Lemonade and Lingering Shadows

This was a bubble tea shop with a slightly larger storefront, offering independent tables and chairs for its customers.

After scanning the order code, Chloe found herself gazing at a dazzling array of bubble teas, ultimately settling on the cheapest lemonade. She had no other reason than the fact that she couldn’t discern flavors, making any other purchase a waste of money. Beyond that, she hadn’t come here for bubble tea in the first place.

Glancing at the time displayed on her phone screen, Chloe realized that an hour had slipped away unnoticed. Every minute she lingered increased the risk of suffering upon her return, especially since Tia had only informed her of a two o’clock errand, without specifying her expected time of arrival. A subconscious unease persistently gnawed at her, hinting that something was amiss.

“Little Fox, why did you order lemonade? Don’t you want something sweet? Aren’t little girls like you supposed to love sweet bubble tea?” Anna’s reaction to Chloe’s choice of lemonade seemed tinged with surprise.

“I don’t like sweet things, it’s as simple as that. Now, please tell me how to deal with the demonization.” Chloe, growing impatient, stared intently into Anna’s dark, bright eyes, determined not to give her another opportunity to veer off-topic.

As if oblivious to Chloe’s intense gaze, Anna remained perfectly composed. Leaning against the wall, she leisurely scrolled through her phone screen, murmuring indecisively, “Oh dear, what should I order…?”

“You…”

“This is it then! ‘Big Orange in Hand,’ what a strange name. I’ll also get an ice cream.” As she spoke, Anna suddenly leaned her face closer to Chloe’s. “If Little Fox wants a bite later, I don’t mind sharing~”

“I won’t be eating any.” Chloe barely managed to suppress the urge to roll her eyes. This person’s actions were utterly baffling, almost as if… she were flirting with her.

But she’s also a girl; surely it wouldn’t be like that, Chloe mused. She wondered if her appearance was truly so captivating to other girls, given Anna’s immediate and enthusiastic demeanor. Anna’s presence made her feel as though they weren’t there to solve a problem of demonization at all, but rather on a date. If Tia were to discover this situation, regardless of its justification, Chloe was certain she would be doomed.

“Tell me the solution to the demonization now. I don’t mind if you admit you’re a fraud, but if you divert to any other topic again, I’m leaving immediately.” Chloe’s tone was grave, though her exquisite, adorable face somewhat diminished its intended deterrent effect.

“Alright, alright~ I’ll tell you,” Anna purred. “Don’t be mad, Little Fox~”

Anna’s effortless composure left Chloe feeling utterly passive. Why was this the case? How could this person, a mere ordinary individual, appear so nonchalant when facing someone who was already beginning to demonize?

Under Chloe’s unwavering gaze, Anna extended her arms, as fair and smooth as jade lotus roots. Leisurely, she gathered a strand of Chloe’s braided hair that had fallen across her modest, mound-like chest. After gently caressing it for a moment, Anna’s nimble fingers moved like sewing needles, undoing the braid in just a few swift motions. The long, golden tresses, slightly curled at the ends, then softly cascaded over Chloe’s chest.

Beholding the adorable girl with one side braided and the other loose, Anna swelled with pride at her own handiwork.

‘Ah! My carefully styled hair!’ Chloe inwardly cried. She was about to demand an explanation for Anna’s brazen actions when Anna, with another audacious move, pressed her index finger against Chloe’s lips.

“It’s certainly fading, isn’t it?” Anna murmured, her voice soft. “At this rate, it won’t be long before it turns completely white, but it’s still not enough…” She twirled a few strands of golden hair between her fingers, observing them with an absorbed intensity.

For reasons unknown, a sudden chill crept down Chloe’s spine. Abruptly, Anna snapped her head up. Before Chloe could even react, Anna swiftly pulled down her hood.

“Ugh! What are you doing?!” Her head was suddenly exposed again, and the cool air rushing against her fair neck made Chloe feel a surge of discomfort. As curious gazes converged on her from all directions, she shot an indignant glare at the culprit.

“Where are your eyes?” Anna’s voice dropped, laced with a sudden, chilling indifference. “Didn’t you say they’d turned pink?” Her tone was unforgivingly low, as if she had been subjected to a deceit she could not tolerate.

