Chapter 23: Joining Formally

It's a brand new day, I'll have to talk to Mobius about setting me up a private training ground. She'll agree for sure, at least she'll be the one monitoring me. Mobius will be a big help until I can be untouchable. Tsk fucking politics are a pain in the ass, anyways, I need to shape up the three would be new recruits.

I messaged them that we'll meet up in 2 hours, I'll talk to Mei and Mobius first. I went to Mei's room and knocked. Nobody answered, I'm sure she's in there though, I can hear a retractable pen being clicked. So I knocked again and noticed it's unlocked "Mei, I'm coming in."

I went in and saw her just staring at her book and clicking her pen like clockwork. I touched her shoulder gently so I won't startle her. "Mei, that's unusual of you. Getting absent minded in front of a book."

She flinched a bit and slowly looked towards me "Hah, I just have some things bothering me for a bit Ein, don't worry."

Ein: "I see, you're agonizing on something you mean?" I quickly sent Kevin a quick message so he'll come here.

Mei: "I don't know, it's been a rough couple of days you know? Stress might have been a catching up to me."

Ein: "Well, we all have those kinds of days. But it isn't quite like that is it?"

Mei: "Yes, it's eating on my mind. At first, I was quite shocked and I wanted to go get them to safety but now that I think about it... I can't cry about it."

We went silent for a bit "Do you regret it? Not being able to get your parents to safety?"

Mei: "Sadly, no. We had to escape quickly or we'll get overrun immediately. And that's what's been bothering me Ein. They're my parents I should be mourning right now, crying my heart out! Why don't I feel sad? I felt scared for them for a while but I just can't miss them!" Ein just kept quiet.

Kevin then entered the room and noticed the somber mood immediately. "This is about the ones we left at Nagazora huh?" He then sat beside her and hugged her tight. "It's okay Mei, we're here for you. What's important is we're alive to see another day."

Mei grit her teeth and pushed him forcefully. "This isn't just about leaving them Kevin! I don't feel for them! It's like I don't care when they were left behind to die! And I'm scared... What if this is what I'm really like? What if you guys just disappeared one day and I won't care. Are my emotions even real? Is out relationship even real for me?"

Ein sighed and shook his head "Mei, do you even hear yourself right now? I know it's scary because you don't understand and you think it's not normal. But I'm gonna be honest with you. You were a neglected child Mei, well taken care of, but that isn't the point. When we were kids you've probably been with my parents more than your own, eaten with them, played with them, conversed with them."

I then rummaged through her desk and took out our gift for her back then. "When you see our memories together. What do you feel?"

Mei looked at it and went silent. "I, I don't know."

I took a lighter out from my inventory and slowly let the flame go near to it. She then froze and suddenly bolted up "No! That's mine!" She hugged it with all her might.

"I think that's your answer Mei." I pat her head.

Kevin grasped her shoulders and looked her in the eye. "You'll be down for a few days, months even Mei. But that's why we're here aren't we? I'm not mature and smart enough to give you some kind of sagely advice, but I sure as hell will be by your side always. That's why I decided to be here at MOTH, even as a soldier."

I nodded "Your concerns are valid Mei, you're still young after all. You'll understand later when you reflect on this day. You might be a genius, but everyone has their troubles." I then tapped lover boy on the shoulder. "Kevin, cheer her up okay? You're exempted on training for today. Go and relax, the both of you." I gave a thumbs up to him.

Mei internalized our words for a bit "Thank you Ein, Kevin. Maybe you're right Ein, I always envied you back then because your parents were always there for you and they made the effort to be with you. But as time went on, I just came to enjoy being at your place. Say hi to them for me alright? I haven't seen them for some time."

Kevin: "Say hi to them for me as well. They treated us very nicely when we went for a vacation

I nodded and smiled at her "I'll be sure to tell them, we haven't seen them in a few months after all. They'll be excited to know that we're at MOTH now." I then left the two of them to their own devices.

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I walked to the hill leisurely as I sat on the little seedling I planted and just basked on the atmosphere. "Hey mom, dad. Mei and Kevin said hi. I haven't introduced you to Himeko and Elysia by the way. They're quite the pleasant ladies to be with, I'm sure you'll like them mom."

