Mu Yurou stood in front of the familiar apartment door, raising her hand to gently knock.
“Knock, knock, knock—”
The crisp knocking echoed through the quiet morning hallway.
Yet, inside, there was only silence.
She waited patiently for a while before hearing hurried footsteps and the sound of a lock turning from within.
“Click.”
The door opened just a crack.
Mu Xi appeared behind the door, her silver hair slightly messy, cheeks still faintly flushed, and her eyes showing a subtle trace of panic.
“Xiaorou?”
Her voice was hoarse and surprised from just opening the door.
“Good morning, sister!”
Mu Yurou smiled brightly, looking at her dearest sister.
Mu Xi stepped aside to let her in.
Only after her sister entered the brightly lit living room did Mu Xi notice the paper bag Mu Yurou carried, printed with the logo of a breakfast shop.
The bag’s opening was slightly ajar, releasing the warm aroma of food—the familiar scent of meat buns and rice porridge.
“How did you know I hadn’t…”
Mu Xi was surprised, her words trailing off.
“You always wake up around this time, sis.”
Mu Yurou expertly placed the bag on the dining table, opening it as she spoke with a tone of affectionate teasing, “How could I not know you? You probably didn’t eat breakfast properly again.”
She took out the contents: four plump, steaming meat buns, and two plastic bowls filled with golden, thick millet porridge.
“What made you think of coming to see me?”
Mu Xi smiled, pulling out a chair and sitting down, picking up a bun—the warmth transferring through the paper to her fingertips.
“I heard that sister has been taking care of me at the hospital.”
Mu Yurou sat down as well, holding a bowl of porridge and blowing gently, “And…,” she glanced up at Mu Xi with concern, “…it seems like you’ve had something troubling you these past few days? So I thought I’d come keep you company and have breakfast together.”
Troubling?
Mu Xi’s bite on the bun faltered slightly.
Indeed, there was… a huge problem weighing on her.
But how could she tell her sister, also a Magical Girl?
Tell her that her sister’s body was parasitized by a dangerous Demon Woman Personality, constantly tormenting her with tricks?
If her sister found out, she’d definitely report it to the Association…
“I don’t have any troubles.”
Mu Xi lowered her gaze, masking the complex emotions beneath her eyes.
At that moment—
A familiar shadow, one only Mu Xi could perceive, silently appeared on the empty chair to Mu Yurou’s right!
Mu Ming crossed her legs, propping her chin with one hand, her crimson eyes fixed intently on the steaming meat buns on the table!
Her gaze was filled with naked desire, as if she was about to pounce on the table at any second.
“The meat buns smell so good…”
Mu Ming’s voice dripped with intense longing, echoing within Mu Xi’s senses, “I want some too!”
Before the words even fell.
Mu Xi sharply sensed a slimy, cold Shadow Tentacle silently creeping out from the shadow beneath her feet!
It slithered like a hunting snake along the table leg, aiming directly for the meat bun closest to Mu Yurou!
“!”
Mu Xi’s heart tightened!
Just as the tip of the tentacle was about to touch the bun’s skin—
Her hand under the table flicked her fingers with lightning speed, subtle and effortless!
Snap!
A faint, nearly imperceptible sound.
It hit the restless tentacle precisely!
“Ugh!”
Mu Ming shuddered in pain on her chair.
The tentacle shrank back like a startled earthworm, disappearing silently into the shadows beneath Mu Xi’s feet.
“Don’t cause trouble…”
Mu Xi gritted her teeth, issuing a low warning through her mind only Mu Ming could “hear.”
“Hm? What?”
Mu Yurou seemed to catch the faint sound from her sister, looking up at her with confusion.
“Nothing, nothing.”
Mu Xi quickly resumed her calm expression, picking up her spoon and focusing on her bowl of porridge, as if nothing had happened.
Across the table, Mu Ming pouted pitifully, her crimson eyes accusing Mu Xi like a cat deprived of its favorite snack.
Mu Xi watched her sister continue eating breakfast unaware, then glanced at Mu Ming’s pitiful face…
She sighed quietly in helplessness.
Carefully, she tore open the meat bun she had already bitten a few times and, while Mu Yurou was looking down drinking porridge, discreetly tossed half the bun toward the shadow by her feet!
The half bun landed silently like a stone dropped into water, blending into the deep darkness.
Almost at the same time.
Mu Ming, sitting opposite, suddenly had that half bun in her hand, still steaming hot!
Her eyes lit up as she eagerly took a big bite!
“Ugh… delicious!”
Mu Ming squinted her eyes in satisfaction, muffled praise escaping her full cheeks.
Mu Xi forced herself not to look at the gluttonous sight and continued sipping her porridge quietly, pretending not to see or hear anything.
“By the way, sister…”
Mu Yurou put down her spoon, gathering great courage, her cheeks slightly flushed, her voice lowered, “…I… I found someone…”
Mu Xi paused mid-sip.
She looked up at her sister’s shy yet hopeful face, a gentle, knowing smile appearing on her lips.
“I know.”
Her voice was calm.
“Is it that blonde girl? Huang Xi?”
She paused, her tone full of affirmation and support.
“It’s okay. Sister supports you.”
“And…”
Mu Xi’s gaze softened with insight, “…I can tell she likes you.”
In this Magical Girl world, bonds forged in battle and life-or-death moments easily deepen into profound emotional connections.
It was not uncommon.
Mu Xi recalled the blonde girl she had seen protecting Yurou steadfastly during a crisis that day.
A trustworthy person.
“Roar~ Little sister found a girlfriend~”
Mu Ming, sitting beside Mu Yurou, suddenly leaned close to Mu Xi’s ear, teasing with a mischievous smile only Mu Xi could perceive through their mental link, “…So when can we find girlfriends too?”
Her tone was full of playful mockery, delighting in stirring the pot.
Pfft—!
Mu Xi was holding a mouthful of warm millet porridge and was so startled by this sudden, conspiratorial tease that she nearly spat it out!
She forced it down but immediately started coughing violently!
“Cough cough cough! Cough cough!”
“Sister! Are you okay?”
Mu Yurou jumped up in alarm, patting Mu Xi’s back with concern.
“Cough cough… I’m… cough cough… fine…”
Mu Xi covered her mouth, face flushed red, tears almost coming out.
She waved her hand to reassure her sister, while shooting a sharp glare at the culprit beside her.
Mu Ming was covering her mouth, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter, her crimson eyes sparkling with the triumphant gleam of a fox caught stealing a fish.