"Talk! How did you even get the door open?!"
"With this~"
Elysia lifted a thin piece of wire between her fingers and gave it a little shake. The bell on her right wrist chimed along with it.
She even looked a little proud.
"Shut up!"
Sirin shot to her feet, anger flaring in her voice.
"You break in without permission and you still have the nerve to stand there? Get out before I call the police!"
"Oh, don't be mad." Elysia spoke quickly, then softened her tone. "I can help with your homework. And after that… can we be friends?"
"We don't need a stranger meddling in our business!"
Up close, the white-haired, golden-eyed girl really did look like a feral cat with puffed fur, bristling with suspicion.
"I do!!"
Kiana, however, moved at lightning speed.
She darted in front of Elysia, grabbed her hand, and performed a solemn hand-kiss.
"Beautiful lady, I am in great need of your assistance. Please, have a seat."
"…Kiana…"
A wave of helplessness washed over Sirin.
Sometimes she truly felt embarrassed to have such a sister.
Throwing dignity away over homework. And worse, agreeing to a complete stranger without knowing anything about her.
What if she were an infiltrator?
For example, a high-level spy sent by Anti-Entropy.
A very high possibility.
After all, Sirin had never met anyone this overly familiar in her life.
Not to mention, this girl was absurdly good-looking. She might still be a little young now, but in a few years she would undoubtedly grow into the kind of beauty that could topple cities.
Verdict: Extremely dangerous.
"Oh…"
After Kiana enthusiastically explained the situation, Elysia pieced it together.
Their private tutor had assigned a mountain of homework before leaving town, tasks so excessive they bordered on impossible. Now they needed help surviving it.
"I understand your predicament."
She clasped her hands lightly.
"But it's rather late, and Miss Kiana is still hungry. So… may I invite you both to supper?"
"Really? Right now?!"
Kiana's eyes lit up. She bounced forward, hands clasped eagerly in front of her chest.
"I'm not going."
Of course, one agreed. The other refused.
Sirin curled her lip, barely concealing her disdain for Kiana.
"You're not hungry?"
The other white dumpling's face fell instantly, eyes wide like a startled kitten.
Wow. Second Sis must be a superhuman. Did she secretly eat instant noodles behind my back?
"Kiana…"
Sirin let out a sharp laugh, genuinely exasperated.
"Is something wrong with your brain? Actually, no. Both of you have issues. Serious ones."
"She eavesdropped on us, picked the lock, and barged in. And now she wants to treat you to supper. Kiana, sometimes I truly admire the 'tolerance' of your brain."
Her gaze shifted to Elysia, who stood there as if nothing were amiss. The suspicion in Sirin's tone was undisguised.
"What do you mean? Tolerant… brain?"
Kiana frowned, clearly missing the sarcasm entirely.
"Ah… I think she means an empty head…"
Elysia murmured thoughtfully, finger against her lips. She realized too late what she had said and blinked in mild regret.
Her mouth always moved faster than her brain.
"You called me dumb again! Fine! I'll deal with you after I eat!"
Kiana puffed up angrily and clenched her fists, ready to charge. But before she could take a step, her stomach growled loudly.
Her combat power plummeted.
"Let's go! Ignore her! Let her starve!"
She grabbed Elysia's wrist and stormed toward the door.
"Then I'll be going too. See you tonight!"
Even as she was dragged away, Elysia waved cheerfully at Sirin, her bracelet ringing brightly.
—
"Investigate someone for me. Elysia."
"Yes, Second Miss."
Sirin leaned against the windowsill, watching the glaring sign of a fried chicken shop still blazing across the street.
"You're sure? You have to eat this?"
"Mhm! This place is super, super good! Mom barely lets me touch it."
Kiana swung her arms happily. "You said you're treating, so this one, this one!"
"Alright~"
Truthfully, Elysia had no real desire for fried chicken.
The rich scent of oil drifted across the street, but she could already imagine it settling into a tiny belly she would later regret. If someone saw her looking rounder than usual, she would never live it down.
"Two kids' meals! And one original fried chicken! Two beef burgers! Two drumsticks! And—"
Kiana rattled off her order at breakneck speed. Elysia stared.
"Kiana… can the two of us even finish that?"
"Oh! That's just for me!"
Kiana smacked her forehead and turned sheepish. "Sorry! Got carried away and forgot about you."
"What about you? What do you want?"
"A cup of… water is fine."
"Water?" Kiana dug at her ear dramatically. "Did I hear that right?"
Even the cashier looked at Elysia with faint concern, as if she might be penniless.
"Ahem…"
Elysia cleared her throat, the tips of her ears reddening slightly.
"I'm just… thirsty."
Kiana immediately dragged her into a corner and whispered, "You're not broke, are you? Be honest. I've got money. I can treat you."
"…."
Elysia's expression twitched between resignation and disbelief.
"No need to worry. I could easily afford to raise ten Kianas."
She brushed a strand of hair from her face and added lightly, "I simply prefer lighter food."
Of course, if the wild and lively little kitten beside her insisted on dragging her into indulgence, she would not exactly protest.
She kept that thought to herself and went to pay.
They found seats by the window.
Soon enough, Kiana was devouring burgers and biting into drumsticks, oil glistening at the corners of her mouth. There was not the slightest hint of the dignified Third Miss of House Kaslana in sight.
"…."
Elysia rested her cheek in her hand and watched quietly.
So this was Kiana before meeting Mei.
A little stray kitten.
And perhaps… she had arrived just one step ahead.
…
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