Chapter 12
Dusk.
“I’m home~” Qifeng called out as she came in the door, taking off her shoes.
“Just in time for dinner. Remember to wash your hands,” I said, placing the steaming hot Borscht on the table. The pot handle was scalding, so I made sure to wear oven mitts.
“Wow, it smells amazing!”
Qifeng floated over, following the aroma.
“Dinner is… this extravagant?”
“Of course! It’s Lian Qi’s first time visiting my home. I wasn’t prepared yesterday, so I’m making up for it today— Hey, silly girl! Wash your hands before you eat!”
I watched her snatch a butterfly shrimp and pop it in her mouth. Usually, “snacking” happens secretly in the kitchen. I’ve never seen anyone do it so brazenly!
“Mmm~ mmm~ delicious~”
Qifeng had a look of pure bliss, but I really wanted to kick her all the way to the sink.
“Fei’er and I ran into someone on the street today whose back looked just like yours. Yellow hair, in a ponytail,” Lian Qi said, holding her tea cup.
“Eh? Really?” Qifeng licked her fingers, looking at us blankly.
“No… the person who chased the thief with us was taller than Qifeng, and her hair was a lighter shade of yellow. And… I think Qifeng is prettier.”
“I don’t really get it, but… thank you for the compliment,” she said, touching her cheek with a shy smile.
“Just go wash your hands already!”
Seriously…
To think… this is the private life of someone at the ‘school beauty’ level of the Magic Academy…
“Oh, right. I have to go out again later tonight. I’m on a special mission tonight.”
Qifeng said, unclasping her white cloak and hanging it on the coat rack. Yesterday, she was in the Magic Academy uniform. Today, she’s in the formal attire of a Church of Holy Light Inspector. The contrast is pretty big.
“A special mission?”
Lian Qi and I asked in unison. I couldn’t help but remember that dark and stormy night… Qifeng and I led a hundred people on a cross-city arrest, and we ended up finding a room full of gold in the bishop’s house.
“Mm. This time, the arrest target is… someone you know. It’s Wood’s father—the Captain of the Royal Capital Guard, Og ‘The Steel.‘”
“Huh? His dad is in trouble, too?” Lian Qi asked.
“Mhm. We traced the source of the drugs. All the evidence points to him,” Qifeng replied.
“Wood really ‘screwed his dad over,’”1 Lian Qi muttered.
“So, we’re going to his house tonight to arrest him.”
“…Are you sure you’re okay to lead the team?” Lian Qi had a skeptical look. Her impression of Qifeng is probably still stuck on the ‘masochist’ point, isn’t it?
“Yeah, Qifeng. Why don’t we go with you?”
This time, I was the one who suggested it. Because I want her to finish early and come back early.
“‘We’? Does that include me?” Lian Qi froze, then said faintly, “You’re… actually willing to take me with you this time? The sun must be rising in the west.”
…Lian Qi’s words made me so awkward.
“Don’t be like that. I promise I’ll take you with me from now on.”
Even if there’s an event I need to attend as the Saintess, I’ll take Lian Qi. I’ll surprise her.
But… the “surprise” of my male identity is something I can never tell her.
“Really? If you dare to lie, you’re kneeling on the washboard,” she said, eying me.
“…Washboard?” Qifeng looked at us, completely lost.
“N-Nothing!” If Qifeng found out I’d knelt on a washboard, it would be too shameful! I quickly changed the subject— “Lian Qi is a fourth-rank mage, you know! With her on the arrest team, nothing can go wrong!”
I remember that time Qifeng and I did the cross-city arrest… Bishop Rodrigo’s trusted subordinate was a fourth-rank Holy Paladin. To think Lian Qi is already that strong… she’s so reliable.
“Fei’er, Lian Qi, if you’re willing to come with me, that’s just perfect!” Qifeng clapped her hands and smiled, her smile so bright.
But, before we carry out the arrest… we have another mission. To annihilate the dinner on this table!
After dinner, I brewed them a pot of tea. Lian Qi held her cup, took a sip, and asked, “It’s dark now. When do we move out?”
“The operation is at 9 PM. We still have over two hours. No rush.”
Qifeng was sitting on the sofa with her legs curled up, a box of Pocky in her hand, munching away. She just finished dinner, and her mouth is already restless.
She saw me watching her coldly. She gave me an embarrassed smile. “Fei’er, your tea… it’s good for digestion! After I drink it, I just can’t stop eating!”
“I don’t know what to do with you.”
Qifeng is just that kind of snack lover. And… she never gains weight.
“Fei’er… want some?” Qifeng grinned foolishly at me, a Pocky stick in her mouth.
“…Huh?”
I knew what she was planning. I stole a glance at Lian Qi. “Lian Qi is right here. It’s too embarrassing.”
“Don’t worry! Come on—!”
She leaned toward me, the Pocky stick in her mouth.
…I really don’t know what to do with you.
Embarrassed, I leaned in and took the other end of the Pocky stick in my mouth.
I stared at her. She stared at me. A single Pocky stick between our lips.
And then… we both started to nibble.
As the Pocky stick got shorter, we got closer and closer. When we played this game in the past, we’d always burst out laughing when our noses touched.
Because the other person’s breath is too ticklish! And if you laugh, you might break the Pocky. Whoever breaks it, loses.
Snap~
“Ah, it broke.”
“This feels so… lewd…” I said, blushing, as I ate my half of the stick.
“Again, again~!” Qifeng eagerly pulled out a new Pocky stick.
”-…Are you two planning to play until the last stick?” Lian Qi said, unable to watch.
“Lian Qi, you play too~” Qifeng waved at her with a silly grin.
“Huh??” Lian Qi looked shocked.
…I never thought Qifeng would invite Lian Qi. Lian Qi silently met my gaze, gave a small laugh— “Alright. If you insist.”
She took a Pocky stick from Qifeng, put it in her mouth, and leaned toward me.
…Lian Qi… doing this… is way too embarrassing!
But… we’ve done even more shameless things… It’s just a game. It’s not like we’ll actually kiss.
I swallowed, calmed my nervous heart, and leaned in to take the other end.
We stared at each other, both of us shy.
I stared into her amber eyes, and then— Pfft—!
Uu—!
No, no.
“Sorry, I couldn’t hold it in.”
“What! Is my face really that funny?” Lian Qi said, blushing and flustered.
We had barely taken the Pocky and made eye contact, and it already broke!
“My turn!” Qifeng said eagerly.
“Hmph. I’ll wait for the next round,” Lian Qi said, stepping aside, not looking happy about it.
“Eh??? You’re… addicted to this game now, too?”
“If you do that again next round, I’m going to be angry.”
“Uuu… I’m really sorry. I’ll try my best not to laugh,” I said weakly.
I ate a lot of Pocky that night…
Footnotes
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坑爹 (kēngdiē) - A popular, modern Chinese slang term. Literally “to pit one’s father.” It means something is a rip-off, a scam, or (in this case) that a son has caused his father huge trouble. ↩