ᖴOᖇᘜᗴᖇ'Տ ᗴᒪᗪᗴՏT

.31.

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"So many...FISHIES!" Anya gleamed and let out an enthusiastic cry as she saw the dimly lighted chamber full of gorgeous sea animals. 

As Olivia took in the magnificence of the panorama before her, she too gasped in astonishment. "Woah, how pretty." For the first time, she glanced around the aquarium with enthusiasm and a newfound fondness shining in her eyes. 

This was the first time she and Anya had ever seen a sight like this in person, having spent most of their entire lives in the lab. What a sight to behold indeed.

"An Octopus!"

"Starfish!"

"Tiny Shark!" 

Anya joyfully shook Olivia's hand at a fast speed, pointing out every animal that drew her attention. "Via-nee look at this one!" Olivia gladly trailed behind the hyperactive toddler, not even daring to disguise her amazement and intrigue. 

Yor watched the two girls playfully bounce around the room while she peered at them from some steps away. "They look like they're having fun." 

When her husband did not answer, she turned to him in question. "Loid?" 

She frowned at his appearance and furrowed her brows in concern. "You look quite pale. Are you all right?" No he was not. Loid gave off a very not alright vibe. Manz was on his last legs for real.

'In the end, I accepted the mission. But we did successfully show the neighbors how well we get along. As long as I can get through this separate mission...'

Olivia watched with concern for Loids' health as his breathing appeared to become a little heavy; just as she was ready to query about his health, their neighbors appeared directly in front of them. 

"Oh, if it isn't the Forgers from across the hall." Olivia couldn't help but feel disappointed upon seeing them. 'Bro, why are they here.' Her gaze shifted to the tiny child at her neighbor's side. 'Oh...couldn't you go somewhere else though?' 

"What a coincidence." While Yor seemed pleased to see their neighbors again. Loid? Not very much. He appeared to be in complete disbelief and had to take a step back. 'You cannot... be serious!'

Letting out a tsk, Loid faced his neighbors reluctantly. 'Now I definitely can't relax. Actually, we just need to shoo them off, and—'

"Would you like to join us?" 

Loid was quick to snap his neck towards his wife in betrayal. 'Yor!?!?!?' Unfortunately for Loid it seemed that a joint aquarium outing was agreed upon by their neighbors. He stared in disbelief as they walked on forward with Yor. 'They ask you how you are, and you just have to say you're fine when you're not really fine, but you just can't get into it, because they would never under— NO!'

Shaking his head from those thoughts, he stares at them with caution. 'If we want to appear normal, we need to keep up a good relationship with our neighbors..' Olivia gives a suppressed scoff as she studies her father's serious face. 'If you want to appear normal, you should stop monologuing during a conversation.' With a fake smile ever present there on his face, Loid joins in on the conversation. "Well, then. Why don't we check out the penguin exhibit? It appears to be the main attraction."

"Okay."

"Sure."

"I like penguins! I wanna see!"

"I wanna see how they flirt with rocks..."

As they were walking, they all stopped and turned to face Olivia. 

"???" 

Blinking at them, she noticed their expressions. "What? It's true! In an attempt to court female penguins, males give them rocks. When the girls and I broke into his dorm room, I read about it in Pretty Boys' book."

"..."

Immediately thereafter, there seemed to be more silence and curious looks.

"Pretty Boy...?"

"Broke in...?"

"Rocks...?"

Slightly flushed, she hurriedly gestured to the display in front of them, sensing Loid's stare. "Look, we're here! Wow!" Seeing penguins up close seems to divert the groups' focus from her to the adorable baby birds.

"P-P-P-Penguins!" Anya exclaimed as she gazed at the waddle of penguins living their best life. While most of the company was enthralled with the penguins, Olivia observed Loids fast and careful inspection of each individual penguin, almost as if he was searching for something in particular. 

Obviously, he hadn't found what he had been searching for, courtesy of the disturbed and slightly desperate flame that sometimes flared in his steel eyes. 

She could tell. 

Olivia sighed and shifted her concentration to the penguins. 'Might as well.' Now, two sets of blue eyes panned over the absurd number of penguins, but for what? Not entirely sure yet. Olivia's eye twitched with annoyance. 'Bro, what exactly am I looking for anyway?' 

Once more, her gaze roamed over them. 'Sleeping, waddling, gagging, flirting, gossipi-!' Hold on. 'Gagging!?' Her eyes rapidly swept back to the penguin by the water desperately trying to cough something up. She grinned. "Bingo."

She quickly jabbed Loid with her elbow, gesturing at the fish that was gagging. "Hey, do you think that penguin's good? It looks to be on the verge of death or something." 

Anya, having heard the penguin choking in her head, nodded in agreement. "That penguin looks like it can't breath..." Loid turns on his heels, considering what they have said he was quick to make the deduction. 

"I apologize. I'm going to buy some drinks real quick." Olivia shouted after the man, putting her hands cupped across her mouth. "I want a smoothie!" Anya perked up at the mention of the drink. 

"Me too!!"

When Loids figure could be seen no more, Olivia looked to Yor in the corner of her eye speaking with their neighbor. 

Taking the chance she lightly flicked Anya on the head, getting her attention. 'Let's go help, Anie.' Anya did not have to be told twice. Eagerly taking a hold of Olivia's outstretched hand, the two took off in a random direction.

_____________________________

For some reason my ability to dedicate this chapter wasn't working so tagging is the next best thing.

Originally I had planned to update next week, because I wanted to focus on a re-write I'm doing but when I checked my notification-

I saw the sweetest message and it encouraged me to just update now rather than later.

So this chapter or rather updates are dedicated and thanks to @IinaIina9 !! 

I want to say thank you so so much for your kind words and for liking this story, it really put a smile to my face. 

Made my day. Much Love ❤❤❤🤗💖