"Neo-samaaaa!" Elsie whined, sinking deeper into bed, miserable expression on her face as she drew the covers tighter up around herself. Neo's eyebrows raised three centimeters. It wasn't much, but Sophia would've been able to pick it up clear as day.

"Th-the fact that they rose by three… M-means that Neo-sama is genuinely surprised by something! A rare thing indeed! But one must look at her mouth as well in order to determine the exact nature of her emotions."

In this case, Neo's lips twisted in a grimace. She was surprised by Elsie's uncharacteristically open behavior, for although it was no secret that she was a brat, she typically did not display like this, for fear of tarnishing her reputation. Her preferred approach was to act haughty, so she had an excuse to fight back and fight dirty, but not in a way that made her sound like, well, this.

But it is the sickness, no doubt, Neo thought, brow creasing slightly. Elsie's defenses were down, and so she was not thinking clearly.

"Are you in pain?" Neo demanded quietly, eyes flashing with sternness and worry as she crossed her arms. "No. Wait. Of course you're in pain. You're ill." Neo shook her head at herself, berating herself silently. "What are your needs? What can I fetch for you?" There. Better.

"You like me. Don't you?" Elsie pleaded, ignoring Neo's question in favor of her own. Or perhaps that was what she needed most in the moment: an answer. Her lower lip pushed out in a pout as her eyes glittered wetly.

For a second time, Neo was taken aback by the younger, smaller girl. But as she noticed Elsie's hands slowly tightening around her bedsheets again, the vocalist understood that Elsie was in little mood to be kept waiting. At least that much of her was normal.

"You have never given me reason to despise you," Neo at last said, choosing her words carefully. But even she realized what an unconfident answer this was, and then elaborated. Elsie was intelligent, observant, and hardworking. They may not have been close, or known one another well, but Neo still had plenty to draw on from the two years they'd already worked together. Then Elsie surprised Neo a third time.

"Noooo! That's not what I meeaant!" The sickness must've really been bad if even validation from Neo wasn't enough. No, that wasn't it. Neo just wasn't giving the type of validation Elsie was hoping for, asking for, so desperately wishing for… Honestly, Neo-sama! Aren't you supposed to be the cool one? Savvier than this? "I want to know… am I your favorite?"

"Favorite?"

"I know you're gonna visit Sophia and Weronika next," Elsie sighed, shoulders slumping in reluctant resignation. "But I want to know first; I'm your favorite of Abyssmare, right?" Weronika is a boorish, piggish ANIMAL and Sophia is…! Well, Sophia. "I am Abyssmare's second in command, and Neo-sama's right hand, after all, am I not?" she asked, though she seemed to be speaking more to herself than Neo.

The littlest Abyssmare member then coughed weakly, body betraying her, reminding her that her fanciful fantasies were only that. Noble as her desire was, she was useless now, both to Neo-sama and herself, and it was the worst feeling in the world. She couldn't impress Neo-sama. She couldn't even function! "For Elsie Largo to be so thoroughly incapacitated by a measly cold…!"

But Neo didn't see it that way. As far as her frank, matter-of-fact, clinical mind thought, Elsie was sick, therefore there was no expectation upon her to do anything but aid her body in its recovery, be it through rest or nutrition. That was all there was to it. At least until Elsie started talking. Then Neo slowly began to see that as weak as the flesh was, matters of the heart troubled Elsie's mind far more than sickness. It took time, both for Elsie to swallow her pride and Neo to stop taking everything she said so literally, but eventually they were able to get on the same page. Almost. For while Elsie was clearly thinking of Neo, and ONLY Neo, Neo herself was… thinking of… Lumina Ichihoshi.

ooo

Neo's hands tightened into fists without her realizing, her stomach tightening as well. Revulsion, understanding, and a flood of emotions the likes of which she didn't even have the names for washed over Neo all at once like a tide of raindrops.

"Awwww, I'm sorry, Neo-chaaannn!" Lumina teased. "It's just that, well, that… big sis is…! Is…! Getting kinda emotional over here!"

Neo couldn't tell—and didn't care—if the tear Lumina suddenly had to wipe from her golden eye was real or not. All the diva knew was that she was disgusted by the conduct of the other vocalist. She crossed her arms, offended that they shared anything in common. Especially a name.

No, Neo thought bitterly. Not even that! Just because Lumina claimed kinship with Neo didn't mean Neo accepted it. I am NOT Neo Ichihoshi! The mere thought of a name like that made her shudder in disgust. It was hard enough being forced to accept Lumina's mere existence.

MY mom's voice… in someone else… Having to share her parents' love, even though they were both gone. Her position in the family usurped by an inferior copy with the audacity to claim she was the superior one. There were many things AI could do that humans could not, but the inverse was also true. Lumina had some kind of nerve claiming to be the older sister over Neo when it was in no way true.

In literal years, Lumina was four. In programmed years, she was the same age as her unit-mates, which still made her a year younger than Neo. The only reason she tried to "get dibs" on being "big sis" was that it was a subtle dig, a powerplay. Lumina was the wiser, more mature one that Neo was supposed to model herself after. It made Neo's blood boil. It was as if she was being replaced! And yet, was it not Neo who called first?

