“Porcelain Moon senpai, we have an appointment, remember?”
“Alright, I’ll agree for Sister Luo Xi then.”
So, that’s how it happened—she just agreed like that.
Porcelain Moon didn’t even know what had gotten into her at the time, just a sudden impulse.
Sigh, no turning back once the arrow has been shot; Porcelain Moon could only carefully dress up herself.
She sat in her room, where there was a vanity table she rarely used.
Usually, she didn’t bother with makeup and had no clue about it, so she just followed online tutorials step by step.
The final result was decent? Porcelain Moon thought she might have a bit of a talent for makeup.
As soon as she opened the door, she found Luo Xi already waiting outside.
“Porcelain Moon sister, you’re out.”
Luo Xi flipped her long hair back. Today, she was wearing a sharp black mini skirt. Even though she usually spoke in a stiff manner, now she looked so… unique.
What exactly had the little sister learned these past few years…
Usually so conservative, Porcelain Moon couldn’t connect her sister with those trendy girls she’d seen on online videos.
Luo Xi linked arms with Porcelain Moon and smiled: “Porcelain Moon sister, I’ll take you out to play.”
Today was perfect weather, with bright sunshine.
The two boarded the tram together.
***
It was a holiday, so the tram was a bit crowded. What was normally spacious seating suddenly felt very cramped. Luo Xi, for some reason, leaned closer to Porcelain Moon despite the crowd.
They were pressed tightly together, and Luo Xi’s hand naturally rested on Porcelain Moon’s thigh. Feeling Luo Xi’s hand stroking her made Porcelain Moon feel ticklish and uncomfortable.
“Luo Xi, you’re too close.”
“Porcelain Moon sister, don’t you like me getting close?”
“That’s not what I mean…”
“Then what do you mean?”
“It means it means nothing.”
That hasn’t changed at all about my little sister… at her core, she’s just so bold.
Porcelain Moon had nothing to say and just turned her head to look out the window at the distance.
They arrived at their destination: Jingan City Park, a place Porcelain Moon used to visit often.
September was the last month for many types of flowers to bloom; after that, with autumn, not many flowers would blossom.
Luo Xi took Porcelain Moon’s hand and strolled along the park path.
Along the roadside were blooming yellow chrysanthemums, their bright warm color symbolizing the arrival of autumn’s harvest—
The entire city park was located on a hill, and on one side, beyond the railing, they could see the distant farmland. These farmlands were synonymous with Zhonghe Province.
Modern combine harvesters crawled slowly across the fields, looking from here like lazy turtles enjoying the warm sunshine.
Not far from the farmland were the towering skyscrapers of Jingan City, their surfaces reflecting the sunlight.
***
“The last season for flowers blooming happens just as the crops begin to be harvested. Porcelain Moon sister, don’t you think that’s quite philosophical?”
Porcelain Moon didn’t think much and said casually, “Old things must go for new things to come.”
Luo Xi walked over to a small flowerbed.
“Porcelain Moon sister, look, here’s a lily. Lilies bloom in September too.”
Porcelain Moon came over and saw a white lily blooming among the yellow chrysanthemums, but it wasn’t very conspicuous.
“Some varieties of lilies bloom in September, I suppose.”
“Don’t you think the pure white lily is very innocent? Did you know lilies symbolize the friendship between girls?”
Porcelain Moon was puzzled: “Is there such a saying?”
“You really are out of touch, Porcelain Moon sister. It’s 2018 now, and your thoughts are still stuck years behind.”
“Maybe… I just don’t usually deal with these things. I’m not used to interacting with other girls.”
“Hey, Porcelain Moon sister, you’re a girl yourself. Why are you uncomfortable getting along with other girls?”
Porcelain Moon said,
“When I was young, I rarely spent time with the same gender. I have a little sister, but our relationship was never good. I did a lot of things wrong to her; I feel guilty and can’t face her.”
“I see… I didn’t expect Porcelain Moon sister to have this side too.”
Suddenly, Luo Xi hugged Porcelain Moon from behind. Porcelain Moon felt the roundness pressing against her back and blushed deeply.
“Everyone has their own hardships after all…”
Porcelain Moon felt Luo Xi’s hands gently pressing her abdomen. The sensitive touch made her somewhat excited…
Hey, little sister, what are you doing?! I’m your real brother!
