Daily Volunteer Work (3): A Real Game of Hide-and-Seek!

"Five! Four! Three! Two! One!"

In the very center of the courtyard, Sigrika was covering her eyes and muttering a countdown.

"Have you hidden well?" Sigrika's sweet voice said cheerfully, "Sigrika- neechan is coming to catch you!"

As the countdown ended, Sigrika opened her eyes and began to walk briskly around the yard.

A moment later, her elven ears twitched, keenly catching a sound coming from the grass not far away.

She ran over in a few quick steps, lifted the clump of grass, and there, hidden inside, was a lovely little girl.

"Hehe, found you~" Sigrika exclaimed excitedly after her first victory, her tone even lifting slightly.

"Ugh... I got caught again..."

Although she was very unwilling, the little girl still accepted her loss and obediently returned to the center of the yard to wait for this round of hide-and-seek to end.

After catching the first girl, Sigrika took advantage of the blacksmithing to circle the yard and then dragged out the hidden children one by one.

Hey you behind the tree, stop hiding! I can see your feet!

"Little one hiding in the closet, your clothes are peeking out!"

"Little man, it's dangerous up in the tree! Come down quickly, your big sister will protect you!"

And so, one by one, the children were caught by Sigrika and gathered in the center of the yard, waiting for the game to end.

"One, two, three, four, five, six..." Sigrika counted, then stroked her chin thoughtfully, "We're still missing one... Where is he?"

Just then, a rustling sound came from behind a tree not far away, and Sigrika's eyes lit up immediately when she caught the faint sound.

"Hmph, found you!"

The children who had been caught saw that Sigrika was about to run over and arrest the last of her friends, and they quickly tried to tell her to run away.

Then...

"Come out! I'll help you catch Sigrika!"

Sigrika suddenly felt her feet sink into the ground, and then realized that she had been lifted up from behind and hoisted high into the air.

"Hey! You bad senior! Put me down!" Sigrika's cheeks turned bright red instantly, and she kept pounding Xiao Ling's strong arms with her pink fists.

"You hit me like you're being affectionate, you know that, my dear Orange?" Xiao Ling teased her with a carefree laugh.

The winner who hid until the end peeked out from behind the tree. She was a timid little girl who watched Xiao Ling and Sigrika's interaction with wide eyes.

Meanwhile, not far behind the two.

"Ugh, A-Yu, really," Aemeath, looking at the two who were making a ruckus with a mixture of helplessness and indulgence. "I was wondering why he told us to keep quiet..."

"I never expected him to use the Silent Step technique to ambush Senior Sigrika," Lynae said, shrugging with an expression of utter helplessness.

"... Childish brat." Dania said, both helpless and amused. "Alright, Ling, if you've had enough fun, put Xixi down quickly."

Upon receiving the order, Xiao Ling immediately put Sigrika down.

Finally feeling the solid ground beneath her feet, Sigrika straightened her clothes, then pouted slightly, looking a little embarrassed and annoyed, and turned her face away. "Senpai, I'm angry! So I won't talk to you for the next minute!"

"Waaaaah... What a terrible punishment... Sigrika, please forgive me..." Xiao Ling pleaded cooperatively.

The other three women couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, and the atmosphere in the courtyard instantly became cheerful.

"So your volunteer activity today is to come to the orphanage to take care of these children?" Xiao Ling asked.

"Mmm!" Sigrika nodded. "I was playing hide-and-seek with them just now. I was almost caught by one, but then you, senpai, came out at the very end and ruined everything..."

Are there any other people with you?

"I came here with Chisa today."

"I see." Xiao Ling nodded. "Then you play with the children first, I'll take them for a walk around."

"Big brother! Play with us and Sigrika!"

Just as Xiao Ling was about to turn around and leave the courtyard with Aemeath, the shy little girl from before finally mustered up the courage to invite him.

He paused for a moment, then turned to look at the girls for their opinions.

"I'm fine with it," Aemeath said with a smile.

"I have no objection." Lynae winked.

"Just follow the Righteous One's wishes," Cartethyia said, indicating her respect for Xiao Ling's choice.

When Dania saw this scene, she thought it was a godsend; it was like a pillow being delivered to someone who was sleepy.

"I'll be 'it, 'Xixi, you play hide-and-seek with Ling and the kids," Dania suggested, then asked the other three, "Do you want to come?"

"I have other things to do, so I can't keep you company." Lynae shook her head.

"You guys have fun, I'll just wander around and take a look," Cartethyia said with a smile and a nod.

"I want to play! I want to play!" Aemeath was the only one who chose to join the game, "But I want to be 'it' and catch people!"

"Let me count how many children there are... one, two, three, four... there are ten people. Counting me and Sigrika, there are twelve people. Twelve cats with two ghosts, that's fair enough." Xiao Ling nodded.

"Then it's settled~" Dania stretched lazily, her graceful curves looking incredibly alluring.

Xiao Ling wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that her figure was getting better and better after being nourished, and she looked really radiant.

Realizing he had misunderstood, he shook his head, throwing away those suggestive thoughts.

Xiao Shizhi, oh Xiao Shizhi, how could you be so ensnared by beauty? Have you forgotten the glory of being Sigma man? Confucius said, "I examine myself three times a day!" You can't go on like this!

That being said, if Dania were to throw herself into his arms, this guy would probably be more than willing to taste every part of that Honey Peach.

"Alright! A-Yu, hurry up and get ready with Xixi! The game is about to start!" Aemeath urged with a smile, seemingly very much looking forward to the game.

"Alright, alright, Sigrika, let's go."

"Okay! Senior! Here I come, Senior!"

Sigrika followed Xiao Ling and obediently joined the children in finding a place to hide.

Aemeath and Dania stood in the middle of the yard, waiting for the kittens to hide.

Little Ai, replaced the monotonous countdown with its clear and melodious singing voice, and the pleasant notes instantly spread to every corner of the yard.

After about a minute, Aemeath's humming gradually faded away.

"Hmm--ha~ Are you ready, Xiao Ya?" Aemeath stretched and said to Dania with a bright smile.

"We can leave at any time," Dania nodded with a smile.

"Alright!" Aemeath clasped her hands together, the crisp sound signaling the official start of the game.

"Alright, let's begin our game!"