Chapter 22: Companions and Trust

After pouring the hot water, Cuique carried several teacups back to the living room, just in time to see Xia Liang, wrapped in a bathrobe, walking out from the direction of the bathroom.

"Found them in the kitchen."

To avoid misunderstanding, she explained thus, placing the brewed tea on the coffee table.

Setting down the cup, pushing the saucer, sitting back on the sofa, and lifting the tea, Cuique fell silent for a moment before speaking lightly:

"Why run away from home?"

As she asked this, she did not look at Xia Liang, simply because she did not want to put too much pressure on the other person.

Though it was merely intuition, she could feel that Xia Liang might be hiding quite a few secrets in her heart.

"Ahaha, this... can I get away with it?"

Facing this question, Xia Liang's voice sounded somewhat dry, and her tone carried a hint of testing.

Cuique raised an eyebrow slightly: "What's the excuse you're using to get away with it?"

"Let me think... a normal quarrel with family, how about that?" Xia Liang looked around, smiling as she raised her right index finger.

"Sounds quite real."

Cuique gave no definite answer, taking a light sip from the rim of her teacup, then continued: "Did you say the same thing to Bai Mei?"

"Xiaolu hasn't asked me yet."

Xia Liang shook her head, looking slightly disappointed: "She knew nothing at all, yet agreed to let me come to her house so easily. I had prepared many interesting reasons."

"That child, though she won't admit it with her mouth, is indeed a bit single-minded. Don't bully her too much."

Cuique set down her teacup and turned her profile toward Xia Liang: "However, the name 'Xiaolu'... did she tell you her real name?"

"Hm? She told me when we first met."

Xia Liang didn't understand the situation, but heard something else in Cuique's tone: "Is there a problem?"

"Yes. When appearing in public as a Magical Girl, one generally addresses each other by codenames."

Cuique lowered her eyelids: "I am Cuique, you are Xiaojin, Lin Xiaolu is Bai Mei. When you transform into a Magical Girl, your codename becomes your name."

"It's not just with enemies and strangers. Even among Magical Girls, revealing one's real name and true identity to each other is something done only after mutual trust is established."

"Do not easily expose your vulnerable side to those you do not trust, unless you are strong enough."

Having said this, Cuique raised her eyes, hands clasped: "So during transformation, I will always call you by your codenames. This is not only because I only told you codenames and our relationship needs to be equal; it is also because it is a good habit."

Xia Liang nodded as if understanding, then suddenly clapped her hands: "Can I apply now to change my Magical Girl codename to 'Xia Liang'?"

"Don't ask stupid questions."

"Then I've already told Xiaolu my name. What should I do?"

"Nothing."

Cuique sighed: "Between companions in the same city, real names must eventually be spoken. It's just that later, when you leave Fang Ting City, you will meet Magical Girls who are not companions; at that time, you must pay attention to this point."

"Companions, huh..."

Repeating this word, a faint glimmer passed through Xia Liang's eyes. Then she squinted, lowered her head, and wrapped her bathrobe tighter: "So, have I now gotten away with it in front of a companion?"

"I suppose so?"

Not noticing Xia Liang's small gesture, or perhaps pretending not to care, Cuique stood up, patted her skirt: "Maintaining vigilance against enemies and strangers, and extending trust to companions as much as possible, is the operational guideline for Magical Girls."

"Bai Mei is a child without guile; she will believe you. I know you will be a good child, and I am willing to believe you. If you do not wish to speak, no one will force you."

"So, wait until you feel you trust us enough, then speak your heart."

After all, every Magical Girl of the Material Realm has, to some extent, her own inner confusion.

She did not say this sentence aloud.

"Little Senior..."

Emerging from the subtle low mood, Xia Liang raised her head, seemingly touched a little.

She slowly opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something, then pressed her lips together, hesitated, and gently opened her red lips again—

—"I'm done washing. Sorry to keep you waiting. You can go in..."

Xia Liang's words were interrupted by a loud, carefree voice. Lin Xiaolu, wearing loungewear with a towel around her neck and steam rising from her body, walked over from the direction of the bathroom.

She had only spoken half her sentence when she arrived in the living room. Seeing the two sitting there, she met their somewhat strange gazes, stopped her original words, and widened her eyes: "What's wrong? Were you just talking about something? The atmosphere feels a bit strange..."

Cuique glanced at Xia Liang and found that Xia Liang had likewise turned her gaze toward her. The two locked eyes for a moment; one closed her eyes, while the other wore a slightly helpless smile.

It seemed the previous conversation could not continue.

"Just a simple chat, nothing much."

Cuique casually brushed aside Lin Xiaolu's question, lifted her teacup for a sip, set it down, and walked toward the balcony:

"Well, since you two are settled, I'll leave first. I have other matters."

She truly could not stay much longer; after all, she had originally slipped out during lunch break and had work in the afternoon. She had already been delayed by over an hour due to this incident; if she didn't return now, she feared she would cause trouble.

"Eh, leaving already? Cuique, stay a bit longer."

Hearing that Cuique was leaving, Lin Xiaolu instinctively wanted to persuade her to stay, glancing around, trying to find some reason to keep the other person. Finally finding nothing, she spotted the several cups of hot tea on the table: "... What's with the water over there?"

"Couldn't sit still, so I found them in the kitchen."

Cuique kept walking without stopping, went straight to the edge of the balcony, looked back once at the living room: "I was thirsty, so I took the initiative to brew tea, but the water is a bit hot; remember to let it cool before drinking."

"See you tomorrow." She said this last.

Having spoken, she did not pause, leaped from the railing, and vanished into the air along with a stream of azure magic.

Leaving Lin Xiaolu and Xia Liang staring at the now-empty balcony.

"Too... too..."

After Cuique left, Lin Xiaolu stood in place, frowning, eyes staring blankly, muttering something.

"I actually don't think there's anything wrong?"

Guessing she was displeased because Cuique left in such a hurry, Xia Liang smiled and waved her hand, trying to smooth things over: "Little Senior usually speaks directly, so she must really be busy. She's not making excuses to dodge us. There's no need to be angry with her, right?"

"... So cool."

"What?"

"So cool!" Lin Xiaolu lifted her face, starlight flickering in her eyes.

"Huh?" After hearing clearly what Lin Xiaolu was saying, Xia Liang froze.

"Did you see it? You saw it too, right?"

Contrary to her usual attitude of keeping Xia Liang at arm's length, Lin Xiaolu pointed at the balcony, as enthusiastic as some missionary, gesturing with both hands and saying: "Did you see it? That one, speaking while jumping down from the high platform, then raising a swirl of magic to fly away directly. Doesn't Senior Cuique's move look super cool? I want to learn it too!"

"Hmm... I guess?"

Watching Lin Xiaolu get excited over something strange, Xia Liang smiled along on the surface while recalling in her heart what Senior Cuique had just said:

One-track mind, seems like it's true?