After the two finished dinner and were walking down the street, Mobius suddenly tugged at the corner of Xin Yu's clothes, a slightly sleepy expression on her face.
"Xin Yu, I'm a bit sleepy. Can you carry me on your back for a bit?"
"Ah? Looks like the first day of school is always rough."
Although Xin Yu didn't have strong memories of schooling, he did recall that the first day back after any break was always filled with suffering.
He crouched down, turning his back to Mobius. She didn't hesitate and wrapped her arms around him.
Xin Yu walked along, carrying Mobius on his back. He felt like an older brother carrying his younger sister. Although the future Mobius didn't look drastically different from the current one, their demeanors were vastly different. The future Mobius possessed a snake-like, bewitching charm, while the current Mobius, clearly not having experienced much yet, only had a touch of coldness born from her precocity and past experiences.
"Xin Yu... don't leave me."
Xin Yu heard Mobius's low murmur, like words spoken in a dream.
"You're all I have left."
Xin Yu stopped walking. Mobius's sudden words pierced his heart instantly.
He suddenly felt the girl on his back become heavy, not in the physical sense of weight, but an emotional burden.
He felt like he was carrying someone's entire life on his back.
When you save someone, becoming the sole ray of light and hope for a person in despair, that person will then desperately crave that light. Because for someone in darkness, that light is the only thing left.
Xin Yu didn't know why such simple words stirred such turmoil within him.
He started walking forward again. However, the various noisy sounds of the surroundings seemed to vanish at some point, as if sound itself inexplicably detoured around Xin Yu.
She smiled.
He knew.
He carried her, slowly meandering through the crowded streets, towards his new home.
That night, Xin Yu looked at Mobius, dressed in pajamas and lying on his bed. He put his hands on his hips and said with some resignation, "Your bed is in the other room, not here."
"I... I'm afraid I won't see you when I wake up."
Mobius sat up on the bed, hugging her knees, head bowed, and continued, "Xin Yu, your existence feels truly ethereal. You always give off the feeling that you'll leave in the next second. The abilities you show, the inhuman parts you display, all give the impression that you don't belong here. I'm really scared. Sometimes I'm afraid that if I just turn my head, you'll disappear and never appear in my life again."
"My mother died because of me. My father, even after being cured, could never accept me again. I have no relatives, no friends. Everyone in that small town treated me like a monster, like an ill omen."
"Back when I hadn't met you, I could ignore all that. I could firmly stride towards my goals, towards my dreams. No matter how harsh the storms or obstacles on the path, I could still persevere."
"But then, I met you. You saved me, pulling me out of that mire with an almost transcendent manner. I was like someone fumbling in the dark; no matter how bruised and battered I got from falling, I could always keep going because I was used to the darkness."
"But for someone accustomed to darkness, if they see a ray of light, how can they endure the darkness again?"
"Xin Yu... I only have you."
Xin Yu fell silent. He truly hadn't known that saving someone could lead to this situation. Could becoming a light in someone else's life really have such a profound impact?
"Xin Yu, I'm very smart. I possess intelligence far exceeding most people. I can help you. Even if you don't care about that, I'm also very pretty. I..."
Xin Yu walked forward and pulled Mobius, who was about to say more, into his embrace. He gently patted her back and spoke in the softest tone he had used so far.
"Don't worry. I'll stay with you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"You can't lie to a child, and you can't go back on your word, okay?"
"Okay."
"...Actually, some of the things I said earlier were intentional."
"I know."
"Actually, I wasn't asleep before. I said those things deliberately, just to secure a more important place in your heart."
"I know that too."
"...Don't you think it's terrifying for a little girl to do these things? Don't you think what I did was despicable, disgusting?"
"You just need my embrace."
"...Mm."
"Coincidentally, I need one too."
...
The next morning, Mobius woke from her sleep. Recalling her actions the previous night, which were practically indistinguishable from acting spoiled, she felt a bit embarrassed, but her goal had been achieved.
How do you capture someone who lacks security? Giving them a sense of security is a very correct answer, but it's difficult for the currently young Mobius.
Moreover, she didn't know him well; figuring out how to give him a sense of security was challenging.
So, the simplest, most direct method was naturally to turn herself into someone extremely insecure as well. This way, he wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her, and because he himself also lacked security, the sense of resonance between them could significantly boost his favorability towards her.
"Unfortunately, my current age is still too young. If I were already 15 or 16, I could have done everything last night. That way, I could have tied him down firmly."
Mobius couldn't help but say this with some regret. But perhaps this was also good. If she had met him when she was older, he probably would have turned and left without hesitation after saving her.
And her older, independent self probably wouldn't have developed much affection for him just because of that, possibly even viewing him merely as a valuable research subject.
So, their current encounter was at the most suitable time.
Also, only a child makes people feel uneasy about leaving them alone, right? And only a child can use their inherent advantage to snuggle into someone's arms.
And only a child's vulnerable words and expressions can more effectively lower someone's guard.
"What are you muttering about? Hurry up and finish breakfast, school is starting soon."
Xin Yu had appeared at the doorway at some unknown point.
"...You heard?"
"Actually, even from the kitchen, I could hear what you were saying."
"Don't you have anything to say?"
"Let's talk about it when you're older, little brat."
Mobius didn't feel any anger at being mocked as a child. Instead, her face held the charming and bewitching smile characteristic of the adult Mobius.
"You're the one who said it. I'll remember that."