บท 16: Space station 15: Kafka Wants to Sleep Together
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******
Katherine's questioning voice echoed from the speakers.
Kafka watched him intently without blinking.
Initially, Su Qing was inclined to choose D, but he recalled his previous simulations.
[Firefly: Huh? (Surprised)]
Each simulation represents a lifetime, and ultimately, they all come to an end. Rather than reminiscing after it's over, it's better to cherish the people before you within the simulation itself.
Demons can be slain anytime, but Kafka voluntarily expressing her desires is quite rare.
With this thought in mind, Su Qing ultimately chose A.
[Seele: Phew, what a relief.]
[March 7th: Good, good, he's finally grasped it!]
[Stelle: Better than anime protagonists who remain oblivious and overly kind even after dozens of episodes.]
[March 7th: Definitely. That's a given.]
[March 7th: Seems like the previous simulation wasn't wasted; there's been some growth at last.]
[Kafka: @Firefly, thank you. Thanks to you, Su Qing values me more now.]
[Firefly: Eh— (No surprise anymore)]
[Silver Wolf: @Firefly, hereby awarding you as the Self-Sacrificing Teammate of the Month with a floating red flag.]
[Firefly: (Tosses away) I don't want that thing!]
[Stelle: Laughing.]
[Sparkle: Enjoying it.]
[Sparkle: Love watching these increasingly tangled relationships unfold. Keep bringing more of this.]
They arrived at a well-regarded yet modestly luxurious buffet restaurant.
Katherine had chosen wisely; the place wouldn't put undue pressure on anyone and allowed for genuine enjoyment of the dinner.
Nearby, passersby glanced at the highly noticeable trio, all with striking appearances:
"Is this a family of three?"
"Not likely. If those two were parents, they're too young."
Katherine was the first to arrive, dressed elegantly as usual today.
Feeling somewhat surprised yet finding it entirely reasonable, she looked at Kafka beside Su Qing and asked, "So, you brought her along after all?"
Su Qing nodded. "We discussed it over the phone; she wanted to come too."
He glanced at Kafka, who remained silent, seemingly not in high spirits. Gently patting her back, Su Qing prompted, "Go ahead, say hello."
Kafka stepped forward, her cool voice resonating, "Hello, Katherine."
"Hahahaha..."
Seeing Kafka's reluctance, Katherine couldn't help but burst out laughing. "No need to be so formal, we just met earlier today."
[Sushang: Reminds me of how I greet relatives during New Year celebrations.]
In the restaurant, Katherine led the way ahead of them. "Let's go; I've already reserved our table."
They sat down and placed their belongings aside.
"Shall we start with some appetizers?" Katherine stood up.
"Sounds good." Su Qing also rose from her seat.
Kafka promptly stood as well, intending to follow, but Su Qing said, "I'll get it for you. What would you like?"
"...Anything is fine."
She retook her seat, eyes closely following the two others.
With her hand on the chairback, Kafka watched the pair laughing and chatting at the buffet line. Slightly lowering her head, she rested her chin against the chair.
***
[Having witnessed these simulated scenes...]
[The viewers' most profound feeling was that indeed, little Kafka had truly grown up.]
[Despite still maintaining her aloof demeanor, she began developing subtle and naive emotions.]
[Whether it be her cat-like clinginess even days later at home or her slightly dejected expression now, both evoked heartwarming smiles from the observers.]
[Stelle: To be honest with everyone...]
[Stelle: I grew up watching my mom since childhood.]
[Bronya: ?]
[Himeko: ?]
[March 7th: Taken alone, this comment sounds utterly absurd.]
[Seele: Quiet, I'm thinking.]
The decor of this buffet restaurant predominantly featured shades of blue, fitting with its seaside ambiance. Not only was the atmosphere pleasant, but the choice of background music also showcased good taste.
Su Qing would give it a score of 70 out of 100.
There was significant room for improvement in the chef's skills, however.
[March 7th: As expected from an expert, so strict.]
"Right."
Before dinner concluded, Katherine pulled out two movie tickets from her bag. "Have you seen that recent popular film? How about we go watch it together later?" She looked at Kafka and added with a smile, "Although I only brought two tickets, we can purchase another one upon arrival."
