"Did you have a fight with your family?"

"Yeah."

"That’s not good. You’re family. You should make up soon."

"It’s not about making up or not. She… hit a nerve."

"What nerve?"

"Some self-perception stuff. I’ve never really liked myself. After our fight, I saw my… uglier side again."

"Ugly? You? I think you’re a good person."

"Distance makes the heart grow fonder. There’s a screen between us."

"True… But from what you said, you seem to agree with her?"

"I guess so."

"Then why keep sulking? Can’t you both just compromise?"

*I* want to compromise. She doesn’t. She’s being stubborn for no reason. She wasn’t like this before. I can’t figure her out at all."

"Try talking calmly when you’re both settled?"

"She won’t even talk to me. Talking requires making up first."

"So make up first?"

"How can we make up without talking?"

"Deadlock, huh…"

Chatting with Threadleak Pen solved nothing. Honestly, Yumo didn’t care anymore.

He’d just let it freeze over.

He wasn’t obligated to humor his sister’s tantrums.

"Turning a blind eye solves most problems," the Demon said mysteriously, "but not this one."

"…Spit it out. Do you know something about my sister?"

"Do you think I should?"

"Don’t answer a question with a question!"

—

—

…

…

…

Nearly a month had passed since Liyu started her diet.

If she’d only seemed "a little less chubby" before, now she was visibly slimmer. Her double chin had faded. Her waist had narrowed. Her legs no longer strained against her sweatpants. She was still overweight, but no longer instantly labeled "fatso." Strict dieting—more veggies, less oil and salt—had also cleared her skin.

Her effort was obvious. Even the strict Chen Xiang praised her. For Liyu, this was probably the only thing she’d ever succeeded at. Encouraged, she’d grown more cheerful, smiling often, standing straight when talking to others.

"Guess I’ve got an eye for talent," Chen Xiang patted her shoulder. "You’ve got real beauty potential."

"Nowhere near you, Auntie. But… ugh…" Liyu frowned down at her body.

Before dieting, she couldn’t see her feet.

After a month? Still couldn’t see them.

Before, her chest *and* belly blocked the view. Now, only her chest did.

"My chest hasn’t shrunk much… or my butt…" She squeezed her hip. Heavy, fleshy weight. Her butt had slimmed at first, but now refused to budge. It frustrated her.

"…Haven’t you realized yet, Liyu?"

"Realized what?"

"You’re one of the gifted ones I mentioned."

"???"

"Your curves are in the right places. Isn’t that a good thing?"

"But I want Yuxin’s figure…" She pointed to Yuxin resting by the pool—slim and light-framed like a storybook sprite. (Her chest and hips were petite too. No obstacles between chin and toes.)

"…Liyu."

"Hmm?"

"Don’t say that to Yuxin. She’s actually sensitive about it."

"????"

"Speaking of her and her brother…"

"…"

"…It’s been a week. Still this tense?"

"Yeah… Did this ever happen before?"

"No. They barely spoke before. Now it’s clearly a fight."

"Mm…"

"I don’t know how to step in. I’ve tried talking to her several times. She won’t say a word. Never seen her this stubborn."

"Maybe she can’t open up to her mom? A peer might…" Liyu slapped her cheeks twice, psyching herself up. "Let me handle it!"

"Huh?"

"You’ve done so much for me. I want to help back!"

—

—

"You’re asking what happened with my sister?"

"Mhm!"

At dinner, Liyu pulled Yumo aside. Her earnestness gave him a headache.

"Nothing much. We’ve always had a bad relationship."

"You fought?"

"Less a fight, more like…" Yumo stared at his half-eaten weed meal. It felt… hollow.

He couldn’t vent to estranged family. Had no close friends. Valued privacy too much for online strangers. Even the Demon roommate only mocked him with riddles. All his frustration stayed locked inside.

"…Fine. We fought. But what bothers me isn’t the fight. It’s… seeing my true self again. Just a little more clearly."

"Your… true self?"

"I… I’ve never told anyone. I’ve always… hated myself."

"Why!?"

"I’ve been quiet since childhood."

"But you’re so warm with me!"

"My abilities are mediocre."

"But your drive is amazing!"

"I have no strengths."

"Your science grades are stellar!"

"I’m plain-looking."

"Only because you never groom yourself!"

"I even—I can’t even—ugh. She made me face a fact. A fact I can’t deny. Can’t argue with. Can’t tell anyone…"

"What ‘fact’? You can tell *me*. I’m your girlfriend. I can listen."

"Some things shouldn’t be said. Not even to you… It’s my fault. Not hers. Definitely not yours…"

"You mean ‘you don’t actually like me’?"

"!?"

*His heart stopped dead.*

"You—wait! What are you saying? Why would I confess if I didn’t like you?"

"I *am* a girl, you know. I’ve got… woman’s intuition."

"Intuition???"

"I just… feel it. My heart races when we’re together. I get nervous holding your hand. Shy when you look at me. Calm studying with you… But I’ve never felt that from you."

"………………"

"I’m sensitive to others’ feelings. About a week into dating, I was pretty sure… you don’t like me. Right?"

Yumo opened his mouth to deny it—

But no words came.

What now?

Apologize?

*"Sorry I lied. I have zero interest in you. Helping you was just convenient. I’m really just trying to grant my wish before my whole family dies."*

Impossible. Whether Liyu believed him or not, Yusuozaai had already threatened him directly. He couldn’t risk it.

So… more excuses?

How many layers deep before it collapsed?

"But it’s okay."

Her next words stunned him.

"……………………Okay?"

"I like you. I have for a long time."

"…But if it’s true? What you said?"

"Doesn’t matter. The person I like confessed to me. Became my boyfriend. Helped me lose weight. Shared so many precious moments… Even if you’re not sincere, I’m still happy."

"Even if you say that… then…"

"~Well~! Guess I’ll work harder on my diet! And social skills! I’ve known for a while—if you don’t feel romantic love for me—" She gripped his hands, sincere smile shining. "—then I’ll just have to make you fall for me, right?"

"…………"

"I-I’ll get prettier. Try to be more outgoing. Learn to dress well. Someday… I’ll make you truly like me. That’s my biggest wish now."

"……………………!"

For an instant.

Just that instant.

Yumo’s heart *thumped*.

He knew it wasn’t his imagination.

"You’re a good person. Yuxin’s been kind to me too. Let me help you make up. Consider it repayment, okay?"

"…How?"

"No idea. Sheer willpower? I’ll talk to Yuxin for you!"