"Oh, Neo, you're starting to reach out!" Lumina's left eye was gold, and her right black, but when she was truly excited, like then, they both glowed like suns. Maybe Neo was in doubt, but Lumina meant it when she said she was happy to speak with Neo again. I do my best to stay out of her way, give her space, leave her to lead her own life without my forced interference. But… I DO miss her…

It was not just their father's programming, that much Lumina knew. She wanteda sisterly relationship with Neo. Unfortunately, she seemed alone in that sentiment. She'd been in the middle of trying to explain this sisterly feeling to Neo only for Neo to recoil and slam her laptop shut. It hurt, admittedly, but Lumina understood. I made a mistake. Oh well, I stand by what I said. Don't worry, Neo, I'll still be here if you change your mind. But for now… Lumina turned her thoughts inward. I must allow her to come to these lessons in her own way, in her own time.

Even though the call was long over by then, Lumina spoke out into the dark ether of the internet one last time, before powering down for a while. "Do your best, Neo! I'm channeling all the good vibes and positive energies of the universe to you! Once you see it in a way you personally understand, I have no doubt you'll be the world's best, and universe's greatest, onee-chan!"

ooo

It seemed as though Lumina's decision to stand back—difficult as it was to make—was slowly paying off, in its own small way. Maybe Neo couldn't see Lumina as a sister, not yet at least, but perhaps someone she'd known a little longer and better felt like a safer place to start. And perhaps that someone was a girl who'd already looked up to her, literally and metaphorically, since the very first night they met… Though, just like now, Neo had no idea of any of it until the girl in question told her so. Maybe Neo wasn't as observant as everyone thought.

Elsie tended to agree with Neo on principle, and even in the few times she didn't, it never took Neo long to persuade Elsie to her opinion, whether she was trying to or not. In fact, the longer and longer Neo thought about it, aside from the obvious closeness and admiration that Elsie displayed, it even went as far as Elsie justifying Neo's actions for her so that Elsie could feel righteous in her continued support of the other woman. For example, any time Neo got too rough with Weronika, Elsie wrote it off as Weronika being a bad influence rather than Neo goading Weronika on.

And then Neo thought of the day in the boardgame café when she reminded Elsie and Sophia that Weronika was the only one who challenged her anymore. Elsie had replied that she wasn't stupid enough to pick fights with people she thought she couldn't win. It seemed to be an approach similar to the one she took with her father, for as Elsie told Neo, she spent her entire life hiding in his shadow, partially from him. It was strange, for even though he was one of her greatest sources of fear, he was also the one she always ran to first for protection and support. Until…

"You weren't intimidated by him in the slightest," Elsie recounted, amber eyes becoming wide and awed once more. "You're the only one I've ever met who was like that…" Even the other, rich, powerful businessmen that her Daddy worked with were scared of him. Not Neo. And then it became Elsie's life goal to please Neo, be useful to her, and make her proud and win her affection. She wanted to be just like "big sis" Neo-sama.

She really DOES idolize me… Neo breathed, understanding dawning slowly. I always knew, of course, but I suppose Sophia was always such a more extravagant case that Elsie was never as pronounced. No. Maybe it wasn't Sophia. And maybe it wasn't Elsie either. Maybe, for once, it was on Neo. Maybe she simply never cared enough to take time and take a second glance to see just how much Elsie hero-worshipped her.

Now she was scared that her sickness meant Neo wasn't going to be impressed by her anymore. To Elsie, the sickness of the heart hurt more than the sickness of the body. That was when Neo's stomach and hands tightened again, the same revulsion rushing through her as she felt after Lumina tried to talk to her about sisters. This time, though, it was all pointed inward. But there was something else too.

Intertwined with the disgust was a rush of gratitude and protectiveness for Elsie. Elsie always tried so hard to follow Neo's example in all things. Did not that mean Neo now had a duty to Elsie?

I suddenly wish to help her, look after her, take care of her. I wish to teach her all that she wishes to know. I wish to be there for her when she smiles, and I wish to be there for her when she hurts.

So, when Neo's hands and stomach tightened, it wasn't a purely uncomfortable feeling. Was this what it felt like…? To be… a sister…? The wave of revulsion came back, but when Neo looked at Elsie again, the revulsion receded into protectiveness once more. Elsie… Little… sister…? It was foreign to even think, but a tiny smile tugging at the corners of her lips, unbidden.

"Worry not, Elsie. You have been a faithful, loyal companion and comrade. I and Abyssmare are ever in debt to you, and it would not be the same without you here. I would want no other Abyssmare except the one in which you lead by my side as my most trusted second-in-command. There are no others worthy of that position except you." She rested an awkward hand atop silky white hair, silent question in her eyes. Is this ok…?

Elsie, meanwhile, gasped, gawking up at Neo with eyes so wide that Neo was finally certain damage would actually occur. Right before she could caution Elsie, however, Elsie gave an almost Sophia-like squeal of delight. "Oh, Neo-sama!" Then she flung her arms around Neo's waist.

Well, so long as she is happy… Neo's smile became even more awkward as she kept patting Elsie's head and shoulder while Elsie buried her face in Neo's side. She tried not to think too hard about how happy Lumina would be if she could see them right then, and she tried even harder not to think about how happy all of these thoughts made her.

AN: Latest AM story. Yall, I think Elsie REALLY wants to be Neo's fav lil sis. LOL!