Chapter 15: Date Invitation (II)

“Huh?” Yiruo stood frozen, staring at Yilena’s gleaming eyes as she trembled slightly.

“Ooh~” The witch let out an amazed cry and threw herself at the nearest rack. “New styles! This one! This one! And this one—”

She turned back to Yiruo, a dangerous light flickering in her pupils. “Little Yiruo~ Let’s try on clothes~”

Yiruo took a step back.

“…Can I refuse?”

“No, you can’t~”

Yilena rummaged through the rack for a moment, quickly put together an outfit, and handed it to Yiruo.

Yiruo took the clothes blankly, then turned and headed for the changing room next door.

“If Little Yiruo can’t figure out how to put it on, Miss Witch can personally go in and help you~”

“Pervert witch!”

A gritted voice came from inside the changing room.

A few minutes later, Yiruo emerged.

The girl now wore a dark blue dress paired with a beige shirt and white puff sleeves at the chest as accents. A large beige bow was tied at her waist, giving off a soft and languid vibe.

Yilena’s eyes lit up at the sight of Yiruo.

“Wow~ Where did this little kitten come from? Wanna come home with big sister?”

Yiruo lifted her chin with a bit of tsundere pride, as if she had no intention of going home with this witch.

She turned to look at the mirror. This outfit made her look soft and fluffy, like a cat that had just woken up.

“Next is this!”

Yilena shoved another set of clothes at her, and Yiruo had no choice but to return to the changing room.

This time, she changed into a beige sweater and a light-colored jumper skirt.

Yilena stepped forward, gave her a once-over, then took out a black bow and clipped it onto the skirt.

“Oh my~ I’m getting jealous. Little Yiruo, how are you this adorable~”

With that, she reached out with her wicked hands and started squeezing Yiruo’s cheeks.

“Let go, pervert witch…”

Yiruo felt uncomfortable from the squeezing and, on instinct, bit down on Yilena’s finger.

The taste of blood spread through her mouth.

The next second, Yiruo snapped back to reality and immediately let go, stepping back.

Her pupils glowed with a faint red light, and a shallow bite mark remained on Yilena’s finger.

Yiruo panicked and wanted to say something, but Yilena gently pressed a finger to her lips.

“Sorry… I didn’t mean to bite you…”

“It’s okay~ Even kittens bite when they’re upset~ If Little Yiruo really wants to suck my blood, I can agree to that too~”

“That kind of thing… never.”

Yiruo denied it hastily, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

The air suddenly grew stuffy.

Yiruo felt something off in her body.

A strange heat rose from her abdomen, spreading through her limbs and into her bones, making her whole body go weak.

Instinctively, she chose to run.

“I-I’ll go change into another set in the changing room…”

She practically broke free and rushed into the changing room.

But she didn’t notice—

Behind her, Yilena’s face was also tinged with a faint blush.

Inside the changing room.

The moment the curtain closed, Yiruo slumped to the floor as if she had lost all strength.

She raised a hand and touched her face.

‘So hot.’

She looked up at the mirror.

Her own reflection had a dazed expression.

‘So delicious.’

The thought surged uncontrollably through her mind.

The taste of that single drop of blood still lingered on her tongue.

Unlike the warm sweetness of Lilian’s black tea, this was stronger, deeper, even intoxicating.

If black tea was a pleasure for the taste buds, then Yilena’s blood—

was a primal craving from deep within her body.

‘I want more.’

‘Just a little more.’

Yiruo’s breathing grew rapid, and her tongue unconsciously licked her lips.

“No…”

She shook her head violently.

“I can’t do this…”

Just then—

Her reflection in the mirror moved.

The figure, identical to her, now stood with arms crossed, crimson eyes glinting with mockery.

“My dear big sister~”

The voice was sweet, but laced with thorns.

“You know what you just did, right?”

Yiruo remained silent.

“The taste of witch blood is amazing, isn’t it?” The “Yiruo” in the mirror smiled even brighter. “You should have sucked a little more~ She wouldn’t have minded anyway, right?”

“I won’t force myself to drink someone else’s blood,” Yiruo said quietly. “And… it’s not necessary.”

“Is that so?”

