Sister Lin squatted beside the passed-out Drunkard, waiting for the arrival of that'senior' while listlessly poking the Drunkard's face again.
Her fingertip lightly poked the other person's flushed cheek, quickly retracting just as it was about to make contact.
Even though the Drunkard reacted surprisingly fast this time, she still snapped her mouth shut with a 'crack' on empty air.
'Whoa... close one.'
This scene inexplicably reminded her of the crocodile teeth toy she played with as a child—every time a random tooth was pressed, it could trigger the crocodile to suddenly snap its jaws in a fright.
However, the 'toy' before her was clearly much more lively.
'But compared to a toy, it's more like teasing a wild cat...' Sister Lin muttered quietly, extending her finger once more, 'It's just that this 'cat' smells strongly of alcohol, which is a bit of a downer.'
About ten minutes later, when Ijichi Seika rushed over in her car to the convenience store mentioned on the phone, this was indeed the scene that greeted her.
A girl wearing a hooded sweatshirt was squatting next to Kikuri Hiroi; occasional movements vaguely outlined her waistline, and her legs, encased in dark jeans, formed full curves due to the squatting posture.
But there were glistening teardrops hanging from the corners of her eyes, and her delicate face was filled with grievance and unwillingness.
'Huu... huu...' Sister Lin puffed out her cheeks, carefully blowing on her reddened fingertip. Two clear sets of teeth marks were distinctly left on her fair index finger.
And Kikuri remained dead drunk, sprawled on the ground.
But for some reason, Ijichi Seika felt that her sleeping face seemed to hold a faint, almost imperceptible smile of satisfaction—just like a cat that had gotten away with a prank.
Sensing a gaze upon her, Sister Lin subconsciously hid the bitten finger behind her back.
She noticed a blonde girl in casual wear quickly walking up to her.
As the second-oldest prankster, Sister Lin had already guessed from the tsundere remarks during the earlier phone call that this'senior' might be blonde.
How should she put it? As expected of a blonde, they are a hotbed of tsundere behavior.
'Hello, just call me Lin.' Sister Lin straightened up and gave a slight bow.
Ijichi Seika then noticed that the girl before her was a few centimeters taller than herself; if she saw her on the street, she would probably mistake her for a current model.
Ijichi Seika scratched her head, 'Can you give me a hand?'
'No problem.'
The two of them supported the dead-drunk Drunkard, one on each side.
Kikuri, who was 158 cm tall, was held up between two taller girls, her feet dangling off the ground, swinging back and forth like a stretched-out cat treat.
'Mmm... Ugh... Ptooey... Guwa-wa-wa-wa—!' Rainbow sprayed out of her mouth.
The car started moving, and the expressions of the two people in the front seat were quite grim.
To get rid of the smell, Ijichi Seika rolled down all the windows. The howling night wind rushed into the car, making the culprit in the back seat let out a strange 'Waaaah' sound.
Ijichi Seika, who was driving, suddenly blurted out, 'I'm sorry.'
Sister Lin, who was pinching the front of her hoodie in disgust to keep the damp fabric, stained with an unknown snack, from sticking to her chest, pursed her lips for a long time but couldn't bring herself to say the insincere 'It's fine.'
'When this bastard wakes up, I will definitely force her to apologize with a dogeza!' Ijichi added through gritted teeth, 'And I'll make her pay for a new set of clothes!'
The strange odor carried by the night wind rushed toward them.
Sister Lin sighed, 'Forget it... I'll just consider it my recent run of bad luck...'
'I am truly very sorry...' Ijichi's voice became a bit heavier, 'Please stay at my place tonight first. I usually live with my sister; after I drop you off, I have to go to the shop.'
'The shop?' Sister Lin tried to distract herself from the pungent, strange smell, 'I didn't expect Miss Ijichi to have started her own business already? Seeing how young you are, I thought you were a university student...'
'Ha, that certainly makes me happy.' Ijichi's lips curved slightly, 'I'm actually 28 years old. The shop is just a small Livehouse, nothing major.'
'Speaking of which...' Ijichi suddenly spoke, unconsciously tapping the steering wheel with her fingertip, 'Sister Lin, your voice is very distinctive. Have you studied vocal music?' She had been wondering about this question since earlier.
'No...' Sister Lin recalled the memory of playing the recorder poorly in elementary school music class and had no hope for her own talent in music.
'But I've always wanted to go see a performance at a livehouse. Is Manager Ijichi welcoming?'
'Come whenever you want.' Ijichi stared at the road ahead, deliberately keeping her tone flat, 'But I'll only buy you a drink at most.'
Although her expression remained indifferent, the redness of her ear tips completely betrayed her—especially when her peripheral vision caught Sister Lin giving her a knowing smile.
'Hehe~' Sister Lin triumphantly shook her finger.
'Even though I've never been to a livehouse, I've done my homework! Manager Ijichi's shop, is it the type that requires purchasing a drink ticket upon entry?'
(P.S. I couldn't find the charging method for STARRY in the manga... but the setting where a drink ticket equals an entry ticket does exist, called 'Drink Charge System'. The real STARRY is called Shelter, which uses a reservation and ticketing system; feel free to look it up if interested.)