"Elysia is a beautiful and bubbly girl that enjoys life to the fullest. She enjoys everything genuinely, she's sensitive and kind. Has a mean streak in trying to tease everyone though."

"Himeko, she's quite strict and stoic. She's a realist and I quite admire her maturity at her age. She's quiet and quite different from Elysia, although she's a softie that likes cute things."

"Oh, we're now officially junior researchers here in MOTH too, our senior Mobius kinda unnerves Mei but I think she's just misunderstood. She has that mad scientist vibe, maybe you guys know her? She is too young to be at her position so she's undoubtedly a genius too. I'll get along with her I think, it's really easy to know what she wants after all. Unlike the scheming types."

"I got to get going, I have to set some things up after all. Hah, no rest for the wicked as they say." He stood up and looked at the seedling for a bit. "I guess I'll see you later... I'll be on my way." He walked away as the wind blew softly.

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Ein is now currently in front of Mobius' lab. "Dr. Mobius!? I need some things from you." He then entered the lab and saw her glued to her computer again.

She looked at me quietly "What do you need? I'm quite busy here as you can see."

Ein: "I need an underground private training room, some weights that are dense that can help me increase my strength. If need to be I can pay for it, I just need some place to hone myself."

Mobius nodded "Sure, it'll be done in a few weeks at most. I'm very interested on what your limits will be." She squinted her eyes.

Ein: "Thanks Mobius, as for my limits? Who knows? I can see it in your eyes though, you just want to bolt me to a table and look at everything. I'm sure you'll find something interesting, but most I can give you are some samples."

Mobius grinned widely clearly excited "That's enough, for now. You did say that it might be possible on the 3rd date? Did you not? I expect an interesting one though, you won't disappoint will you?"

Ein grinned at her as well "I have something up my sleeves for you Mobius, and yes, you can't examine me thoroughly for now. I have a proposition already for our 1st little date though."

Mobius raised a brow "Hoh, and what might that be? This should be interesting, coming from you."

Ein: "Get a sample of my cells and test honkai energy on it. I'm sure you'll be surprised, after you get some data on that, I'll let you know an idea I have.

Mobius' eyes widened. Is his cells resistant to honkai energy or something? How does he even know that she thought. No matter, this will surely be enjoyable. "I see, now give me a sample! I'll contact you after I've done some tests on it."

She then peeled a bit of tissue on my arm using a device that was kinda like a mandolin. It was a bit freaky honestly, I felt like I was cheese or something. She then put it on a petri dish and put it away carefully inside a refrigerated compartment.

"Contact me later, I hope our little get together later will be successful." I smirked at her then left. I need to meet Elysia and Himeko now, gotta shape them up.

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When I arrived at the place where they'll train, I saw Himeko staring at Elysia like she was a piece of meat.

Elysia: "Come on Hime-chan! I said I'm sorry! Forgive me please? I'll tell you some of my kinks too okay?"

Himeko just stared at her while her hands were in front of her like a statue.

I clapped and got their attention. "Guys, Kevin has something important to do. He's better at this too as he'd been trained by me from when we were kids so that's that."

Elysia ran to me and grasped onto my arm trying to pull me. "Ein! Himeko is angry at me. What should I do? You'll pacify her for me right? Please?" She did the legendary puppy dog eyes. Too bad, I grew up using it.

I shake my head at her antics "You'll be getting your just desserts Ellie. Now get in position and let her beat you up."

Elysia clicked her tongue "Tch, you're a tough opponent Ein. Watch yourself, my cuteness will prevail." As she slowly walked in front of Himeko.

"Alright, you guys will be sparring, no debilitating blows and first one that gives up will be the loser."

Himeko nodded at me and assumed a judo stance. Elysia just gulped and bent her knees with poor posture. I looked at them both and nodded "Start!" Himeko dashed to Elysia wanting to get up close and personal. Elysia braced herself and threw a slow and sloppy haymaker. Himeko quickly caught it and put her right foot under Elysia and did an uchi mata as she threw her down at the ground hard.

"Stop! You okay Elysia?" She just stared on the ceiling for a bit and nodded at me. Himeko then squinted her eyes at her. "Hmph! That'll teach you to get overboard again!"

