"Though Kiana doesn't like it when we openly scheme against each other, a little friendly competition now and then should be fine."
"So!"
"If they're covering for each other, helping each other out, or even forming alliances to move forward together..."
"While we're still here bickering and playing our own separate games, wouldn't that put us at a disadvantage?"
Elysia's concern wasn't entirely unfounded.
She'd even admitted that she and Eden had formed something of an alliance.
But what she wanted most, of course, was Jyahnar.
Because both she and Jyahnar were particularly special to Kiana. You could say their personalities clashed, but you could also say they were two of a kind.
Precisely because they were similar, they were almost like sisters.
If even they couldn't help each other and stick together, wouldn't that be wasting a huge advantage when facing the others?
To Elysia, Jyahnar seemed incredibly naive.
Everything Jyahnar was doing now—whether it was staying in her true form, clinging to Kiana, or acting spoiled while following her own pace—screamed 'lovable loser.'
She wanted to give Jyahnar a hand.
Normally, they were like a bickering pair, always squabbling, but they'd still built some rapport.
Elysia loved sticking to Jyahnar, teasing her, but she absolutely didn't want to see Jyahnar break down crying and throwing a fit if she lost.
So!
She would become Jyahnar's teacher.
It was also a way to slowly plant a few ideas in Jyahnar's mind.
To boost her competitive edge.
Even if Jyahnar refused to ally with her, it was fine.
Though reluctant, Elysia understood clearly that she couldn't have Kiana all to herself. She never could.
"Does it seem strange to you?"
Elysia noticed Jyahnar staring blankly at her, seeming a little confused.
She couldn't help but speak openly.
"Just like how Kiana doesn't like us fighting, but she doesn't reject a little rivalry either. Everything needs to have its limits."
"As for me... I get jealous too, and I want Kiana to belong to me alone. But that's just not possible~"
"She isn't our toy. She has her own thoughts."
"Aren't you the same? Even if you cling to Kiana all the time, she'll still go find other girls. You can't stop that."
Jyahnar listened quietly.
Elysia continued in a gentle voice.
"The squeaky wheel gets the grease."
"Sometimes, my jealousy, or my bickering with you—it's all just part of the fun."
"But both you and I need to understand that a little complaining, a little acting spoiled, is fine. But if we restrict her too much, we'll only push her further away~"
She added, "I've made that mistake myself before."
"So! I don't want you to go down that path."
"To me, you feel like a little sister."
"Even if we usually get on each other's nerves, it doesn't matter. When it counts, we can trust each other, right?"
Jyahnar fell silent for a moment.
Then.
She shifted from her manta ray form into her human shape.
Her delicate jade-like feet touched the ground directly as she tilted her head up slightly to look at Elysia.
Over there, Kiana also seemed to be paying attention to them.
She wasn't eavesdropping, but seeing Jyahnar take her human form again did surprise her.
Jyahnar was even looking at Elysia with what seemed like contemplation, consideration—not as willful or hostile as before. It was hard to tell how Elysia had managed it.
Without realizing it, Kiana began to smile.
Maybe it would be better to leave Jyahnar in Elysia's care?
Their relationship might improve as well.
Yes!
Eden had seen right through her.
So, Eden had told Elysia all this.
After all, no matter what, Eden wanted her beloved Elysia to keep up, to not fall behind or get eliminated early from the race.
Even with Elysia's natural advantages making that unlikely...
She was still more than willing to lend a hand.
And now!
Elysia had realized something. Following her heart, she also wanted to help Jyahnar.
Since what Kiana loved most was seeing the girls get along harmoniously, with just an occasional mischievous act or complaint to make Kiana a little nervous—like a small flirtation—
Then, Elysia wasn't exactly unwilling to play along~
In fact, she should be the most accepting of this arrangement!
Since she couldn't have Kiana all to herself...
Then she would have Kiana, and she would have all of Kiana's harem too.
That had been her plan from the very beginning.
It was only later that she'd grown a bit possessive, especially after Jyahnar's appearance had shaken her up and made her anxious.
But now that she'd accepted reality, she was even more willing to wander among the flowers, helping Kiana manage the harem dynamics she wasn't good at handling.
This situation with Jyahnar...was just the first attempt.
True to form, she lacked no courage and was ready to take that first bold step.
The past was the past.
Now, was now!
Precisely because she had nothing to fear...
There was no need to hesitate.
This wasn't like facing Kiana directly or dealing with something critically important concerning her.
Even if Jyahnar refused...
Elysia wouldn't hold it against her.
She'd dote on her instead.
She firmly believed no one could resist Miss Pink Elf™.
Everyone would become friends in the end.
"Can... I really trust you?" Jyahnar could sense Elysia's sincerity.
Even if she didn't fully understand it yet, after listening to Elysia's words and thinking it over seriously, she felt herself yielding a little.
Don't think it was too sudden.
After all, ever since Jyahnar had come to this household, Elysia had been teasing her daily.
Though she complained with her words, her expressions, and even in her heart she wasn't that opposed.
She was just being stubborn.
She thought of Elysia as her enemy, her rival! She couldn't give her a friendly look.
But what Elysia said made so much sense.
If she could overlook the others...
Why couldn't she do the same for Elysia?
Having overlapping traits could mean they were redundant characters. Rivals!
But it could also mean they were sisters. And sisters together had a greater advantage!
"Anyway, I've figured it out now! I don't mind sharing Kiana's bed with you."
Elysia said bluntly, without any subtlety.
She smiled playfully.
"How about you? What do you think?"
As if remembering something, she brought up a more practical matter.
"You saw those exposure videos on the Sky Screen, right? The recordings."
"Yeah..." Though they were bootleg copies, it didn't matter—they had all the necessary information.
"So, all together, there are nearly two hundred people in that harem. It's not just the few we see now, and not just those from our main world... right?"
"Yeah..."
Elysia continued persuading gently.
She turned Jyahnar around, their backs to Kiana, and draped an arm over her shoulder.
Like close sisters sharing secrets, intimate and familiar.
--+--
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