“So you were here, Yumigawa. I’ve been looking everywhere, like chasing smoke in the wind.”

We’d just left the restaurant to rest, and ran into Eastern Moon Aixue. She looked spent, like a flower after rain.

“We wanted a breather. By the way, Eastern Moon Aixue, did you finish your errand?”

I saw sweat beaded on her brow like dew. I smiled, shook my head, stepped up, and took out a handkerchief to dab it away, gentle as a breeze.

“Eastern Moon Aixue, want to go in for a drink and sit a while? You look worn out, like a candle in daylight.”

I kept wiping her brow as I spoke, the touch light as falling petals.

“Mmm…”

Aixue’s face flushed rose-red. Her phoenix eyes dropped to the floor, fixed like pins, shy as a startled fawn.

Uh… did I mess up?

Her bashfulness tangled my thoughts, like a kite string pulling against my hand.

“Uh!”

A cold prickle ran up my back, like a winter draft slipping under a door.

“…”

I folded the handkerchief, then turned—careful as turning a page.

Of course.

Xinuo stood there smiling like spring sun, but her eyes were winter steel, bright and without warmth.

Gulp.

I swallowed like a stone sliding down a well, and dragged my feet back to her side as if wading through mud.

“Servant, what were you just doing?”

Xinuo’s smile stayed, smooth as lacquer.

“Uh… wiping Eastern Moon Aixue’s sweat.”

I fussed with my hair, eyes dodging hers like fish in a pond.

Great. Last time I helped Faya, Xinuo fumed like a storm. And this time…

“…Forget it. Servant’s a natural airhead. Scolding you is like shouting at clouds.”

Xinuo sighed like wind through bamboo, then pinched my cheek, soft but merciless.

“Right! Boss is totally a natural—nice to everyone!” Hill nodded hard, like a pecking sparrow.

“Exactly. Yumigawa’s gentle to anyone who breathes.”

At some point, Faya had bought a bottle of juice from the restaurant. She gave me a small smile, then trotted over to Aixue like a breeze crossing grass.

“Aixue, here.”

Faya handed her the juice.

“Ah, thank you.”

Aixue’s cheeks stayed flushed like sunset. She accepted it, thanked Faya, and took a drink, lips petal-soft against the rim.

“Eh! I’m an airhead? Why?”

I scratched my head, baffled, the thought circling like a moth to a lamp. I’m not dumb at all!

“Servant.”

For some reason Xinuo looked at me with pity, like a monk gazing at a fly in honey. “Airheads never know they’re airheads. And you’d better stop flirting left and right. Or trouble will sprout like weeds.”

“Yup, yup! If it turns into a battlefield of jealous lovers, Boss, you’re toast!”

Hill hugged my right arm, laughing like tinkling bells, oddly delighted.

“Xinuo, when did I flirt? And there won’t be any battlefield! Relax, Hill!”

I was speechless at their warnings, like a drum struck with no echo. I’ve never chatted up girls, not interested either—where’s this flirting or battlefield coming from?

“Enough. Let’s drop it.”

Xinuo released my cheek, the matter cut clean like bamboo.

“We should head to the lodgings and take a look.”

She took my hand and led me toward Aixue, our steps like shadows pairing at dusk.

…

After a short rest, Eastern Moon Aixue finally looked steady again, like a boat finding calm water.

“Eastern Moon Aixue, please take us to the lodgings now.”

Once she finished the juice, Xinuo spoke.

“Alright, Xinuo Miss.”

Aixue nodded, tossed the empty bottle into the nearby bin like a coin into a well.

“Please follow me.”

“Mm.”

We followed Aixue toward the dorm district, our footsteps soft as falling leaves.

About half an hour later.

We reached a very quiet place. Dozens of dorm buildings stood like sentinels. Lush trees ringed them, a sea of green. Farther on, a beautiful garden bloomed like a painted scroll.

It was unnaturally still here, silence lying like snow—such a sharp contrast to the noisy academy zone we’d just left.

“Xinuo Miss, Yumigawa, and Hill, your quarters are in the Zhuyue Tower where Faya and I live. This way, please.”

With that, Aixue and Faya led us toward the building nestled deepest within the grove, like a moon hidden past the pines.

…

“This is Zhuyue Tower. Lots of empty rooms inside. Feel free to choose.”

After a few minutes, we arrived before an old-fashioned dorm, grand as a small hall. Five floors climbed like stacked eaves.

“Wow! Looks great!”

Hill stared up, lips parting like a cherry bloom.

Mm. I suddenly wanted to slip a finger there and see—an intrusive thought flitting by like a dragonfly.

“Quit staring. Let’s go in. Servant, you’ve got a room to sort out.”

Xinuo pushed open the antique doors, wood scent rising like warm tea, and tugged me inside.

“Alright, in we go!”

Hill scampered after us like a kitten.

“Uh, let’s head in too.”

“Okay.”

Aixue and Faya traded a helpless smile, then followed us into the tower, their steps light as feathers.

…

The interior was lovely too, age steeped into everything like tea into porcelain. Floors, walls, tables, chairs—every piece carried an antique breath.

And yet it was spotless, bright as new snow. The materials must be top tier, and someone cleaned daily with a caretaker’s heart. Otherwise, how could it gleam like this?

The only pity: so few residents that the place felt empty, a touch of loneliness drifting like mist.

In the end, Xinuo chose a room on the fifth floor, near the east balcony, right across from Aixue and Faya’s room—like moon to moon across a courtyard.

“Servant, get the room in order.”

Thankfully, even vacant rooms here were cleaned daily, polished like jade.

So all I had to do was unpack and settle in.

“Hoo—so tired.”

After more than an hour, the luggage finally sat in place, quiet as stones. I flopped onto the big bed to rest, body heavy as wet cloth.

“Good work, Boss.”

Hill perched on my back, her small hands soft as buns, kneading with careful pressure.

“Not hard at all. Mm. And that feels amazing—like warm rain.”

I closed my eyes, melting into the touch. Hill’s a good kid—seeing me tired, she jumps in to help.

“…Servant, you lolicon.”

Sitting beside me, Xinuo shot me a look of deep disdain, sharp as a needle, and poked my cheek with her slender, pretty finger again and again.

“Come on, I’m not a lolicon. But Hill’s massage is heavenly—like clouds.”

Drowsiness rolled over me like a tide. I couldn’t be bothered to bicker.

“Servant, you look ready to sleep. Fine, I’ll nap too.”

She lay down, settling beside me like a quiet moon.

“Alright. Mm. I’m sleeping. So sleepy…”

Sleep tugged like silk threads. In the end, I couldn’t fight it, and drifted off.

“Eh, Master and Boss are both asleep?! Then I’m sleeping too!”

Seeing Xinuo and Yumigawa Sumeragi dozing, Hill climbed off my back, burrowed into my arms like a kitten to its nest, and shut her eyes…