Seeming to notice where my gaze had wandered, Xialin explained, "This is just a small part. Most of the fitness equipment is over in the sports zone."
"Sports... zone? Not a building?"
"Nope. It’s a huge dedicated area with facilities for almost every sport you can imagine—and we get to use it all for free."
"S-so amazing!"
"Looks like our little kitten really loves sports," Xialin murmured, her hand sliding from beside her to my waist. She gave it a light pinch.
"Waaah! Xialin, you’re bullying me!" I squealed, darting away from her side. "You’re the worst! I’m not playing with you anymore!"
Seeing my wary expression, Xialin surrendered with an apologetic pout.
"Just teasing, sorry, Wu."
"Mmmph..." Fine. With that sincere look, how could I stay mad? I’m just that magnanimous.
Just as I swelled with smug satisfaction, ready to check her reaction—she lunged. Her hands seized mine, pinned my arms behind my back, and attacked my ticklish spots before I could react.
"Hahaha—stop—please! Lin—I surrender! Waaah! It’s too ticklish! I can’t—ah! Ah! I can’t take it anymore—"
"Now answer me properly," Xialin pressed her face close to mine, wearing that "luring little loli" expression. "Aren’t you my adorable little kitten? Answer well, and I might let you go."
"Mmph! Lin, you’re so mean... hahaha... please stop... I’m your kitten... isn’t that enough? Waaah... someone might see us—"
"Hmm? A kitten? I didn’t hear any meowing. And no one’s around," Xialin’s smile turned wicked. If not for her fingers threatening my most sensitive spots, I’d never... never give in.
"Waaah! No! People could walk by! I refuse—" The moment I protested, her hands crept inward. I realized her trap instantly.
*That’s way too far!*
*...Sorry, darlings. I can’t save you—I’m barely surviving myself QAQ*
"Wu-chan~" Her voice dripped honeyed temptation. "Will you meow? Or shall we wait for an audience? This would be *so* embarrassing~"
Sensing my crumbling resolve, Xialin intensified her assault. Waves of tingling sensation radiated from my waist, laced with something strangely warm, forcing helpless giggles from my lips.
Finally, after one particularly ruthless jab—I broke.
"Mew... mew... mew mew mew!" I wailed my surrender through tears.
"There we go. Such an obedient Wu-chan," Xialin nodded, satisfied. Then—
She kept tickling.
"Eh?! You promised to stop if I meowed! Waaah! QAQ"
"Sorry, Wu-chan," she stuck out her tongue, all fake remorse. "But you’re just too cute. I couldn’t resist~"
Her apology was utterly hollow—I saw right through it.
"Waaah... Xialin’s the worst... I’m ignoring you forever... sniffle..."
The spots she’d touched shifted from pure ticklishness to a faint, spreading numbness. My magic currents surged unnaturally fast, accelerated by her touch.
My already-sensitive skin grew hypersensitive. Instinctively, my body began absorbing ambient magic to fill the rapidly expanding pool within me.
This fusion of physical and magical growth made me crave the sensation.
*[Is this... evolution through magic?]*
Lost to instinct, I melted against Xialin’s chest, too dazed to question it.
"Guess I went too far," Xialin murmured, genuinely apologetic now as she supported my unsteady steps.
"Mmm... Xialin..." I mumbled, slumping onto the bleachers beside her. Her shoulder became my pillow as sleep pulled me under.
She watched me drift off again, voice low. "Your body’s so perfectly preserved... such wasted talent, never cultivated."
Her gaze lifted to a distant window on the highest floor of the activity building. Raising her right hand, she pointed first at me, then at herself—a clear challenge.
The pink silhouette behind the glass snapped the curtains shut, vanishing.
*[You’re mine now.]* Xialin lowered her hand, brushing stray bangs from my forehead.
*[My adorable little kitten.]*
