Tangled Thoughts

(Sun Yao)

"It's Yezi and Miss SpiCa... Um, why are we hiding?"

I don't quite understand.

Why bother hiding if we just happened to be at the same market?

Miluno gestured for me to be quiet.

"Shh, let's see what they do first."

"Just shopping, right?"

Equally puzzled, Miss Jila, who had also hidden herself, asked, "Oh! Are those two your travel companions over there?"

"Mmm," Miluno responded.

"So, does Miluno care about that boy?"

"Hmm... Eh?"

Miluno responded with a sound of agreement, then shook her head in denial.

"No, it's not that I care, Ceruno. Don't you think SpiCa's attitude towards Bai Ziye is a bit strange?"

"Miss SpiCa?"

So, she and Yezi had only met twice, but she was very kind to Yezi, not showing her usual rationality. She even changed her clothes and twirled around in front of Yezi as if showing off...

It's really suspicious. It's strange that she stayed to accompany us shopping. Isn't Miss SpiCa a very busy person?

Miss Jila suggested, "You can't hear us from this far away, can you? Should I go and find out for you?"

"Then I'll leave it to you."

Miluno did not refuse.

Miss Jila, having accepted the commission, put away her tour guide badge and then walked confidently toward the clothing store not far away.

She pretended to be choosing clothes, but in reality, she was eavesdropping. Miss SpiCa and Yezi didn't seem particularly wary of a blonde, blue-eyed foreigner when they were talking, so she was perfect for gathering intelligence.

Five minutes passed like this, until the two continued walking forward, and Miss Jila finally returned to our side.

"How so?"

Miluno asked rather impatiently.

"Based on my judgment, the girl does have feelings for the boy and is actively trying to win him over. However, the boy isn't responding very enthusiastically. He not only doesn't know how to start a conversation but also seems to avoid physical contact... I think he's aware of the girl's feelings, but he just doesn't intend to accept them."

The report's content was fair yet startling.

"What did she say?"

Miss Jila nodded her lower lip.

"Questions like, 'Do I look good in this?', 'What do you want to eat later?', and 'Do you have a girlfriend?'"

It sounds like Miss SpiCa really likes Yezi!

It feels like a piece of my heart has been ripped out; it's quite painful.

Although it's not obvious as magical girls, the age difference between them is nearly twenty years. When SpiCa reverts to her magical girl form, she's almost old enough to be Yezi's mother.

From a woman's perspective, Yezi is indeed the perfect model boyfriend. He not only has a good personality and is proactive, but he is also very caring and even cooks delicious meals.

If I were a real girl, I definitely wouldn't give up Yezi so easily.

Unfortunately, I'm just a temporary magical girl; sooner or later I'll still have to...

"Ceruno, let's follow them."

Miss Miluno interrupted my thoughts.

"They still want to track us? What about our clothes and local products?"

"Then you can pick out a few items to buy first."

Miluno's persistence was unusual; had she really taken a liking to Yezi too?

So popular! If Yezi hadn't made friends with people like me, Yezi would have found a girlfriend and become a successful socialite long ago.

I'm the one who held everyone back.

We moved a few more stalls forward. Miluno was still keeping an eye on things, but I had already started buying things and even started chatting with Miss Jila.

Is Miss Jila a native of Hawaii?

"Yes, my grandfather fought in World War II and settled in Hawaii after the war. I was born on a farm on the island and am a native Hawaii."

Is her dark brown skin from sun exposure?

"There are Phase-Detection Airship over Oahu. Are there a lot of Monster here?"

"Very rare. This isn't a region prone to wormholes; only a few will come every month or two. So the local magical girls have to fend for themselves and find jobs to make a living."

"Hawaii has magical girls too?"

"Certainly."

"Hehe, could it be a tribal girl from an indigenous tribe wearing a wooden mask?"

"No, Hawaii is still a modern city overall, what are you thinking? There used to be a magical girl dressed in revealing clothes though... but she's gone to a big city to make a living."

"Huh? Where's Miluno?"

We were already a bit out of sync with Miluno, and after only a couple of words, we lost her completely.

However, it won't be too hard to find. SpiCa and Yezi are just ahead, Miluno still nearby.

"Oops?"

Miss Jila laughed and said, "Your attention was all focused on those two, so you forgot about us. Your companion really cares about that boy."

"Really?"

"Believe me, I'm very experienced when it comes to relationships."

Not only does SpiCa like Yezi, but Miluno Yezi too!

Rather than letting Miss SpiCa steal the Yezi, I'd rather use the Yezi to tie Miluno down, so they can both stay by my side...

"Miss Jila, I'm going to the front. Could you please keep an eye on Ceruno?"

"No problem, after all, I haven't received the money yet, so I'll definitely be keeping an eye on you guys."

"I won't forget that!"

Having made up my mind, I took small steps and ran towards the two people ahead.

"Miss SpiCa! Yezi!"

Hearing my greeting, the two turned around, each wearing a straw flower crown on their head, giving them a bit of the look of a traveling couple.

Miss SpiCa asked, "Ceruno? What are you doing here? Isn't Miluno with you?"

"There were too many people and we got separated. My phone burned last night, so I can't contact her."

This isn't an excuse; my phone is truly beyond repair.

I never expected the mansion to burn down last night, so when I ran out, my phone was still charging on the bedside table in the guest room. Obviously, Yezi didn't think about it when she was running for her life, and the phone perished in the fire.

"Then I'll contact her for you."

"There's no need. She should still be on this street. I should be able to run into her if I follow you... Or, Yezi, you can go look for her. I'll stay here with Miss SpiCa?"

Yezi's voice seemed to have broken again. He nodded and whimpered twice before walking away as if relieved, searching for Miluno nearby.

Perhaps, being with Miss SpiCa also put him under a lot of pressure.

Miss SpiCa didn't seem to mind my presumptuous arrangements; she simply asked, "Why did you come to this market? Aren't you afraid of the heat?"

"A local recommended that if you want to buy Hawaii specialties, the best place to go is the Ronka Seaside Market..."

He answered while pulling her along.

But Miss SpiCa naturally wouldn't let me do as I pleased. She suddenly stopped, and I was almost pulled backward by the inertia, but in the end I just bumped into her.

"I said, Ceruno."

She then hugged me from behind.

"... Um, what is it?"

I turned my head to look at her, but saw a strange, bitter smile.

"You're in such a hurry to separate me from Bai Ziye, could it be... you're jealous?"

Since the weekly (non-weekend) revenue data is so disappointing that it's discouraging, the update rules have been adjusted as follows.

Single update from Monday to Thursday;

Double updates from Friday to Sunday.

(It used to be 1212121, now it's 1111222)