Forced Smile

The next day.

Gu Xue got up early on purpose. After washing up and changing her clothes, she took a moment to get used to the discomfort in her chest, then opened the door.

The day before, she and Mihara Chisa had agreed to go clothes shopping. When Gu Xue first messaged her, the other woman took ages to reply and didn't seem very willing, but Gu Xue didn't give up. She invited her again, this time with complete sincerity, and in the end, Mihara agreed.

As expected, Miss Mihara was such a nice person.

Her personality was just a little awkward.

That had been Gu Xue's impression at the time, and she'd also felt somewhat relieved.

Thank goodness Mihara Chisa had agreed. Otherwise, Gu Xue wouldn't have dared to go... Well, it wasn't that she wouldn't have dared, exactly. She would've just felt really awkward.

Who had ever been to a place like that before...

There weren't many people on the train, since it was still early.

Gu Xue had deliberately chosen this time. She was going to a huge shopping mall, and judging by the time, most of the stores should be open by the time she got there, but there shouldn't be too many people yet. Perfect.

The journey went smoothly.

Almost twenty minutes later, Gu Xue got off the train and walked a short distance to the entrance of the shopping mall. She and Mihara Chisa had agreed to meet at ten. Gu Xue had left early, thinking she'd have to wait a little for Miss Mihara.

But as soon as she arrived, she spotted a familiar figure.

Miss Mihara was standing beside a flower bed at the mall entrance. She was still wearing her work outfit: a skirt suit and white blouse. She was as charming as ever, but didn't look the least bit casual. And what was worse, even though there was room to sit beside the flower bed, she just stood there. She wasn't even playing with her phone; she simply stared at the path everyone had to take in and out of the mall without moving. It wasn't until she saw Gu Xue that she raised one hand halfway and gave the tiniest wave.

Maybe she meant to say... I'm over here?

Gu Xue jogged over to Mihara Chisa, half exasperated and half amused. "Miss Mihara, may I ask what you're doing?"

Miss Mihara slowly lowered her hand and said softly, "Waiting for you."

"Then why aren't you sitting down?"

"...I just got here."

"Why are your dark circles so bad?"

"...I'm used to staying up late."

Just as Mihara Chisa finished speaking, an old man out for his morning stroll wandered over. When he saw her, he called out loudly, "Young lady, finally met up with your friend, huh?"

He paused, then looked at Gu Xue and chided her, "You young people, honestly. If you can't arrive on time, at least let the other person know. Your friend's been standing here for almost an hour. I've walked around the square several times, and every time I've seen her."

Mihara Chisa: "..."

"..." Gu Xue was silent for a moment. "Thanks for telling me, sir."

When the old man saw that Mihara Chisa wasn't saying anything, he assumed the two of them were having a silent treatment over the time. He shook his head and wandered off.

Gu Xue turned her gaze from the old man back to Mihara Chisa.

Mihara Chisa turned her head away and wouldn't meet her eyes.

Gu Xue was so annoyed she stepped closer, put a hand against Mihara's side, and started tickling her.

"Don't be ridiculous, Miss Mihara Chisa! We're going out to have fun and shop, not work. Why are you being so serious? Give me a smile! And what the heck are you doing here so early?"

Gu Xue shouted as she tickled her.

Mihara Chisa finally broke.

"W-wait... Stop... Ha..." She seemed to be particularly ticklish there. Her upper body twisted back and forth, and before long she could barely stand. She braced both hands on Gu Xue's shoulders and hid her head beside Gu Xue's ear, her face bright red. She was trying so hard not to laugh that she could barely get the words out.

Most of her body leaned against Gu Xue.

Gu Xue tickled her for a while, but when she saw that Mihara was genuinely uncomfortable and even having trouble breathing, she finally let her go.

"How's that? Feels pretty good to laugh, doesn't it?" Gu Xue watched Miss Mihara, who'd been wearing a cold expression just moments ago, cling to her shoulders and struggle to stand while holding back laughter. She couldn't help finding it hilarious.

Mihara Chisa took a deep breath, lifted her head, and straightened up while holding on to Gu Xue's shoulders. Her face was bright red as she glared at her. "Please don't do that..."

"If you keep talking to me so formally, I won't hold back."

"..."

When Mihara Chisa said nothing, Gu Xue sighed, smoothed down her skirt, and sat on the edge of the flower bed. "Miss Mihara, you're such a handful."

Mihara Chisa: "..."

"If you really think of me as a friend, then loosen up. Don't act like friendship is so fragile. At least I'm not going to think badly of you over some little thing, so there's no need to worry about that at all. You might not know this, but you're a very important person to me. That won't change unless you do something as bad as hurting innocent people."

Mihara Chisa was Gu Xue's first real friend in this world. Of course she was important.

"...Mm." After a long silence, Mihara Chisa answered.

"That's it? At least smile once, okay?"

Mihara Chisa really did smile.

"See? You're so cute like this." Gu Xue stood up and brushed off her skirt.

The smile vanished from Mihara Chisa's face at once. "Please don't do that again."

Gu Xue: "..."

Miss Mihara really was such a handful.

Gu Xue went straight around behind Mihara Chisa, said, "I'm not going to argue with you," and ignored her protests as she pushed her toward the mall.

The old man, who'd taken another lap around the square, returned to where Gu Xue and Mihara Chisa had been standing.

He happened to see Mihara Chisa being pushed along, her face flushed as she squirmed awkwardly, while Gu Xue beamed as she pushed her. He stared for a moment, then sighed that it was great to be young.

Gu Xue pushed Mihara Chisa into the shopping mall, but then she was stumped about where to go. She wasn't familiar with the place—in fact, it was Mihara Chisa who'd chosen it.

Gu Xue took her hand off Mihara Chisa's back, moved beside her, and leaned in to whisper a question in her ear.

After Mihara Chisa heard Gu Xue briefly explain what she wanted to buy, she finally understood what Gu Xue had meant the day before when she'd messaged her, saying it was all her fault.

She glanced at Gu Xue's chest and murmured, "Don't believe everything you hear. Milk has almost no effect. You're just going through puberty..."

"I know!" Gu Xue pushed her head back with one hand. "I thought about it properly yesterday. Look straight ahead."

"..." Mihara Chisa pressed her lips together, revealing two shallow dimples.

"Don't think I can't see you..." Gu Xue bit her lip. "Hurry up and take me there."

Miss Mihara gave a quiet "Mm" and led the way, but the dimples on her face never went away.

Gu Xue couldn't be bothered to do anything about it. She had a feeling this was going to happen again anyway. Next time, she'd just come by herself!

A sister in name only! A friend in name only!