Leaving the magic equipment sales building, Aya Tone’s small face was drawn into a gloomy, unhappy pout. A sense of unspoken grievance lingered about her, as if she wished to speak but found herself unable. It was a true dilemma. No matter how she tried to form the words, they invariably dissolved into a sigh before she could voice them.
Smiles never truly vanished; they merely shifted. Li Jia, her arm linked with Aya Tone’s, wore a smile that never faltered, radiant as the midday sun.
“Isn’t it rather adorable? Let me give it a pat.”
Aya Tone bit her lip, swatting away the hand resting on her head with an expression of utter disdain. She racked her brain, utterly baffled as to why those fox ears had materialized atop her head. ‘Demonic! So annoying!’
“Mommy, the ears on that big sister’s head are so fun! They even move!”
Passersby paused, their gazes drawn, and upon hearing the little boy’s innocent words, they couldn’t help but share a knowing smile. The fox ears atop her head twitched and fluttered, incredibly lifelike, exuding an aura of undeniable cuteness with every movement. It felt as though the day’s weariness was gently swept away by this refreshing breeze. Truly, she was a treasure of Yan’an City—simply adorable.
The little boy’s mother chuckled, covering her mouth. “Indeed, she’s our adorable Guardian!”
“Guardian…” The little boy’s eyes sparkled as if vast constellations glittered within them. ‘So cool!’
The stares of the passersby failed to capture Aya Tone’s attention. She was utterly lost in her own world, unable to extricate herself. ‘If I threw away a friend’s gift right in front of them, would our friendship end? Such a worry! But if I don’t wear it next time we meet, it might seem like I don’t value it… Another worry!’ Her cute little brows furrowed slightly, a picture of distress.
Concurrently, the fox ears atop her head seemed to mirror her mood, drooping limply and looking utterly dejected. The sight made Li Jia’s heart ache with longing. Were it not for the crowds, she might have already succumbed to the urge to pull Aya Tone into a tight embrace and savor the moment. ‘Hehe, a little beast-eared cutie.’ Li Jia subtly wiped away the tell-tale drool at the corner of her mouth. ‘Ahem. No rush. Once my divine skill is perfected and I capture Aya Tone, there’ll be plenty of time. No need to hurry now.’
“Aya Tone, how about we go browse the mall?” Li Jia suggested, gesturing towards the commercial building not far away.
“I don’t want to.”
Aya Tone naturally disliked crowded places, finding the sensation of being surrounded by people intensely irritating. As it was, she already regretted agreeing to come out.
“I’ll pay.”
“Let’s go!” ‘Difficulties are meant to be overcome. Crowds aren’t an issue; if I close my eyes, aren’t I still alone? Besides, life is full of minor annoyances. A life without regrets is incomplete. As for things to regret, I’ll leave those for my future self to handle.’
Li Jia smiled, silently observing the pair of fox ears. Aya Tone’s every thought was clearly reflected in their movements. The moment she heard Li Jia was paying, the previously drooping fox ears perked up instantly. ‘So transparent…’ Li Jia finally understood how Fire Finch had managed to coax Aya Tone back to the guild. ‘She’s simply too easy to trick… Why did that wretched Fire Finch get to meet her first?’
****
“Ah… w… what are you doing?” Aya Tone stammered, her English skills failing her spectacularly.
“Don’t just stand there staring, come try on this dress. It’ll definitely suit you.” Li Jia held up a casual long dress, frequently comparing it against Aya Tone’s figure. ‘It would look so good on Aya Tone.’
“Hey, hey,” Aya Tone whispered, glancing at the smiling sales assistant nearby before rising on her tiptoes to pull Li Jia down. She murmured into Li Jia’s ear, “You know I’m a guy, don’t mess around.” ‘This isn’t right! If we’re buying clothes, it should be menswear, or at least something neutral! This… I can’t accept this…’
The faint, fresh scent of a young girl continuously tantalized Li Jia’s senses, and the tingling sensation in her ears made her heart throb with anticipation. As for what Aya Tone had said, Li Jia instinctively ignored it. At this moment, Li Jia resembled a cunning hunter. Feigning nonchalance, she carefully drew closer. ‘Now!’ She turned her head, launching a surprise attack. ‘Damn it!’
The reflexes honed by over two decades of single life were displayed perfectly in this instant. Just as those crimson lips were about to succeed, Aya Tone, activating the Observation Haki she had unknowingly cultivated for half a lifetime, arched backward, narrowly evading the assault.
“Oh, dear…” Her attack missing its mark, Li Jia made no attempt to conceal the disappointment in her eyes. ‘So close, what a pity!’
The sales assistant stood quietly to the side, holding the clothes Li Jia had selected, not uttering a word, careful not to disturb her two customers. ‘Two pretty girls getting close, hehe. The white-haired girl’s ears are so cute, I want to get close to her too.’
“Hey, watch your head! You almost hit me! And I don’t need to buy clothes.” The fox ears on Aya Tone’s head instantly bristled.
She saw no issue with her current outfit; the large hood perfectly concealed her identity. “It’s not for you; it’s for Big White.”
Li Jia knew that getting Aya Tone to buy women’s clothing was practically impossible, so she employed a roundabout tactic. And sure enough! Upon hearing it was for Big White, the resistance in Aya Tone’s eyes visibly softened. ‘As long as it’s not for me to wear.’
But the next moment, Li Jia’s words made her recently relaxed heart clench once more. “But I don’t know Big White’s size, Aya Tone. You’ll help me, won’t you?”
Aya Tone: “…” ‘Well, I don’t know either.’ “Just this once, alright?”
Watching Aya Tone reluctantly take the clothes from her hand and step into the changing room, Li Jia’s face broke into a triumphant, mischievous smile. ‘The first step is always the hardest. Once she’s done it once, will the next time be far behind?’
The sales assistant nearby kept shifting her gaze between the changing room and Li Jia, feeling as though she had stumbled upon something extraordinary. ‘Outside, a hunter; inside, a little white rabbit. Ah, the little white rabbit is so foolish. I hope she doesn’t get completely devoured.’
Inside the changing room, Aya Tone stared at the long dress in her hands, her eyes filled with an internal struggle. She had once seen something similar in a men’s restroom at a comic convention, and that memory had delivered a heavy blow to her young heart. ‘Should I wear it? Just putting it on over my clothes, that shouldn’t count… right? It’s like they say, if you just rub against it from the outside without going in, it doesn’t really count. Hmm… What a scummy thing to say.’
“…” *Click.* As the changing room door slowly opened, Li Jia’s fervent gaze fixated on the still-partially-closed entrance.
But the moment Aya Tone fully appeared in her sight, the fervent heat in Li Jia’s eyes abruptly transformed into a dangerous glint. “Are you toying with me?”
The white-haired loli before her was indeed wearing the dress, but… beneath the dress, she still had on her original classic outfit! The black peeking out from under the pristine white was so jarring it made both Li Jia and the sales assistant’s eyes twitch, not to mention the exposed black sleeves. This combination not only infuriated Li Jia but even caused the sales assistant to clench her fists in frustration! ‘Which genius came up with this? A skirt over a hoodie… Heresy! This is absolute heresy!’
“Hey, hey, don’t come any closer!”
Seeing Li Jia’s impulse to take matters into her own hands, Aya Tone swiftly retreated back into the changing room. Only after locking the door, completely isolating herself from Li Jia, did she feel a slight sense of security. She grumbled discontentedly, “Didn’t I put it on? What was that look… So hard to please.”
Shy isnt she. Good thing shes so powerful.