"Another heartbroken little girl has been added to the world."
Drizzling rain streamed over the stone steps, and the neon of the street-facing signs dyed the water in brilliant flowing color, sparkling droplets dancing against the maid's calves. They had no umbrellas, but the rain naturally avoided them. Vishy followed close beside Ash, bending over with her head tilted as she looked at him, her heavy, springy softness swaying in dizzying arcs. Smiling brightly, she said, "I think this sort of behavior of yours ought to be explicitly outlawed. Otherwise, those girls who step into the trash can are just too pitiful."
Ash said irritably, "I didn't, I'm not, don't make things up."
"Don't tell me you didn't notice. Even the Witch wouldn't believe you if you tried acting innocent now." Vishy gave him a sidelong glance. "These days, when they flutter their eyes at you, you know exactly what they're suggesting."
"And I think you were pretty pleased with yourself too. If I hadn't been there, would you have taken the chance to have a midnight snack?"
"Isn't it only normal for me to be pleased?" Ash said with a smile. "If someone liked you, wouldn't you be happy?"
"Of course not." Vishy looked as if she had heard the greatest joke in the world. "I'm not a trash can like you. How could something like that make me happy? It'd be more like it if other people feared me."
Ash glanced at her and said, "Anyway, she'll forget us soon, and that little bit of fondness came quickly and will leave quickly too. It isn't a Shadow Drama. Who would like someone they only met once for years?"
Vishy stared at him seriously for a while, confirmed he wasn't joking, then turned her head aside and murmured, "This