It was a lovely day. A gentle breeze rustled through the leaves as the 2 p.m. sun bathed the park bench in warm light.

A pure, cheerful girl spoke in the most innocent tone, extending a tempting invitation to the little fox girl.

Panties… She actually wants to see *my* panties?

Qiu Li’er’s cheeks flushed slightly. Instead of answering Xiao Shi right away, she nervously glanced around.

Plenty of people still lingered in the square. If she did anything strange on this bench… she’d definitely be noticed.

“…I never expected you to be this kind of person.”

Qiu Li’er gently moved Xiao Shi’s right hand aside and said firmly, “No.”

She’d thought she’d finally met a normal girl—only to realize this was the most abnormal one of all.

Who asks to see a girl’s panties after knowing her for barely a minute? Go bother *your* girlfriend if you’re so curious!

She’d never have agreed—unless it were Nan Shi or Yuenina.

“Eh? What a pity…” Xiao Shi pouted, disappointed. “Since Qiu Li’er’s so cute, her panties must be lovely too. Are you wearing white ones today?”

Qiu Li’er’s ears twitched. Why was she so fixated on panties?

Though puzzled, she carefully recalled and replied earnestly, “I don’t wear pure white.” (Patterned ones were fine—but privacy called for vagueness.)

“Eh—total opposite of my friend!” Xiao Shi’s eyes widened. “She *only* wears white panties. Lifting her skirt is so boring.”

*That friend is Xi Xi.*

Qiu Li’er’s eyelid twitched. So you enjoy lifting skirts?

Thankfully, she wore shorts today. Her old skirt wouldn’t have survived the attention.

“Hehe—Qiu Li’er, let’s add each other!” Xiao Shi pulled out her phone cheerfully. “Makes hanging out later easier~”

“You’re so effortlessly friendly, Xiao Shi—unlike anyone I’ve met,” Qiu Li’er said while adding the contact, gazing at the radiant girl. “Did something happy happen?”

“Happy things? Hmm… not really.”

Xiao Shi hopped off the bench and twirled lightly. Her petite skirt fluttered up for a moment, then settled—revealing nothing.

“Because being alive is joyful~” Xiao Shi beamed. “If Qiu Li’er had died once, she’d understand this even better, right?”

“…”

Her tail, hidden under her robe, shot straight up. Wiping sweat from her brow, Qiu Li’er feigned calmness: “Ah! Um… yeah. You’re right. Being alive *is* joyful.”

*What absurd thing to say! Don’t joke like that—I almost thought my biggest secret was exposed.*

Sure, dying once deepens appreciation for life… but which normal person has that experience? Go tell *that* to Xi Xi, that mischievous loli.

“And only the living get to do happy things~” Xiao Shi added.

“Happy things?” Qiu Li’er tilted her head. “Video games?”

(She knew this world’s gaming scene was decent—but she had zero interest right now.)

“Not games. Something *more* exciting.” Xiao Shi sat beside her again. “Something girls do together.”

*Girls together?*

A strange feeling prickled Qiu Li’er’s instincts, yet she heard herself ask: “What kind of thing?”

“Like this, see~”

Xiao Shi spread her middle and ring fingers, crossed the gaps between them, twisting shyly back and forth.

Qiu Li’er stared at the girl’s calm face, then her gesturing hands. Her own cheeks warmed as she looked down.

*Stay calm. It can’t be what I’m thinking.*

*She’s pure. Maybe it’s just some secret girl-activity.*

*Newly reborn—I wouldn’t know these codes anyway.*

“Where… did you learn this?”

“Eh~ A friend told me yesterday,” Xiao Shi recalled. “She had a cute, sexy girlfriend who fell for another girl. She was so furious she wanted to ride her and do… many things.”

She wiggled her fingers. “*Naughty* things~”

“Hmm… A girlfriend like that really isn’t okay,” Qiu Li’er deliberately skipped the last part and nodded. “She should be punished firmly—make her behave, so she won’t hurt others.”

“Eh~ Same! I thought that too!” Xiao Shi grinned.

*If she’s obedient enough, she won’t stray. That’s how those… questionable novels go.*

Qiu Li’er quietly admired her own cleverness. Her big tail swayed once beneath the robe.

“I had such a fun chat with you, Qiu Li’er!” Xiao Shi stood up brightly. “I’ll head home now. See you again when I’m free!”

“Mm, bye—Huh? Where’d she go?”

Xiao Shi had walked behind the bench. By the time Qiu Li’er turned to wave, the cheerful girl had vanished.

Leaves rustled softly. The whole encounter felt like a dream.

Chin propped in her hands, Qiu Li’er fell into thought.

*So… I just met an unnervingly sharp girl. She wanted to see my panties—and somehow felt we’d reached… consensus?*

Yeah. Too absurd. Could someone *this* innocently mischievous even exist?

“Little Fox.”

“Huh?”

Qiu Li’er looked up. Nan Shi and Yuenina stood before her—when had they arrived?—staring with oddly intense expressions.

“Who was that girl just now?” Yuenina asked seriously.

“Girl?” Qiu Li’er blinked. “Xiao Shi? She was just…”

“The girl from your match?” Nan Shi burst out, agitated. “Minutes ago—and *another* one appears?!”

“No, I…”

“Me, Yuenina, Teacher Xi, that mischievous loli Xi Xi, the Paladin—we’re *five* already! Isn’t that enough?!” Nan Shi cried indignantly. “With just me and Yuenina it should be… Ow! Yuenina, not again!”

Yuenina tapped him lightly with her staff, face unreadable. “I only asked her name. Don’t be ridiculous. Does every girl who talks to Little Fox automatically ‘get involved’ with her?”

*In this, Nan Shi was still too hasty. Qiu Li’er wasn’t that kind of person.*