The mirror Yiruo pressed closer to the glass and whispered:

“What if I told you she actually wants you to drink her blood?”

“What?!”

“She’s been leading you on~ Haven’t you noticed?”

Countless images flashed through her mind.

The witch who always teased her.

The witch who always hugged her.

The witch who always touched her.

…She really would do something like that.

Yiruo’s face grew even redder.

“What are you thinking about, my dear big sister?”

“I wasn’t thinking about anything like that!”

The mirror Yiruo laughed softly.

“You know? Our vampire teeth release a neural substance when we bite.”

“It’s to keep the other person from feeling pain.”

She paused, a hint of malice flickering in her eyes.

“But—if you don’t suck enough, and that substance remains in the body…”

“It produces an effect similar to ‘excitement’~”

Boom!

Yiruo’s mind went completely blank.

Right then—

The changing room curtain was yanked open.

Yiruo spun around in panic.

Yilena stood at the entrance.

Her eyes were glazed, her cheeks flushed, and her breathing was rapid and hot.

One hand braced against the wall, the other kept tugging at her collar, revealing her collarbone and slightly reddened skin.

“Little Yiruo…”

Her voice was unnervingly soft.

“I… I feel so awful…”

The next second—

She lunged forward.

“Eek—!”

Yiruo couldn’t dodge. She was caught in a hug and pinned against the wall.

The cold wall contrasted sharply with the burning body.

“W-What are you doing… pervert witch!”

Yilena didn’t answer.

She just buried her face in Yiruo’s neck, her warm breath landing on the skin again and again.

“Little Yiruo… you smell so good…”

Her voice was slurred and intoxicated.

“Let me rub against you…”

And she really did rub.

Like a giant cat acting spoiled.

“Such soft cheeks… I can’t leave you now~”

Yiruo was completely frozen.

But what was even scarier—

She realized she didn’t hate this touch.

In fact… she kind of liked it.

“No, no, no!”

She shook her head fiercely.

“Look into my eyes~”

Yilena cupped her face.

Their distance was so close they were almost touching.

“Why don’t we do something that only girls do together, okay?”

Yiruo’s pupils contracted.

The next second—

She squeezed her eyes shut.

And then—

She bit down on Yilena’s neck.

“—!”

Yilena let out a soft gasp, her body going limp.

Warm blood flooded Yiruo’s mouth.

At that moment, an indescribable power and sweetness surged through her like a tidal wave.

‘So wonderful…’

She unconsciously deepened the bite.

Yilena groaned softly, her fingers gripping Yiruo’s shoulders, but she didn’t push her away.

After who knows how long—

Yiruo finally let go.

She looked at the two small bite marks left on the pale neck.

A few blood beads oozed out, glistening in the light.

On instinct, she stuck out her tongue and gently licked them away.

Using saliva to stop the bleeding.

The air grew still.

Only their breathing remained.

“…Little Yiruo really is a little troublemaker.”

Yilena smiled weakly.

Yiruo said nothing.

She just held her.

Feeling each other’s warmth and heartbeats.

***

Hours later.

Lilian opened her eyes.

She rubbed her temples.

“…It doesn’t hurt as much.”

She got up and walked into the shop.

The air was quiet.

But—

A strange aura lingered.

Traces of chaotic magic.

And a faint smell of blood.

She frowned.

Stepping up to the counter, she saw a few photos and a letter.

***

“Dear Lilian~

Today’s clothes were su—per—adorable! Little Yiruo looked like a little princess straight out of a fairy tale!

Put the bill on my tab for now. I’ll settle it next time~

We borrowed the fitting room a bit, so it might be a little messy, but beautiful Lilian won’t mind, right?

Attached are some photos of Little Yiruo in her outfits~ Don’t be too jealous that I have such a cute kid~”

***

Lilian was silent for two seconds.

“…What the hell did those two do in my shop.”

She opened the window.

The wind blew in.

Carrying away the lingering scent.

She let out a soft sigh and poured herself a glass of wine.

“Next time they come… I’ll charge them extra.”

Sunlight fell on the photos.

The girl in the picture stood quietly beside the witch.

It was the warmth of “family.”

Lilian drained the glass in one gulp.