Chapter 17: Date Invitation (IV)

My heart is pounding so fast.

Yi You sat in her seat, listening to the thumping sound in her chest, feeling like she was about to burst into flames.

It was all the fault of those messy memories from earlier.

She needed to calm down.

“…I want to go to the restroom.”

She said quietly, trying to make her voice sound normal.

Yilena rested her chin on her hand, staring at the girl with her head down.

“Oh my~ Little Yi You isn’t trying to sneak away, is she?”

Yi You’s face turned even redder.

“I-I’m not!”

She almost jumped up, scurried on her short little legs toward the counter like a panicked mouse fleeing from a cat.

Behind the counter, a maid with long black hair was busy preparing orders.

She looked very busy, her hands moving quickly, muttering to herself about “Table 2’s strawberry parfait” and “Table 5’s hot cocoa.”

Yi You stood outside the counter, looked up, and cleared her throat.

“Excuse me—”

No response.

The maid continued with her work.

Yi You took a deep breath and raised her voice a little.

“Where is the restroom here—?”

Still no response.

The maid kept her head down and even started humming a tune.

Yi You: ….

At this point, the girl felt ignored.

She took another deep breath, and then—

“I ASKED—WHERE IS THE RESTROOM HERE!!!”

This time, she almost shouted.

The maid’s hand suddenly stopped, and she looked up in confusion, glancing around.

“Huh?! Who! Who’s speaking!”

She looked left, then right, and finally looked down, spotting the small face blushing with embarrassment below the counter.

“Ah!”

The maid let out a startled cry, nearly dropping the spoon in her hand.

“S-sorry, sorry! Little one, I didn’t see you!”

Little one.

Yi You froze instantly.

She instinctively looked down at herself.

At four-foot-seven, she was completely hidden behind the counter.

Well, maybe she was a bit short…

But she still couldn’t help but retort.

“I-I’m not little!”

The maid naturally took Yi You’s hand, her movements as gentle as if she were leading a lost kitten.

“Okay, okay~” The maid smiled as she walked out from behind the counter. “Big sis will take you to the restroom first. Come on, follow me~”

She led Yi You all the way to the restroom door.

“Here it is~ Do you need me to wait for you?”

“N-no, I’m fine…”

Yi You pulled her hand back and lowered her head as she slipped into the restroom.

Behind her came the maid’s cheerful laugh. “Call me if you need anything~”

Inside the restroom.

Yi You stood in front of the sink and turned on the faucet.

The icy water flowed over her fingertips. She cupped some water and gently splashed it on her face.

Once. Twice.

She looked up. The girl in the mirror still had flushed cheeks, and her breathing was a little faster than usual.

Yi You stared at her reflection for a few seconds.

Then she spoke softly.

“…Yi Guan, do you have something to say to me?”

The surface of the mirror rippled slightly.

The next moment, the girl with crimson pupils emerged from the mirror.

She lazily propped her head up, wearing a mischievous smile as she looked at Yi You.

“My dear big sister, what do you need me for?”

Yi You stared at her, somewhat annoyed.

“Why… after I drank Yilena’s blood, I can’t control my racing heart?”

***

The girl in the mirror immediately burst out laughing, doubled over, and even tears nearly came out.

Yi You looked at her blankly.

“W-What are you laughing at?”

“Hahaha—my dear big sister—hahaha—”

Yi Guan laughed until she was out of breath, finally straightened up, and wiped the corner of her eye.

“You really are… hahaha… emotionally immature!”

She stretched out her slender finger, as if she were going to tap Yi You’s forehead through the mirror.

“You can understand so many profound blood clan theories and read so many complex magic runes—”

Her crimson eyes held a hint of teasing.

“But why can’t you get a clue about something like this?”

Yi You’s face turned red again.

“What are you trying to say!”

“Hmm~” Yi Guan put her finger to her lips, tilting her head as if thinking of the right words.

Then she revealed a meaningful smile, with a bit of mischief in it.

