“So, what did she say?”
After getting home, she was still pestering her for an answer.
“She didn’t say anything! How many times do I have to tell you? Not. A. Word!”
Pushing Su Yaqing onto the sofa, Lin Xiaojue huffed and tossed the bag over.
‘Honestly, why won’t she let this go?’
Su Yaqing must have heard her. A Magical Girl’s hearing wouldn’t be that poor; she was clearly just teasing her.
‘She’s so wicked.’
“I think it’s good to listen to suggestions with an open mind. The outfit the Clerk Lady recommended is quite nice.”
“I’m talking about you! You definitely heard her, didn’t you?”
“Hmph.”
Faced with Su Yaqing’s grinning expression, Lin Xiaojue felt an urge to swing her fists.
‘Though hitting her would probably feel like being scratched by a kitten.’
“Since we’ve bought all the ‘hardware,’ then… it’s time to…”
“Fine, I’ll change! Hey! Turn around! Don’t look at me!”
Led into the fitting room by Su Yaqing, Lin Xiaojue couldn’t help but press her snowy-white legs together in front of the mirror.
“Why are you holding your phone up?”
It was as if Su Yaqing’s face was a camera; the lens remained pointed right at her.
“Xiaojue still owes me ninety-nine times~”
She had almost forgotten that she’d accepted 100,000 yuan.
“So what do you want?”
‘Is she going to look at… that?’ Lin Xiaojue wrapped her arms around her chest, her reflection’s face already flushed for some reason.
“Hmm, just looking like this is enough for now. I’ll save ‘eating’ you for later.”
*Snap.*
A white light flashed, and Lin Xiaojue closed her eyes.
‘How shameful… Just thinking about my photo being on Su Yaqing’s phone is so embarrassing.’
“Thanks for the treat~ I’ll be back again.”
Su Yaqing walked away with a light step, while Lin Xiaojue stayed behind, changing her clothes with a heavy heart.
As she slipped on the skirt, a thought popped into her head.
‘She wouldn’t do that to my photo, would she…?’
The mere thought of someone doing that to her photo—especially when that someone was her teammate—made a chill of disgust surge through her.
‘Calm down. Su Yaqing isn’t that kind of person. She’s a Rich Young Lady, after all. How could she do something so improper?’
She straightened her collar. The girl in the mirror had a look that mixed British fashion with an anime aesthetic. If she just added a Scarf, the outfit would be perfect.
Fine, Lin Xiaojue had to admit she was becoming more and more concerned with her appearance.
“Whale Scarf~ Xia Yao’s Whale Scarf~”
*Rippp —*
“Oh no…”
Lin Xiaojue stuck out her tongue. The whale her Junior had given her had been stretched into a dead fish.
*Smack.*
She hadn’t been paying attention to the corner of the table.
“Aaah, why is there still saliva from when I kissed Yaqing on here?”
“So, I’m sorry, Xia Yao. I have to trouble you to mend my clothes again.”
When she handed over the Whale Scarf, Xia Yao’s eyes visibly brightened.
“It’s fine. I’m happy you’re willing to rely on me, Senior.” Clutching the Scarf, Xia Yao asked uncertainly, “Senior, was this really torn by the corner of a table?”
She turned her face away and lowered her head, her eyes flickering as if she had done something wrong.
“I’m sorry. I just wanted to ask…”
“It’s okay. It really was ruined by the table corner, so I’ll leave it to you, Xia Yao…”
Lin Xiaojue pressed her hands together and smiled, her golden eyes curving into crescents. She looked so dazzling in Xia Yao’s eyes.
“Eh? Has Xia Yao’s gift been delivered yet?”
A green-haired girl sitting upright on the sofa, holding a glass of juice in both hands, spoke with a look of surprise.
“Gu Xue, I’ll read the book you gave me too.”
“Then I’m truly grateful.”
Gu Xue swirled the juice in her glass and downed it in one go.
“Hey, Su Yaqing. Refill my juice and stir-fry some noodles for me.”
She commanded like a master, as if Su Yaqing were the servant.
“You jerk, do you really think this is your house?”
Su Yaqing snatched the juice. One would have thought she was going to smash it, but she actually refilled it.
Well, that was how childhood friends were.
Lin Xiaojue didn’t say much more. Su Yaqing and Gu Xue had known each other since elementary school.
After becoming Magical Girls, their paths crossed even more, as they fought over the same Residual Beast every day.
‘Those two really have a good relationship.’
In contrast…
Sakuragawa Iku hadn’t come today either. To find her, Murong Qiuyu and An Yuxi hadn’t even attended the gathering, only sending gifts.
“Um, Senior, I have to go too.”
Xia Yao glanced at the time and bowed to her.
“Leaving so soon? It’s only 8:00 PM.”
“I… I have to go back.”
Xia Yao clutched the Scarf in her arms, desperately wanting to verify something, but she didn’t say it.
“I’ll walk you out.”
Wrapping herself in a gray wool coat, Lin Xiaojue escorted Xia Yao all the way to the ground floor.
Standing before the entrance where light and shadow met, Xia Yao looked back. She really wanted to say something, but she held it in again.
