The Coast.
“Wow, it’s lively, like a market at festival time.”
We reached the shore and stepped down from the carriage. I took in the scene, and a sigh rose like sea-mist.
The beachfront churned like a tide of people. Most wore Egisia Academy uniforms, pale skirts fluttering like gulls. Many men lingered afar, their stares buzzing like flies.
Out on the water sat a large ship, steady as a dark island. Alchemical arrays crawled across its hull like glowing constellations, and from a distance it carried a pressure like storm air.
“Mizumi-kun, what are you looking at?”
Eastern Moon Aixue stood beside me, her smile as soft as morning light.
“Nothing. It’s just so lively.” The words drifted out like a breeze.
I glanced around again. Sure enough, the shore felt like a fairground under bright sun.
“Hehe, Egisia Academy has a lot of students.” Eastern Moon Aixue’s laugh rang like silver bells.
“Yeah! But those men’s eyes are gross.” Hill’s small body bristled like a cub bracing against wind. Her Dragon Aura rolled out like thunder across a plain, and those stares shattered like waves on rock.
“…Forget it.” Eastern Moon Aixue started to speak, then sighed, the sound thin as a reed by water.
“Hill, good job.” Xinuo’s gaze held warm praise, and her hand fell on Hill’s head like a gentle pat of spring rain.
“Hehe, it’s nothing!” Hill’s eyes curved like crescent moons, her happiness bright as noon.
“...”
“...”
Because Hill had unleashed her Dragon Aura, we became the center of the beach like a lantern lit at dusk. Every gaze turned our way, bright and sharp as sunlight on foam.
“Wow! Who’s that girl with the platinum hair? I’ve never seen her. She’s stunning!”
“Right, and—hey—aren’t those two beside her Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya? Do they know each other?”
“The most beautiful is the one in the snow-white long dress, with snow-white hair. But seeing her makes my heart feel pressed, like frost on lungs.”
“Same here. But she’s too beautiful! I’ve never seen someone like that, especially that waterfall of white hair.”
“Mm-hmm! And the silver-haired little loli is adorable. She’s got two little horns on her head—makes you want to scoop her up and take her home!”
Snatches of talk drifted in like drifting petals. I could only go speechless; ordinary girls could chatter like sparrows at dawn.
“Eastern Moon Aixue, Faya—good morning.”
“Morning, you two.”
Two girls in school uniforms came walking over, light steps skipping like stones.
“Mm. Morning to you.” Eastern Moon Aixue and Faya greeted them with smiles, warm as lamplight.
“Right, President Aixue—who are they?”
“President Aixue, Faya, who are they? Do you know them?”
Curiosity brightened their faces like candles, and they looked to Eastern Moon Aixue.
“Well…” Eastern Moon Aixue glanced at me, then smiled like a cat with a secret. “Saying it now would ruin the fun. They’ll transfer into Egisia Academy this term. So, after tomorrow’s opening, you’ll know.”
“Eh? How can you tease us like that…”
Before they could press further, a voice rolled off the ship like a brass horn over water.
“All passengers heading to Egisia Academy, please board. This ship departs in thirty minutes.”
“Repeating: all passengers heading to Egisia Academy, please board. This ship departs in thirty minutes.”
“Servant, Hill, let’s go.” Xinuo took my hand, her pull firm as a current, and led us toward the gangway.
“Oooh! A boat, a boat!” Hill bounced like a spring lamb, giddy with firsts. Truth be told, this was my first boat too.
“We’ll talk later. We’ll take our leave for now. See you.” Eastern Moon Aixue gave them an apologetic smile, light as a bow of willow, and she and Faya hurried after us.
…
Half an hour passed.
The ship finally moved, cutting the blue like a blade. We rested in a spacious room, quiet as a shell under tide.
“Boss, boss! Riding a boat is so boring.” Hill stared at the deep sea outside, blue like polished jade, then turned to me with a pout like a folded fan.
“Then stop staring out the window. Come read.” I tapped her head with my book, a light thump like a knuckle on wood.
“Okay!” Hill nodded and plopped onto my lap, soft as a kitten finding a pillow.
“Read, read!” She wriggled to settle, cheerful as a chirp.
“Yeah, yeah.” Warmth pressed through cloth like sun through gauze. I set the book before her, and we read together, page by page like ripples.
“Servant, you’re spoiling Hill too much.” Xinuo Miss spoke, the words cool as shaded water.
“Eh? We’re back to this again?” I let out a helpless sigh, thin as a thread. We’d just had this talk.
“Xinuo Miss is right. Mizumi-kun, you really do spoil Hill. Are you a loli-con?!” Eastern Moon Aixue leaned in, mischief bright as fox-fire.
“…Mizumi-kun, are you really a loli-con?” Even Faya looked worried, her eyes clouded like rain.
“Uh, I’m not a loli-con! I spoil Hill because she’s like a cute little sister—”
Before I could finish, Xinuo’s fingers caught my cheeks, soft traps like snow. “Oh? So, Servant, you’re a sis-con.”
“Sis-con?” The word rang like a bell, and, honestly, it fit. Back in the Mizumi Clan, I’d played with Littlesky the most, like two sparrows sharing a branch.
“Servant, you’re not denying it… Are you really a sis-con?!” Xinuo’s hands tightened, pressure like winter frost.
“Uu-uu—Xinuo, easy! It’s just a tiny bit of sis-con, barely a drop!” Tears pricked like salt spray, and I begged for mercy, though I’d done nothing but speak.
“Boss, boss, what’s a sis-con?” Hill tilted her head up, curious as a fawn.
“Hill,” Eastern Moon Aixue answered first, her tone soft as silk, “a sis-con means a brother who has special feelings for his sister.”
“Special feelings? Like what?” Hill’s confusion sat in her eyes like drifting clouds.
“It’s a feeling called ‘like.’”
“Isn’t it good for a boss to like his sister? Why is that bad?” Hill’s innocence shone like spring water.
“Ah, not that kind of like. A deeper kind.” Eastern Moon Aixue’s voice dipped, embarrassed like blush under powder.
“Deeper kind? So, ‘like the most’! That’s great. It means boss and sister have a very good bond!” Hill beamed, logic straight as a bamboo shoot.
“Uh… Faya, I can’t. You explain it.” Eastern Moon Aixue’s mouth opened then stalled, a little ‘o’ like a goldfish, and she tossed the question to Faya beside her.
“Eh—eh?!” Faya froze, surprise fluttering like a startled sparrow.
…