“Big sister is so innocent, you’ll be devoured by that experienced witch without even a bone left~”

“She… wants to eat me?”

“Pfft—”

Yi Guan laughed again.

“What are you laughing at? Just tell me straight!”

Watching the girl in the mirror laugh nonstop, Yi You grew a little irritated.

“Think whatever you want~” She waved her hand, then opened her mouth and stuck out her tongue to lick her sharp fangs.

“But since my dear big sister managed to make me laugh, I’ll tell you a little something.”

She paused, and a hint of seriousness flashed in her crimson eyes.

“When we blood clans select a prey and taste them, the two parties usually develop a kind of ‘withdrawal reaction.'”

“Getting close to her is a good thing.”

“A good thing?”

“At least you won’t be driven mad by the urge to drink blood.”

Yi You was stunned.

“…And what about her?”

Yi Guan seemed to find the question amusing and laughed even more happily.

“Are you sure you’re the only one whose heart is racing?”

“What do you mean?”

“A girl’s heart—you have to figure it out yourself~”

Yi Guan waved at her, then her figure gradually faded.

“Remember, my dear big sister—you bit her, so she’s yours now~”

The mirror returned to calm.

Only Yi You was left staring blankly at her reflection.

When she came out of the restroom, Yi You noticed that the atmosphere in the café had changed.

The previously quiet café was now buzzing with excitement.

“Oh my god! Someone actually took that challenge!!”

“The huge double parfait challenge! No one has dared order it in years!”

“So which couple chose the challenge? Can they do it?”

“No idea, but this is going to be good!”

Yi You listened blankly to the chatter around her.

Challenge? What challenge?

She walked back to her seat with confusion.

Then she froze.

On their table, there was now an enormous cup.

Seriously, enormous.

The cup was half the size of Yi You’s head. The transparent glass was piled high with layers upon layers of ice cream.

Green matcha, white milk, pink strawberry, brown chocolate, stacked higher and higher, with two intertwined heart-shaped straws sticking out of the top.

Yi You stood frozen.

A familiar presence and laughter came from behind her.

“Back~”

Yilena had somehow already appeared behind her, gently pushing her shoulders to guide her into the seat.

“Perfect timing~ We’re just about to start~”

Yi You was pushed down into her seat, staring at the parfait that was bigger than her head, her mind blank.

She turned stiffly to look at Yilena.

“…You didn’t… choose that challenge, did you!”

“Bingo~” Yilena sat down beside her with a smile. “Life is all about challenges, isn’t it~”

“Eating it all in one go is the real challenge~”

“But…”

“Please~” Yilena leaned in, her sapphire blue eyes inches away.

The witch’s voice was as soft as cotton.

“Say yes, won’t you? My little Yi You~”

Yi You’s breath caught.

She was so close she could see Yilena’s long lashes, feel her warm breath, and see her own reflection in those eyes.

That face was way too close.

Her voice was impossibly soft.

“…D-Don’t come so close…”

“So did you agree?”

“I…”

Just then, the maid from earlier came over.

Her expression was complicated, mixed with worry and anticipation.

At some point, the noise in the café had quieted down.

Everyone was watching them.

Yilena nodded, her smile bright.

“Of course~”

The maid turned to Yi You.

Yi You met those hopeful eyes, then looked at the gazes around her cheering “Go for it, little one” and “We’re rooting for you.” Finally, she looked at the smiling witch beside her.

She took a deep breath, then—

Stiffly nodded.

“Great—!”

The maid’s eyes lit up, and she turned to announce to the café:

The café erupted in applause and cheers.

Yi You sat there, feeling like she had been pushed onto some strange stage.

Then she saw the two intertwined heart-shaped straws.

Two.

Stuck in the same cup.

That meant…

She would have to…

Yi You felt like she could hear the girl’s laughter in her ears, her cheeks burning.

“Alright~” Yilena’s voice interrupted her wild thoughts. “Ready to start~”

She lowered her head and put one of the straws in her mouth.