Su Qing glanced at Kafka, slightly hesitant.
"Or perhaps...it's still early," suggested Katherine to keep the conversation going.
"Why don't we take a walk by the beach first and decide afterward?" she proposed. "The scenery here is lovely, right next to the sand."
"A walk by the beach sounds nice." Su Qing found the idea appealing.
He then turned to Kafka and said, "Finish your vegetables first."
"Okay."
Upon hearing this, Kafka quietly finished eating all her vegetables, which she had initially set aside due to disliking them.
Perhaps out of professional habit, Katherine rested her chin, observing their interaction closely.
At the seaside...
The sky had grown dim, and streetlights were now illuminated. The breeze felt refreshing, and each step on the sandy beach left soft indents beneath their shoes.
The beach wasn't crowded, and strolling here gradually brought a sense of calm.
After walking for some time,
Kafka raised her hand towards the moon. With her palm open, it was unclear whether she was gazing at the moon through her fingers or trying to grasp its glow within her hand.
At a slight distance away, Su Qing and Katherine were engaged in conversation.
Katherine, gazing out at the sea as the wind tousled her golden hair, asked, "What's on your mind?"
Su Qing turned to look at her, "I was thinking, does she seem somewhat down today?"
Katherine smiled, "Indeed, you noticed too." She then inquired, "It's been a while since I visited you both. How have things been between you lately?"
"Recently, there has been an issue," Su Qing replied.
"What kind of issue?"
"It seems she's become overly reliant on me." Pausing to reflect, Su Qing continued, "For instance, she spends almost the entire day by my side, barely interacting with others... Do you think we should find opportunities to improve this situation?"
"Don't rush," Katherine shook her head. "Progress comes step by step, just like healing emotionally. We're not eagles; don't throw her from heights before she's learned to fly."
"What should I do then?"
"Just ensure you don't die."
"...Don't jinx me!"
"That's not what I meant. I'm saying you don't need to do anything extra. Her current state is stable; by maintaining this pace, she will naturally grow and heal over time."
"I see, thank you. That's very helpful advice."
"You're welcome."
The waves crashed against the shore, carrying away some grains of sand.
Seemingly following up on the topic, Katherine casually asked, "So, how do you view her?"
Su Qing responded honestly, "I think I've grown accustomed to having Kafka around. Although I say I hope for her independence, if she were truly gone, I'd likely find it difficult to adjust."
"Hmm," Katherine acknowledged with a nod.
Then, as smoothly as before, she continued, "And while we're at it, how do you perceive me?"
[March 7th: Here comes the main event!]
Katherine was strikingly beautiful, with long golden hair and an exceptionally captivating figure. She had numerous admirers, but she consistently maintained single status, citing her work commitments.
After pondering for a moment, Su Qing gave her a high appraisal, "An incredibly skilled psychologist, highly trustworthy. Not only dedicated to her work, but also possessing exceptional professional ethics. In Tianyi-5, she's rare to find - truly a good person."
[March 7th: Oh no, instant friendzoning.]
The power of the 'friend zone' card is universally effective. As expected, upon hearing this, Katherine's expression turned complex.
She fell silent, wondering: Is the timing simply not right now? Then she thought: Perhaps there isn't really a right time.
Currently, Kafka is excessively dependent on Su Qing, but as she grows older, she might develop new perspectives.
After a moment, Katherine took out her phone and checked it. "A friend of mine is nearby, so I'll go watch the movie with her instead. It's perfect since we have exactly two tickets."
Su Qing seemed to want to say more, but Katherine gently nudged him. "Go on, Kafka really isn't too happy today. Just spend some time with her, hurry up."
Watching Su Qing walk away, Katherine initially felt somewhat disheartened. However, she suddenly wondered if Kafka might also experience similar situations in the future.
Su Qing clearly didn't view Kafka through any romantic lens.
At this thought, Katherine couldn't help but stifle a laugh, finding it amusing.
[Sparkle: Enjoying the moment.]
[March 7th: Beware of trolling invaders!]
[Sparkle, it's futile; trolls are everywhere.]
Not far from them,
Kafka raised her hand, aligning it with the moon. Her slender fingers allowed the pristine moonlight to stream between them.
