After taking care of Fumier, Ye Xingyao and Yi Shiyue returned to their home once again.
“Mm… the reconstruction work there is progressing pretty fast. Maybe we can go back in about half a month.”
Ye Xingyao collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in the blanket and letting out a satisfied sound as she remarked.
On the way back from the safehouse, they had taken a detour to the place where they’d been living. The collapsed house was now completely repaired, the overall framework identical to where they’d lived before, though the internal details weren’t finished yet. It made one marvel that restoration could reach this level in just over a week—such was the power of technological development.
“That’s right. We’ll be able to go back soon.”
Yi Shiyue picked up the jacket her childhood friend had taken off, hung it on the rack by the closet, smoothed out its wrinkles, sat back down on the bed, and looked at the girl on the bed with adoration.
“Xiaoyao, are you feeling better? Your foot injury seems to be healing quite quickly, but don’t push yourself to walk too much. I’m here for you, you know? I’d love for Xiaoyao to rely on me.”
Hearing this, Ye Xingyao gave Yi Shiyue a complicated look.
‘Is relying on her even something I can choose…’
‘Last night, Xiaoyue’s domineering attitude is still fresh in my mind. Even though she didn’t do anything strange to me while sleeping, that possessive, overbearing aura of hers left a deep impression.’
‘Of course, it’s not like I hate it, though.’
‘No, no, no, Ye Xingyao, Ye Xingyao, you’ve only had one week and you’ve already forgotten who you used to be?!’
‘Mm… well, there’s no helping it.’
‘Ye Xingyao has always been a good girl who follows her heart.’
‘The past is the past, and the present is the present. If you want to compare the two, then Xiaoyao suggests you try a gender swap too.’
“Ugh, I fought tooth and nail yesterday and made a huge mess, and today I have to drag my exhausted body to school. I’m not even a Magical Girl, why do I have to go through this?”
Ye Xingyao burrowed under the covers, poking out her little head as she complained.
“Xiaoyao could take a leave of absence, you know. Don’t actually think your homeroom teacher is just a figurehead.”
Yi Shiyue patted her bottom as a reminder.
Even in universities, there were homeroom teachers, though they had their own classes to teach and usually didn’t manage students directly. Plus, now most students chose to commute. After the busy start of the semester and getting commuter status settled, the homeroom teacher had little left to handle.
Of course, if you didn’t want to be marked as absent without leave, you still had to go to the homeroom teacher, explain your situation, and submit some materials.
In this high-tech society, it was easy as pie to record whether someone showed up for class. Even if you found a substitute, it wouldn’t help.
The school’s gist was: I know you have your own lives, but you have to properly ask for leave. The school is really lenient about approving leave—why insist on skipping class?
Plus, university courses weren’t that many. Nowadays, students who skipped class were rare… well, officially absent students were rare.
What was concerning was that the physical condition of college students seemed terrible, especially during morning classes. An unusually high number of students got sick—colds, fevers.
The real reason was heartwarming.
“Hey, Xiaoyue, don’t you want to come up and rest a bit?”
As soon as Ye Xingyao said that, she saw the white-haired girl’s knowing smile and instantly regretted it.
‘Seriously, Ye Xingyao, why does your mouth have to be so polite!’
‘Look, now she’s climbed up and is pressing her whole body on you. See how that worked out.’
“Mmph, Xiaoyue, get off.”
Ye Xingyao wiggled, trying to shake Yi Shiyue off, but the girl immediately hugged her tight, sticking to her like a cute piece of taffy that wouldn’t come off no matter how she moved.
“Hmm? Didn’t Xiaoyao ask me to come up?”
Yi Shiyue teased with a smile. In the end, unable to resist her, she spun around and slid off, settling beside her.
Of course, she wasn’t about to let Ye Xingyao off that easily.
Seeing Ye Xingyao puff out her cheeks in a sulk, Yi Shiyue gently kissed her on the cheek, deflating the angry little pufferfish.
Then Yi Shiyue leaned in and rubbed her face vigorously against the helpless girl’s cheek.
“Mmm~ Xiaoyao feels really nice, you know?”
‘Grr… there’s definitely something off about her childhood friend! Since when did Xiaoyue become so aggressive and mischievous?!’
Ye Xingyao blushed as she accepted the affection from the girl who was both childhood friend and lover, and helplessly started fiddling with her phone.
“Eh? Xiaoyue, let me go for a sec. Something came up.”
Ye Xingyao gently broke free from her teasing and focused on the messages Hongye Qiu had sent on her phone.
Yi Shiyue smiled indulgently, moved closer, and looked at her phone screen with curiosity.
Hongye Qiu: By the way, there’s a comprehensive screening for all students today. I remember you and your little girlfriend are university students, right?
Hongye Qiu: Like last time, I’ll give you an extra identity code. Come register at the Hunter’s Union when it’s your turn.
Ye Xingyao sucked in a breath, which made Yi Shiyue look puzzled.
“What’s wrong, Xiaoyao?”
“Xiaoyue, you remember my mother is an Elf, right?”
“Mm… you mean…”
“This is a screening for all students. My sister is a Half-Elf too! What if they check and mistake her for an Elf and arrest her?!”
After Ye Xingyao said that, both of them wore serious expressions.
“Don’t panic first. Let me ask if we can work something out.”
Night’s Heart is the Cutest: Sister Hongye, Sister Hongye, can you get me another identity code? You know I’m a Half-Elf, right? And I have a younger sister too. She’s also a Half-Elf. If the Human Alliance finds out, it’ll be trouble.
“Pfft, Night’s Heart is the Cutest… you narcissist.”
Yi Shiyue couldn’t hold back her laughter when she saw the nickname she’d given herself, covering her mouth and chuckling.
“Hey, in the face of such an important issue, you’re still making fun of my nickname?!”
Ye Xingyao complained indignantly, elbowing the girl who was shaking with laughter in the waist.
Hongye Qiu: …
Night’s Heart is the Cutest: Oh, and also check what time the screening is for Satellite City Sixth High School. Hopefully we can make it in time!
Hongye Qiu: Fine. Wait a moment.
One could imagine the expression on Hongye Qiu’s face at that moment.
But time was tight, and Hongye Qiu quickly found the identity code and time she needed. Upon learning that Ye Xingling’s screening was in the afternoon, Ye Xingyao let out a long breath and began arranging things for her little sister.