The Uninvited Guest and the Perilous Lunch

As it turned out, becoming too familiar with Night Moon was a surefire way to invite an escalating cascade of troubles.

Chloe, standing at her doorstep, found herself grasping this undeniable truth.

“I’m walking home with you after school!” Night Moon had declared excitedly in the classroom.

“Why? I don’t recall our homes being on the same route,” Chloe questioned, utterly bewildered by whatever new scheme Night Moon was concocting.

“I’ve detected an even more potent demonic aura clinging to you; it’s highly probable you’ve been marked by some malevolent entity,” Night Moon announced, dramatically pushing up her non-existent glasses like a seasoned detective. “Therefore, I must accompany you to guarantee your safety. A mere detour is insignificant when a friend’s well-being is at stake.”

For a fleeting moment, Chloe found herself genuinely touched, almost blinded by the dazzling nobility radiating from Night Moon’s character. Alas, Chloe suspected this had little to do with demons and everything to do with a certain mischievous magical girl.

“Well… alright then.”

Upon reaching her doorstep, as Chloe prepared to unlock the door, she noticed Night Moon still lingering by her side, showing no signs of departure.

“I’ve safely made it home; there are no demons here, so you can head back now,” Chloe stated, her tone firm. She wouldn’t dare allow Night Moon inside, not with the “tigress” awaiting her. The slightest misstep could ignite Tia’s wrath, leaving Chloe to bear the brunt of it once more.

“Since I’ve come all this way, I’d love to tour the cozy love nest of Little Chloe and Senior Tia!” Night Moon’s resolute gaze, softened by an undeniable plea, made her request incredibly difficult to refuse.

Could this be her true motive for tagging along all this time?

Chloe’s suspicions mounted, and she wavered, unsure whether to grant Night Moon entry.

“But… I haven’t even consulted Senior Tia about it yet…”

Suddenly, the door creaked open, startling Chloe, who stood frozen before it.

“You’re already at the door; why haven’t you come in yet? Hmm? You’re… the girl named Night Moon from this morning, aren’t you? Chloe must have invited you. Any friend of Chloe’s is a friend of mine, so please, come in and sit for a while.”

Chloe was utterly taken aback, for she had never anticipated Tia returning home ahead of her; typically, at this hour, Tia would still be out hunting demons.

“Thank you, Senior Tia! I’ll come right in, then. Do I need to change my shoes?” Night Moon chirped, her grin wide as she bounded into the house, leaving Chloe standing dumbfounded outside.

“No need to change them; you can head straight to the living room and sit down. There are some snacks on the table,” Tia instructed Night Moon, yet her gaze remained fixed on Chloe, who was still lingering outside.

Chloe consistently found herself unable to decipher Tia’s thoughts from those deep-sea purple eyes of hers. Though it was said that eyes were the windows to the soul, Tia’s gaze was more akin to an impenetrable curtain, yielding no accurate information whatsoever. Furthermore, Tia harbored a strong dislike for anyone attempting to pry into her mind, which left Chloe in a constant state of passive anticipation, never daring to make a move until Tia offered a clear indication of her intentions.

“Why are you still foolishly standing out there? Come inside,” Tia prompted, her voice imbued with a tenderness that made her sound like a truly venerable older sister. Perhaps Night Moon’s presence was the cause, or perhaps Tia was simply in an exceptionally good mood.

“Alright, Master…” By unspoken rule, Chloe was obliged to address Tia as ‘Master’ when they were at home. Yet, in Night Moon’s presence, Chloe surmised that Tia would likely maintain a certain decorum.

Back in the living room, Tia offered a meaningful smile and a playfully veiled complaint. “Chloe, darling, when you invite a friend over, why don’t you give me a heads-up? The house isn’t even cleaned; it’s quite embarrassing for our guest to see it like this.”

“Oh, actually, it was my sudden impulse to visit Senior Tia’s home; Chloe truly had no idea,” Night Moon confessed, already reaching for a snack from the table, her nostrils subtly flaring as she began to eat.

“It truly is Senior Tia, isn’t it? Just imagine how many demons must have met their end by your hand! Even your home is permeated with the lingering resentment of vanquished monsters! You are, quite simply, the tallest mountain among magical girls—the most unyielding fortress against all evil!” Night Moon exclaimed, her voice thick with admiration.

Sitting awkwardly on the sofa, utterly at a loss, Chloe felt a sudden surge of internal panic upon hearing Night Moon’s pronouncement. Her lips twitched almost imperceptibly, struggling to maintain her composure.

