"Ugh..."
Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!
Lying on her stomach on the sofa, Lumina stared at her phone, repeatedly kicking the cushions with her bare feet. It was unclear what she had seen, but she was clearly venting a growing sense of regret.
Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!
"Will you ever stop?"
"What on earth could possibly make you regret something this much?"
Herta finally stopped what she was doing and snapped at Lumina, bringing the noise to an abrupt halt.
Herta was usually extremely tolerant of Lumina. When the thumping first started, she hadn't planned on intervening, allowing Lumina to fill the office with the mind-numbing sound.
After all, how could a genius like Madam Herta possibly be distracted by a mere noise?
So, Herta had initially ignored Lumina's behavior, continuing to tinker with the Simulated Universe Device while the rhythmic thumping echoed in the background.
However... in the end, even a genius like Madam Herta found herself affected by the noise Lumina was making.
Herta couldn't help it. The sound of bare feet slapping the sofa and the sight of Lumina's small feet swaying in the air kept drawing her gaze, making it impossible to focus on her work.
Herta's decision to tell Lumina to stop wasn't because she hated the noise.
It was because... if Lumina continued making that sound with those movements, Herta feared that soon, she wouldn't be able to resist—wouldn't be able to suppress the desires stirring within her.
To prevent such a thing from happening, Herta decided to eliminate the source directly.
Losing control and being unable to suppress her desires were minor issues, hardly worth mentioning.
So, what was the major issue?
Without a doubt.
The major issue was Lumina witnessing her in that state—losing control, unable to suppress herself...
For Madam Herta, who desperately wanted to be Lumina's "big sister," this was a matter even more significant than joining the Genius Society or having an audience with Nous, the Aeon of Erudition!
Therefore, even if it meant snapping at Lumina, Herta had to eradicate the possibility of this happening at its root!!!
"It's March and Stelle's student photos."
Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!
Lumina paid Herta's scolding no mind. Her gaze remained fixed on her phone screen, her feet still swinging up and down, slapping against the sofa and creating a rhythmic thudding.
"Student photos?"
"March? Stelle?"
"How could they have student photos?"
Herta's brow furrowed at Lumina's words.
How could those two possibly have a 'student period'? One was frozen in ice, and the other was barely a year old. What kind of student life could they have had?
"They're currently temporary students at Penacony Paperfold University," Lumina replied, still lounging on the sofa without even glancing at Herta. She casually saved the photos from her phone screen.
"Penacony Paperfold University? What kind of university is that? Does such a place even exist?" Herta fell into deep thought, searching her vast mental database. She found no information whatsoever related to this "Paperfold University."
"Of course it exists. Madam Herta, given your status, a mere Paperfold University would naturally be beneath your notice. It's perfectly normal that you wouldn't know about it."
Perhaps because March 7th and Stelle's school uniforms were just too stunning, Lumina, upon hearing Herta's words, turned her phone screen toward her so she could see the picture.
Herta glanced sideways at the phone.
It was a group photo of the familiar pink-haired girl and the familiar gray-haired girl, both dressed in blue and white school uniforms. Honestly, Herta felt no interest whatsoever. She didn't find the photo particularly appealing.
"It's mediocre. Nothing special. I don't understand why you're so worked up over this," Herta commented dismissively after a quick look, preparing to avert her gaze.
But...
Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump! Thump, thump, thump!
As she watched Lumina's slender feet swing endlessly in the air before slapping against the sofa, Herta's gaze, which she had intended to withdraw, found itself stuck.
Herta tried to look away. She willed her eyes to move, urged them to break free, but they remained stubbornly fixed on Lumina's legs and feet—those beautiful limbs swinging rhythmically as she lay on the sofa, creating a series of clear, resonant thuds...
Perhaps fate smiled upon Madam Herta. After letting her look at the photo for a moment, Lumina pulled her phone back and refocused on the screen, completely oblivious to Herta's expression as she stared intently at her feet.
"Hey, Herta, Herta! You must have photos from your school days too, right? I want to see them!" Lumina exclaimed, saving the picture and suddenly struck by a new idea.
Unlike March 7th and Stelle, Herta had actually grown up from childhood.
Even as a genius, she must have had at least some schooling experience, right?
With this thought, Lumina lifted her head from the phone, still lying on the sofa, and looked up at Herta.
"Huh?"
"What's wrong with you?"
Seeing Herta's slightly awkward expression as she averted her gaze, refusing to meet her eyes, Lumina asked in confusion.
Then, her eyes darted from Herta to her own swinging feet. A glint of understanding lit up her gaze, and the corners of her mouth curved into a subtle smirk.
"Ah~"
Lumina's gaze returned to Herta. Her mouth formed a small "O," and a smug, mischievous grin spread across her face.
"My dear Madam Herta," she purred, "you didn't happen to see my movements and have a series of... indescribable thoughts about me, did you?"
"Huh? What are you talking about? I have no idea what you mean," Herta retorted, her heart clenching in panic. She frantically banished the various thoughts swirling in her mind.
Then, with incredible speed—in just a few hundredths of a second—she recalibrated. Caught between Lumina's teasing and her own formidable mental fortitude, Herta composed herself almost faster than the eye could see.
The awkwardness vanished, as did her averted gaze.
Herta crossed her arms, her expression now a mask of calm tinged with mild confusion, as if she truly didn't understand the meaning behind Lumina's words.
"What I mean is..."
"I've sent you the album. Look for yourself."
Knowing Herta's composure was just a fragile facade, ready to shatter at the slightest touch, Lumina's grin widened. She prepared to press her advantage.
But just as Lumina uttered a few words, before she could finish a complete sentence, Herta moved with blinding speed. In a blur of motion that left only an afterimage, she whipped out her phone, opened their chat, and sent over all her student-era photos in one go.
Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~ Ding-dong~
"Thank you so much, Madam Herta~" Lumina chirped as her phone chimed with the custom ringtone she'd set for Herta's "Special Group." She smiled sweetly, deciding to shelve her teasing for now. Opening their chat, she gazed at the entire album that had appeared. Her jade-green eyes sparkled with boundless anticipation and curiosity.
"I'll be sure to treasure these student photos of yours, Madam Herta~" she cooed.
"In fact, I'll admire them every single day..."
Herta: ...