Chapter 224: Time to Get Scolded Again.

Unknown was taken aback by Lua's appearance.

Her younger sister was suddenly being called Mom by a strange child, and she looked thoroughly startled.

To prevent any misunderstandings, I carefully explained our family tree.

"Well... that's how it is. Lua is everyone's daughter, and everyone is sort of Lua's mom."

"I see... I inherited the memories, so I knew roughly, but..."

"I didn't pass everything on, after all."

"Yes, I suppose not."

Seemingly having sorted things out somewhat, Unknown nodded several times.

By the bed, Lua's eyes sparkled.

Her mom's, not really, twin sister.

And an older sister who looked exactly like her, down to her features and build.

Perhaps Unknown fascinated her. Lua looked back and forth between the sisters.

"Two Sleepy Moms... There are two Sleepy Moms..."

She tightly held Alice's hand in one hand and Unknown's in the other.

For some reason, Lua was excited.

She was the cutest being in the universe.

Unknown responded awkwardly.

Meeting the child's gaze, she carefully greeted her so as not to startle her.

"Um... h-hello? What's your name?"

"Hello! I'm Lua!"

"I see... I'm, um... Unknown. I'm also Alice's older sister."

"Older sister...? Sleepy Mom's older sister?"

"Yes, her older sister. You can call me Auntie."

"Mom?"

"Auntie."

"Mom!"

"Not Mom, Auntie. That's what you call your mom's sister."

"But I want to call you Mom... Can't I?"

"Um... that might be a little..."

Unknown checked the other moms' reactions.

Regardless, Lua looked up at her with dejected eyes.

"...Can't I?"

"No, well... wouldn't your real moms feel hurt if you called your aunt Mom?"

Her red eyes flicked toward Alice.

She seemed especially concerned about Alice's reaction.

"Lua has a dad and moms, after all..."

There was the man who seemed to share a special bond with her younger sister.

And their child, not really.

Unknown clearly worried that she might intrude and hurt her sister's feelings.

Though she was being so cautious, Alice's reaction was completely opposite to what she feared.

The younger sister firmly took her hesitant older sister's hand.

"Lua wants it so badly. Let her."

"But even so..."

"No one minds. I don't either. Actually, I really hope you will."

"You hope I will? I don't understand why... but if Liss is okay with it..."

"Really? I'm so happy."

"I don't know why you're happy, but..."

"There are reasons. Here, Lua. My sister gave you permission."

"Yay! I have seven moms now! I'll call you White Mom!"

Perhaps because of her distinctive white hair, Unknown gained the title White Mom.

Alice slipped her arms around Lua and her sister's shoulders.

Her faint smile was somehow unlike her usual one.

The fragility had faded, leaving a gentle pressure in the smile in her eyes.

"You're a mom now too, Sis. Just like me..."

"I guess so... I really don't know what's what anymore."

"You can't go anywhere now. You're staying with us. Surely you aren't planning to disappear and leave your daughter behind?"

What could I say?

Alice seemed determined to bind her sister to us somehow.

Something that could have been obsession or a protective instinct faintly showed through.

"You can't go anywhere else anymore. Okay?"

"W-Wait... aren't you clinging a little too much?"

"I barely got you back... Lord Viktor finally placed this miracle in my arms..."

"Pfft... Th-th-that tickles! I'm embarrassed, so don't cling to me like that. Everyone else is watching..."

"Stay by my side. Don't leave."

"Where would I go? We only just met. There's no way I'd disappear."

"I-I see... That's a relief. Everyone is good people, so I'm sure you'll settle in well."

As if she understood her younger sister's wounds, Unknown stroked the black hair pressed against her.

The twins fell silent for a moment.

Between those silences, complicated empathy and disconnect passed back and forth.

Lua's voice once again broke the mood before it could become too heavy.

"I like Mom."

Smack, smack.

Her little lips touched each twin's cheek, then pulled away.

Cute little cheek kisses.

It was a rare show of affection she sometimes gave me too.

Perhaps thanks to the power of that adorableness, Alice and Unknown quickly relaxed.

"Mom, hug me! Lua wants to lie down next to you too!"

