~ 4:30 PM.
Lumina Square was bustling with students getting off school, girls in uniforms strolling and chatting in twos and threes, while most of the boys ran to the arcade to play on the gaming machines.
According to the agreed location, Furina stood by a utility pole outside the dessert shop, waiting quietly with her hands behind her back.
Ta-ta-ta~ The green light lit up on the pedestrian crossing on the road, and a black-haired fox-eared girl with a high ponytail and a capable uniform walked over solemnly.
Passersby couldn’t help but cast their glances.
Not only was the aura of this black-haired fox-person remarkable, but the other party’s identity was also quite popular.
“Quick, look…
isn’t that the Strongest Hunter of HAND, Ms.
Hoshimi Miyabi?” “Eh, yeah~ She’s so cool and beautiful…” “We are so lucky to meet her today, I really want to ask for her autograph~” Hearing the gossip all around, Furina spread her hands somewhat helplessly.
“You’re really popular, Miss Miyabi.” Stopping in front of the white-haired cat girl, Hoshimi Miyabi glanced around.
She paid no mind to the gazes and whispers of the people nearby.
“I’m used to it…
I didn’t keep you waiting long, did I, Manager Furina?” “No…
You know the shop is just around the corner.” “Since we’re not on the clock, you don’t need to add ‘Manager’ to my name.
Just call me Furina~” Patting her chest, Furina replied with a smile.
“Alright…
Then, Miss Furina, shall we go?” “Mm, you’re treating, right?” “Yes.” The two beautiful girls in uniforms, one in white and one in black, walked toward the dessert shop, chatting and laughing.
The people around them couldn’t help but start discussing the scene passionately again.
“Wow~ Who’s that with Miss Miyabi?
Her friend?
She’s so beautiful…
like a big star.” “Yeah, yeah, her aura is so unique.
How come I’ve never heard of her?” “She’s probably the young lady of some upper-class family, right?
After all, she’s close enough to be with Miss Miyabi.” “Speaking of which, don’t you think those two look good together…” “Huh, you know what, you’re actually right—” Her straight fox ears twitched.
Hoshimi Miyabi was slightly bothered by the conversation in the distance, especially the last two lines.
She withdrew her gaze and turned to look at Furina beside her.
Under the other’s long eyelashes, those teardrop-shaped eyes radiating a faint glow were like the most dazzling Ocean Tear at an exhibition.
“What is it?” “Nothing…
Just some thoughts.” “Thoughts…
about what?” “That someone as overflowing with aristocratic aura as Miss Furina is actually remarkably skilled in martial arts.” Glancing sideways to meet Hoshimi Miyabi’s gaze, half of the other’s figure was embedded in the sunset glow.
Furina pursed her lips.
“Our young lady of the Hoshimi Family is no less impressive, either~” “Mm, after all, we are a martial arts family…
Training is naturally a tradition,” Hoshimi Miyabi explained as a matter of course, stroking her chin.
The two pushed open the door to the dessert shop and found a well-located table to sit down at.
“One Earl Grey tea…
a cocoa cake with 30% sugar, and a Basque cheesecake with 50% sugar~” “Right away, ladies~” Furina ordered with great fluency.
She looked at Hoshimi Miyabi, who was currently flipping through the menu, then squinted her eyes and suggested with a smile.
“The new Oreo Mousse looks delicious…
Miss Miyabi, would you like to help me test it out to make sure it’s not a disaster~” Slowly lowering the menu, Hoshimi Miyabi raised her eyes to meet the other’s gaze.
She nodded stoically.
“…Alright, one Oreo Mousse then~ As for a drink, one coffee.” “Understood, please wait a moment.
Your order will be ready shortly.” Just as the waiter had promised, the desserts and drinks they ordered were brought over in no time.
Furina picked up a small fork and couldn’t wait to scoop a bite of the cocoa cake into her mouth.
The mild sweetness, combined with the cake’s unique aroma, blended with the cocoa’s slight bitterness and rich fragrance.
Squinting her eyes, Furina swayed her body gently, the ears atop her head twitching one after another.
Across from her, Hoshimi Miyabi, who sat up straight, saw this and slowly lifted her phone to press the shutter.
Click— The crisp sound echoed.
Furina opened her eyes and looked at the Fox Girl opposite her, who was holding her phone to partially cover her face, and asked curiously.
“You were just taking a picture, weren’t you?” Faced with the question, Miss Miyabi nodded somewhat shyly, her gaze beginning to wander.
After all, she had dedicated herself entirely to training and work, with almost no experience going out with friends or even colleagues.