Elysia stood up "Hehe~ Sorry Hime-chan, I just couldn't resist you see? I told you I'll share some of my kinks too~" I sigh again as she clearly didn't learn anything. "Ellie, take this seriously. Or I'll have to up your training for quite a bit. Not that you have any say anyway."

Elysia pouted and hugged Himeko "Mou~ Ein is bullying me Hime-chan! Don't you like that? Can't you take my place?"

Himeko's brow twitched as she hit her on the head "Shut up Elysia! Let's go and train. We'll need to be fit for MOTH to accept us."

I nod and tapped them on the shoulders "Hime's right Elysia, now I think we need to work on your stamina. You need to carry a lot after all if you're a soldier, and we'll be walking a lot in missions. Cardio and calisthenics are our first priority before I teach you how to fight. Come on chop chop, run 20 laps."

Elysia groaned and started running with Himeko. I caught up to them and jogged at Himeko's side. "Good job Himeko, you held back against Elysia. I'll give you a big plushie of that pikachu wannabe."

She was confused at pikachu at first, but quickly got excited because she remembered the one I got her on the crane game. "Un, thanks! Elysia isn't really a bad person. She just went overboard."

I laughed "Well, get used to it as she won't change anytime soon." We then continued exercising for the approaching enlistment.

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After a few weeks of training, Elysia can now easily clear the PFT's that I saw for being a soldier at MOTH. Well, she wasn't lying when she said she was fit. The three of them passed with flying colors and will be sent to boot camp.

I decided to enter as well so I won't be too suspicious just being in a squad almost instantly when I just came here and I'm young too. I can be in a squad with Kevin too so that's a plus, nothing a little talking to Mobius with can't change. I won't coddle them though, this is a path filled with thorns. Being their knight in shining armor will come to bite them in the ass later.

Mei was still a bit out of it but she's out of her funk now. Reviewing everything that MOTH has researched about and is back to her normal self.

Speaking of Mobius, she wants to see me immediately after I congratulated the three for a job well done. I guess she's quite excited about her findings huh? I walked to her lab again and I'll tell her a specific experiment I want to do.

"Mobius, I've come to bargain." I looked at her seriously.

Mobius: "What?" She raised a brow sensing my serious aura.

Ein: "Nothing, I just wanted to say that. So what did you find?"

Mobius stared at me for a second "Okay... Anyways, I've injected some honkai energy in your cells and it was honestly amazing! Their honkai resistance is high and they needed a lot of it before they started to get corrupted. They can survive in harsh environmental conditions too! Although they are quite malignant as they change the make up of surrounding cells. when I've tried to integrate them in other organisms, they die almost instantly, as their bodies can't keep up with the changes."

So my cells are malignant to others huh? Kinda like hashirama cells or something. I still need regeneration though. "I see, are you satisfied with your findings?"

She grinned at me and laughed "Yeeees, it is very interesting. I'm tempted to just keep you here in my lab to unravel your every secret."

Ein: "Well, I think you'll like our 1st date. You have the data about how much honkai energy my cells can take right? Let's test it a few more times in a controlled environment. If the results are consistent, I want you to inject me with honkai energy."

Mobius was shocked, honkai is quite volatile after all. Injecting it to organisms always result in mutations and then certain death. "I see, you really outdid yourself for our 1st get together Einheri." She licked her lips and her eyes had a trace of insanity.

I shrug "What can I say? I told you I had a trick up my sleeves."

She laughed and stood up "You and me will get along just right." She caressed my chest. "I can't wait for the other things you might have in surprise for me."

I gave her a flashdrive with relevant data about my body that I've found over the years. "You'll find a lot in this flashdrive. I hope you'll enjoy."

She put it in her pocket carefully and smiled mischievously. "You sure know how to make a woman happy. I'll surely deliver on paying you back for these oh so generous gifts."

I nod at her "Then you'll be glad to know that there's plenty more where that came from. I'd imagine you'll be quite satisfied with me around." He then left an excited Mobius that will surely be busy.

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Thanks for reading guys! I'm quite surprised that my work is this successful already. It's still a few days old after all. So thank you for the support!