Lin Xiaojue already had experience with this.
“Xia Yao, if there’s anything on your mind, just tell me. I’ll help you.”
Xia Yao pursed her lips, her bright eyes shimmering on her pale face.
“Senior, I…”
“What is it?”
Warmth spread through her hand; her Senior had gripped it tightly. It was so warm she didn’t want to let go.
A bright emotion was shining on her, trying to dispel the darkness. But the brighter it was, the more Xia Yao wanted to cover her eyes.
‘Maybe what I’m thinking will only cause her trouble.’
“It’s nothing. I’m going home. I’ll come to see you tomorrow too, Senior.”
Xia Yao forced a smile. She had practiced this expression many times so that no one would notice it was a bitter smile.
“Yeah. Mundi’s concert starts tomorrow. Make sure you remember to come, Xia Yao.”
“Speaking of which, what on earth is Iku doing? She promised we’d go to the concert together.”
The petite Senior was worrying about her teammate. Seeing her like this felt like happiness too.
‘This is enough.’
Xia Yao said her goodbyes and turned to walk into the depths of winter.
The winter wind continued to howl, scraping against her face with a dull pain like a knife, then slipping into her windpipe to sap her warmth again and again.
The buildings along the street were brightly lit, and the distance was tinged with a hazy blur, just like her Senior’s eyes.
She moved forward step by step as the lights gradually faded, vanishing into the icy darkness.
“But… why…?”
Xia Yao’s flowing black hair swayed in the wind. She checked the scent on the Scarf over and over again.
“Why…? It’s clearly Senior’s scent…”
The wind howled, burying her questions. After walking aimlessly for who knows how long, she arrived at the apartment, looking lost.
“Daughter, you’re finally home. Oh? Still clutching a Scarf? Is it for some sweetheart of yours?”
It wasn’t warm inside the house. Xia Yao’s father was a very frugal man who didn’t even turn on the heater in the winter.
“Ah… no.”
Denying it instinctively, Xia Yao threw out, “I’m going to rest,” then rushed into her room and locked herself in.
“That child…”
“I’ll go talk to her. A girl her age not getting married, and she won’t even say who she’s chasing.”
“It couldn’t be some punk, could it?”
“She wouldn’t dare! I’ll break her legs!”
There was no response after two knocks on the door. Xia Yao’s mother took out her phone and said earnestly:
“Xia Yao, I’ve found a few more. Tomorrow at 3:00 PM, go meet one of them. I’ve already made the arrangements.”
‘Tomorrow? Isn’t that when the concert is?’
“I have plans tomorrow.”
Xia Yao couldn’t think of an excuse. Her parents had always rejected those kinds of activities, so all she could do was try to shut down the conversation.
But the emotions outside the door were instantly ignited.
“What plans could you have tomorrow? Didn’t you say you took time off work? Xia Yao, listen to me.”
“You’re not that young anymore. If you don’t find someone now, how are you going to live your life alone later? We can’t stay with you forever.”
Xia Yao’s mother hammered on the door, her voice getting louder each time, yet it sounded muffled as if it were drowning in water.
After a long while, the knocking stopped.
“Either that or you bring someone home!”
The ultimatum had been delivered. Xia Yao hugged her knees and buried her head deep in the Scarf.
‘Senior’s scent is on it… and Senior Yaqing’s scent is on it too.’
‘Why…?’
She wanted to ask, but she was afraid of the answer.
The Confession Letter she had made for her Senior still lay on the desk.
*Buzz, buzz.*
Her phone vibrated. Xia Yao didn’t dare pick it up.
It was from her Senior.
*Buzz, buzz.*
After failing once, Lin Xiaojue didn’t give up and called a second time.
“Hello? Xia Yao, are you free tomorrow?”
Xia Yao answered after all. Finding a corner of the room far from the living room, she spoke as quietly as possible.
“But why hasn’t Xia Yao been replying?”
Xia Yao opened her messages. Her private chat had been flooded by her Senior.
“Xia Yao, you actually have something on your mind, don’t you? You’ve always been like this — keeping things bottled up inside instead of talking to others. You’ll really suffocate yourself if you keep going like that.”
“Like this — Ah, urgh!”
Lin Xiaojue made a ridiculous gagging sound. Xia Yao couldn’t help but let out a little laugh.
“See? You feel better now that you’ve laughed.”
“Yeah. Thank you, Senior.”
Looking at the letter on the desk again, Xia Yao tightened her grip on the Scarf.
“So you still didn’t say anything today, Xia Yao.”
“I really… it’s nothing.”
“So dishonest.”
“Eh?”
“How about this? Yaqing and I will pick you up tomorrow morning. We’re close by, anyway.”
“Senior, wait, in your current state…”
“Ah, don’t worry about it! I bought a helmet. Once I put it on, no one will recognize me.”
“It’s settled then!”
*Beep, beep…*
Before Xia Yao could refuse, Lin Xiaojue had already hung up.
“Why are you like this…?”
Her arm fell limply to her side. Her Senior’s voice echoed in her heart.
‘You’re too cunning, Senior.’