Mina knew it would happen.
The moment she allowed that woman to keep napping in the shop, to eat her food, to tease her into flustered silence—yes, the moment she let Senka stay, something like this was bound to happen.
But that didn't mean she was ready for it.
"—and so elegant, isn't she? Like she just wandered out of a noble's painting," cooed Madame Yoru, her hands cupping a bouquet of peonies like they were a prize. "Silver hair! Golden eyes! I thought she might be one of those foreign priestesses, but she says she's just your helper? What's her name again?"
Mina's smile was tightly polite. "Senka."
"Ohh, Senka," the woman repeated like it was poetry. "Lovely name! And such manners. So graceful."
"Mmm."
"She called me lady of the dawn." Yoru's cheeks pinked. "I haven't been called anything romantic in years."
Mina nearly choked on air.
Before she could respond, the shop's bell jingled, and another regular walked in—an old tailor named Rin with keen eyes and a nose for rumors.
"She's still here, is she?" Auntie Rin asked as she shuffled over to the lilies. "Pretty thing, that one. Haven't seen you bring home a guest before, Mina."
"She's not— She's just staying for a while," Mina said quickly. "Recovering. She had nowhere else to go."
"She seems very settled for someone with nowhere to go," Auntie Rin said, arching a brow.
"She made me tea the other day," Madame Yoru added dreamily. "And called me lady of the dawn."
"She called me a venerable crane," Auntie Rin huffed.
"She said your back was straight and noble—"
"It is straight and noble!"
Mina pinched the bridge of her nose.
Senka had been in the shop a total of five days. And already, half the neighborhood was fluttering around like she'd enchanted them.
Mina wouldn't even be surprised if she had.
Sure enough, the door creaked again.
And there she was.
Hair in a loose braid, simple linen dress that somehow managed to look both modest and suggestive, a little basket of herbs in one hand. Her ears were gone, tail hidden—thankfully—but the lazy confidence in her smile gave her away instantly.
"Mina~" Senka sang. "I picked wild mint. You said we were out."
Mina glared at her with the exhausted fury of someone who had not slept well because a certain fox spirit snored into her shoulder for two hours.
Senka blinked innocently. Then, she noticed the others.
"Oh! What a joy to see you again, Madame Yoru," she said with an elegant half-bow. "Lady of the dawn."
The older woman positively preened.
"And you, Master Rin. Have your noble cranes nested well this season?"
Auntie Rin's scowl twitched upward. "Hmph."
Senka moved behind the counter with practiced ease, sliding the basket into place, brushing far too close to Mina as she did so.
"Tea?" she murmured into Mina's ear.
Mina jumped.
"N-No. Not now."
"Later, then," Senka said, eyes amused.
The two customers eventually left, chattering about "such refined manners" and "maybe Mina really had found someone."
When the door closed, Mina exhaled like she'd held her breath all morning.
"You can't keep doing that," she hissed, voice low.
"Doing what?" Senka leaned casually on the counter, tail swishing lazily into existence behind her now that they were alone.
"That! The… poetry. The flirtation. The maid act."
"But I'm so good at it," Senka said, batting her lashes. "And they love it. And I love it when you get all flustered and red. Like now."
"I'm not—!"
Senka gently poked her cheek. "There it is. Blush, just like the petals of that early-blooming camellia yesterday."
"I should never have let you nap in here."
"But you did." She tilted her head, pleased. "You let me stay."
Mina looked away, flustered. "…Because you're still healing."
"I heal fast."
"Emotionally."
Senka laughed, bright and clear. "Oh, Mina. I could leave if you wanted me to."
The words hung in the air.
Mina didn't answer. Not immediately.
Instead, she turned and started sorting lavender stems. "We're going into town tomorrow," she said flatly. "If you're going to be a nuisance, you may as well carry something useful."
Senka's eyes gleamed. "A date?"
"A supply run."
"Same thing."
"I'm not bringing a basket of herbs this time. You carry the heavy stuff."
"Gladly. If you walk beside me the whole time."
Mina didn't answer that either.
But she didn't say no.
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Note:
Currently at chapter 12 (free) on Ko-Fi
https://ko-fi.com/ rabi08
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I am also currently translating a GL novel on Ko-Fi (for free):
[Striving for Success in Ancient Times]