The Art of Language

The cafeteria at Rongcheng Medical College was very popular with the students.

Two meat dishes, one vegetable, and all the rice you could eat for seven yuan. The taste might not have been amazing, but for poor students, it was already an extremely cost-effective standard of meals.

This was especially true for Su Tianqing, who barely had any cash to spare.

Walking toward the cafeteria, Su Tianqing chatted with Nan Jiayu, who was nervous and reserved by her side.

She had tested into Rongcheng Medical College from out of town, orphaned since childhood, and raised by an elderly human couple. She had also received funding from the Beastfolk Mutual Aid Society, giving her the chance to come here for school.

Compared to herself, with no relatives or connections, her family's financial situation was even slightly better.

"It's so great~ Little Fish, you still have your grandparents at home, while my family only has me..." Su Tianqing said with a glum expression.

Even though that gloominess was deliberately squeezed out.

"Um... sorry, Miss Tianqing..."

"It's fine, it's fine. I'm already used to living alone," the foxed wagged her hand and said with a smile.

In Nan Jiayu's eyes, only Su Tianqing herself knew how much hardship was hidden beneath that smile.

The two sat in a corner of the cafeteria, eating and chatting idly.

Occasionally, students walked past their table, and without exception, they all glanced at the smiling golden-furred Fox Fox.

Looking at that angelic face and smile, even just a fleeting glimpse gave people a sense of being healed.

"Little Fish, do you have any plans for this afternoon?" Su Tianqing asked curiously after finishing her last piece of meat.

"Huh?... Um, I just arrived in Rongcheng, so I'll probably wander around the school a bit and get familiar with the place."

"That works out perfectly! I live right around here, let me show you around the neighborhood!"

"Is that... really alright? Miss Tianqing, you..."

"You're still calling me Miss Tianqing!" Su Tianqing pouted, extended a finger, and lightly poked the catgirl's nose across the table.

"No unauthorized honorifics allowed, just call me Tianqing."

"Awoo..."

.

Actually, Su Tianqing wasn't all that familiar with the surrounding area either.

Fortunately, the terrain around Rongcheng Medical College wasn't too complicated. The roads went straight, there were only a handful of landmark shops, and the stores catering to college students were as numerous as hairs on a cow. A random stroll through the back-alley snack street could easily fill an entire afternoon.

"Little Fish, where do you live in Rongcheng? The dorms, or do you rent a place outside?"

"I stay in the dorms during the school term—everyone there is pretty friendly. During breaks, I go stay at a relative's place nearby."

"Eh? A relative?"

"It's Grandpa and Grandma's biological son. He lives in Rongcheng with his daughter, and I occasionally go tutor her."

"I see. Little Fish has a very happy family."

"Stop talking about this topic—"

Su Tianqing felt that Nan Jiayu probably found her fairly agreeable.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have been willing to be dragged around the school surroundings by her all afternoon.

Throughout the afternoon, Su Tianqing spotted at least seven pairs of freshman combos just like herself and Little Fish. Some were overly familiar upperclassmen, neither having any clear goal, simply wandering and chatting along the way.

That's right, youth was just like this.

If you saw someone you liked, you just walked up and engaged them. What if the other person happened to find you agreeable too? Wouldn't that mean it worked out?

It wasn't until the sun was setting, bathed in brilliant afterglow, that Su Tianqing suddenly realized it was getting late.

"Oh my, it's already this time? There still seem to be a lot of fun places over there."

Su Tianqing turned around, her back to the setting sun, and said to the catgirl in front of her who still looked a bit restrained,

"But it's getting really late. How about we grab dinner at the cafeteria and go out to play another day?"

Before leaving, she couldn't just say "see you next time"; she had to set up the next plan in advance so she could easily find a topic of conversation later.

--The so-called art of language.

"Um... Tianqing, you go ahead. I need to go tutor my cousin, and I'll be having dinner at my relative's place anyway."

"Is that so? Then I'll head off by myself, see you tomorrow~ Bye-bye--"

Su Tianqing didn't mind, waving goodbye with a smile.

Nan Jiayu dazedly watched that fluffy big tail sway as it ran into the distance, her mouth opening slightly before closing again, a smile she hadn't even noticed appearing on her face.

It's so nice, Tianqing.

Countless times, she had wanted to become a lively and cheerful beastfolk girl like her, but every time she failed to take that final step.

So bright and sunny, dazzling like the sun—would someone like that really be willing to be friends with her?

Nan Jiayu lowered her head and looked at the colorful braided cord on her wrist.

It was a cheap little trinket bought from a street stall; although it was only worth one yuan, it was a meeting gift given to her by Su Tianqing.

"Hiss... hoo..."

The catgirl took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

She really hoped tomorrow would come quickly.

But before that... she needed to solve the problem of being hungry first.

The young girl lowered her eyes, glanced around, walked deep into the greenery, and fished something out of her pocket.

Her phone, and a golden cross star.

Nan Jiayu's gaze landed on the phone screen.

"Rongcheng Hero Association active magical girl, [Hyacinth]..."

The catgirl murmured, her ocean-blue cat eyes narrowing into slits, resembling a feline locking onto its prey.

Her original target was her.

But unfortunately, a newcomer had recently popped up in Rongcheng, and to make matters worse, she was a villain magical girl just like herself, causing a great deal of trouble for an outsider like her--

Anonymous video account, [Magical Girl Fox Fox official].

This account only had two videos. One was a declaration of war against Hyacinth, and the other was a mockery segment after she successfully captured Hyacinth yesterday.

If she wanted to treat Hyacinth as this month's "food," she would have to wait at least another half a month. After all, she had just been squeezed dry by this peer yesterday, and her magical energy reserves were definitely not enough to last her until next month.

"[Heartmoon Fox]..."

Looking at the golden magical girl on the screen, no particular expression could be seen on Nan Jiayu's face.

Since they were both villain magical girls, her stance should be consistent with her own, and it was even possible she had come to Rongcheng from another city just like her.

For the sake of earning a living, it was better not to disturb her.

It was just that her fluffy tail and ears... she was a foxfolk just like Tianqing...

After today's experience, Nan Jiayu found that she actually liked foxfolk quite a bit.

Should she try making contact?

...Better not, after all. If Tianqing found out, she might get angry.

The catgirl's finger pressed into the center of the cross star, and a deep blue light lit up in her palm.

Today, would she be able to find suitable "food"?