Lin believed the biggest problem with interacting with Mobius was that you never knew when you'd step on a landmine, just like right now. He didn't quite understand how his surviving had offended her.
"Not leaving yet?" Mobius tone became even more irritable. She glared at Lin as if she wanted to carve a piece of meat off him with her gaze.
"..." Lin could only send her a message with his communicator.
[What are you angry about?]
Mobius put down the communicator with a familiar sneer. "Angry? I'm not angry. Forgot what I said before? I've hated you from the very beginning. Now, get out. Right now, immediately, this instant."
[Can we talk about it?]
"We can talk once you get out."
Lin had no way out. Mobius anger level was exceptionally high this time, giving him no chance to reason with her. He thought for a moment, and under Mobius gaze—which shifted from resentment to confusion—he lay down on the floor.
"...Rolling." He rolled across the floor and out the door.
"..."
Under the shocked gazes of Klein and the Nuwa sisters outside, he rolled quickly out of the laboratory. Then, after a moment, he rolled back in with a clatter, precisely rolling into the office right under Mobius chair, just centimeters away from her silk-clad legs.
He took out his communicator and typed:
[I rolled back.]
This time, Mobius wasn't angry; her gaze had turned into pure disdain. She simply raised her shoeless foot and stepped on his face.
...
"I'm tired, don't bother me." Whether Mobius anger had subsided or she was simply speechless at Lin "thick-skinned" attitude, she finally slumped over her desk, fiddling with a ballpoint pen.
Lin watched her silently from behind. Seeing that she really wasn't in the mood to talk, he turned his attention to the messy surroundings. Without thinking much, he dragged his impaired body and began cleaning the room.
Mobius head rested on the table, her silky long hair covering her eyes. She heard the sounds behind her but remained still and silent.
Mobius room was messy, but it had a style. Her stockings were usually disposable, but because she didn't want the things she used to smell, she would stuff them into corners. Her habits as a researcher led her to arrange leftover instant noodle cups neatly like laboratory vessels. There were also three or four different blankets she had pulled out to sleep on various spots on the floor.
Based on Lin understanding of her, organizing it was relatively easy.
Although he still couldn't balance his body perfectly, it only took him ten minutes to clean the room, throw out the trash, put the clothes in the washing machine, and fold the blankets together. Compared to ten minutes ago, it was the difference between heaven and hell.
Slap.
A stocking was flung onto his helmet.
"..."
Lin silently removed the stocking and turned to see Mobius, who had stood up at some point, arms crossed, looking at him coldly. He looked down and saw that one of her stockings was missing.
He said nothing and dropped the stocking into the laundry basket, preparing to wash it later...
Slap.
Another stocking, this time hitting the floor nearby.
"..."
Lin still didn't react, just picked it up.
Slap.
Lab coat.
Slap.
A pair of shoes.
Lin picked them all up and put them aside, then silently watched Mobius as her hand moved to the collar of her shirt.
Her face was slightly flushed now as she glared at Lin with gritted teeth. Lin maintained an indifferent attitude, seemingly unbothered by her attempts to disrupt his cleaning.
Was she going to keep undressing? After the outer shirt and the pencil skirt, there would only be underwear left, and... and... she wasn't wearing a bra today...
Lin was actually observing Mobius secretly. The rare shyness on her youthful face was quite interesting to him. Under the hazy light of the hanging lamp, Mobius pursed her lips. In front of Lin, she lifted her shirt, revealing a flat, smooth stomach that looked like a work of art...
Her pretty face was burning red, and with heavy breaths, she looked at Lin...
Lin?
There was no one standing in front of her.
She looked blankly to the side. Lin was squatting idly in front of the washing machine. After a beep, he took out the clean clothes and threw in the ones Mobius had just taken off. He didn't seem to care at all whether she undressed or not.
After a brief silence, Mobius exploded.
"Go die!"
Lin couldn't dodge in time and was pinned to the floor by Mobius. She angrily held down his hands and roared, "How can you be so lucky? You're like a water bear with that stubborn vitality! Why didn't that blade kill you?"
"..."
"It's annoying seeing you flicker in and out of my sight all day, and when I want to find you, you're out on a mission!"
"..." So is it annoying because I'm around, or annoying because I'm not?
Lin inability to speak and his silent demeanor—just like in the past—made Mobius even more resentful. Her volume increased further.
The anger in her chest forced a shout: "You tell those idiots who refuse to face reality to cherish their lives! They'd rather gouge their eyes, cut their hands, chop their feet, or twist their heads just to save others! You bastard, why don't you know how to cherish your own life?! You say those people have someone waiting for them in reality, you—"
...
Suddenly, a heavy rain fell upon Mobius head. The communicator in her hand slowly slipped and hit the ground. She stared blankly at the pool of water at her feet. The communicator emitted a busy tone. Next to the device that had just delivered the tragic news, the water surface—rippled by raindrops—distorted her reflection beyond recognition.
Dead...?
She seemed to have heard similar news before—during the Sixth Honkai Eruption, when she heard of Lin death halfway through. But back then, she hadn't cared. The death of one person would only make her more determined in her ideals. Yes, she shouldn't care...
She didn't care...
Splosh—
The rain soaked her clothes and her lowered hair.
"Are... are you with Fire Moth?"
At that moment, a door next to the room where they had captured the Eighth Herrscher was pushed open. A middle-aged man looked hesitantly at Mobius, who stood motionless in the rain. He mustered his courage and asked:
"C-Can you help me thank that man named Lin? Thank him for saving us. It was he who gave me the courage to face reality again. He was right; the people important to me are waiting for me in reality. I don't want to be immersed in a dream anymore."
"And! Please also say sorry to him for me. I know I'm scum, and no amount of words can change the fact that I hurt him, but at least... at least let me wish that he can be happy with the person important to him!"
"Thank you!"
Mobius looked up. The misty rain veiled her face.
...
"Still waiting for me to take my clothes off, aren't you! Intentionally trying to embarrass me! You think I can't tell?!"
"..."
Mobius movements were getting aggressive. Lin wanted to break free, but in his current state, ten of him wouldn't be able to escape. She stared at Lin with her snake-like eyes, using her free hand to pull at his clothes. "Take them off! If you don't strip naked today, I'll strangle you!"
"Dr. Mobius, regarding the investigation of this Herrscher..."
Mei pushed open the office door as if she were in her own home, holding a paper document. She looked up as she spoke...
"..."
"..."
Mobius and Lin looked at her silently.
Mei took a simple look at the scene. Mobius lab coat and stockings had been removed and thrown aside, and her remaining clothes were in a state of disarray. By Mei's estimation, Mobius had also removed her underwear, and her breathing was very rapid. Meanwhile, a weakened Lin was pinned beneath her, his movements restricted.
"Alright, I'll come back tomorrow." Mei put the document on the table as if nothing were wrong, adding a helpful reminder: "Dr. Mobius, Lin currently cannot experience pleasure through touch. I suggest you put more effort into the auditory and visual aspects... and remember to use protection."
Then she closed the door.