Your keen “dog nose” is utterly useless! It seems you truly lose your head the moment you lay eyes on Tia, to the point of fabricating such an absurd justification.

Meanwhile, Tia, the subject of Night Moon’s effusive praise, merely sat by, observing Chloe with a faint smile, her eyes growing increasingly sharp. For some inexplicable reason, Chloe felt as though countless invisible needles were incessantly pricking at her face.

A dreadful premonition settled over her. Is Tia still angry?

Restlessly, Chloe pressed her knees together, her slender fingers, resting upon her thighs, intertwining in a nervous knot.

“Grrrrrr…”

A sudden rumbling sound shattered the temporary quiet, emanating from Night Moon, who was still happily munching on snacks.

She scratched her head sheepishly. “My apologies, I haven’t had breakfast today, so…”

A sudden thought seemed to strike Tia, and she offered a suggestion. “Perfect. Chloe usually handles the cooking, so why don’t you sample her culinary skills for lunch today? Her scrambled eggs with tomato are truly delightful.”

Is this venomous woman attempting to murder someone with a borrowed knife!?

Chloe knew perfectly well that her cooking was only palatable to Tia, whose tastes were, to put it mildly, unique. For anyone else to declare it ‘delicious’ would be nothing short of a divine miracle.

Forcing me into the kitchen now could only mean two things: either Tia aims to sabotage my burgeoning friendship with Night Moon, or she intends to silence Night Moon permanently! What a truly viperous heart!

“Really? Then I absolutely must try it!” Night Moon exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with anticipation as she turned to Chloe.

“What are your thoughts, Chloe?” Tia’s gaze, too, shifted to Chloe, her smile widening until her eyes were mere slits.

Chloe rose to her feet, her hands trembling imperceptibly, and managed to force out a strained smile. “N-no problem at all. Leave it to me…”

Having entered the kitchen, Chloe stared blankly at the ingredients she had just retrieved from the refrigerator.

Perhaps it would be safer, and certainly more expedient, to simply wash these ingredients and serve them as they are.

There was no turning back now; she could only steel herself and begin.

Meanwhile, Night Moon was leisurely exploring the house. When she eventually made her way to the kitchen, intending to check on Chloe’s progress, her attention was caught by a small note affixed to the refrigerator.

“Wow! Chloe and Senior Tia’s life together is so wonderfully cozy! Just like two sisters!” Night Moon exclaimed, a pang of envy striking her as she read the small, affectionate notes they left for each other.

“Heh heh…”

Chloe, hearing this, found herself at a loss for a response. It seemed Night Moon, despite being aware of Tia’s reputation as a magical girl, remained entirely ignorant of her having a younger sister.

“Cough…”

Chloe, who had been fully absorbed in stir-frying, suddenly felt an irritating tickle in her throat and couldn’t suppress a cough.

“It truly is difficult to get accustomed to this cooking smoke,” Chloe murmured to herself. However, the lingering effect this time was particularly strong; even after the cough subsided, an uncomfortable sensation persisted in her chest.

“Chloe, you truly exude the aura of a devoted wife~” Night Moon teased from the sidelines.

“What nonsense are you spouting! Cough…”

The kitchen remained rather warm, and the heat invariably brought a flush to her cheeks.

Finally, a dish that represented the absolute zenith of Chloe’s culinary understanding emerged, steaming hot, from the kitchen.

“Ugh… while its presentation might not be its strong suit, I’m sure the taste will be quite exceptional,” Night Moon mused, hesitating for a moment before delicately picking up a piece of the dish. After taking a bite, a subtle shift occurred in her demeanor. She calmly scooped a mouthful of rice, brought it to her lips, and swallowed it along with the dish.

“Everyone, let’s eat together! How can I be the only one partaking?” Night Moon urged the two at the table.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Tia’s eyes upon observing Night Moon’s reaction. Then, under Night Moon’s admiring gaze, she resumed eating with an utterly impassive expression.

Could such stoicism only be forged through relentless, day-after-day training? Night Moon murmured to herself, her gaze fixed on Tia, who ate the dish with an unchanging expression.

Noticing that Chloe hadn’t touched her food and lacked even a bowl of rice, Night Moon inquired, puzzled, “Chloe, why aren’t you eating? You’re already so petite; malnutrition would be even more detrimental.”

Chloe cast a furtive glance at Tia, then offered an embarrassed smile. “I had a rather substantial breakfast,” she explained, “so my stomach is still quite full.”

Indeed, Chloe’s stomach was still noticeably distended.