Miku, Aren't You a Little Too Familiar?

A white cat lay on the ground, purring contentedly as Qian Huanyue stroked it. She sat cross-legged beside it, gently combing through its soft fur with her fingertips.

The white cat happily ate the cat treats Qian Huanyue had brought from Kurumi's house.

Kurumi had already gone out. Before leaving, she'd only said she had "some things to take care of," without giving any clear idea of when she'd return. She hadn't even left a clone behind.

I'm so bored!

Qian Huanyue could more or less guess what Kurumi was looking for: the Second Spirit, Nia Honjo, who possessed the all-knowing Angel Ratziel.

In theory, Ratziel couldn't directly reveal the truth about the First Spirit, but Kurumi didn't know that. Even if she did, she clearly wouldn't pass up any possible lead.

As for where Nia was being held, Qian Huanyue had no idea. She planned to wait until Kurumi found solid information before getting involved.

With no need to return to the Neighboring World for now, she was staying at Kurumi's hideout. The furnishings were simple, but it had everything needed for daily life.

Qian Huanyue leaned back on the bench. The cat came over and rubbed its head against her leg.

Kurumi paid for her food and lodging. Even the cat treats and canned food had come from Kurumi's house.

Have I become a freeloader? It feels so good... No, wait. How spineless.

As Qian Huanyue absently scratched the white cat under its chin, an excessively sweet female voice suddenly sounded behind her:

"Oh my~ What an adorable young lady we have here~"

Qian Huanyue looked back. A girl in an elegant dress stood behind the bench, her long, silvery-purple hair gleaming like pearls in the sunlight. Her pale silver eyes were fixed on Qian Huanyue—or rather, on her face.

"What a cute kitty. May I pet it?" Without waiting for an answer, the silvery-purple-haired girl sat down at the other end of the bench.

The white cat raised its tail warily and sprang into Qian Huanyue's lap.

"It seems a little shy around strangers."

"What a shame~" The girl withdrew her hand but edged closer to Qian Huanyue as if they were already acquainted. "I'm Miku Izayoi. What's your name?"

Faced with someone whose personality was a little like her own, only far more outgoing, Qian Huanyue felt as though her true nature had been snuffed out.

Like a doused flame, she became unusually bashful in the face of Miku's enthusiasm.

If I acted just as enthusiastic, this girl really would eat me alive!!!

"Qian Huanyue," she said calmly, not daring to sound too eager.

"Qian Huanyue... What a beautiful name~" Miku's gaze lingered on her face. "Do you come to this park often? I've never met anyone so pretty here before~"

"No." She kept her answer short, wrapping herself in an aloof air. "I only came here recently."

Miku didn't seem to mind her coolness at all. If anything, her smile grew brighter. "Would you like to get some tea together? I know a wonderful place nearby. Their strawberry cake is especially delicious~"

Alarm bells rang in Qian Huanyue's head. Eek!

When Miku got no response, she leaned in again and laid her other hand over Qian Huanyue's left hand.

Over its bandages, to be precise.

Right. Qian Huanyue was still wearing the somewhat overly "fashionable" look Kurumi and her clones had given her.

Her smooth, long hair was tied into two sections that fell over her chest, each adorned with black lace. A long bandage wrapped around her left hand. On closer inspection, it was wrapped in a deliberate pattern and decorated with little crosses and the like, so no one would mistake it for an injury.

Qian Huanyue was a type of girl Miku Izayoi had never encountered before, and Miku was particularly taken with her appearance.

"We only just met. I can't accept a sudden invitation from a stranger to go eat somewhere."

Qian Huanyue, who had enthusiastically offered Kurumi a drink the moment they met, refused with righteous conviction.

Miku seemed a little surprised by the refusal. She began to use her Spiritual Power. "You're so cold~ But I really want to be friends with you, Huanyue-chan. Don't turn me down, okay?"

Qian Huanyue felt a mild wave of Spiritual Power pass before her eyes, but it didn't affect her at all.

"Sorry about that." Qian Huanyue picked up the white cat and stood, completely unaffected by the Spiritual Power of Miku's Gabriel.

