Two at Sunset

(Sun Yao)

"Waaah..."

The dark-skinned maid brought me the head maid, Melissa, who then started tapping the short-haired maid's golden-brown head while holding her forehead.

"Miss Melissa, what exactly happened?"

I couldn't help but press for more information.

"How should I put it? This child sees you as a companion."

"Companion?"

Melissa pushed the short-haired maid in front of her and explained, "After all, you're wearing a maid outfit too. In Zara's mind, whoever wears a maid outfit is her companion, or rather, one of her kind."

The short-haired maid was named Zara.

She should have known I was a guest...

It seems Miss Sirius's maid isn't particularly clever either.

"Can't she speak?" I asked again.

Since she can still make sounds, it's not that her vocal cords are damaged. I feel that she simply can't speak, or rather, she lacks the ability to speak.

"Indeed not. In fact, apart from me, none of the other maids in this mansion have the ability to speak."

"Huh? Could it be...?"

I suddenly realized something and looked at the bone package on the dressing table, which was supposed to be for the dog.

Miss Melissa sighed as well, seemingly acknowledging my thoughts.

"... Could it be that Miss Zara is a mute child from an extremely poor, war-torn region, and because she had little food when she was young, she resorts to stealing dog treats like this?"

That's why the black-and-white-haired maid and Miss Melissa tapped Miss Zara on the head; it was a mild form of discipline.

I then remarked with admiration, "But Miss Sirius is truly kind to only hire a mute girl as a maid."

However, Miss Melissa's expression was quite stiff.

"... That's right."

Her twitching lips took a while to subside before she finally gave an affirmative look.

"The maids in the mansion are all deaf-mute girls that the young lady found from all over the country, and I am the one responsible for training them to become qualified maids."

(Bai Ziye)

The restaurant was waiting for Ceruno to arrive so they could start the meal.

That idiot took too long to take a bath. Although the food was covered with insulated plates, it wasn't a long-term solution. If it got cold, it would definitely affect the taste.

"Sorry I'm late!"

A clumsy "maid" rushed into the restaurant, her long, flowing pink hair flying behind her. She plopped down in the seat next to me, bringing with her the scent of expensive perfume.

"Yezi, how's my maid outfit?"

She wanted to ask me for my opinion every time she wore a new outfit.

"It looks nice, but it doesn't fit quite right... it seems a bit too big?"

Actually, it's more than just a little bigger.

The overly loose collar was askew to one side, revealing her fair, smooth skin and collarbone, as well as... the bra straps.

She just scratched her head and gave a sheepish smile.

"Hehe, the maid outfits here are all quite fitted, so they make my chest feel stuffy since I'm a size smaller."

Is this the dilemma facing Big E?

Even as Miluno, I wouldn't feel any resonance.

Sirius, as the host, clapped his hands and said, "Alright, now that everyone's here, let's start eating! This dinner was originally for five people, but Miluno- chan and Liaison Officer-chan, who aren't here, should also finish their portions!"

"There's so much, we can't possibly finish it all!"

Ceruno said this, but her hands were already moving, grabbing pizza, chicken legs and other food and putting them into her mouth—she grew up in Esperia, so she naturally knew how to use a knife and fork, but she didn't object to eating with her hands.

"No need to eat so fast, you can't possibly finish this whole table of food."

"They actually ate it all!"

After a whirlwind of activity, almost all the plates on the table were gone.

Only asparagus, a vegetable that nobody likes to eat, is left.

"Don't you know, my boyfriend? Magical girls naturally have a bigger appetite than ordinary people, not to mention Ceruno- chan spent the whole afternoon training~"

"Hmm, Yezi ate quite a bit herself, didn't she?"

"I'm a man, isn't it normal for me to eat a little more?"

Besides, I didn't eat as much Ceruno. The petite dwarf wiped her hands and mouth, then patted her belly, which was at least four months along, and smiled contentedly.

"Okay, let's go back to our room and play games!"

Yin Wei had prepared a suitcase with a game console in it, and Ceruno had been eyeing it ever since she found out, but...

"Forget playing games, come with me for a walk on the beach."

I took her slender wrist, which I could easily grasp in one hand.

"Huh? And I've already taken a shower!"

Despite his reluctance, he still stood up with a grumble.

"It's just a walk, it's not too hot, and even if I sweat, I can take a shower."

Sirius was enjoying her dessert wine, gracefully swirling her glass.

"Isn't your boyfriend romantic? The timing is perfect; watching the sunset on the beach is a rare and beautiful sight."

I looked out the restaurant window; the twilight was gradually enveloping the sky.

As it is a southern island near the equator, it was almost seven o'clock, but the sky over Hawaii was not yet completely dark.

"Let's go, let's get to the beach before sunset."

Ceruno followed me out of the mansion, dragging her feet. As soon as we stepped out of the iron gate of the compound, she jogged after me.

"Yezi, what did you and Miss Sirius talk about?"

"Oh, she wants me to go to Oahu with Melissa tomorrow."

I recited the prepared script, Ceruno was somewhat reluctant at that moment.

"Huh? Why can you go out and play?"

"Because I'm handsome, Miss Sirius took a liking to me."

Despite the obvious joke, Ceruno's eyes widened in surprise, a mixture of astonishment, bewilderment, and panic, like a child whose toy had been taken away by an adult.

I couldn't resist gently pinching her nose. She frowned and squinted, expressing her displeasure at my suggestive gesture.

For a fleeting moment...

I think I really started to see her as a girl.

"Fool, I was just kidding. Miss Sirius asked me to do some purchasing, saying I had to repay the cost of my food and lodging for the past five days with my labor. I thought it made sense, so I agreed."

"But Miss Yin Wei said that the Association will reimburse all expenses for these five days."

"I can't just sit here and do nothing, and besides, I don't have much to do while you're training. Why don't I help Miss Melissa out?"

"It's fine if you just look at me..."

In order to see the sun setting over the sea, I quickened my pace to cross this mountain forest.

As a magical girl, it wouldn't be difficult for Ceruno to keep up with me.

"Yezi, wait a minute~"

Before I stepped onto the beach, Ceruno called out to me.

Then, a layer of Bubble Membrane unfolded against my skin. Had she become so capable of performing such meticulous procedures, disregarding clothing and shoes?

"That way we can walk barefoot on the beach."

"Oh, this is really nice." We left our shoes and socks at the entrance of the mountain path and stepped onto the beach. The soft sand still retained the warmth of the sun; it was warm but not scalding, and felt quite comfortable under our feet.

"Now this is what traveling should feel like! Yezi, be careful not to step on the seashells!"

The playful Ceruno had completely lost her earlier reluctance and ran to the beach ahead of me, leaving a trail of tiny footprints behind her, which gradually disappeared as the waves washed over them.

The sun was already halfway down the horizon when we stood side by side on the beach, the waves lapping against our calves.

It's getting dark.

As the sun disappeared below the horizon, the Milky Way gradually became clearer in the night sky, and the starlight accompanying the moon fell on the sea, shimmering with a hazy silver hue.

"... So beautiful, I feel so small."

Standing on a small island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the whole world is plunged into a deep tranquility.

Then...

A familiar yet eerie blue halo appeared in the night sky without warning.

Wow, they actually came.