Chapter 9: Café (III)

“Things like that… are possible…?!”

Yiruo suddenly sat up from the bed, gasping for breath.

The warm breath brushed her ear. She unconsciously touched her own face—a burning sensation spread from her cheeks to her palms, her heart pounding so fast it felt like it might leap out of her throat. The image from moments ago still replayed in her mind—that witch pounced on her with ill intent, pinning her to the bed, while she lay there completely defenseless…

“Ugh…”

Yiruo covered her face with both hands, letting out a small whimper.

How embarrassing. She didn’t even have the strength to resist, just sinking into that woman’s gentle embrace like that.

‘Yiruo, you can’t keep going like this. If this continues, she’ll devour you until there’s nothing left.’

Thinking this, Yiruo looked around.

The pink bedside lamp was still lit, casting warm yellow light over the bedding. The giant whale plushie still lay innocently at the head of the bed. The window was slightly open, and outside she could hear the faint sound of the night breeze.

Yilena was gone.

Yiruo blinked, then noticed that her body felt a bit sticky, covered in a thin layer of sweat.

Looking back, after Yilena pounced on her, her brain had completely shut down. Her whole body went limp, unable to muster any strength, incapable of even thinking.

In the end…

She passed out.

Yiruo looked down at herself.

Her old, worn-out pajamas were gone, replaced by a pink nightgown.

The fabric of the nightgown was clearly better quality, with delicate lace trim at the neckline and cuffs, the hem just reaching her knees. Compared to her original one, this one… was far too cute.

She didn’t need to guess who changed it.

“That perverted witch…” Yiruo muttered through gritted teeth. “Does she think I’m her dress-up doll?”

She sat up, ready to get out of bed.

As soon as her feet touched the floor, she noticed a pair of pink rabbit slippers placed beside the bed.

Yiruo looked at the shoes, then at her feet.

And then, as if possessed, she slipped her feet into them.

They fit perfectly.

The soft, warm fur inside wrapped around her small feet, like stepping onto clouds. For a moment, Yiruo didn’t know what expression to make.

Just then—

“Master!”

A small fire shadow darted in through the crack in the door and dove straight into her arms.

It was Rabi.

It looked up, red light flickering in its amber eyes, holding something in its two hands.

Yiruo reached out and took it.

A small note.

“That wicked witch told me to give this to Master!” Rabi said, nuzzling against her face.

Yiruo pushed it aside a bit, complaining, “Now you’re trying to curry favor with me? Where were you when that perverted witch pounced on me?”

Rabi was momentarily at a loss for words, then just rested on her shoulder to look at the note together.

[The new pajamas are cute, aren’t they? I thought you’d love them.

This is a carefully chosen gift from Miss Witch, including the rabbit slippers.

I wanted to surprise you, but I ended up scaring you. Miss Witch apologizes to you!

You’ll forgive the cute and charming Miss Witch, right?

×((>m<))]

Yiruo stared at the emoticon at the end, a vein throbbing on her forehead.

“…Perverted witch.”

She crumpled the note into a ball in her hand.

“How dare she taunt me!”

With that, she swung out of bed and, wearing those rabbit slippers, marched toward the door.

“Perverted witch, you just wait!”

Creak—

As soon as she opened the door, she nearly bumped into someone.

Yiruo stopped abruptly and looked up.

Elliana was standing outside.

She wore a light blue, semi-transparent halter-neck nightgown, holding a glass of warm milk in her left hand while her right hand was poised to knock.

Seeing Yiruo, she blinked in surprise, then revealed a gentle smile:

“Would you like some?”

Yiyou’s gaze fell on the milk, and she couldn’t look away.

She nodded.

The moment she took the cup, the aroma of warm milk wafted over, carrying a faint sweetness and warmth.

“Sister Yilena said you were asleep, so she changed you into your pajamas first.” Elliana said softly. “I heard the noise and realized you were awake, so…”

“Thank you.”

Yiruo took a careful sip.

The warm liquid slid down her throat.

So warm.

That warmth seemed to spread from inside her body. The richness of the milk, the sweetness of the honey, and a scent like sunshine filtered through her mouth, down to her stomach, then radiating to her limbs.

Yiruo couldn’t help but take another sip.

Elliana watched her seriously savoring the drink, a small smile escaping her lips.

“Delicious.” Yiruo finished the last sip and looked up earnestly. “Everything Elliana recommends… is good.”

Hearing such a direct compliment, Elliana blushed slightly.

She lowered her eyes, her smile softening.

“I’m glad you like it.”

She paused, then added:

“Reya just woke up. She said she wants to invite you to play a board game. It’s a game everyone plays together, really fun. Would you like to come?”

Board game.

A strange and novel term.

But at that moment, only one thing occupied Yiyou’s mind.

“And Sister Yilena?”

Elliana was taken aback: “She should be in the bathroom right now—”

Before she could finish, Yiruo shoved the cup back into her hands.