'...Nonsense.' Ijichi turned her face away, the blush on her ear tips instantly spreading to her entire cheek.
She stopped talking, just gripping the steering wheel tightly, letting the night wind beat against her burning face.
The car finally stopped in front of a low-rise Western-style apartment building.
Sister Lin looked back at the rear seat with a sliver of hope—alas, the Drunkard, whose capacity to disappoint her had been constantly refreshed in the half-day she'd known her, was still sprawled there, dead drunk.
After exchanging a helpless glance with Ijichi, the two resigned themselves to dragging Kikuri out of the back seat.
They carried the human rainbow-candy dispenser, one in front and one in back, panting as they climbed to the fourth floor.
Ijichi, walking in front, had both hands supporting Kikuri's shoulders, so she could only lightly kick the door with her toe.
'Nijika—' she called in a low voice, 'Hurry up and open the door...'
The sound of slippers shuffling inside faded and then approached, and the door creaked open.
A little girl with the same hair color as Ijichi Seika, sporting a cowlick that looked like a Pocky stick, peeked out from inside.
'Is Kikuri-nee again?' Nijika sighed, about to complain but suddenly freezing.
She then noticed a strange older sister standing below the stairs, struggling to support Kikuri's legs with her shoulders.
Seika pointed to Sister Lin with her chin: 'This is tonight's victim. Just call her Sister Lin.' She panted as she adjusted her posture, 'Let's get this puddle of mud inside first...'
'Ah! Okay, okay!' Nijika hurriedly pushed the door wide open and scurried inside to clear space in the entryway.
With difficulty, they cooperated with Seika to carry Kikuri inside and tossed her onto the blanket-covered floor.
Sister Lin let out a long breath, finally having time to observe the blonde, red-eyed Ijichi sisters standing by the side.
—Aren't there a bit too many people with colorful hair and eye colors recently?
She originally thought Seika's blonde hair was dyed, as she always carried a bit of a delinquent girl aura. But since her sister had the same hair color, it must be inherited.
Sister Lin subconsciously touched her own pure black hair—apart from the streak of tea-colored highlights at the ends, she confirmed her eye color was also the common black.
'Do Japanese people really have this many colorful inherited traits...?'
She looked at the blonde sisters before her, then at Kikuri sprawled drunk on the floor with her dark pink braids, and fell into deep thought.
'Here are your change of clothes. The underwear is disposable, bought at the convenience store. The T-shirt is mine, but it's quite loose, so it shouldn't be uncomfortable to wear.'
Seika handed the disposable underwear and her T-shirt to Sister Lin:
'Go take a bath first. Just leave the clothes you take off in the laundry basket by the bathroom door; Nijika will handle it.'
'I still have closing work at the Livehouse.' Seika crisply put on a new jacket she had taken out, putting on her shoes by hopping on one foot, 'You shouldn't have trouble sleeping in a new place, right... Never mind, just tell Nijika if you need anything.'
Nijika, standing to the side, put her hands behind her back and smiled at Seika, 'Have a safe trip~ I'll take good care of Sister Lin and Kikuri-nee.'
Just before the door closed, Seika's final complaint was heard: 'Just leave that drunk lying on the floor, no need to bother with her.'
Sister Lin watched this scene, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly.
—What is wrong with this family?
They were so easily leaving a foreigner they just met alone with a little girl? Did she look completely harmless?
'Do I look harmless?' The soft-spoken Sister Lin began to doubt herself.
She looked down at the clean change of clothes in her arms, then glanced at the innocent, gently smiling Nijika beside her, feeling her common sense being shaken.
After the warm water washed away the fatigue, Sister Lin put on the clean clothes and sleepily walked out of the bathroom.
Before she could fully sober up, Nijika pressed her down in front of the vanity.
'I'll dry Sister Lin's hair for you!' Nijika's voice mixed with the hum of the hairdryer, 'Sister Lin, your hair quality is really good...'
The warm air brushed across her hair, and slender fingers gently worked through it.
Sister Lin thought drowsily, this technique was even more professional than a hair salon.
'Here, some mulberry tea to calm your nerves and help you sleep!'
'Is this pillow too hard?'
'Do you want an extra blanket?'
When Sister Lin came to her senses, she found herself sitting on the prepared bedding, holding a hot cup of tea.
Nijika was hugging her own pillow, excitedly preparing to sleep on the floor.
—Wait a minute.
Isn't this JK taking care of people a little too well?
Sister Lin looked at Nijika's busy back and suddenly realized she was being meticulously cared for by a high school girl.
What was even scarier was that she had passively and naturally accepted it...
'Nijika...' Sister Lin finally couldn't help but ask, 'Do you often take care of people like this?'
Nijika turned around, the moonlight casting a soft shadow on her face through the curtain, 'Because Sister is always so busy, you know.' She smiled until her eyes curved, 'Besides, Sister Lin got into such a mess because she was helping Kikuri-nee, right?'
Sister Lin was completely defenseless against a child who was so caring, sensible, and even radiated maternal warmth.