She didn’t know what to do, and subconsciously, whenever she saw a cute creature, she wanted to take out her phone and photograph it.
“Haha…
then you can’t just take pictures of me~ After all, Miss Miyabi invited me out to play, so how about we take one together?” “Ah, well, um~ okay…” Watching Furina turn sideways, lifting her phone high to switch to selfie mode, the small phone screen reflected the other’s cute, smiling face, as well as her own slightly awkward and shy expression.
Hoshimi Miyabi hurriedly smoothed her bangs, then squinted her eyes and tilted her head with a smile.
Perhaps this was the only pose she could manage for a photo, but it was indeed very pretty.
“3, 2, 1——Cheese(tomato)~!” Click— The image froze.
Furina sat up straight, tapped her phone, and spoke.
“Um, let’s exchange contact info so I can send you the photos later~” “Um…
okay.
But why did you say ‘tomato’?
Isn’t it supposed to be ‘cheese’?” “Can’t I be a little special with you?” Without looking up, Furina retorted with a hint of coquettishness.
Special…
huh?
Yeah, okay~ “Sure.
So we’ll both say ‘tomato’ when we take photos from now on, right?” “Hehe, exactly!
If we ever take a group photo, we’ll both say ‘tomato’ and isolate everyone else who says ‘cheese’~” Seeing the other’s mischievous smile, Hoshimi Miyabi’s lips curled into an involuntary grin.
“Okay~” Their pleasant afternoon tea concluded around 5:30.
The two parted ways in front of the dessert shop.
Before leaving, Furina waved her phone.
“Oh right, the photos came out great!
They’d make a perfect lock screen wallpaper…
Well, I’m off now~ Bye-bye—” Furina stepped into the evening sunlight, her shadow stretching long across the ground.
Hoshimi Miyabi nodded and slowly opened her phone to look at the candid photo she had taken of Furina shaking her head from side to side.
A cute white-haired cat girl, shaking her head in delight from eating delicious desserts.
“Yeah…
it really would make a perfect lock screen wallpaper…” In the evening, Furina ran straight into Cissia upon returning to the shop.
Seeing the little snakey with her cheeks puffed out, she asked curiously.
“What’s wrong~?” “Ugh, aaaaah~ Furina, why didn’t you take me with you and that Hoshimi Miyabi to eat desserts…
I wanted to eat them too…
That’s so mean…” Resting her hands on Furina’s shoulders, the blonde snakey began to sway and complain tearfully.
“That’s because Miss Miyabi invited me, it’s different~ I’ll take you with me next time, okay…
Here, I bought a portion specifically for you.” Lifting the paper bag in her hand, Furina shook it.
“Eh~!
Furina—you rascal…” “Waaah~ You’re the greatest benefactor of my life!” Seeing the dessert paper bag in the other’s hand, Cissia directly hugged Furina with a very smooth motion.
“Ah, a-ah…
The snake, the snake is climbing up, alright, alright Cissia, hurry up and take it to eat~” “Hehe, hey, Chalky really doesn’t bite, and she’s clearly fond of you, Furina, don’t be so on guard~” Slowly exhaling a breath, Furina looked at Chalky’s innocent expression and patted her chest.
“I know…
but it’s a physical instinct, I can’t help it~ Just give me some more time to get used to it, and maybe I won’t be so resistant.” “Mm-hmm~ Then once you’re used to it, can I sleep in bed with you?” “Don’t you already have a thick mattress…
Why do you have to squeeze into one bed with me?” “Oh come on, it would be so nice for the two of us to cuddle while we sleep…
Very heartwarming, wouldn’t you say?” Perhaps Cissia had been lonely for too long, and with such a good person finally keeping her company, she couldn’t help but develop a bit of dependency.
“Sigh~ I’m really afraid you’ll mistake me for food and take a bite out of me.” “How could that happen~ I’m very well-behaved when I sleep, you know—” Lifting the pudding lid, Cissia scooped a mouthful with the small plastic spoon and stuffed it into her mouth, retorting with great dissatisfaction.
Knock, knock, knock— The sound of knocking on the door interrupted their conversation.
Furina and Cissia exchanged a glance, then quickly ran behind the bar and took their seats.
Cissia also swallowed the rest of the unfinished pudding in one gulp, then casually placed the bag at Furina’s feet, before gliding to the back doorframe in a single step to take her position.
Locals generally wouldn’t knock on the door but would just come straight in, so the one knocking must be someone from another world.
This was the experience Furina had summarized based on previous results.