.
“Eat slowly, don’t choke.” Kal’tsit shook her head helplessly, continuing to tidy up the examination equipment.
Suddenly, she noticed that Mon3tr’s movements had stopped.
“What is it?” Kal’tsit turned her head and asked.
Mon3tr held the candies, her expression somewhat desolate.
“Doctor… Do you think we can still return to Terra?”
Kal’tsit’s movements paused for a moment.
She put down the instrument in her hand, walked over to Mon3tr, and sat down.
“Missing home?”
Mon3tr nodded, her black hair hanging down on both sides of her cheeks.
“A little… I miss everyone at Rhodes Island, I miss the Doctor, and I miss Amiya.”
Kal’tsit was silent for a moment, then gently rubbed Mon3tr’s head.
“It’s useless to think about these now. Since we have come to this world, let’s handle the matters right in front of us first.”
Although her tone was plain, her gaze softened a bit.
“At least… we are still by each other’s side.”
Mon3tr raised her head, the gloom in her eyes gradually dispersing.
She suddenly pounced into Kal’tsit’s arms.
“Mhm! As long as I’m with the doctor, I can go anywhere!”
Kal’tsit was bumped backward a little, but did not push her away.
“… Alright, get up.”
Night fell, but outside the Astral Express was still an endless starry sky.
Kal’tsit walked into the bathroom, and just as she took off her shoes, she keenly perceived the gaze from behind.
“Mon3tr, are you peeping?” Kal’tsit turned around abruptly, her sharp gaze piercing straight toward the doorway.
Mon3tr sheepishly revealed her figure, scratching her head with embarrassment.
Kal’tsit crossed her arms, staring at her with burning eyes.
“Tell me, who taught you this kind of thing?”
Mon3tr nervously twisted her cuffs with both hands, her eyes drifting uncertainly.
“Um… I just wanted to come and see Dr. Kal’tsit…”
“You are lying.” Kal’tsit coldly interrupted her.
“Tell the truth, or else you’ll go sleep in the corridor tonight.”
Mon3tr instantly panicked; the chance to live together with Kal’tsit could not be lost just like that.
Kal’tsit carefully scrutinized her expression, and after confirming she wasn’t lying, she grabbed Mon3tr by the back of her collar and strode toward the Observation Car.
“Eh?” Himeko, who was sipping tea, hadn’t reacted yet when she saw Mon3tr being thrown to her feet.
“I’m going to take a bath, Miss Himeko, please help me keep an eye on Mon3tr.” Kal’tsit instructed in a calm tone.
Although baffled, Himeko still nodded gracefully.
“Mhm, alright.”
Mon3tr sat aggrievedly on the ground, watching Kal’tsit’s receding figure, and muttered quietly, “I just wanted to help scrub her back…”
Hearing this, Himeko almost spat out the black tea in her mouth, and asked while holding back her laughter, “So… this is why you were ‘exiled’?”
Mon3tr nodded piteously, her black hair drooping down listlessly.
Himeko finally couldn’t help laughing out loud.
“It seems our Dr. Kal’tsit is even shyer than imagined~”
“Ugh… Kal’tsit won’t be shy over such a trivial matter.” Mon3tr argued weakly, her voice muffled.
Himeko looked with interest at Mon3tr slumped on the ground.
“Oh? How so?”
“As Dr. Kal’tsit’s memory spirit…” Mon3tr suddenly sat straight up, her black hair swaying gently with the movement.
“I can feel that she is only temporarily affected in her subconscious by that memory. This influence will last for at most 8 hours, and then she’ll recover into the Dr. Kal’tsit I’m familiar with!”
She sighed and lay back down on the ground.
“She will soon change back into that… most rational person who possesses both the benevolence of a healer, the courage of a warrior, and the wisdom of a leader.”
Himeko rubbed her brow and let out a light sigh.
“Sigh… Then Mon3tr, do you hope Kal’tsit will change back to her original self?”
Mon3tr looked up at the whale lamp above the Observation Car, her emerald-like eyes reflecting starlight.
She first nodded, then shook her head.
“I hope so, but also hope not.” Her voice softened.
“I do miss that familiar Dr. Kal’tsit… but the current her is what she truly looks like when relaxed.”
Saying this, Mon3tr suddenly did a carp jump to stand up, her black hair tracing a crisp arc in the air.
“Whatever, it doesn’t matter! No matter what kind of person Dr. Kal’tsit turns into, I will always stay by her side!”
Himeko looked at Mon3tr’s energetic appearance and couldn’t help smiling.
“What an enviable bond.”
She took an elegant sip of black tea.
“But before that… shouldn’t you think about how to explain the peeping incident to Dr. Kal’tsit after she finishes her bath?”
Mon3tr’s smile instantly froze on her face.
“Ah… this…”
Mon3tr’s shadow wriggled uneasily.
“How about… saying I came to deliver a bath towel?”
Himeko covered her mouth and chuckled lightly. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
“Do you think Dr. Kal’tsit would believe such an excuse?”
“Then… then…” Mon3tr paced around in anxiety, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration.
“I have it! I’ll just say I came to check if there are any safety hazards in the bathroom!”
Before her words fell, the bathroom door opened with a “click” sound.
Kal’tsit walked out draped in a bathrobe, her silver hair still dripping with water droplets, sparkling under the light.
“What are you two chatting about?” Kal’tsit asked indifferently, her gaze sweeping between the two.
Himeko gracefully put down her teacup.
“We’re chatting about how someone peeked at someone else taking a bath~”
“Mon3tr.”
“Present!” Mon3tr immediately straightened her back, like a primary school student who did something wrong.
Kal’tsit leisurely wiped her hair.
“Explain.”
Mon3tr swallowed her saliva, her emerald-green eyes rolling around.
“Um… I came to…”
“Tell the truth.” Kal’tsit’s cat ears twitched, her gaze sharp.
“I was wrong!” Mon3tr knelt on the ground with a fierce tiger landing style.
“I just wanted to see what the doctor looks like taking a bath!”
Himeko almost choked on the black tea, quickly turning her face away to hide her laughter.
The tips of Kal’tsit’s ears turned red at a speed visible to the naked eye.
“… You’ll go sleep in the corridor tonight.”
“No, doctor!” Mon3tr pounced over and hugged Kal’tsit’s leg.
“I promise I’ll definitely knock first next time!”
“There’ll be a next time?” Kal’tsit’s voice raised abruptly.
Himeko finally couldn’t help laughing out loud.
“Pfft… Sorry, you guys continue.” She stood up gracefully.
“I suddenly remember I have something to look for Pom-Pom for.”
After Himeko left, Kal’tsit looked down at Mon3tr who was shamelessly hugging her, and let out a long sigh.
“… Remember, there is no next time.”
Mon3tr instantly revived to full health.
“Kal’tsit is the best!” She happily rubbed against Kal’tsit.
“I’ll go brew tea for the doctor!”
Watching Mon3tr’s cheerful receding figure, Kal’tsit rubbed her temples.
“The influence of the subconscious is getting lower and lower. In at most 7 hours, I can completely shake off the influence.”