As Su Qing approached, he gently took hold of her hand. With his broad palm, it was as if he captured even the moonlight along with hers.
After lowering her hand, Su Qing released his grip. "Let's go, it's time to head back."
"The movie?"
"Not tonight."
Kafka's beautiful eyes widened, showing surprise. "Really?"
"Really, Katherine went with someone else."
"Hmm..."
Kafka's expression barely changed; it was subtle, but this already indicated she was feeling quite content.
***
As the two figures disappeared into the night,
Katherine handed her movie tickets to a passing couple, saying, "Here, as part of a promotion - consider them a gift."
The couple exclaimed excitedly, "Oh, lucky us! Thank you!" "We were just planning to watch that film."
Katherine lingered by the seaside for a while longer.
Beneath her feet, waves crashed, carrying away a few grains of sand before futilely receding.
With one hand holding back her wind-blown golden hair, she gazed at the ocean, lost in thought.
[Seele: Sigh.]
[Bronya: Sigh.]
[Fu Xuan: Truly unfortunate. Throughout history, life seldom allows for having it all.]
[March 7th: I think Katherine is great - gentle and very empathetic.]
[Seele: Me too.]
[Black Swan: Katherine understands deeply. She knows how heavily Kafka relies on Su Qing, leaving little room for another person between them.]
[Himeko: More importantly, it's about Su Qing's feelings. His attention was clearly focused on Kafka all along—during meals, at the beach, constantly.]
[Black Swan: In that case, there's truly nothing to be done.]
[Himeko: Indeed.]
[Reading the insights from these two women, Seele suddenly had an epiphany.]
[Seele: Ah, I see now.]
[Seele: I didn't catch onto this earlier; I was wondering why Katherine gave up so easily.]
[Stelle: @Seele, this is the most character-consistent episode yet.]
[Seele: Ugh, shut up!]
[Firefly: @Kafka, what do you think about their analysis?]
[Kafka: It offers different perspectives. I never realized there was such a story behind those movie tickets.]
[March 7th: By the way, @Black Swan, how exactly did you enable us to watch these simulations? Even allowing us to view scenes when Su Qing wasn't present?]
[Black Swan: Through the special abilities of a Memokeeper.]
[March 7th: That's quite a versatile explanation.]
[Stelle: Indeed.]
[That evening, just as you were about to go to bed, you noticed Kafka following behind you.]
["What's wrong?" you asked.]
[Kafka didn't respond immediately.]
[Despite your repeated inquiries, she finally whispered that she wanted to sleep with you tonight.]
[Himeko: Growing up, but not quite yet.]
[Black Swan: Inside, she's still that little girl afraid of loneliness.]
[Black Swan: After what happened earlier today, she likely fears someone might take Su Qing away from her.]
[Slightly taken aback, you declined her request.]
[Seele: As expected of you.]
[You assumed she would return after being rejected. However, unexpectedly, the usually obedient Kafka showed unusual persistence this time.]
[You began to wonder if she had been having nightmares recently or if something was troubling her.]
[Sensing her uncharacteristic behavior, and after some thought, you agreed to her request.]
***
[Sharing a bed with someone else, even with the most familiar Kafka, felt uncomfortable to you.]
[To ease the situation, you initiated a conversation.]
[You asked, "Have you hugged the teddy bear we bought before since then?" ]
[Kafka: "...Occasionally."]
["In fact, whenever she couldn't sleep, she would hold her teddy bear close to her chest. Being your first gift to her, it brought her comfort."]
["Would you like me to fetch it?"]
["No need."]
[Today, there exists someone who provides even greater reassurance, naturally making the teddy bear unnecessary.]
[Stelle: Teddy Bear: So, love can indeed fade away, right?]
Despite feeling slightly uneasy, after Kafka fell asleep, you gradually succumbed to drowsiness as well and closed your eyes.
The night passed uneventfully.
Next morning:
Upon waking up, Su Qing felt his arm somewhat heavy and glanced sideways.
He noticed Kafka resting her head on his arm, her body gently curled up.
Her beautiful long purple hair cascaded loosely, draping over the pillow and his arm.
