The moment Luo You returned to the gym, the magical girls swarmed around her.
“Coach, what exactly did Lady Xingyue just say to you?” “Yeah, it seems like Lady Xingyue is really interested in you.”
“Big guts! You actually dare to pry into this kind of thing?”
The magical girls chattered excitedly.
Luo You shrugged and said, “Actually, it’s nothing much. Lady Xingyue just hopes that I get close to you all and interact well.”
“What’s there to worry about? Our relationship with Youyou is definitely fine~” “No one understands Youyou better than us!”
Tsk tsk.
Luo You couldn’t help but smile inwardly.
These magical girls were so naive!
Just don’t come crying later.
But Luo You didn’t forget her real purpose for being here as an external coach—
“Hey hey, what do you all think Lady Xingyue is like?” Luo You asked.
All she got were some tired, overused impressions.
Luo You pressed on, “Do you usually get to see Lady Xingyue?”
Qiuyu shook her head, “Not really. We’ve only seen her twice in a row since Youyou came.”
[Got it. Lady Xingyue rarely moves around Huahai City. Noted.]
Luo You uncovered an ambiguous piece of intel.
“Do you know what Lady Xingyue likes to eat or drink?”
The magical girls looked at each other, unsure.
Among them, Luo Zining’s closest friend and sworn sister—Mu Shui—covered her mouth and smirked, “Oh? Youyou, are you interested in Lady Xingyue? Otherwise, why ask about these things?”
“She’s definitely fallen for her!” someone chimed in.
Before Luo You could respond, Mu Shui added, “Don’t think it’s some secret or anything.
Actually, quite a few girls like Lady Xingyue. After all, she’s so perfect that everyone likes her.”
Luo You grimaced.
So that woman was attractive to both genders?
That wouldn’t do.
Isn’t that against my orientation?
But gathering intel was more important for now.
Luo You put on an embarrassed yet cute expression and whispered, “Uh… well… I’m just a little—bit curious.”
“Spill it!”
Luo You snapped in mock frustration.
“Hehe, Youyou is so cute~ Then let me, who served Lady Xingyue for a week, explain it to you!”
Mu Shui proudly straightened her back and said, “Recently, Lady Xingyue has been asking me to brew her honey tangerine tea. She especially loves drinking that.”
Luo You raised her eyebrows slightly.
That’s actually…
Could it be our compatibility is really high?
“And what else? What else?”
“She also likes pastries with a hint of alcohol.”
“Alcohol flavor?”
Luo You frowned.
Crap.
She can’t drink alcohol at all; one sip and the magical girls would immediately pounce on her, especially the Zayu.
If one day Lady Xingyue suddenly kissed me forcefully, wouldn’t I be facing a ‘Star Fury Ending’ for sure?
Better be careful…
“And what else? What else?”
“Emmm… there’s nothing more for now. But just knowing these two things should be enough for you to get close to Lady Xingyue, Youyou.”
“I see.”
Luo You frowned.
They were definitely holding something back.
But that was enough for today; pushing too hard wouldn’t do any good.
“Alright, that’s it for today…”
“Youyou!”
“Huh?”
Luo You looked toward the door again.
Who else could it be? How many people actually know me?
Turning her head, she found that the person who came was…
“Oh, it’s Zayu big sister.”
“Don’t call me that here!!”
Liyun said in a shy, annoyed whisper.
“Lady Liyun!”
All the magical girls present instantly stood up.
The Ten Seats were the figures all magical girls looked up to.
Even though Liyun had just resumed activity, she quickly regained her former prestige.
But Luo You was quite casual toward her.
“Big sister, what do you need from me?”
“I was just passing by when I happened to hear you giving a class here, so I came over to check.”
“Oh?”
Luo You’s eyes sparkled as she grabbed Liyun’s hand, “Big sister, let’s have a proper chat.”
“Eh eh!? Youyou, holding hands like this in public isn’t very appropriate, is it?”
Liyun whispered in Luo You’s ear.
Luo You looked at her with utter disdain.
[Holding hands in public embarrasses you? What if I put a collar on you and walk you around? Wouldn’t you die on the spot? The junior magical girls behind you don’t hesitate to smell my scent in public, you know.]
She pulled Liyun out of the room.
The magical girls outside resumed their chatter.
“As expected of Youyou, she has a good relationship with Lady Liyun too.”
“She even called Lady Liyun Zayu.”
“Hey! Could Youyou be some kind of big shot?”
“No idea. Lady Xingyue pays special attention to her, and Lady Liyun has a close connection with her. Could she be…?”
