AD 2206, 6/21, 6th Hierarchical City of Yabiko – NOL Branch

Carl's mind and heart are racing as he stares at this Noel lookalike, this Lambda. Her hand held out to him; her eyes full of a guarded sort of curiosity as she stares into his eye. He feels the shock give way to a melancholic sense of guilt at the sight of those familiar features.

Almost on its own, Carl's hand twitches and slowly reaches for hers.

Lambda takes the hand, gently shaking it. "I didn't mean to startle you."

Carl numbly registers the words, then shakes his head. He needs to focus. Wallowing in his own guilt isn't going to solve anything. He meets Lambda's eyes. "I'm sorry, Miss Lambda, I didn't mean to stare."

Lambda hums, "It's understandable. Noel and I are sisters, so we look alike, don't we?"

Carl slowly nods. "That you do." He pauses, then sighs, "Kagura, what's going on?"

Kagura shrugs. "Lambda here thought it was time to finally get to know you."

Lambda nods. "I wanted to see what you were like." She glances at Kagura. "Mister Kagura was kind enough to invite me to do so." She returns her eyes to Carl. "Are you upset?"

Carl shakes his head once more. "No, just surprised." He hesitates. "I didn't expect any of Noel's family to reach out like this."

Lambda hums, "Why not? I've been curious about you for years, now."

Carl blinks. "Y-You have?"

Lambda nods. "Of course. You and Noel were friends once." She rises from her seat. "Carl, would you be willing to take a walk with me?"

Carl glances at Kagura questioningly.

Kagura merely smirks and shrugs.

Carl narrows his eye at him, huffing. He then turns back to Lambda and nods. "It would be my pleasure, Miss Lambda."

Lambda keeps Carl in the corner of her eye as they make their own way through the busy streets. He's quiet, but in a different way than she is. Whilst she prefers to not speak unless she really has something to say, he seems to be aloof, waiting on her every word before he carefully responds. It's… frustrating.

As Lambda is thinking over something to say to him, the smell of warm coffee hits her nose, and she glances west to see a small, friendly looking café. An idea strikes her.

Lambda looks to Carl and nods towards the café. "Would you like to stop for some coffee?"

Carl sips his coffee carefully as he tries to come up with something to say. Lambda is quiet, quieter than he is, even. It makes thinking of things to talk about very difficult for him, but he wants to try.

Lambda sighs, "Carl, do I make you uncomfortable?"

Carl pauses, considering. Her face, so similar to Noel's does indeed make his guilt swell. However, Lambda herself is nothing but courteous and patient with him. Gentle, in a way that few have been with him these past few years.

He hums, "It's not that, Miss Lambda. It's just…" He sighs, "You're a quiet sort of person, and I don't want to annoy you."

She blinks, then hums, "I don't think you'll annoy me." She sips her coffee. She continues, "I came here to get to know you because you seem like a good person."

Carl blinks. "Even after…?"

Lambda shrugs. "I don't hate you, and Noel tells me stories sometimes about her school days." She holds his eye. "You're very nice in all of them."

Carl glances away, then sighs, meeting her gaze with newfound determination. "What would you like to know?"

Lambda pauses, then nods. "Noel says you have a sister. What is she like?"

Carl beams. "Well, Ada is very polite and kind. She's always been there for me, and won't hesitate to help people, even if…" He trails off, a haunted expression growing on his face.

Lambda reaches out and squeezes his hand. "I heard about that. What does she like?"

Carl shakes his head slowly, frowning apologetically. He continues, "Ada likes a lot of things. She used to recite poetry a lot, and would always bake something if she felt bored."

Lambda hums, "She sounds nice. What kind of poetry does she recite."

Carl hesitates, then smiles hesitantly. "It's a bit… macabre."

Lambda stills, then blinks. "Oh."

Carl hurriedly continues, "B-But she's not a mean person! She's just… eccentric sometimes."

Lambda nods slowly. "Right. I've heard that she makes jokes that you laugh at sometimes."

Carl nods. "Oh yes, she does! A lot of the time it can seem mean, but she's just being playful."

Lambda smiles. "What else can you tell me?"

Lambda smiles as she looks up to the late afternoon sky. Now that she and Carl are on the same page, the day has swiftly passed them by. He's a good person, she can tell that much. Things are going so much better than what she'd been expecting.

She turns to Carl and hums, "So, you said that the Professor is looking after Ada now?"

He nods. "Yes. At least according to Kagura, she is." He sighs, "But I have to be ready to make sure that Kokonoe gives her back."

She smiles. "Ada is very lucky to have such a caring brother."

He flushes, glancing away. "I… Thank you, Miss Lambda."

A throat clears, and both blondes jolt and turn to see Makoto glaring at them.

Makoto huffs, "Lambda, how could you? You don't visit me on your way here and I find you galivanting around with some twink? Oh, my poor maiden heart!"

Makoto dramatically swoons and clutches at her breast.

Lambda sighs, "Sweetheart, please…" She glances bashfully at Carl with flushing cheeks. "We're in public…"

Makoto stomps her foot and cries, "Aw, such cold words towards your loving girlfriend!" She gazes at Lambda with faux tears. "However shall I recover from this?"

Lambda moans and covers her burning face as she strides to Makoto. She murmurs, "Makoto, please… This is…"

Makoto giggles as she pries away Lambda's hands. She coos, "Aw, you got so red~!"

Makoto kisses Lambda as Carl politely turns his head to stare at the wall.

Makoto gasps, "Mwah!" She then rubs her nose with the blushing Lambda's. "Now, c'mon, spill. Why didn't you tell me you were coming over?"

Lambda fidgets. "It was a… surprise…?"

Makoto hums, "Oh ho! I see, I see…" She turns her focus to Carl. "Carl, whatcha looking at?"

Carl nervously hums, "Just admiring the, uh, paint!"

Makoto snickers, "Oh? Is someone afraid of a little girl-on-g—?"

Lambda whines, "Makoto!"

Makoto laughs, "D'aw, you got even redder! How cute!" She pinches Lambda's cheek playfully, tail wagging at full speed. "Hey, Carl! Doesn't my girlfriend look cute?"

Carl groans, putting a hand over his face. This is so awkward, but so like Makoto.

Makoto rolls her eyes good-naturedly and smirks. "Well, anyways, I've got to catch up with her, so I hope you don't mind me stealing her from ya, Carl!"

Carl glances at Lambda, who, still blushing, nods to him.

Carl coughs into his fist and nods. "I-I think I'll be alright, Miss Makoto."

Makoto grins. "Thank ya much!" She then hefts Lambda on her shoulder, prompting a squeal. "See ya later, Carl!"

With that, the marital pair disappears around the corner of the building, leaving Carl by his lonesome. Carl sighs as he smiles and shakes his head. Makoto really hasn't changed since…

A hand clutches his shoulder. Hard.

He whirls around, ready to confront his assailant, when his eye widens.

Standing before him is another Noel double. This one has white hair and bandages over one eye. Her lone visible scarlet eye glares daggers into him. "Carl Clover, we need to talk."