"It would be great if the Astral Express had a pool this big too."
"Actually, we could set up an inflatable pool, but... maybe only the storage room has enough space for an inflatable pool that big."
March 7th imagined the scene—a huge inflatable pool in the storage room, surrounded by all sorts of messy clutter, with Pom-Pom standing by the pool using short little arms to hold a hose and pour water in.
"That wouldn't have any atmosphere at all!"
A strange silence fell between the two for a moment. Only the slight hum of the filtration system and the crisp sound of waves lapping against the shore could be heard.
"Take a photo of me."
March 7th said bashfully.
"Take a photo? Sure, but are you sure you want to? If my hand shakes and I blur the shot, don't blame me."
"You wouldn't dare!" March 7th glared at him, but quickly returned to her bashful state. "Um... well... make it look good. Lighting, angles, you know what I mean, right?"
"I know, of course I know."
March 7th thought about it, first making a peace sign but feeling it was too silly; then she tried a sideways glance over her shoulder but felt it was too forced; finally, she just gave up thinking and stood there in the water.
"This is fine."
"Click."
The scene froze.
"Let me see, let me see!" March 7th couldn't wait to swim over and leaned in close to Aidan. "Wow—this shot is great! Your skills are pretty good!"
"It's mainly because the subject is pretty."
March 7th's face turned another shade redder.
"Why are you speaking so sweetly today?"
"Today is the Path of Remembrance, after all." Aidan said solemnly. "I have to remember to save all the nice things to say today."
...
March 7th dried her hair and put on her fluffy pink one-piece pajamas. She picked up the camera from the bedside.
"He took a really good photo, hehe."
March 7th let out a silly Anon-style laugh.
"Hehehehehehe, nia hiang hiang hiang hiang hiang hiang hiang hiang~"
The girl rolled around on the bed, held the camera above her head, and continued to admire the photo. Once she'd had enough, she placed the camera by her pillow, flipped over to lie on her back, and stared at the ceiling.
Today was really fun.
Even though that guy Aidan staring at her made her heart race wildly at first, she forgot her nervousness while playing in the water later.
Being able to play with a good friend, wear a pretty swimsuit, and take nice photos—who wouldn't be happy with all that?
"No, no."
She suddenly sat up, her face turning red again.
"What good friend? He's just a junior! I'm the senior! It's only right for a senior to look after a junior! Yes! Only right!"
Having finished her self-hypnosis, March 7th flopped back onto the bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin.
"But when he complimented me today..."
She stared at the ceiling, the corners of her mouth curling up uncontrollably.
"Oh right, I almost forgot something important!"
March 7th slapped her own head.
She took out paper and a pen and started drawing and writing.
However, the jellyfish March 7th drew was exceptionally ugly.
Holding the pen, the girl stared at the crooked thing on the paper with uneven tentacles and a head shaped like a round mushroom, falling into deep thought.
"...Is this a jellyfish?"
She muttered to herself, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
It did seem to be a jellyfish, but also didn't quite look like one. That round thing called a jellyfish head looked a bit like the shape of the Strawberry Devil Spicy Tofu she ate today.
"Hmm..."
She picked up the pen and tried to add some expression to the poor jellyfish—two dots for eyes and a curved line for a smile.
[T/N: Put every Teriri Image you can find here.]
"Even weirder now."
March 7th was silent for two seconds before decisively picking up the eraser and rubbing out the expression.
Forget it, let it just be an emotionless abstract jellyfish.
March 7th bit the end of her pen, staring blankly at the ugly jellyfish on the paper. She had never written a letter before.
No, she should put it this way: she had never written a letter to "herself."
"What should I write..."
After hesitating for a while, the girl finally started writing.
"To my other self: I only found out today that you exist within my body... thank you for always protecting me. Those past memories I can't recall—if you think knowing them now would make me sad, then let's hide them away together. Anyway, life right now is exciting every day, and I have an occasionally perverted but mostly reliable junior accompanying me. If you can see this letter, remember to give me a response in my dreams. Also, this drawing is for you. Although it's just average, it's full of heart!"
After writing the last word, March 7th folded the letter into a neat little square and carefully tucked it under her pillow. She flopped onto the bed, rolled over, and stared at the ceiling.
"Goodnight."
March 7th murmured softly, turned over, and buried her face in the pillow.
Starlight from outside filtered through the glass, casting mottled shadows in the room. The girl's breathing gradually became long and even, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her eyelids.
Who knows how much time passed.
Maybe a few minutes, maybe a few System Hours.
March 7th suddenly sat up. At this moment, there was no light in March 7th's eyes, and her pupils were a bright red, unlike her usual ones.
Now, the one controlling the body was Evernight.
「I really can't do anything with you, you even learned how to write letters... You really are an easily satisfied child.」
Evernight smiled as she picked up the page.
Seemingly cold, seemingly elegant, seemingly calm.
In reality, she was a die-hard March 7th fan.
After reading the letter, Evernight's gaze fell on the camera by the pillow.
「Since you want a response, as the 'big sister' who dotes on you most, I naturally cannot let you down.」
「Since you want a response, I'll give you this little surprise. Have sweet dreams, my March.」
Evernight quietly left a small gift for March 7th at the head of the bed.
Having done all this, Evernight did not immediately go to sleep. She looked up at the clock on the wall; there were less than three minutes left until midnight.
Evernight pushed open the door, her figure like a ghost, silently moving through the corridor and stopping in front of Aidan's room.
Inside the room, Aidan was sitting by the bed, watching the second hand of the clock move.
「Not resting yet, self-proclaimed clever Pure Child of Anāsrava?」