The loose white T-shirt had shifted slightly, revealing the graceful curve of her shoulder. Her soft chest rose and fell gently with each breath.
Underneath the blanket, it was warm, allowing him to sense her body heat.
She was very close, not only placing one hand on Su Qing's torso, clutching at his shirt, but also her slender legs touched him beneath the covers.
Kafka's sleeping face appeared peaceful and content, as if she were having a delightful dream.
Su Qing initially wanted to retract his hand but paused upon seeing this.
Maintaining his right arm stretched out, he decided to let her sleep a bit longer.
Su Qing gazed at the ceiling.
Faint patterns on it seemed, after staring for a while, like a monstrous creature ready to pounce...
Inducing an irresistible urge in him to throw a couple of punches.
[Stelle: hhh I'm dying laughing.]
[Seele: What a fascinating train of thought.]
After approximately twenty minutes,
Su Qing's arm started feeling numb, but he remained still, unwilling to disturb the girl's peaceful dreams beside him.
[March 7th: Oh no, seriously? I'm about to cry here! Su Qing always scores major points in these moments; even watching makes my heart flutter.]
[Firefly: (alert) Hmm?]
[Stelle: Meanwhile, in his mind, Su Qing has already engaged that monster in three hundred rounds of combat.]
[Stelle: With a powerful, focused punch from his right hand, he forces the beast into continuous retreat.]
[March 7th: Aaahh! Stelle, you're mean—don't ruin such a lovely atmosphere!]
[Himeko: (laughs) Little March seems quite smitten.]
[March 7th: No, I'm just considering this scene realistically...]
[Stelle: Their battle escalates into the sky, erasing even the paths they tread upon.]
[March 7th: @Stelle, shut up already!!]
[Kafka didn't send any comments; this perspective was new to her as well. She watched attentively, not missing any details.]
Suddenly, Su Qing noticed the breathing beside him becoming erratic.
Turning his head, he saw occasional flickers beneath Kafka's eyelids.
Her previously relaxed face now seemed somewhat uneasy.
[Seele: Pretending to sleep, huh? Time to get back to work!]
Su Qing observed Kafka for a moment, realizing she had no intention of waking up.
He then raised his left hand, extending it mischievously...
Gently, he took a strand of Kafka's hair and waved it near her nose.
"Achoo."
Unable to suppress it, the girl let out an adorable sneeze.
Perhaps thinking it was just a coincidence, she kept her eyes tightly closed and even shifted slightly, snuggling closer into Su Qing's arms.
[Stelle: Genius move!]
[Bronya: Too bad, you've already been caught.]
However, with the persistent tickling sensation, Kafka eventually couldn't resist. Sneakily opening her eyes a little, she looked around.
Just in time to meet Su Qing's gaze.
On the bed, their faces were extremely close, staring at each other silently for two seconds.
Then,
Su Qing's action: put down the hair, smiling contentedly.
Kafka's reaction: with a slight hint of reproach, she gently pushed against his chest.
[March 7th: Ha ha, her emotions are much livelier now.]
Su Qing withdrew his arm and sat up. "Come on, wake up. It's getting late."
"Mm..." Kafka murmured softly.
Kafka also sat up, seemingly anticipating something.
Su Qing instinctively patted her head.
[Head Pat skill has been upgraded, Lv1 → Lv2.]
Originally, Su Qing planned to pat Kafka's head as encouragement whenever she did well, fostering this habit in her.
But now, it felt like the roles had reversed.
Whenever Kafka displayed that expectant expression, he unconsciously raised his hand.
Su Qing found this somewhat peculiar. Could it be... I'm the one developing the habit instead?
Before setting out, as per routine, Su Qing helped comb Kafka's hair. He had become quite proficient and swift at it.
Kafka turned sideways, gently touched her single ponytail, and gave it a playful swing.
After ensuring everything was ready, she followed behind Su Qing, heading out for another day of work.
Upon arriving at the demon hunters' branch office, Su Qing and Kafka intended to check for any available missions.
However, just as they entered, a panting demon hunter rushed towards them. "There's... there's news about the demon you've been asking about! Someone witnessed it - right now, it's at... New Babylon in the eastern part of the city!"
Hearing this, both their expressions turned grave.
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