Her sapphire blue eyes looked over the rim of the cup, straight at Yi You.

Yi You’s heart skipped a beat.

Then she lowered her head and put the other straw in her mouth.

The warm, sweet liquid rushed into her mouth.

She instinctively took a sip.

The bitterness of matcha, the richness of milk, the sweetness of cream—

She couldn’t help taking another sip.

Then a second, a third.

All the flavors mixed together, exploding on her tongue.

Then she found herself unconsciously speeding up, as if racing the other person.

But every time she looked up, she met those smiling eyes.

That look seemed to say: Slow down, no need to rush.

Or maybe: Being with you, doing anything is fine.

Yi You’s face grew redder.

But she didn’t look away.

Like that, across the huge cup, across the two heart-shaped straws, she stared into Yilena’s eyes, spoonful after spoonful “destroying” the mountain of ice cream.

She didn’t know how long passed.

“L-Last bite—!”

The maid shouted excitedly.

Yi You looked down. Only a little melted cream was left at the bottom of the cup.

She put her lips around the straw and sucked hard.

“Gulp—”

It was empty.

Only the sound of air being sucked through the straw.

Yi You looked up.

Yilena on the other side also looked up.

Both had cream on their lips, their cheeks flushed from exertion, their breathing slightly heavy.

They locked eyes and laughed at the same time.

The café erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

“They did it—!”

“Oh my god, they actually finished it!”

“That couple is amazing!”

When Yi You heard the words “that couple,” she shyly looked down.

But she didn’t deny it.

Yilena was looking at her right now, and she was smiling so beautifully.

So… let them say what they want.

The maid ran over excitedly, holding a delicate little box.

“C-Congratulations on clearing the challenge!”

She handed the box to them and opened it.

Inside were a pair of earrings.

They were the same style, both small star shapes, but in different colors—

One set with a pink gem, glowing softly under the light.

The other set with a blue gem, like the deep night sky.

Her face flushed slightly as she said softly:

“A symbol of the bond between lovers…”

Yi You’s ears buzzed.

But Yilena had already reached out, picked up the pink gem earring, and handed it to Yi You.

“Little Yi You~ This one’s for you.”

Yi You was stunned for a moment, then took the earring.

The pink gem sparkled in her palm.

Yilena picked up the blue gem earring and held it up to her own ear.

“Does it look good?”

“…It’s okay.”

Yi You said quietly.

Then she looked down at the earring in her hand, her voice even softer.

“We’re… not lovers…”

“Hmm?” Yilena leaned in. “What did you say?”

“N-Nothing!”

Yi You clutched the earring in her hand and stood up to walk outside.

Yilena followed with a laugh, but before leaving, she turned and waved at the maid.

“Thanks for the hospitality~ It was delicious~”

Outside.

The sunlight wasn’t as harsh anymore.

Yi You stood outside, looking down at the pink earring in her palm.

Yilena came to stand beside her, saying nothing, just standing quietly.

After a long moment, Yi You whispered.

“…How do I put this on?”

Yilena blinked, then burst out laughing.

“Here, let me help you~”

She took the earring and gently brushed Yi You’s hair aside from her ear.

The cool post touched her earlobe, and Yi You shuddered.

“Don’t move~” Yilena’s voice sounded in her ear, full of laughter and a hint of tenderness that was barely noticeable.

The post went through.

“There~”

Yi You touched her ear. The tiny pink star swayed gently.

She looked up at Yilena.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled over her, turning her pink hair a warm orange.

The blue gem earring glittered at her ear, making those blue eyes seem even gentler.

“Does it look good?” Yilena asked.

“…Yes.”

Yi You whispered.

Then she reached out and gently took Yilena’s hand.

Yilena was startled for a moment, then smiled even brighter.

She held the little hand back, intertwining their fingers.

“Come on, today’s date was great, wasn’t it~”

“…It was pretty good.”

Under the setting sun, two figures walked away into the distance.

Like two hearts that had just met.

A pink star and a blue star, twinkling faintly in the afterglow.