Qiluo had just stepped out of the theater's side door and hadn't even had time to turn into the hallway when two figures followed her out, one after the other.
“Classmate Tian Gong!” Kizuna circled around to block her path, still clutching the program pamphlet folded into a small square. “Are there any other activities next? I heard there's a school idol live show over by the sports field. Want to go watch together?”
Yuki pushed the door open and stepped out. Seeing Kizuna already standing beside Qiluo, her steps faltered slightly.
She rolled up her cuffs by half an inch and walked over to Qiluo's other side.
“What about you, Yuki?” Qiluo turned to her. “Is there anything you want to see?”
“Nothing in particular.”
Yuki shook her head and remained silent for a moment before speaking. “Don't worry about me. I'm fine going anywhere.”
Kizuna had already walked a few steps ahead, turning back to wave at them.
Watching Kizuna's bouncing figure, Yuki suddenly spoke up, a trace of envy she herself didn't realize coloring her voice. “Classmate Asana is always so energetic.”
“Yeah. Unlike you, who keeps everything bottled up inside.” Qiluo glanced sideways at her. “Just now, at the exit—”
“I just wanted to be the first to see you.” After saying this, Yuki pursed her lips and rolled her cuffs up another turn.
“Let's go.” Qiluo set off, walking toward the sports field.
Yuki followed behind her, her steps slightly lighter than usual.
The two walked side by side through the courtyard. Yuki walked on the outer side. Every time someone ran past them, she would naturally take half a step closer to Qiluo. Their shoulders almost touched, only for her to pull away the instant before contact.
While Qiluo Tian Gong was leisurely taking her time, Shizuru Kirishima was far from calm.
Shizuru pushed open the door to the dressing room. Nuomi was sitting on the vanity table, with Star-trail crouching beside it.
A half-eaten box of takoyaki was spread out in front of the two small creatures. Nuomi was pointing its tail at the squiggly sauce patterns on top, explaining to Star-trail which pattern tasted the best.
The moment the door opened, Nuomi hopped down from the vanity and ran toward Shizuru.
“Shizuru! You performed so well! I even cried during that final monologue. Quite a few tufts of fur on my tail got wet—look!”
It held its tail high, showing Shizuru the still-damp fluff at the tip.
“Thank you.”
Shizuru squatted down to rub Nuomi's ears, then stood up and walked over to the vanity.
Shizuru took off her laurel wreath, placed it on the vanity, and began to untie the woven gold belt around her waist in front of the mirror.
Her fingers weren't cooperating very well. She tried several times but couldn't thread it out of the robe's loops.
Finally, she just stopped, resting both hands on the vanity, and stared down at her reflection in the mirror.
The performance was over, so she should have felt relieved. Instead, her movements to untie the belt grew increasingly frantic.
“Shizuru? What are you looking for?” Nuomi tilted its head.
“To change my clothes.” Shizuru finally pulled the belt out of the loops, placed it on the vanity, and began to remove the hair ornaments from her hair. “The performance costumes need to be returned. I have to change as quickly as possible.”
“But the costume crew said they can collect them all together after the school festival ends. There's no need to rush—”
Nuomi was cut off mid-sentence when Star-trail gently tapped its ear with its tail.
It glanced at Star-trail, twitched its ears, and quieted down.
Star-trail looked up, watching her remove the hair ornaments. The clips were taken off one by one, making soft clinking sounds as they were placed on the table.
Shizuru removed the last hairpin, and her long hair fell loose over the shoulders of her white robe.
“I'm going to change.” She picked up her casual clothes folded over the back of the chair, turned, and walked into the changing room. The curtain slid shut with a swoosh behind her, and the rustling of fabric came from behind it.
The space inside the changing room was very narrow. Leaning against the wall, she slipped the ancient Greek robe off her shoulders, letting the white fabric pool in a soft heap at her feet.
Shizuru's movements to untie her hair grew faster and faster, but her fingertips refused to cooperate. A small silver clip sprang loose and fell to the floor, but she didn't bend down to pick it up.
She ran her fingers through her long hair, which was stuck together in clumps by hairspray. Wincing as she tugged at a knot, she still didn't stop.
After changing into her casual clothes, she grabbed her coat from the back of the chair and headed straight for the door.
Nuomi hopped down from the vanity. “Shizuru, where are you going? Wait for me—”
“To find her.” Shizuru's hand was already on the doorknob.
“I saw her in the audience just now. If I don't chase after her now, she might leave.”
Having said that, she pulled the door open, the breeze in the hallway blowing her long hair back.
Star-trail's eyes widened.
“—Wait a moment.” Qiluo stopped.
Qiluo unlocked her phone, glanced down, and then looked up to give the two of them an apologetic smile.
“Rei just messaged me saying there's a situation at the café and asked me to help out. You guys go to the sports field first. I'll join you once I'm done.”
She made a troubled face as she finished.
“Is it serious? Do you want me to go with you?” Yuki asked.
“No need. They're probably just short on ingredients. I'll just go lend a hand.” With that, she turned and walked toward the school building.
Kizuna watched her retreating figure, clasping her hands behind her back. “Classmate Tian Gong is really popular. Rei calls her for everything.”
She then turned to Yuki. “Kurokawa-san, let's go grab a good spot at the sports field first. There's bound to be a big crowd for the idol live show.”
“Okay.” Yuki agreed verbally, but her feet didn't move immediately. Instead, she stood in place, watching the direction Qiluo had left for a little longer.
“Rei's name is so useful.” Qiluo turned into the hallway on the side of the school building. After confirming no one was following her, she leaned against the wall and straightened her cuff, which Kizuna had gently tugged earlier.
In any case, all kinds of unexpected situations could happen during the school festival, so Yuki and Kizuna wouldn't suspect a thing.
Both of them were earnest people. Hearing that Rei was asking for help, they would only think: Qiluo is such a responsible, good girl~
Alright, now I need to find an empty spot to transform.
Thinking about transforming, Qiluo looked around for a deserted place.
After walking for a bit, she stopped in her tracks.
Wait...
Shizuru said she saw me, which means she might have also seen Yuki and Kizuna next to me.
If I transform and go meet her now...
Won't she realize right then and there that Lightweaver is Qiluo Tian Gong?!
No, no, no!
Qiluo, calm down.
Qiluo snapped herself out of her usual train of thought.
What Shizuru had seen in the end was likely Qiluo Tian Gong cosplaying as Lightweaver, not the actual Lightweaver she was looking for.
Although they were the same person, the context here was completely different.
She couldn't transform.
Not only could she not transform, but she also had to stay in this form.
Qiluo tugged at the hem of her skirt, flipped the red highlight of her wig into its proper place, and set off, casually walking into the nearest booth area.
But what kind of expression should I have right now?
Should I pretend I have no idea she's looking for me and leisurely browse the booths? Or should I just find a prominent spot to stand so she can find me more easily?
She stopped in front of a booth selling handmade accessories, picking up a pair of star earrings to examine them against the sunlight.
The stall owner warmly invited her to try them on. She shook her head, put the earrings back, and scanned the bustling crowd out of the corner of her eye.
If Shizuru was indeed looking for her, she would likely come from the direction of the theater. Qiluo deliberately slowed her pace, lingering for a moment at a shooting gallery game, browsing the menu at a crepe stand, spending just enough time at each booth to ensure she remained visible.
She had just stopped next to a fried noodle stall. As she pretended to bend down to tie her shoelaces, she caught sight of a familiar figure running in her direction out of the corner of her eye.
Rate on N.U.
