Companions and Trust

After pouring the hot water, Larkspur carried several teacups back to the living room, just in time to see Xia Liang emerge from the bathroom in a bathrobe.

"I found these in the kitchen."

To avoid any misunderstanding, she explained as she set the brewed tea on the coffee table.

Setting down the cups, sliding one forward, sitting back on the sofa, and lifting her tea, Larkspur fell silent for a moment before lightly asking:

"Why did you run away from home?"

When she asked, she did not look at Xia Liang, simply because she did not want to put too much pressure on her.

Though it was only intuition, she could sense that Xia Liang might be hiding quite a few secrets.

"Ahaha, um... can I just brush that off?"

Faced with the question, Xia Liang's voice sounded a little dry, and her answer carried a hint of probing.

Larkspur raised an eyebrow. "And what excuse would you use to brush it off?"

"Let me think... How about an ordinary argument with my family?" Xia Liang looked around, smiling as she raised her right index finger.

"That does sound fairly believable."

Noncommittal, Larkspur took a light sip from the rim of her teacup before asking, "Did you tell White Rose the same thing?"

"Xiaolu hasn't asked me yet."

Xia Liang shook her head, looking a little disappointed. "She agreed to let me stay at her home so easily without knowing anything. I'd prepared so many interesting excuses, too."

"That girl would never admit it, but she really can be a little single-minded. Don't bully her too much."

Larkspur set down her cup and glanced sideways at Xia Liang. "But calling her 'Xiaolu'... did she tell you her real name?"

"Hm? She told me when we first met."

Xia Liang did not understand what she meant, but she heard the implication in Larkspur's tone. "Is there a problem with that?"

"Yes. When appearing in public as Magical Girls, you generally need to address one another by your code names."

Larkspur lowered her eyes. "I'm Larkspur, you're Xiaojin, and Lin Xiaolu is White Rose. When you transform into a Magical Girl, your code name is your name."

"It isn't only when enemies or strangers are around. Even between Magical Girls, revealing your real name and identity is something you do only after building mutual trust."

"Don't casually expose your vulnerable side to someone you don't trust, unless you're strong enough."

At that, Larkspur raised her eyes and folded her hands together. "So while transformed, I'll always call you by your code names. Not only because I've told you only my code name, and relationships need to be equal, but also because it's a good habit."

Xia Liang nodded as though she understood, then suddenly clapped her hands. "Can I apply to change my Magical Girl code name to 'Xia Liang' now?"

"Don't ask stupid questions."

"Then what should I do now that I've already told Xiaolu my name?"

"Nothing."

Larkspur sighed. "Companions in the same city will eventually have to tell each other their real names. But once you leave Fangting City, you'll meet Magical Girls who are not your companions. That's when you need to pay attention to this."

"Companions..."

Murmuring the word, Xia Liang's eyes flickered. Then she narrowed them, lowered her head, and pulled her bathrobe tighter around herself. "Then... does that mean I've managed to brush it off in front of a companion?"

"I suppose?"

Without noticing Xia Liang's small movement—or perhaps pretending not to—Larkspur stood and patted down her skirt. "Stay vigilant around enemies and strangers, and give your companions as much trust as possible. That is how Magical Girls should act."

"White Rose is an innocent child. She'll believe you. I know you'll be a good child, and I'm willing to believe you too. If there's something you don't want to say, no one will force you to answer."

"So, when you feel that you trust us enough, tell us what's truly in your heart."

After all, every Magical Girl in the Material Realm had more or less some confusion in her heart.

She did not say those words aloud.

"Senior..."

Emerging from her subtle low mood, Xia Liang raised her head, seemingly moved by those words.

She slowly began to speak, as if she wanted to say something, but then pursed her lips, hesitated, and parted them once more—

—"I'm done washing up! Sorry to keep you waiting, you can go in now..."

Xia Liang's words were interrupted by a loud, carefree voice. Lin Xiaolu, dressed in loungewear with a towel draped around her neck and still covered in steam, walked over from the bathroom.

She stopped halfway through her sentence when she reached the living room. Seeing the two of them sitting there and meeting their somewhat strange gazes, she swallowed her original words and widened her eyes. "What's wrong? Were you talking about something just now? The atmosphere feels a little weird..."

Larkspur glanced at Xia Liang and found Xia Liang looking back at her as well. They met each other's eyes for a moment. One closed her eyes, while the other showed a slightly helpless smile.

It seemed their earlier conversation could not continue.

"Just casual chatting. It was nothing."

Larkspur casually brushed off Lin Xiaolu's question, picked up her teacup for a sip of water, then set it down and headed toward the balcony.

"Now that you two are settled, I'll be leaving first. I have other things to do."

She truly could not stay any longer. She had slipped out during her lunch break, and she still had work in the afternoon. She had already been delayed by more than an hour because of the accident; if she did not return soon, it might cause trouble.

"Huh? You're leaving already? Larkspur, stay a little longer."

Hearing that Larkspur was leaving, Lin Xiaolu instinctively tried to keep her, glancing around as she searched for some reason to make her stay. Finding nothing, she spotted the cups of hot tea on the table. "...What's that water over there?"

"I couldn't sit still, so I found it in the kitchen."

Without slowing down, Larkspur walked straight to the edge of the balcony and looked back at the living room. "I was thirsty, so I made tea without asking. The water is a little hot, though, so remember to let it cool before drinking."

"See you tomorrow," she said at last.

With that, she did not linger. She leaped over the railing and vanished into the air in a stream of azure magic.

Leaving Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang staring at the now-empty balcony.

"So... so..."

After Larkspur left, Lin Xiaolu stood where she was, frowning blankly and muttering something under her breath.

"I don't think it was a big deal?"

Guessing that she was unhappy about Larkspur leaving in such a hurry, Xia Liang smiled and waved a hand, trying to smooth things over. "Senior usually says exactly what she means, so she probably really does have work to do. She wasn't making excuses to avoid us. There's no need to be mad at her, right?"

"...So cool."

"What?"

"So cool!" Lin Xiaolu lifted her face, her eyes sparkling like stars.

"Huh?" Xia Liang froze after hearing what Lin Xiaolu had said.

"Did you see that? You saw it too, right?"

Completely unlike her usual distant attitude toward Xia Liang, Lin Xiaolu pointed at the balcony with the fervor of some missionary, gesturing with both hands. "Did you see it? That thing where she talked while jumping off a high platform, then raised a wave of magic and flew away? Don't you think Senior Larkspur's whole move was incredibly cool? I want to learn it too!"

"Uh... probably?"

Watching Lin Xiaolu get excited over something so strange, Xia Liang smiled along on the surface while recalling what Larkspur had said earlier.

Single-minded... that really does seem true?

Thanks to All-Knowing Almighty Cat, XMy, Random Doodle, Fire in Ice Wuji, Truth Ji, Frozen Hand, and reader 20191217145728656 for the rewards.

And thanks as well to the readers who came by today because of the chapter recommendations from all you big shots. This is a new author's new book, and it has many shortcomings. Please bear with me.