Story Reader / Floating Record / ER03 Left Unsaid / Story
With the enemies out of the way, a retro-looking building can be seen at the end of a forest path.
Intricate tiles adorn the period stonework, framing the unique tall spire without making it unapproachable. Dark green and brown, a popular color combination during the Golden Age, cover the exterior.
Despite the building eventually being owned by Kurono as a shelter, it is apparent that the architect intended it to be a cozy resort.
A shelter... Who would Bambinata be now if she had not been adopted by her parents back then?
For the first time in a very long time, Vanessa tries to remember the first time she met Bambinata—
The carbon-fiber-made blinds rise automatically at two o'clock in the afternoon as programmed, allowing the bright but not blinking artificial sunlight into the living room.
Usually ending her afternoon nap at this hour, Vanessa has awoken already. Tidied up and dressed, Vanessa is sitting with her mother for a cup of child-friendly Latte at her mother's insistence.
She puts her porcelain cup back onto the saucer sternly, but the clanging porcelain does not draw the adults' attention as she hoped.
Frustrated, Vanessa leans on the sofa as she sits there, her feet dangling and kicking impatiently.
Why are you still on the sofa, Vanessa?
I don't want her in our home, Mother!
We're not talking about this again, Vanessa. Now, straighten your dress. They'll be here soon. Don't embarrass this family.
Father...
Come here, Vanessa.
Raymond straightens his collars to perfection in front of the mirror before bending down and helping Vanessa smoothen her dress.
Doesn't this look much better? Now, your mother talked to you about this a week ago, didn't she?
You should be happy about getting a younger sister soon. Not to mention that your sister is capable of... Just know that we're doing all of this for you.
It's time. We have to get to the entrance of the Residential District. They can't deliver inside.
Manners, Vanessa. Don't forget what I always teach you.
But I don't want a sister!
Don't you upset me right now, young lady.
Her mother's exquisite face immediately sinks. Afraid of looking up at her mother's face, Vanessa bites her lips nervously.
Time to go.
Realizing that she cannot change what is to come, the young child looks greatly displeased, but no amount of resentment will give her parents any pause. Eventually, she follows them to the "sister" she does not want.
Originally a colony ship, Babylonia did not have its Residential District designed with opulence in mind. After it became an ark, the district was further balanced between comfort and the number of homes it could provide.
But the researcher is still stunned by the holographic landscape and the automatic artificial sunlight. He never thought that there would be such disparity between the "simple lodgings" on the ship and on the surface.
Back to his senses, the researcher gulps right as the familiar faces appear behind the glass door that is beyond his status. He immediately taps the girl behind him, calling her attention away from the holographic pool.
It's been too long! It must have been a difficult journey!
How's it going? Is the research going well?
It's so-so. There hasn't been significant progress since you were gone, Petra, and there have only been more problems. This kid's amnesia, for example.
Do we have any internal data regarding this kind of M.I.N.D. symptoms?
We do, Doctor Raymond. I've backed up part of her research data. Everything's in the suitcase.
Stop spacing out, Bambinata. Here. These are your parents now.
The researcher drags Bambinata from behind him toward the two adults. With all the eyes on her, the girl acts like a tamed fawn.
Look at us, forgetting why we're here. You're Bambinata, aren't you?
Yes... Mother.
What a good girl. Here, this is your sister Nessa. Come on, Vanessa.
Having been hiding behind Petra and Raymond, Vanessa steps up unwillingly. She locks her head out of spite, refusing to look Bambinata in the eyes.
...Nessa...
Vanessa's annoyance is plain to see. Noticing how Bambinata almost falls back behind the researcher but chooses to stand her ground, Vanessa's gaze is even more disdainful.
Hmph.
Your sister might be a little bit tired, having just woken up from her nap.
Where are your manners, Vanessa? Say hi to Bambinata.
Vanessa turns her head away, begrudgingly grabbing Bambinata's hand and shaking it.
...Haha, kids, am I right? It's normal to be grumpy after being woken up from a nap.
So, Bambinata, you'll be living on Babylonia with your parents and your sister from now on. Not many people are as lucky as you, so behave, okay?
Bambinata will. Are you leaving?
I am. You don't have to come back for more experiments now.
Bambinata nods obediently, lowering her head right as she is about to cry, not showing any emotion regarding the researcher leaving.
Bambinata has always been the most well-behaved one. You don't have to worry about that, Doctor.
Feel free to contact me if there's any progress or questions regarding the research. We're all very excited to have an expert like you on the case.
As the adults begin to talk about business, Vanessa steals a glance at her "sister."
Her irritating braids, miserable expression, and tactless clothes... and yet Mother and Father are treating her with such kindness...
—How annoying. This obedience must be an act to steal Mother's and Father's attention away from me!
Ah! She's looking this way! How irritating. Stop looking at me!
Right. Do you mind taking a photo for us? We want to welcome Bambinata into the family.
Of course not. Right here?
How about this side? We can have something nicer as the backdrop. Come on, children.
Here, Bambinata. Stand before me.
Raymond gently smiles, reaching out with a hand patiently for the girl to react.
Bambinata stands before her father as she was told, adjusting her posture for the photo.
Petra pulls Vanessa next to Bambinata and squeezes Vanessa's shoulder, indicating her to look at the camera.
Everyone ready? Here we go. Three, two, one, smile—
Despite how unwilling Vanessa is, there is no way she can stop Bambinata from becoming part of her family.
Raymond and Petra stay home way more than usual for the week after that, but they are always spending their time with Bambinata during the day.
Vanessa watches them through the door secretly and sees Raymond gently unplugging cables from the back of Bambinata's head before Petra pats and compliments her. Vanessa has never seen her mother smiling like that.
Between the days spent in the laboratory and the nights spent in the home shared by the four of them, Vanessa has been getting reprimanded for her increasingly petulant behavior.
Raymond and Petra are overjoyed at the progress of the research, and Bambinata's cooperation has only made the process easier.
The excitement of tackling an unsolved mystery in their field has kept them fully occupied, to the extent that they are unaware of the crack forming beyond their scientific research.
Smack—
Hey! Who let you replace the photo of me and my parents?!
Vanessa steps into the living room to find Bambinata placing the photo of the four of them on the coffee table.
The original family photo without Bambinata is nowhere to be found.
Furious, Vanessa shoves the new photo into Bambinata's arms, and the photo frame drops onto the hard floor, the glass shattering into pieces.
Bambinata falls from the force of Vanessa's push, and she looks up at Vanessa helplessly. Seeing Bambinata's annoyingly pitiful expression, Vanessa repeats her question.
I asked you a question! Who let you replace the photo of me and my parents?!
Mother told Bambinata to put the new photo here... so...
Listen! I never agreed to you being my sister! You are not stealing Mother and Father away from me!
Who would want to be an obedient puppet like you? Mother and Father are simply fooled by your act!
...I hate you!
How did Bambinata look back then? Shocked? Helpless? So puny that she almost cried?
Vanessa tries to piece together how Bambinata looked back then, but something does not seem to line up.
Hey, wake up!
We're here, so stop daydreaming. Is there a single sensible person in Egret?
Vanessa immediately takes out her terminal to confirm their coordination while trying to push away the untimely flashback.
I was just calculating the risks. Guess who's staying back when there's an emergency?
Hey, Bambinata. Your mistress called.
Mistress?
...Enough. Avoid the front door and inspect the interior from that window first.
Vera chuckles, seeing Vanessa flustered, and she leads the way toward the broken glass window.
