“I ate three bowls of noodles. I almost exploded.”
“You actually ate two whole bowls?”
Sheffil shuffled forward, holding his stomach in pain.
For someone with a normal human male stomach, downing three massive bowls of noodles was pushing it.
The shop owner had been standing right there.
Anyone with half a brain could’ve figured out Sheffil didn’t want those extra two bowls.
But the owner still brought them out—and once they were on the table, he had to pay for them either way.
If he didn’t eat them, it would’ve haunted him all day.
“You could’ve just left them. Why push yourself so hard? Is your brain really functioning?”
Jianle gave him a look as if she was staring at an idiot.
“Shut up. Not everyone’s made of money like you.”
Sheffil shot a glare at the girl beside him before asking, “Got any plans? I’m bored out of my mind.”
“Who asks a girl out with a line like that?”
“Hard to consider you a female when you’re built like a B70.”
“Are you asking to lose your nose?”
“Wait—! I was wrong, okay?!”
The memory of their first meeting hit Sheffil like a slap—he instantly froze, hair on end, and apologized at the speed of light.
No way was he risking another fractured nose and a half-month stay in the infirmary.
“At least you’re quick to admit fault.”
Jianle unclenched her fist, giving Sheffil a deadpan stare as he practically slid to his knees in surrender.
She looked up at the blazing sun, tied her waist-length hair into a high ponytail, and muttered,
“I’m not like Dorothy. Outside of training, there’s really not much else I do.”
“Right, I forgot you’re a total martial arts shut-in.”
Sheffil let out a dramatic sigh.
But then, like a lightbulb switching on, his eyes gleamed.
“Hey, wanna go find something fun to do?”
“Fun?”
Jianle turned to look at him.
Her face remained expressionless, but Sheffil could tell that this flat-chested, violent girl was at least a little intrigued.
Yes! Finally something to kill time.
“Yeah, I heard there’s some interesting stuff going on in the northern part of the commercial district,” Sheffil continued, baiting the hook.
Jianle was probably the most mysterious—and possibly the most boring—person he’d ever met.
No friends aside from Dorothy (and by extension, him), no teachers she was close with, no student organizations, no mention of family.
Just a relentless focus on strength and training.
She was always cold-faced, brushing off admirers like they were flies.
If it weren’t for the way she had a whole arsenal of snark ready whenever she talked to him, Sheffil might’ve thought she just didn’t like talking at all.
But she was good at talking.
That made Sheffil want to know more about her—pull back the curtain, uncover who she really was.
And if even he felt that way, someone like Dorothy—who loved unknowns even more—was already completely hooked.
So, technically, this was just groundwork.
He was laying a foundation to help Dorothy crack Jianle’s shell.
Gathering intel.
That was all.
He definitely wasn’t trying to steal his childhood friend’s crush like some blonde third-rate rival.
In fact, Sheffil was terrified of the idea that if he ever did get a girlfriend, Dorothy might just swoop in and steal her right out from under him.
No, thank you.
jpg.
If he was still single, it was entirely Dorothy’s fault.
“Northern district? Well… I’ve finished my training for the day,” Jianle said after a brief internal struggle.
“Lead the way.”
“Let’s go.”
***
Herald Commercial Street – Northern Subdistrict
As the entertainment hub of Jadecrest, the northern part of Herald Street catered to more than just student needs.
Being so close to the prestigious Jadecrest Academy, the area had developed a thriving industry built on the fame of the academy’s elite students.
On a continent where strength ruled all, the public’s obsession with individual power far outweighed their loyalty to any collective.
That made the academy’s students hot commodities—not just in admiration, but in marketing too.
A whole economy had grown around them.
“‘Most Beautiful Freshman’? ‘Top Ten Outstanding Youths’? What the hell is all this?”
Jianle frowned at the booklet in her hands, baffled by the bold, red-font headlines.
She and Sheffil stood before a magazine stall.
Sheffil casually picked up one of the magazines from the top shelf.
On the cover was a twin-tailed girl with black hair and sparkling blue eyes, confidently throwing a V-sign at the camera.
The title: Most Beautiful Freshman.
“Hey, so this is this year’s pick?”
He flipped through the pages with amusement.
“Every year, a couple months after entrance exams, they do an exclusive interview with the top scorer. Last year, it was Dorothy.”
“And the top ten youths thing?”
“That’s the ten strongest students currently enrolled. Isn’t it obvious?”
“Hmm…”
Jianle muttered as she flipped through the magazine herself.
“All future targets to beat.”
“We’ll take these two,” Sheffil said, eyeing Jianle who was completely absorbed in the pages.
“Alright, 20 rubies for both. Thanks for your business,” the short, stocky vendor said cheerfully, waving a fan as he waddled over.
Clack!
Ten rubies slammed onto the counter.
Both the vendor and Sheffil turned in surprise.
Jianle had already stuffed the magazines into her shoulder bag.
“Hurry up. Stop dawdling.”
“Ahaha… your girlfriend’s pretty assertive, huh?” the vendor said awkwardly, sweat beading on his forehead.
“She’s a handful, that’s for sure… OW!”
Before Sheffil could finish his laugh, Jianle’s iron fist struck.
“Who’s your girlfriend, huh? Just because Dorothy’s not around today you think you can talk nonsense?”
Her tone dropped several degrees.
“Pay up. Now.”
“Ow, ow, ow! You’re brutal…”
Sheffil whined, rubbing the new lump on his head as he handed over the remaining ten rubies under the shopkeeper’s pitying gaze.
“So, where to next?”
Jianle asked, walking a few steps ahead before glancing back.
“Eh, let’s just wander. There’s a comic shop up ahead I wanted to check out. Coming?”
Sheffil had recovered from the blow by now, dragging his feet a little.
“You brought me here. I’ll go wherever you go,” Jianle replied, slowing down to walk beside him.
“Alright, then let’s pick up the pace.”
Sheffil scratched his nose.
They had stood apart earlier, but now with their stark contrast—his black hair, her white, and a nearly 30-centimeter height difference—they stood out way too much.
Especially since they were the two people seen most often with Jadecrest’s star student, Dorothy.
If one of those sketchy tabloid writers caught a glimpse, tomorrow’s headlines would be something like:
“Stolen Love?! Academy Goddess Dorothy Betrayed by Childhood Friend?!”
No thanks.
Sheffil liked peace.
And he really didn’t want Dorothy to pulverize him.
“Sheffil. Sheffil,” Jianle’s voice cut through his spiraling thoughts.
“What now?”
“Look over there. Doesn’t that say my name and Dorothy’s?”
Sheffil followed her pointing finger.
A small booth sat tucked into the side of the road.
“Booth” was generous—just a table under a banner, really.
But it wasn’t the setup that caught their eyes.
It was the words on the banner:
“Dorothy x Jianle!!! Will you be my witch and mine alone?~ (All Ages Edition) — On Sale Now!”
……
And just like that, the silence hit.
So.
Incredibly.
Awkward.