"I'd rather stay here and watch the cat."

Miku's sweet smile froze. A complicated, faintly astonished look crossed her face. Gabriel's ability, Solo—the power to control others through her voice and Spiritual Power—had failed against a target for the first time!

That's impossible! Unless...

Miku's eyes changed, filling with curiosity and a desire to investigate, along with a trace of wariness.

She quickly rose and stepped in front of Qian Huanyue. Her smile remained, but now there was something appraising behind it.

"Oh~ What a surprise." Miku's voice was still sweet, but her tone had changed. "Huanyue-chan... You're not an ordinary person, are you? No one's ever ignored one of my 'requests' like that before."

"Forcing people to do what you want doesn't make you a good girl." Qian Huanyue gave her a smile that didn't reach her eyes, her voice turning sugary too.

Miku shifted to block her path again. She moved closer, almost pressing against Qian Huanyue, and stared at her intently. "Tell me, what exactly are you? A magician? Or could you... be a Spirit too?"

She lowered her voice on the last two words, her excitement tinged with uncertainty.

Qian Huanyue stopped and calmly met Miku's gaze with her pale violet eyes, even as Miku hovered almost against her.

"Does it matter?" Rather than answer directly, Qian Huanyue posed a question of her own. "Whatever I am, I still have the right to refuse an invitation, don't I, Miss Miku Izayoi?"

She hadn't confirmed it, but she hadn't denied it either.

That ambiguity, coupled with her complete immunity to Spiritual Power, was practically an admission.

Miku's eyes lit up at once.

"Ara~ I knew it!" Miku sounded as delighted as if she'd discovered a treasure. Instead of backing away, she reached even closer, trying to touch Qian Huanyue's silver hair.

"This is wonderful! I was just wondering whether there were other beautiful, special beings like us besides me! Huanyue-chan, we're destined to be friends!"

"Huh?!" Qian Huanyue huffed, crossed her arms in a decidedly tsundere pose, and retorted with one eye shut, "Who said I was destined to be friends with you?"

"Don't say that~" Miku's smile grew brighter—and more dangerous. "We'll get along wonderfully, I promise. Look, we're both so cute, and we both have powers ordinary people don't... We ought to be together~"

Miku wasn't listening to any refusals now. Perhaps "being rejected" wasn't even an option in her view of the world.

This girl only ever thinks about herself.

Qian Huanyue sighed at the sight of Miku, so caught up in herself that there was no getting through to her.

"You're putting me in a difficult position."

"..." Miku's perfect smile faltered for an instant before she regained her elegant composure. Confusion appeared in her pale silver eyes.

"Why not?" she repeated, sounding genuinely puzzled. "I like you, and you're special. Isn't it only natural that we should become friends?"

Faced with what sounded almost like a confession, Qian Huanyue found the situation interesting again. The Aha in her head reconnected to Bluetooth.

The tension left Qian Huanyue's shoulders, and a playful glint appeared in her eyes.

She leaned forward slightly, her silver hair swaying as her violet eyes met Miku's puzzled gaze.

"Only natural?" she echoed softly. Her eyes curved, and a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Miss Miku, by that logic, isn't it only natural for me to refuse you, too?"

"And besides..." She touched a fingertip to her lower lip, as though thinking it over. "Doesn't 'liking' someone only count if both people are happy? Right now..."

She paused deliberately, glancing at how little space Miku had left between them.

"It looks like you're the only one enjoying this."

Qian Huanyue scratched the white cat under its chin. It purred with pleasure and settled into a comfortable spot in her arms. She smiled contentedly too.

"See?" Qian Huanyue smiled at Miku. "That's what it means for both of us to be happy."

Miku stared at the scene. The white cat in Qian Huanyue's arms narrowed its eyes in contentment, while the easy smile on the silver-haired girl's face was nothing like the cool expression she'd deliberately maintained before.

"I see~" Miku suddenly laughed softly. "Are you teaching me how to show someone I like them properly, Huanyue-chan?"

"Then..." She gracefully took a step back, leaving a comfortable distance between them. "What can I do to make you happy too, Huanyue-chan?"