"Please have some tea."

"Oh, thanks..."

I sat on a stone slab, a stone table before me holding two teacups and a teapot. Steam curled from the hot water in the cups.

I lifted my cup to drink—

"Damn it!!! Why am I sipping tea here?! Where even is this place?! And what are you, you weird thing?!"

I slammed the cup down. Whatever stone it was made of, the quality was flawless—not a crack, not a scratch, just a few spilled drops.

Across from me sat... a person.

Well... how to explain? It was human, yet not. Not what I’d call human, but still... human.

Ahhh!!!

I clutched my head, utterly lost. How do I even describe this?!

Before me sat a ‘character’! The Chinese ‘person’ character!

"I am human," it replied simply.

Wait—characters can talk?

But this one was huge! Nearly my height!

It sat on another stone, its two ‘legs’ bent. Muscular arms sprouted from the top of the ‘person’ shape, lifting a teacup to sip noisily.

"I didn’t ask what you are. I can see you’re a ‘person’—anyone with eyes knows that!"

"I meant your name! Your name!"

"Ah, sorry—I forgot." The ‘person’ scratched its head apologetically. "I’m ‘Ankexikaao,’ the one you seek. And you’re ‘Rogelit,’ the one I’ve waited for."

"Huh?" I froze. "You’re ‘Ankexikaao’?"

It nodded seriously... wait, how could I see its expression?

"Exactly. Though truthfully, I’ve forgotten my real name. I’ve been here so long, I don’t know what I am anymore. I chose ‘Ankexikaao’ to remember my purpose: waiting for a girl named ‘Rogelit’ to arrive, and then—"

"You seem pitiful, but I must clarify something." I cut it off. Under its strange gaze... wait, where are its eyes?... I pointed at myself. "I’m not ‘Rogelit.’ I’m not a girl. My real name is Rogied—I’m a boy." I lifted my skirt to prove it.

Ankexikaao bowed its head. After a pause, it looked up.

"Exactly. Though truthfully, I’ve forgotten my real name. I’ve been here so long, I don’t know what I am anymore. I chose ‘Ankexikaao’ to remember my purpose: waiting for a boy named ‘Rogied’ to arrive, and then—"

"Are you messing with me?!" I slammed my fist on the table, glaring with a twitching mouth.

"Now, now—don’t sweat details! Boys can be cute too~ Honestly, I adore cross-dressers~~" It gave a thumbs-up.

"That’s not the point! You’ve got the wrong person!"

"I haven’t." Ankexikaao reached into a pocket... wait, where’s the pocket?... and pulled out a portrait. It spread it on the table. "See? Just like you."

The drawing showed a girl in a lace-trimmed mini skirt, a bow in her hair, tall and cute, with striking black-stockinged legs.

Yes—that was me after Anjelit spent all night dressing me as a girl.

So Ankexikaao was looking for me?

Just as that thought hit me, its next words made me want to strangle it.

"Spot on, right? I drew it just now—in ten minutes!"

"You said ‘just now’—"

"Ah, ignore details~ Real men don’t fuss over small stuff, right?" Ankexikaao scratched its head, laughing nervously.

If I didn’t know how powerful it was, I’d have fought it already.

"So why’d you summon me? Aren’t you scared Dora will catch up?"

"Dora? The light-element battle mage? Heh, she’s strong. But if she comes, I’ll give my all..." Ankexikaao paused, dead serious. "...to die as neatly as possible!"

"Huh?"

"I’m weak. My only purpose is waiting for you. I know spells and skills, but I have no body~ With just the ‘concept’ of a ‘person,’ I can only use辅助 magic like illusions~"

Ankexikaao poured more tea and slurped loudly.

After finishing, it stared at me... seriously, where are its eyes?!

"Rogelit."

"My name is Rogied."

"Mm, Rogelit."

"I said Rogied!"

"Okay, Rogelit."

"You want a beating?!"

"...Rogied." Ankexikaao backed down, nodding. "I’m here to deliver a message. After that, I vanish. I don’t know what it says—just a few questions. I ask, you answer. Deal?"

"You’re surprisingly chatty," I said with a fake smile.

"So you agree?"

"Just ask!"

"Hmm... first question." Ankexikaao scratched its head, thinking. It tapped the table. "Ah! Black hair or blonde—which do you prefer?"

"...Black hair." I answered honestly, confused.

"Second: big breasts or small—which do you like?"

"..." I glared but muttered, "Big breasts..."

"Just as I thought!"

"Shut up! What’s wrong with liking big breasts?!"

"Small ones are great too, right?"

"Don’t derail!" I slammed my palm down. Ankexikaao dropped its cup in fright.

It picked it up, wiped it clean, and asked the third question.

"Married women or young girls—which do you prefer?"

I took a deep breath, forcing calm.

"...You really are a pervert, aren’t you?"