Inside a quaint dessert shop in Canglan City, warm sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting golden patterns across the wooden tables.
The atmosphere was peaceful and comfortable.
Two petite girls sat by the window, leisurely enjoying desserts while admiring the bustling streets outside.
"Wow! The cakes here are seriously amazing!"
Liu Xiyue happily scooped up another spoonful of cream cake.
The sweet cream melted on her tongue, causing her eyes to narrow in satisfaction.
"Mm."
Silver Wolf nodded casually.
"They're pretty good."
At the neighboring seat, Silver Wolf carefully accepted a cupcake handed to her by Firefly.
She took a cautious bite.
The fluffy cake and rich cream blended together inside her mouth.
A trace of surprise immediately flashed across her delicate face.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly.
"Mm...This actually tastes better than I expected."
"Eh? Really?!"
Liu Xiyue's eyes lit up.
"Let me try!"
She immediately leaned toward the cupcake in Silver Wolf's hand.
Silver Wolf instinctively pulled it back toward her chest.
"No. Don't you already have your own?"
"Come on, don't be so stingy!"
Liu Xiyue reached out shamelessly.
"Just one bite!"
"When I told you to buy one yourself, you refused."
Silver Wolf looked at her expressionlessly.
"But the moment there's food to steal, you're first in line. And now you want my cake too? No chance."
"Hehe~ The past is the past. The present is the present."
Liu Xiyue grinned mischievously.
Before Silver Wolf could react, she suddenly dipped her finger into a bit of cream and smeared it onto the corner of Silver Wolf's mouth.
"There. Now I'm sharing it with you."
Silver Wolf: (ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)
"..."
Liu Xiyue: (๑•̀ᗜ•́)و
"Hehe."
...
After a lengthy battle involving shameless begging, stubborn refusal, and several accusations of food theft...
Silver Wolf finally allowed Liu Xiyue a small taste.
Liu Xiyue carefully sampled the cupcake.
The cream was sweet.
The cake itself was soft.
But...
There was also a faint burnt flavor mixed in.
She blinked.
Then blinked again.
"It's not bad. But honestly...It only feels average?"
Liu Xiyue tilted her head.
"Actually, compared to everything else in the shop, this might be the weakest one."
She turned toward Silver Wolf curiously.
"Why did you pick this one out of all the desserts here?"
Silver Wolf took another bite.
"Oh. Because Firefly made it."
Liu Xiyue: (◐ o ◑ )
"...Huh?"
Silver Wolf continued calmly.
"She recently started practicing baking. This was made specifically for me."
Liu Xiyue: Σ(°△°|||)
The smile on her face instantly froze.
A suspicious redness began spreading up her neck.
Her body stiffened.
Very stiffened.
Because...
A few seconds ago...
She vaguely felt someone approaching from behind.
Slow footsteps.
Steady footsteps.
And now...
Liu Xiyue suddenly remembered something.
Before leaving today, Silver Wolf had specifically mentioned they would be visiting the café where Firefly worked part-time.
Liu Xiyue: ( ๑ŏ ﹏ ŏ๑ )
A drop of cold sweat slid down her temple.
Her throat bobbed.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
No no no.
It might just be a coincidence.
The person behind me isn't necessarily Firefly.
Right?
RIGHT?!
With the determination of someone approaching their own execution...
Liu Xiyue cautiously glanced sideways.
The first thing that entered her peripheral vision was a familiar emerald-green skirt.
Then dark green stockings.
Liu Xiyue =͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪ ‧̣̥̇)
OH CRAP!!!
For a moment, she completely froze.
Turning around felt awkward.
Not turning around somehow felt even more awkward.
Her toes nearly dug through the wooden floor.
Just as she was about to die from embarrassment...
She suddenly remembered the existence of a certain gaming addict.
Silver Wolf!
Like someone spotting a lifeboat in the middle of the ocean, Liu Xiyue immediately turned toward her.
Her eyes were full of pleading.
Full of desperation.
Full of the hope that her teammate would save her.
The next second...
She saw Silver Wolf's expression.
Silver Wolf: (ᗜ ˰ ᗜ)
The message written on her face was crystal clear.
Fight.
Fight!
Liu Xiyue: (இдஇ`)
You traitor!
...
A while before.
Firefly's break finally began.
She naturally walked over and sat beside Silver Wolf.
The movement was smooth and familiar.
Silver Wolf merely glanced at her once before returning to her cupcake.
Clearly, this was something she had grown completely accustomed to.
Meanwhile...
Liu Xiyue was still dying inside.
Her fingers twisted the hem of her clothes.
Her cheeks remained red.
She didn't know where to place her hands.
Or her eyes.
Or herself.
For several minutes, she remained trapped in her own embarrassment.
Fortunately, Firefly didn't mention anything.
She simply maintained her usual gentle smile.
Everything appeared normal.
Yet Liu Xiyue still noticed something.
Firefly's smile seemed slightly weaker than usual.
The corners of her eyes drooped ever so slightly.
The curve of her lips wasn't as bright.
Even her breathing felt a little heavier.
Only a little.
But enough to notice.
Liu Xiyue immediately felt guilty.
After all...
Anyone would feel hurt after having something they worked hard on described as average.
Especially someone as earnest as Firefly.
Liu Xiyue: (╥﹏╥)
I'm awful.
Absolutely awful.
How could I discourage such a hardworking girl?
She wanted to slap herself.
Twice.
Maybe three times.
Unable to endure the atmosphere any longer, she hurriedly changed the topic.
The transition was so stiff it practically cracked the floor.
"Um...Firefly. Why are you working part-time here?"
Firefly blinked.
Then answered honestly.
"Because I don't want to keep relying on Silver Wolf."
Her voice remained calm.
Gentle.
Without any hesitation.
"I want to contribute too. I want to do things for Silver Wolf."
Silver Wolf immediately raised her head.
"If that's the case, then please remember to play games with me this weekend."
Liu Xiyue: (;o_o)
Firefly: (๑꒪▿꒪)*
The atmosphere instantly derailed.
Ignoring Silver Wolf's interruption, Firefly continued.
A small smile appeared on her face.
A smile carrying a freedom she had never possessed before.
"At the same time...I want to experience life like an ordinary person. I want to enjoy doing things I like."
Sunlight streamed through the windows.
It illuminated Firefly's face.
At that moment, she seemed incredibly warm.
Incredibly genuine.
Liu Xiyue couldn't help staring quietly.
She suddenly wondered what kind of life Firefly had lived before.
What experiences had shaped her into someone this strong.
Then...
A memory surfaced.
Something Firefly had casually mentioned before.
A disease.
Entropy Loss Syndrome.
Liu Xiyue's crimson eyes widened.
Her gaze immediately darted between Firefly and Silver Wolf.
Childhood friends.
A terminal illness.
Mutual dependence.
Working hard to earn money.
Supporting each other.
One keyword after another connected together inside her mind.
An entire story seemed to form on its own.
A very moving story.
A very tragic story.
And...
For some reason...
A very painful story.
Two complicated emotions surged into Liu Xiyue's heart simultaneously.
One was admiration.
The other was...
Liu Xiyue (இдஇ`)
Can a newcomer really never beat a childhood friend...?
For the first time in her life...
The strongest Special Grade Esper of the Dragon Kingdom suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of crisis.
A crisis greater than fighting Abyssal monsters.
Greater than battling cultists.
Greater than working with teammates who fed kills.
Because compared to all of those...
A childhood friend buff seemed completely impossible to defeat.