“Luo Xi, what are you doing… there are other people here, you know?” Porcelain Moon hurriedly pushed her away.
“Porcelain Moon sister, you don’t like this? You don’t like me?”
“No…”
You perverted little sister, I can’t take it anymore… Porcelain Moon silently complained in her heart.
Luo Xi pouted and started acting spoiled:
“Porcelain Moon sister, you’re so shy even when just hanging out with other girls. How can you fight alongside me then?”
“Times have changed, there are more magical girls now. If you don’t get along with your future comrades, you’re way too old-fashioned.”
What kind of logic is that… Is this even normal interaction?
Porcelain Moon was speechless and helpless: “Luo Xi sister, no one sticks that close during combat…”
“All right, all right. Porcelain Moon sister, I won’t tease you anymore. Let’s go to the center of the park. There’s a really beautiful spot there.”
Luo Xi took Porcelain Moon’s hand and led her to the park’s center, where a large flowerbed adorned with many colorful pinwheels stood.
At the center of the flowerbed was a statue of a Magical Girl holding a small pinwheel.
In the warm breeze, the colorful pinwheels slowly spun.
Many children were playing freely here, making Porcelain Moon nostalgic for her own childhood.
The statue was in a half-squatting pose, one hand holding the pinwheel, the other picking a flower from the bushes. The pinwheel faced the breeze, and the girl leaned in to enjoy the scent of freedom.
Behind her was a ruined wall, badly broken—not a work of art, but a genuine remnant from a city destroyed by the Extradimensional Beasts.
***
“Pinwheels again…” Porcelain Moon murmured.
“Porcelain Moon sister, does this remind you of something?”
“Nothing.”
Luo Xi looked at the statue, lost in thought.
Porcelain Moon turned to look at her and suddenly felt a strong urge to burst out from within.
Do you still remember? I once gave you a pinwheel…
Do you remember? Do you really remember?
Boy!
“Luo Xi…”
Porcelain Moon couldn’t help but hold Luo Xi’s hand.
With Luo Xi’s silence and deep thought, Porcelain Moon felt the torment; she didn’t want her sister to forget her…
“Porcelain Moon sister, I have a brother.
“My situation with him is the same as yours with your little sister.
“He’s a bad person, did a lot of things to hurt me, and didn’t care about my feelings at all. That guy is a jerk! Scum!
“He thought risking his life was heroic, treating sacrifice like a joke!
“But he didn’t care at all about what would happen if I lost him. He wasn’t like this before.
“He was good before. He gave me a pinwheel, and I’ve kept it all this time.”
“He left me for a long time after that. I kept praying he’d change his mind, come back and stay with me, but I was wrong. That guy is beyond saving! I don’t want to give him another chance to atone, that jerk…”
Tears fell from Luo Xi’s eyes, and Porcelain Moon didn’t know what to say.
She cried for a long time; Porcelain Moon just watched silently, feeling she had no right to comfort her.
“Sorry, senpai, for showing you like this.”
“Men are all like that. So, it’s better for girls to be together; girls understand how to cherish each other better, don’t you think, Porcelain Moon sister?” Luo Xi wiped her tears and said to her.
“You’re right. Men are just like that…”
“Porcelain Moon sister, do you like this dish?”
“Hmm, you have good taste picking it.”
“Hey, Porcelain Moon sister, why are you hesitating to eat?”
“I… I’ve never had such an expensive dish before. Even though it’s paid by Luo Xi sister, I still feel kind of heartbroken.”
“You’re so considerate, Porcelain Moon sister, thinking of me. Come on, open your mouth, I’ll feed you.”
Porcelain Moon felt embarrassed, but with her sister so enthusiastic, she could only open her mouth slightly and let her feed her.
So awkward.
“Porcelain Moon sister.”
“Hmm?”
“I have to work the night shift.
“Wasn’t today your day off?”
“Dummy sister, I don’t really have proper days off. I took time to date you today, so I have to make up for it with a night shift.”
“B…”
“Sister, you’re different from others, but I can’t say exactly how. I just feel like you’re someone I used to know well.”
“Really?”
Luo Xi and Porcelain Moon walked out of the restaurant and stepped outside.
“Thank you, Porcelain Moon sister. Please come to see me often from now on. I’ll leave first.”
“Farewell.”
Porcelain Moon watched her sister’s retreating figure, her heart filled with complicated emotions.