"Y-You want to? The bed is wide enough, so I think it should be fine..."

"I'll put you up there, Sis."

Their daughter burrowed into Unknown's arms.

Cute things really did seem to be the best medicine for body and mind.

"...Cute."

"Mhehe."

Perhaps because the awkwardness had faded, the others who had been quietly watching each added a word for Unknown.

Nothing particularly special.

Just greetings saying that they would probably see each other often, and that they hoped to get along.

"If anything troubles you, tell me. I will do all I can to help."

"Yes! Please tell me too! If you're Miss Alice's older sister, that practically makes you my older sister too!"

Carmilla and Ranne declared it boldly.

Aside from Javert, whom Alice had known since childhood, they were the two who had known Alice the longest.

"Th-Thank you..."

"It's only natural. Your sister has helped me more times than I can count."

"I feel the same! Besides, we are friends too!"

Warm words passed between them.

On the other hand, a teasing remark came flying in from one side.

"You'd better be careful."

"Me...?"

Caitlin abruptly spoke up.

She pointed at me.

"You need to watch out for that one. He flirts with every woman in the world."

"H-He flirts with them?"

"He's a complete womanizing piece of trash. Your life will be in serious trouble if you get involved with him."

"W-Well... he didn't seem like such a bad person..."

"What the fuck? Did he already conquer you? When did he seduce you too?"

"N-No! It's not like that!"

"What do you mean, it isn't? Your face turned beet red all of a sudden."

"No! Besides, he's someone special to my sister, so I would never feel that way about him...!"

Was she trying to see how much trouble she could stir up?

Caitlin went on the attack from their very first meeting.

The one who stopped her was none other than Rin.

"You're mean. The top student of Class B is totally smitten with Viktor too."

"What? Why are you butting in? And who is smitten with whom? Are you going to keep spewing bullshit like you always do?"

"Yes. Denying it is useless. Everyone already saw it. You got all red and flustered when he gave you that ring."

"Shut up! I'll seriously kill you!"

"You can't. The top student of Class B is weak."

"Argh! You fucking bitch..."

"Miss Caitlin. Miss Rin. Please keep quiet in the hospital room."

As always, the two bickered while Javert mediated their fight.

Even those small noises added warmth to the hospital room.

Bustle, bustle.

Life at the academy passed peacefully.

For a while, I simply existed quietly among those scenes.

* * *

A week had already passed since our return to the academy.

The others quickly grew close to Unknown.

Perhaps they understood Alice's concern for her sister.

Unknown still had not adjusted to her new life, so they actively tried to help her and grow closer to her.

"They're all such good people."

Every single one of them was.

That was why I often felt they were more than I deserved.

"I need to do better too."

It was a resolve I found myself reaffirming.

Then, on one peaceful day...

"Hmm-hmm."

As usual, after finishing my daily routine, I stopped by the ward.

I had come to see Unknown and Alice, who was caring for her.

I gently opened the hospital-room door and entered.

Creeeak.

"Well then, I've arrived again today!"

A flamboyant entrance.

Yet for some reason, the atmosphere in the room was frigid.

"...Huh?"

Not only Unknown and Alice, but everyone else was gathered in the hospital room.

As though they had been waiting for me, all eyes turned my way.

A strange sense of deja vu came over me, and I couldn't help shrinking back.

"Um, everyone...?"

Even my slightly cowed response drew no mercy from them.

Only Unknown furtively averted her eyes.

"Um, sorry... I might have made things difficult."

An apology I did not understand, and all those glaring eyes.

Cold sweat ran down my back.

Without realizing it, I tensed up and stood at attention.

Then Javert strode toward me.

"Viktor."

"Yes."

"Please tell us honestly."

"Um, tell you what...?"

"Allie has already told us everything."

Her green eyes were cold.

There were only a few reasons Javert could be this angry with me.

As I searched for the right words, Carmilla, who also looked furious, stepped in.

"Viktor, answer me."

"......"

"What happened in that child's Deep World."

"......"

So that was it.

I could only lower my head.

"This time, how many times did you die?"

"Well, you see..."

It looked like I was about to get a serious scolding.

===

Caitlin and Rin.

I will upload the rest of the friends tomorrow.