Souls Online: Mythic Ascension-Chapter 418: Love (?) Talk (I)

After everyone had changed into a set of pajamas, everyone reconvened back in the communal living room. Crystal had put her blindfold again as she had grown too used to it and she felt a little naked without it.

"This is a feast for my eyes~! Thank you ladies~!" Rachel remarked while clapping her hands together with a suspicious grin. Luna frowned as she crossed her arms in front of her chest as she glared at the monkey girl.

"What are you on about?" she growled while wearing a fuzzy white set of pajamas with a rabbit motif on them. They had been picked out by Lily who was wearing cat themed onesie.

"I think she was remarking how cute you look wearing that outfit~!" Lily remarked with a smile but Luna’s frown only deepened.

Even wearing a onesie, her best friends ’destructive power’ was clearly outlined. Glancing down at the ’wall’ she had to call her own only made Luna angrier. With a ’hmph’, Luna turned away from Lily.

Vivian scratched her head, having been reduced to wearing a button up shirt that she had taken from Ethan’s luggage as her horns prevented her from wearing regular shirts.

The shirt was also stretched as the buttons threatened pop off at any given moment. Seeing the level of firepower her potential rival had made Penny feel like a child when she compared her pink duck pajamas to Vivian’s grown up appeal.

Aria had a wry smile of her own as she wore a chemise because of her wings. While the outfit was not quite her cup of tea, she had to admit that it was comfortable to wear and made her look more mature.

Crystal’s attire was merely a tanktop and shorts but her healthy body and pale skin gave her both the appeal of a cold beauty and a tomboy.

However the one who was the most brazenly dressed was Rachel. Her short shorts and crop top accentuated her curves and showcased her toned body. If not for the faint blush on her face as she stole glances at the other girls bodies, she would be in contention for looking the most ’mature’.

Luna and Penny glanced at each other for a brief moment before wordlessly agreeing to sit next to each other as they recognized each other as ’kindred spirits.’

An awkward silence hung over the room. The only sounds were the faint hum of the heater and the soft rustle of fabric as someone shifted in their seat. No one quite knew what to do now that they were all gathered.

Vivian finally broke the silence with a thoughtful hum. "So... what exactly are we supposed to do at these things?"

Rachel perked up instantly, grinning as if she had been waiting for someone to ask that question. "Oh, that’s easy! This is the perfect chance to do girly stuff like braid each other’s hair, talk trash about boys, have a pillow fight, talk about romance, and make out wi—"

Her words were cut short by the sound of a pillow cutting through the air, followed by a sharp whump. The blow was so clean that Rachel’s head snapped back with a sound like a gunshot.

Luna stood there with crimson cheeks and murder in her eyes, gripping a second pillow like she intended to use it. "I’m not listening to your bullshit," she growled.

Rachel blinked a few times, a thin trickle of blood sliding from her nose. Yet instead of looking hurt or angry, she gave a blissful shudder and an expression that made Luna’s stomach drop. The monkey girl looked positively euphoric.

"That was... amazing," Rachel whispered, eyes half-lidded with a dazed grin.

Luna tightened her grip on the pillow. "Say another word and I’ll make sure the next one puts you to sleep."

Before Rachel could tempt fate, Aria stepped in with a gentle laugh. "Well, maybe not the make out part, but a talk about love could be fun." Her eyes drifted toward Penny, her smile warm and teasing. "Right, Penny?"

Penny froze like a deer caught in headlights. "W-What?L-Love?" Her entire face turned bright red as she tried to hide behind her duck-patterned sleeves.

Crystal chuckled quietly from her corner. "Smooth move, Aria. I think you broke her."

"I was only trying to help," Aria said with a helpless laugh, but even she couldn’t hide the amusement in her voice.

Rachel, still holding a tissue to her bleeding nose, gave a lazy grin. "See? This is exactly the kind of stuff I meant."

Luna’s second pillow twitched in her hand. "Say another word and I’ll test my aim again."

Rachel wisely kept her mouth shut, but the grin stayed.

Aria looked around the room before she came up with an idea.

"How about this? Why don’t we talk about which of the boys we like most right now and why. We won’t treat it as a confession of love or anything. Just positive feelings. That sound fair to everyone?"

Vivian tilted her head as she was a bit confused. Among the girls, she was the newest to the group so her interactions with the guys was definitely the most limited.

Arachne who had been quietly watching this from the side closed her book and spoke up with an amused look on her face.

"That sounds like a marvelous idea little songbird. How about you go first~?"

Aria hadn’t thought that far and being put on the spot made her realize that even this was embarrassing. Penny noticing Aria’s hesitation tried her best to quietly throw Arachne a discreet thumbs up.

’Auntie Arachne is the best!’

Rachel also found this more amusing than she had originally anticipated. She was quite curious as to which of the girls Aria was the most attracted to at that moment.

Aria frowned as two people came to mind: Adam and Leo. Adam had been the one to set her free from the birdcage but Leo was the one who had comforted her when she had felt down.

Trying her best to dodge the question, she stammered "O-On second thought, maybe not. They are all good guys, its hard to pick just one."

But Arachne was not about to let a source of amusement get away so easily.

"It’s okay. You can pick two then~!"

Aria’s mouth clamped shut as frustration washed over. For the first time in her life, she wanted to swear at a god.