***
“Big sister, why did you come to find Lady Xingyue?”
“Asking right away?”
Liyun was taken aback by the question.
“Qiuli Paste, cut me some slack! Why do you always ask me about things I can’t say?”
“Hmph, even if you don’t say it, I know it’s about the Broken-Winged Butterfly, right?”
“Eh? Youyou, why—”
“Let’s just say my relationship with Lady Xingyue is good right now!”
Luo You said proudly.
“We’ve got that heart-tugging, mutual thing going on.”
“…What kind of relationship is “heart-tugging, mutual”?
Liyun wondered.
How strange.
“Alright… Yes, it’s indeed about the Broken-Winged Butterfly, but there are also all kinds of slanderous rumors online about the Ten Seats.”
Luo You tilted her head.
“Those aren’t rumors, right? Big sister, haven’t you been trained by Elira multiple times? And you play so wildly… The truth is even more ridiculous than the rumors.”
“Don’t say that!!”
Liyun covered her face in frustration.
It was true, but she absolutely couldn’t admit that in public!
“So, you came just to talk about these things?”
“Ah, of course not. I want to suggest to Lady Xingyue that we intervene in the upcoming duel between the Broken-Winged Butterfly and the Gray-Dark Witch. If she loses, the consequences will be severe.”
Oh… ho?
Luo You’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Intervene in my holy war with the Broken-Winged Butterfly?
No way, big sister.
You need to be corrected on this thought!
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Luo You said.
“Why?”
“Big sister, you told me before that Broken-Winged Butterfly really hates rumors, and Gray-Dark Witch is the culprit causing her to be so passive. So she must want to get through this on her own.”
“That makes some sense.”
Luo You pressed on.
“Don’t you trust the partner who’s been through life and death with you? You have to have faith in Broken-Winged Butterfly. She will definitely defeat Gray-Dark Witch Ariel. Believe in the bond between you two!”
“It’s not like that. I don’t have any bond with her.”
Liyun felt awkward. It was like listening to some failed art student giving a speech.
She and Broken-Winged Butterfly didn’t interact much; their personalities didn’t mesh, so there was no bond or no bond.
[Maybe Youyou is right. I should believe in her… After all, Broken-Winged Butterfly won’t lose to Ariel, right?]
After thinking it over, Liyun gave up on that idea.
“But Youyou, you don’t need to worry anyway, because Lady Xingyue doesn’t plan to intervene. I just thought it wasn’t right, so I came over.”
Luo You was a little shocked.
Lady Xingyue actually didn’t intend to intervene?
She suppressed her surprise and said, “See, Lady Xingyue’s awareness is different from yours. From the start, she believed in the bond between her and her partner.”
“Hmm… I think it’s not for that reason. She must have some other purpose… Well, I can’t guess. She always sees further than us… Huh? Youyou, why are you suddenly so close?”
Liyun noticed Luo You leaning in flirtatiously as she spoke in a sultry tone, blowing air softly, “Big sister~ Do you have anything else? Mind having a few drinks with me? I’m super~ Zayu when I drink.”
Liyun suddenly got on her toes.
“No, no! With the sea tides recently, I can’t stay away from the Nine Abyss Sea for too long. I’ll see you next time!”
“Ah! Big sister, don’t run! If you miss this chance, you’ll never get close to me again!”
“Ugh, I really can’t say more. I’ll make it up to you next time!” Liyun dashed away and disappeared in a flash.
“Tch!”
Zayu big sister is truly a Zayu for life. Luo You shook her head.
What exactly is Lady Xingyue plotting?
A little curious…
But it was too late to change the schedule now.
Tomorrow was the decisive battle with the Broken-Winged Butterfly.
She mustn’t underestimate it.
Broken-Winged Butterfly was formidable.
With only Gray-Dark Witch’s abilities, it would be tough to win.
Preparations were necessary.
Luo You returned home.
After much thought, she decided…
“Eating two fruits at the same time… would that be pushing it?”
Luo You stared at the two golden fruits before her, feeling conflicted.
The Miracle Method of the Unparalleled Sovereign allows one to borrow the abilities of someone with whom one shares a deep karmic bond, but during this period, the user’s personality gradually shifts toward that person’s.
For example, when using Akabane’s ability and acting as Gray-Dark Witch, much of her coldness wasn’t a façade; it came from her personality merging with Akabane’s. Being cold was an attribute of the Gray-Dark Witch herself.
Eating two fruits at once… theoretically possible, but Luo You feared ending up with a split personality.
Still, to secure a win against Broken-Winged Butterfly, she had to try!