Outside.
“Miss, please calm down! You can’t use your abilities in the store!”
Noticing the silver magical energy rising from the customer, the saleswoman quickly tried to placate her. Although she, too, found the ‘little darling’s’ outfit quite an eyesore, if the store were to be demolished, she’d certainly be held responsible. She was just an employee; how could even a bit of lighthearted fun escalate into such a problem?
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing,” Li Jia ground out, her teeth clenched.
It was clear to her that if she didn’t take matters into her own hands, Aya Tone, with her stubborn nature, would never willingly put on the dress. She slowly walked to the changing room door, and a spatial teleportation array suddenly materialized.
‘Hmm?’
The sudden surge of magical energy behind her made Aya Tone, who was holding the dress she’d just taken off and contemplating her escape, furrow her brow.
In the next moment, Li Jia passed through the door, a dangerous smile gracing her lips. “Aya Tone, you’re not being obedient, are you?”
“…You, you, you!” Aya Tone’s eyes widened, pointing at Li Jia in disbelief, her words stumbling out in a panicked stutter.
But what good would that do?
“Heheheh, just accept your fate!”
Li Jia’s laugh was more villainous than any true villain’s, as her ‘demonic claws’ clamped down tightly on Aya Tone’s shoulders.
“Ahhh, don’t strip my clothes off!!!”
“Oh~ not there~ Yamete!”
Hearing the pained shrieks emanating from inside the changing room, the saleswoman silently used her meager ability to create a cover for the two of them. This was to avoid disturbing the other customers in the store; if they were to overhear, they might think the store offered some sort of ‘special service’.
After a long while, the sounds abruptly ceased, and the changing room door slowly opened. The saleswoman craned her neck in curiosity, considering the ‘little darling’s’ natural charm. If she could wear their brand’s clothing, it would undoubtedly make for excellent promotion.
However, after waiting for a moment, only a regretful-looking Li Jia emerged, still clutching the ‘origin dress’ in her hands. Her cherished ‘little darling’ had vanished!
“Please wrap this up for me.”
Handing the dress to the saleswoman, Li Jia let out a soft sigh. ‘Aya Tone got away from me…’
Recalling everything that had just transpired inside, she couldn’t help but feel a surge of indignation. Of course, this anger was directed at herself. She had clearly set up a spatial barrier outside, yet the struggling Aya Tone had merely drawn a circle beneath herself and, with a shimmering burst, broke through her spatial blockade, disappearing from sight. ‘Is this even fair? Was my spatial blockade truly not strong enough?’ That S-rank spatial energy fruit – she was absolutely determined to obtain it!
****
Fated Destiny Apartment
Aya Tone, having barely managed to escape back home, was still shaken. His petite frame slowly reverted to that of a boy, and only then did he let out a long sigh of relief. ‘That was close… I almost achieved the epic breakthrough from 0 to ∞.’ He had heard some ‘otaku seniors’ say that when it came to cross-dressing, it was either zero times or countless times. Once that forbidden door was opened, there would be no hope of turning back. Someone completely forgot that his formal attire after transforming was also a dress. It was worth noting that all those ‘seniors’ were men who had fallen into the same predicament. They all regretted their youthful ignorance, having fallen into this ‘demonic path’. Yet, even as they loathed it, they couldn’t bring themselves to abandon it, so they could only become understanding seniors, cautioning those who followed.
“Welcome back.”
Big White, holding a cup, slowly walked over from the bar, the cup clinking softly against the counter. “Master, do you actually have such a hobby?”
Aya Tone was bewildered, then met Big White’s gaze, realizing it was fixed on his head. He belatedly realized, reached up, took off the fox ears from his head, and then placed them on Big White’s. “Hmm, very cute.”
He stroked his chin, unable to help but marvel at Li Jia’s taste. ‘White fur, loli, beast ears. Quite the connoisseur!’
“Master, do you need me to find a tail for you to wear?”
“…”
Aya Tone fell silent for a moment, then retorted angrily, “I told you not to watch those silly fan edits! Am I really that kind of person, your master?”
“Sh…”
Seeing his master’s righteous expression, Big White forcibly cut off the end of the “yes” he was about to utter. Clutching the ‘conscience’ his master had bestowed upon him, he corrected himself, “Of course not.” Meanwhile, he grumbled internally: ‘I wonder who was just grinning foolishly at the computer, calling himself a ‘loli-con’…’ But considering that the other party was his master, Big White could only bury the truth deep within his heart. Well, he was the master, so indulging him was simply what one did.
“Big White, are the things packed?”
“Yes, they are. Once the little master finishes school tomorrow, we can depart.”
“Alright then…”
All three of their belongings, aside from Aya Jiu’s essential milk powder, could essentially fit into a single suitcase. With a rich woman like Li Jia around, they practically only needed to bring themselves. However, for a trip, one must naturally keep up appearances; it’s called a sense of ritual. If they didn’t bring any clothes or anything, it wouldn’t feel like they were going on a trip at all.
****
The following afternoon.
“Yes, this is Aya Jiu’s father. I’m planning to pick up my child early; I’m already at the entrance. Yes, thank you, teacher.”
Hanging up the phone, Aya Tone turned his head to look at Li Jia in the driver’s seat. “Are you really going down to pick up Aya Jiu?”
“Of course. Aya Jiu will surely be thrilled to see her big sister come to pick her up!”
With that, she pushed open the car door, stepped out with a confident stride, and soon vanished from Aya Tone’s sight.
“Master, Miss Li Jia forgot to take the pick-up card…”
Aya Tone looked down. ‘Well, I’ll be,’ he thought, ‘she really didn’t take it…’
After a long moment of holding it in, he finally managed to utter a single word: “Speechless.”
Helpless, he had no choice but to call the teacher again. Since Li Jia had volunteered so eagerly, he felt awkward going down to dampen her enthusiasm. Moreover, Aya Jiu knew Li Jia, and with his assurance, the teacher would at most say a few words before letting the child go after confirming her identity.
Soon enough, one large and one small figure appeared by the car, hand in hand. From the crescent moons of joy gracing his daughter’s small face, it was clear she was delighted that Li Jia had come to pick her up, practically skipping as she walked.
On the way, a small head poked out from between the seats. “Papa~ are we really going to take the ***?”
“We’re taking a plane.” Aya Tone rubbed his forehead; “a single word could completely change the meaning.”
“Oh, oh.” Aya Jiu nodded earnestly. “So we’re going to take a plane? The kind that can fly up into the sky, the really, really big kind?”
“Yes, exactly that really, really big kind.”
Watching his daughter excitedly wave her small hands, trying her best to express herself, Aya Tone smiled dotingly. ‘Mm~ Aya Jiu is so adorable.’ But the thought of one day having to hand over such an adorable daughter to someone else made him uncontrollably furious. ‘Son-in-laws? They’re enemies!’
“Little master, you must sit properly, or else the police uncle will take us all away.”
“Mmm! Mmm mmm mmm.”
Frightened by the idea of being caught for not obeying, Aya Jiu immediately shrank back, covering her mouth with her small hands, leaving only her bright, blinking eyes visible.
The car suddenly fell silent, and Aya Tone pulled himself away from his future animosity. He glanced back to see his daughter sitting obediently in her seat, an utterly adorable sight. Meeting her papa’s eyes, Aya Jiu blinked curiously, ‘Aya Jiu is being very good, you know.’ Those expressive, large eyes. In an instant, they brought immense joy to everyone in the car. With Aya Jiu as their little ray of sunshine, the several-hour journey felt far less tedious in that moment.
Err, Big white has the wrong gender.