“Thank you, Elliana. Next time, let’s play together.”

With that, she turned and ran.

Her slippers slapped against the floor, her small figure disappearing around the corner in an instant.

Elliana stood there, blinking for a few seconds.

Then a thought slowly surfaced:

‘…Sister Yilena is taking a bath, and little Yiruo is heading over…’

Her expression turned a bit complicated.

***

The hallway was silent.

Yiruo moved quickly on instinct.

‘I won’t be eaten, will I…’

Splash…

A warm yellow light seeped through the crack in the door, accompanied by the sound of water and humming.

Yiruo took a deep breath and pushed the door open—

“Perverted witch!”

But the next second, her words caught in her throat.

Steaming heat rushed toward her, carrying a faint fragrance.

In the large bathtub, Yilena was soaking in the water.

Her pink hair was wet, draped over her shoulders and the water’s surface, her exposed collarbones and shoulders flushed pink from the steam. She was facing away from the door, her graceful back half-hidden, half-visible in the water, humming a light, distant tune.

The moment the door was pushed open, the humming stopped.

She turned her head to look at Yiruo at the doorway, a sly smile spreading across her face.

Yiruo’s brain shut down again.

What lay before her was completely beyond her comprehension.

Blood rushed to her head, her ears ringing.

“Oh my~” Miss Witch reached out a hand and pulled her in. “Even a cute young lady shouldn’t be so rude as to barge into someone’s private space without permission~”

“I-I didn’t mean to!” Yiruo squeezed her eyes shut, her face burning red. “Don’t say such strange things!”

She tried frantically to escape.

But the next second, a wet hand grabbed her wrist.

“Ya—!”

The world spun.

By the time she came to, she had stumbled into the bathtub, sitting in Yilena’s embrace.

The warm water instantly enveloped her.

“You!!!”

Yiruo was utterly stunned.

“Don’t move, don’t move~” Yilena laughed. “Your clothes are already wet, it’ll be even more uncomfortable to get out now~”

The soft sensation behind her made Yiruo freeze instantly.

She bowed her head, burying her face in her knees.

“P-Perverted witch…”

“Uh-huh, I’m a perverted witch~ Is the water temperature okay?”

“You… you’re impossible!”

Yiruo opened her mouth.

But the water temperature was just right.

Neither hot nor cold, making one unconsciously relax.

“…It’s okay.”

“Good~”

A hand gently landed on her head.

Yilena’s fingers ran through her wet hair, her movements tender, as if touching something precious.

She picked up a bottle of clear liquid, poured some onto Yiyou’s hair, and gently worked it in.

Bubbles slowly appeared.

Yiruo stood frozen, unsure how to react.

“Come, let Miss Witch wash you properly~ A pretty girl needs to take good care of her hair~”

Her fingertips gently massaged her scalp, just the right pressure.

It was so comfortable it made her want to close her eyes.

Yiruo bit her lip, trying hard not to make any strange sounds.

But her body had already begun to relax.

“…Pervert,” she muttered softly.

Yilena chuckled, not arguing.

After an unknown amount of time.

The bubbles were rinsed away.

Yiyou’s hair was wrapped in a towel.

She leaned completely against Yilena, bonelessly soft.

Just then, she felt a slight movement at her waist.

She turned to look.

A pair of small black wings had emerged from her back.

Like a bat’s wings, trembling gently with each breath.

“Wow~ so cute.” Yilena lightly touched them.

“Ya—!”

A strange sensation shot through her body.

The next second, the wings vanished.

As if they had never existed.

Yiruo blushed and said nothing.

“Let me touch them again~”

“N-No!”

“No means no!”

“Boo, little Yiruo is being mean to me~”

The water gently rippled.

Yilena pinched her cheek.

“Don’t ignore me~ Talk to me~”

A moment of silence.

Yiruo looked down at her reflection in the water.

“…You knew from the beginning, didn’t you?”

Yilena didn’t answer.

“From the very first moment you saw me, you recognized my true nature.”

The water trembled slightly.

“Such a unique magical frequency couldn’t possibly exist elsewhere.”

She turned around.

The two faced each other.

“During the time of the witch extinction, a jade known as ‘Miracle’ was born.”

Yiruo extended her hand, and a blue light flickered in her palm.

At the same time, a pink crystal appeared in Yilena’s hand.

The bathroom fell silent.

After a long while.

Yilena gently smiled.

“So that’s why you came back with us, right?”

She lightly tapped Yiruo’s nose.

“Since you’ve chosen to stay, just stay here.”

Yiruo froze.

“You should have told me from the start!”

“And how should I have said it?” Yilena tilted her head with a smile. “Saying I was lonely and wanted you as my family?”

“Are you an idiot!”

“Boo, little Yiruo is being mean to me again~”

Yiruo ignored her, wrapped herself in a towel, and prepared to leave.

“Hurry up, find me some clothes.”

“Oh my~ Are we going to do girly things together~”

“Shut up! Perverted witch!”