She couldn't help but think of her own older sister—as a younger sibling, she knew better than anyone how much trouble she had been as a child.
She was the older one compared to Nijika...
'Um... Nijika,' Sister Lin awkwardly pinched the corner of the quilt, 'Actually, I can just sleep on the floor...'
'No, no!' Nijika suddenly put on a stern face, an expression somewhat similar to Seika's, 'Guests must sleep properly in the bed!'
At this moment, Sister Lin finally understood where Seika's confidence in leaving came from.
The real 'adult' in this house might actually be Nijika.
After a few seconds of stalemate, Sister Lin suddenly blinked: 'Eh? Nihongo ga wakarimasen...' (Huh? I don't understand Japanese...)'
Nijika's eyes widened, then she burst out laughing, 'Sister Lin, you're so cunning! You were speaking so fluently just now...'
In the end, Sister Lin got her wish and slept on the floor, because if she really let a JK sleep on the floor while she took the bed, she would probably be tormented by guilt all night.
As for Kikuri, although Seika had said before leaving, 'Just leave that drunk lying on the floor, no need to bother with her,' Nijika, knowing her sister's deeply ingrained tsundere nature, still prepared a spot on the floor in Seika's room and settled the completely inebriated Kikuri there.
She also thoughtfully prepared hangover medicine and warm water nearby—this was experience gained from taking care of Kikuri in the past.
After finishing all this, it was almost ten o'clock, and Seika still hadn't returned.
Sister Lin lay on the floor bedding, arms crossed behind her head, staring at the ceiling.
The rustling sound of Nijika turning over came from the bed beside her—the young girl finally revealed the curiosity expected of a middle schooler.
'Where is Sister Lin from?' 'Hangzhou.' 'Where is that?' 'Next to Shanghai.' 'I know Shanghai!'
'Do high school students over there participate in club activities?' 'Depends on the school, but most don't.''Sounds tough...'
'How do you say 'Thank you' in Chinese?' 'Uh... xièxie.''Syesye?' 'Very close, great job!' 'Hehe~'
Nijika's voice gradually became soft, finally mumbling vaguely, 'Sister Lin... Good night...' before sinking into sleep.
Night Owl Sister Lin currently had no sign of sleepiness.
She took out her phone and turned the screen brightness to the lowest setting. The screen emitted a faint light in the room. After confirming it wouldn't disturb the sleeping Nijika.
She had arranged to talk to Miko this evening about 'those things'...
She hoped Miko wasn't asleep yet; contacting her at this hour was a bit much...
[Today 22:32] 'Miko, sorry for contacting you so late.'
The 'Unread' behind the dialogue box immediately changed to 'Read,' displaying 'The other party is typing...'.
[Today 22:32] 'Ah, it's fine! I just finished my homework too... (´・ω・｀)', I feel like Miko isn't very good at lying...
[Today 22:32]'So, Miko, what plans do you have? Like going to a shrine or finding a fortune teller? Or are you more of a Tarot card person?'
[Today 22:33] 'I accidentally saw an ad for Buddhist beads today and made plans with Xiao Hua to go check them out this weekend. If it's convenient, Sister Lin, would you like to come along...? (;・∀・)'
[Today 22:33] 'This weekend? I can do Saturday, but Manager Morikawa scheduled me for an afternoon shift on Sunday.'
[Today 22:34] 'Really?! Thank you so much! Then let's meet at 1 PM this Saturday at the South Exit of Shimokitazawa Station! (;▽;)'
(P.S. I initially checked the manga to confirm which temple Miko bought her prayer beads from, hoping to find a corresponding prototype temple, but I found out she bought them at Don Quijote... which really fits a JK's budget. Don Quijote is probably like a domestic hypermarket similar to RT-Mart. Plus, the BGM is super catchy: Don Don Don Donki Donkiho-te~)
The input prompt flashed repeatedly and then stopped. Even through the screen, Sister Lin could feel Miko's hesitation. Finally, a new message popped up:
[Today 22:36] 'Sister Lin, thank you so much for believing me... (´;ω;｀)'
[Today 22:37] 'It's nothing. If anything happens that Miko can't handle, you can come to me anytime, whether it's to vent or if you need help. I'm on call 24 hours (^^ゞ).'
After sending the message, Sister Lin suddenly realized—she was unconsciously starting to use kaomoji, influenced by Miko. How terrifying JKs are.
After wishing Miko goodnight, she placed her phone by the pillow and closed her eyes, trying to summon sleepiness.
However, usually when people are about to sleep, the probability of something going wrong increases significantly, like sudden pop-up notifications.
Like now, the previously calm pink mist on the surface of the killing stone suddenly surged, moving like a living thing, outlining the enchanting silhouette of Tamamo-no-Mae above Sister Lin's lower abdomen.
'No, no, not like this! Tamamo-no-Mae, you shameless fox who doesn't know the occasion, Nijika is here!'
Sister Lin, whose mind had turned into 'The Scream,' tried to delay or stop Tamamo-no-Mae's untimely appearance.
However, no matter how futilely she covered the stone with her hand, the mist seeped out between her fingers, and the fox tail condensed from the pink mist had already wrapped around her wrist.