“The train is now arriving at Anning City Station. Passengers disembarking, please gather your luggage and exit first before others board.”
Su Xiaowei hummed a cheerful little tune and hopped off the train with bouncy steps.
Today Su Xiaowei wore a crisp white blouse under a bright red jacket.
A playful red bow tie at the collar added an extra touch of charm, perfectly highlighting her upright, graceful figure.
Her red plaid skirt fluttered lightly with every step, paired with black stockings that lent her an extra hint of allure.
Her jet-black ponytail bounced high behind her, full of youthful energy.
“I finally got time off. I want to see exactly what kind of bad woman could sneak her way in so fast in just a few days!”
“Sigh… when is this idiot finally going to realize that I’m the best choice~” Su Xiaowei sighed and pressed a hand to her heart.
“No. This time when I come home, I’m definitely making him mine.” Su Xiaowei made up her mind.
***
Because Lu Yinxi had matters to handle today, Su Xiaocheng was alone at home, enjoying the rare peaceful day she had gained after becoming a Magical Girl.
Under normal circumstances, a Magical Girl only needed to handle the occasional C-rank Witch that popped up and could then laze around to her heart’s content.
It had to be said that Su Xiaocheng’s luck was exceptionally bad.
Right after becoming a Magical Girl she had run into witch disasters one after another, and she had even witnessed a Magical Girl losing control.
Su Xiaocheng sprawled on the sofa in a completely relaxed pose.
The TV played the latest Magical Girl anime while she hugged a reluctant-looking Xiaotuan, idly stroking its soft fur.
“Such a nice, wonderful day~”
Just then came the sound of a key sliding into the door lock.
“Huh? Didn’t Xiaolu say she had something to do?”
Su Xiaocheng remembered that she had only given her spare key to Lu Yinxi. So who was opening the door now?
The front door swung open and Su Xiaowei walked in, dragging a suitcase behind her.
She froze for a second when she saw the unfamiliar girl lounging on the sofa like a melted puddle.
“What the—? I’ve only been gone a few days and this bad woman is already living in my house? So casual… she really is a damn bad woman!”
Though her thoughts were rapidly darkening, Su Xiaowei kept her face perfectly calm on the surface.
“Excuse me… who are you?”
“I…”
Looking at the familiar face of her little sister, Su Xiaocheng’s mind went completely blank.
Who could tell her why her little sister, who was supposed to be thousands of miles away at university, had suddenly come home without a word?
And now she was seeing her like this—how was she supposed to explain?
Oh my dear little sister, your big brother became a Magical Girl while you were away~
Su Xiaocheng silently imagined Su Xiaowei’s reaction and felt that her life as an older brother was about to come to a swift end!
“You’re… the one my brother mentioned… right?”
Su Xiaowei asked, while inwardly thinking, I was so angry last time I didn’t even catch the name of the bad woman seducing my brother.
(In truth Su Xiaocheng had never mentioned her at all.)
Seizing what felt like a lifeline, Su Xiaocheng nodded frantically.
“Yes! I’m… Su Sheng’s girlfriend. You must be his little sister, right?”
“That’s right. My brother talks about you all the time~” Su Xiaowei smiled sweetly as she stepped closer. For some reason, that smile made Su Xiaocheng feel a sudden wave of guilt.
But didn’t I only mention Xiaolu to Xiaowei once? Su Xiaocheng wondered.
“My brother always tells me you’re materialistic, lazy, never do any housework, and keep pressuring him not to slack off.”
Su Xiaowei wore the sweetest smile while the words that came out of her mouth were positively venomous.
“??” Su Xiaocheng’s mind filled with question marks.
Su Xiaowei picked up Xiaotuan with a look of distaste and tossed the kitten aside, then stared down at Su Xiaocheng from above.
“I really don’t know what my brother sees in you. A loser who just stays home watching kids’ anime all day—and on top of that, your chest is so small~”
“?? Is this still the cute little sister I know? How can those 37-degree lips spit out such ice-cold words? What’s wrong with a Magical Girl watching Magical Girl anime? It’s basically professional development!”
Of course Su Xiaocheng didn’t dare say any of that out loud. Her cover absolutely could not be blown!
“Xiaowei, how can you talk like that? No matter what, I’m… your sister-in-law.” Holding back the shame burning inside, Su Xiaocheng offered a weak protest.
“Eh? She’s not even fighting back?”
Su Xiaowei was momentarily stunned by the surrender in Su Xiaocheng’s tone. This wasn’t quite how she had imagined it.
But for her brother’s sake, she could not lose! The bad woman was showing weakness—this was the perfect chance to press the attack!
Su Xiaowei leaned in even closer until their faces were almost touching.
Just as she prepared to launch her next verbal strike—
The tossed-aside Xiaotuan chose that exact moment to jump in. “She’s actually Su Sheng meow!”
“Eh?”
Startled, Su Xiaowei lost her balance. Their lips met in a sudden, accidental kiss.
A jolt like electricity shot through both of them.
Su Xiaowei sprang away from Su Xiaocheng in an instant.
Su Xiaocheng, reacting a beat later, scrambled into the corner of the sofa and curled up into a ball.
The large living room fell silent except for the cheerful soundtrack of the anime still playing on the TV.
***
“So, Brother… you’ve become a Magical Girl now?”
After ten full minutes of explanation from one girl and one meowing kitten—complete with secret sibling trivia only the two of them knew and a quick transformation demonstration—Su Xiaowei finally accepted the new reality.
Su Xiaocheng was relieved her sister could accept the truth, but she also didn’t want to make things too hard on her.
“Mm… Xiaowei, I know this is completely crazy. It’s okay if you need time. It took me a while too.”
(In reality she had accepted it instantly the moment the Contract Price sent her flying, but she left that part out.)
To Su Xiaocheng’s surprise, Su Xiaowei immediately snuggled right up against her, rubbing her cheek against Su Xiaocheng’s chest.
“Eh? Xiaowei, what are you doing?”
“It really does feel familiar… but somehow even better.”
Su Xiaowei flashed a slightly dazed, lovestruck smile before quickly hiding it again so Su Xiaocheng wouldn’t notice.
“Brother—no, Sister.”
Su Xiaowei thought for a moment, then her eyes lit up as if she had reached a sudden realization. She changed her address once more.
“Big Sister!”
“What kind of title is ‘Big Sister’?”
Su Xiaocheng’s toes curled in embarrassment, her white socks twisting into odd shapes.
“I think it’s perfect~ Big~ Sister~” Su Xiaowei kept trying to snuggle closer.
“Stop that, Xiaowei. You’re all grown up now—you can’t be this close to your brother anymore. That kind of thing is not allowed.”
Su Xiaocheng scooted backward.
“What’s wrong with cuddling with Big Sister? Isn’t that totally normal?”
Su Xiaowei advanced step by step.
“Sisters aren’t allowed either! People get sent to the bone-zone for that!”
Su Xiaocheng backed herself into a corner with nowhere left to go.
“Eh?”
This time it was Su Xiaowei’s turn to freeze. She asked cautiously, “Did Mom and Dad never tell you?”
“What?”
Su Xiaocheng stared at her, completely lost.
get sent to the bone-zone?
That doesn’t mean what she thinks it means…