The tables seemed to turn in an instant, with Anna immediately assuming the dominant position. Covertly, Chloe circulated the magic within her body, maintaining it at a controlled level. Her pupils gradually shifted to a vibrant pink, and the color of her hair lightened imperceptibly.

Witnessing this miraculous sight, Anna appeared to freeze for a moment. Her body instinctively recoiled a short distance, her eyebrows furrowing involuntarily before slowly relaxing again, as complex emotions swirled within her gaze. For a fleeting moment, Chloe felt a hint of animosity emanating from Anna.

Was it just a delusion? Yet, just as quickly, Anna’s expression reverted to its usual state, still adorned with that relaxed, cheerful smile.

“I understand.”

“You know the solution now?” Chloe asked, her voice laced with urgency.

“Mmm…”

“Ladies, your ‘Big Orange in Hand,’ ice cream, and lemonade are ready~ Please enjoy~” The server’s arrival with their order interrupted Anna’s words.

“Thank you.” Anna set the drinks aside, then scooped a small spoonful of creamy white ice cream and brought it toward Chloe’s delicate, pink lips. “Ah~”

“Ugh! I won’t eat it! Thank you…” Just as the ice cream was about to touch her lips, Chloe was once again seized by a sudden chill. For some inexplicable reason, she felt an instant prickling sensation, as if she were being watched by something terrifying. The sudden surge of crisis was no less intense than when she had confronted the wolf-like demon. Instinctively, she turned her head away, rejecting Anna’s unsolicited attempt to feed her. She had an ominous feeling that if she ate it, some calamity would surely befall her.

“What a shame. Little Fox should eat more sweets; it’s the only way to recover.” With a hint of disappointment, Anna returned the offered ice cream to her own mouth, savoring the creamy, fragrant treat with an unreadable expression. This little fox’s skin is as milky white as the ice cream before me, Anna mused internally. I wonder if it would taste just as sweet if I licked it…

“What kind of logic is that? Eating sweets will cure me?” Chloe’s face registered utter disbelief.

“Do you know about ‘Black Qi’?” The sudden mention of such a familiar term by Anna instantly put Chloe on edge. She hastily swallowed the lemonade, inadvertently choking.

“Cough, cough! I… I don’t know…” She feigned ignorance.

“Black Qi is a byproduct that spontaneously generates from humans under conditions of extreme negative emotions,” Anna explained. “It also serves as the energy source for demons. So-called demons are merely the final form of people like you who allow their condition to worsen.”

Frankly, the sheer volume of information would be overwhelming for an ordinary person. Chloe truly wondered how Anna could utter such utterly preposterous statements without a single change in her expression.

“Mmm… I think I understand,” Chloe responded thoughtfully. “So, how can I be cured?”

“As I just said, Black Qi is a product of extreme negative emotions,” Anna reiterated. “So, all you need to do is drink plenty of hot water and maintain a cheerful disposition over the long term, and you’ll slowly recover! Eating sweets helps with recovery for precisely this reason!”

‘This is truly… what twisted, nonsensical logic!’ Chloe thought, exasperated. “These are your only methods?”

“That’s right.”

Chloe rose from her seat and prepared to leave. “I’m leaving,” she declared, her voice sharp. “You fraud…”

It was all a complete waste of time. Clearly, this person was exactly as Chloe had initially suspected: someone who had stumbled upon a mere shred of relevant information and was now parading it around to swindle others. She wondered how many desperate, demonized individuals had already fallen victim to her deception.

“Wait…” Anna also rose, quickly grabbing Chloe’s arm. Her voice dropped to a hushed, ethereal whisper: “You’re a magical girl, aren’t you~”

Chloe’s pupils constricted sharply, and she glared at Anna with piercing intensity. Just as Chloe was about to press for further answers, Anna suddenly seemed to sense a dangerous aura. Her entire demeanor shifted to one of wariness, her eyes darting anxiously from side to side before finally settling on Chloe’s pink irises. A wicked smile played on her lips as she placed one hand on Chloe’s cheek.

“How beautiful these pink eyes are~ Until we meet again~”

With a sudden, swift movement, Anna vanished from Chloe’s sight, even forgetting to take her unfinished ice cream.

“My little sister truly is loved by everyone!”

“Eh?”