Goodbye

Qian Huanyue patted her shoulder with particular enthusiasm. "Rinne."

"Mm." Rinne turned her head.

"We won." Qian Huanyue broke into a dazzling smile, practically bouncing in place, looking as though she might pounce at any moment.

"That's wonderful." Rinne took in the sight, then moved her fingertips.

Huanyue's voice instantly changed pitch, and her whole body trembled with laughter as though some switch had been flipped.

"Hahaha, what are you doing?! Hahaha—"

Rinne's fingertips were lightly tickling her waist.

"I'm expressing affection toward Huanyue," Rinne answered seriously.

"Affection?!" Huanyue laughed so hard she could barely catch her breath, a glimmer of moisture appearing at the corners of her eyes. "Hahahaha—who suddenly expresses affection like this—?!"

She limply leaned over and took the other girl into her arms.

"This is more like it."

Her voice had softened with laughter, carrying a faintly coquettish note.

"?" A strange glint flashed through Rinne's eyes. "Is this... right?"

Rinne patted Huanyue's head. Her mind still seemed to freeze for a moment, yet for some reason, she had instinctively done it anyway.

Huanyue felt warm to the touch, and there was still sweat from exercising caught in her hair.

But Rinne did not dislike it at all.

It felt a little like soothing an energetic cat. Hm? Why was she thinking that?

"Let's go out and have fun properly sometime." She leaned against Rinne, her voice still carrying the lingering traces of laughter. "It's a promise, okay?"

"Mm, I'll prepare properly." Rinne nodded.

--

There had not been much grocery shopping at home lately, so after school, Huanyue invited Rinne to look for suitable ingredients at the supermarket.

The supermarket's air conditioning was cranked up high, and the cool air that hit them upon entering made them comfortably narrow their eyes.

Qian Huanyue pushed the