Chapter 10: My Sister’s a Magical Girl?

A Suspicious Similarity

“No way, Sis.”

“Look closely—your shopping bag’s the exact same as the one Eternal Star was carrying…”

Xiaoxi froze.

The damn supermarket bag had the store’s logo, impossible to miss.

Ye Xinglan, sensing something, poked her head into the kitchen, blinking curiously.

“Oh, Xinglan,” Xiaoxi cut off Xiaoke, using a chummier tone.

“You mentioned wanting pudding, right? I got some for you at the supermarket.”

Right in front of Xiaoke, Xiaoxi pulled two pudding packs from her bag.

Ye Xinglan blinked. “Did I… say I wanted pudding?”

“You did~”

Xiaoxi forced a smile, hooking an arm around Ye Xinglan’s neck affectionately.

“Even if you mentioned it casually, I’d remember.”

“Oh… okay…”

Ye Xinglan, puzzled but feeling the firm grip on her arm, took the pudding.

Why’s it so cold?

A flicker of doubt crossed her mind.

If Xiaoxi bought it today, even in the fridge, it shouldn’t be this chilled so soon.

Watching the two act all lovey-dovey, Xiaoke turned away, clicking her tongue.

“Ugh.”

Damn couple!

“What’s wrong?” Xiaoxi shot her a look.

“Don’t tell me Eternal Star bought this pudding too?”

“No, not that…”

Phew… nailed it!

Xiaoxi sighed inwardly.

Thankfully, she’d acted fast, slipping two pudding packs from the fridge into her bag before Xiaoke entered the kitchen.

She’d bought them to treat herself and stashed them in the fridge, uneaten.

Xiaoke shook her head, dismissing her wild theory.

Yeah, she was overthinking.

How could her shut-in sister be linked to Eternal Star?

But with so many overlapping purchases…

“Sis, did you run into Eternal Star at the supermarket? Your groceries match hers so much, you might’ve crossed paths at a shelf.”

“Haha… that’d make sense. Nanda Street only has that one big supermarket. It’s got everything. If Eternal Star was shopping, she’d go there too.”

Xiaoxi added, steering Xiaoke’s guess toward something plausible.

“But even if I saw her, I wouldn’t know. Magical girls have perception filters. How would I recognize Eternal Star in person?”

Ye Xinglan perked up, hope reigniting in her eyes.

“So, Eternal Star could’ve been someone you saw! If we trace everyone you met, we might find her!”

Terrifying!

Xiaoxi met Ye Xinglan’s sparkling gaze.

Why are you so obsessed with doxxing her?

You’re scaring me, Miss Ye Xinglan!

“What? I don’t go around memorizing every face at the supermarket.”

“Enough. I didn’t see Eternal Star or the monster attack. End of topic—I’m cooking.”

Xiaoxi shooed them out of the kitchen with a chef’s authority, finally relaxing.

She’d have to be careful not to carry anything when transforming.

It risked exposing her.

Though… she probably wouldn’t transform into Eternal Star again anyway.

A Covert Clarification

Soon after, Ye Xinglan slipped back into the kitchen.

Watching Xiaoxi cook, she spoke up.

“Xiaoxi, what was that about? The pudding wasn’t bought today, was it?”

“Well,” Xiaoxi paused mid-stir, “aren’t we fake-dating? I was acting convincing for Xiaoke.”

“She’s my sister. She knows me too well. If we don’t sell it, she’ll figure something’s up.”

Xiaoxi had rehearsed her excuse while cooking.

“I see,” Ye Xinglan nodded, then grinned mischievously.

“You startled me with that hug. I thought you were trying to make it real~”

“Go away! I’m cooking. Don’t stand here getting in my way!”

Xiaoxi’s face reddened—maybe from the kitchen’s heat.

An hour later, Xiaoxi set out a table full of dishes.

Xiaoke’s online-ordered cake arrived.

The three sang a birthday song, the scene surprisingly heartwarming.

“Make a wish!” Xiaoke nudged Xiaoxi.

“Wish for a long, happy life with Xinglan Sis.”

Xiaoxi’s lips twitched.

She couldn’t deny her “relationship” with Ye Xinglan now, not after using it to hide her identity.

But thinking of Ye Xinglan’s room—those defaced Eternal Star posters…

No way she’d ever date someone like that unless she was a masochist!

Still, it was Xiaoxi’s first birthday celebration in three years.

She was genuinely happy.

The only downside?

Xiaoke got a message right after eating, said “school emergency,” and rushed off.

Xiaoke had no choice.

It was her day off, but Chief L called an urgent meeting.

All Xiahai City magical girls had to report to the Association.

Only then did Xiaoke learn how serious the recent monster attack was.

A D-rank like her, new to Xiahai, had stumbled into a major incident.

A Disturbing Discovery

Back home, Xiaoxi cleared the table and shouted to Ye Xinglan’s room, “I’m taking out the trash!”

She stepped outside.

Reflecting on Xiaoke’s words, something felt off.

How did that girl remember her groceries so clearly?

More importantly, Xiaoxi racked her brain.

During the monster fight, she hadn’t noticed anyone lingering.

The crowd had mostly fled.

How hadn’t she spotted her own sister watching?

And Xiaoke’s excitement didn’t match an eighteen-year-old who’d just survived a monster attack.

Something wasn’t right, but Xiaoxi couldn’t pin it down.

The uneasy feeling nagged at her.

Maybe she should call Mom later, ask if Xiaoke’s been acting strange…

Lost in thought, Xiaoxi went to toss the trash bag into the dumpster.

But her peripheral vision caught something familiar, freezing her in place.

This…

Ignoring the dumpster’s stench, Xiaoxi leaned in for a closer look.

That cake box in the trash looked awfully familiar.

Wasn’t it the same one the D-rank magical girl, Little Red Riding Hood, had?

A chill ran through her.

Little Red Riding Hood had mentioned “buying a cake for her sister.”

Xiaoxi’s gut screamed there were no coincidences this big.

Ignoring onlookers, she grabbed a stick and started poking through the trash.