"Why does the atmosphere feel weird?"
Sirin and Kiana finally finished their fight. One covered her face, which was pinched red, and the other covered her swollen butt, limping back.
However, seeing the quiet scene by the charcoal fire, both of them were stunned for a moment.
What's going on? Weren't everyone lively before the fight? How did it become like this just after coming back?
Rubbing her swollen butt, Kiana frowned and tentatively sat down slowly on the grass. The moment she touched the ground, she immediately gasped in pain.
As expected of biological sisters, their attacks are really ruthless.
"Did something happen?"
Her burning cheek was still twitching, Sirin said with a somewhat slurred voice.
"No, nothing, just got a bit tired from playing just now."
Seemingly inadvertently glancing at the unnatural-looking Nangong Yu, Bronya smiled and answered casually.
"I see."
Neither of them suspected anything. They sat in their own spots and started fiddling with the barbecue, not even noticing Seele on the other side, who was lowering her head, blushing, and not saying a word.
Mei, who had been quietly barbecuing with her head down, was somewhat puzzled. However, she glanced at Bronya, who returned a slight smile, and then Mei shook her head, deciding not to investigate further.
The round of meat and vegetables that Mei had just finished grilling had been eaten. She was about to pick up new ingredients but was stopped by Kiana, who volunteered herself.
"Oh dear, Mei, you go rest for a bit. Today, let me show you all my skills!"
Her thin shirt was soaked with sweat and clung tightly to her skin. With Kiana's carefree patting, it created wave after wave.
Hearing this, everyone except Nangong Yu and Seele instantly showed a look of horror.
Kiana wants to cook?
What kind of horror event is this?!
After having the glorious achievement of sending two-thirds of the class to the hospital with food poisoning during one cooking class, everyone agreed to the rule prohibiting Kiana from entering the kitchen.
"Uh, Kiana, I think it's better if I do it. You and Sirin just finished playing around, you must be very tired, so just sit there and rest well."
"I can actually help Mei too, Kiana, you just rest well."
"Even if I die, I won't eat Kiana's cooking!"
With Mei, Bronya, and Sirin's successive attempts to stop her, Kiana's rebellious spirit was instead aroused, and she insisted on showing everyone her skills.
The three of them refused, so Kiana stood in front of the ingredients and wouldn't let them take any. For a while, they were in a stalemate.
Extending his arm, Nangong Yu lightly poked Seele's slender waist, and immediately saw Seele snap back to her senses with a start.
"Bro, Brother, what's wrong? Did you call Seele for something?"
Although Seele was trying hard to maintain calmness, listening closely, one could still sense a slight tremble in her voice.
"Nothing, it's just that just now..."
He originally wanted to talk about Kiana, but hearing this, Seele, as if she had already prepared her response, immediately interrupted him: "It's, it's okay, Brother, Seele understands. After all, Brother has grown up too, no longer a child. Having, having this kind of reaction is, is also very normal..."
Taking a deep breath to suppress her inner shyness, Seele widened her eyes and boldly met Nangong Yu's gaze: "So, so Brother doesn't need to be shy. This, this is also because Brother likes Seele, right? Seele, Seele is very happy..."
"..."
Hearing Seele's words, which seemed to have gathered all her courage, Nangong Yu endured the shame and quickly interrupted Seele's self-exposure: "Actually, I wasn't going to say that."
"Eh?"
Seele was stunned, a hint of confusion appearing in her eyes.
What does 'not this' mean?
The mental block quickly disappeared, and Seele instantly understood the meaning of Nangong Yu's words.
Instantly, her already crimson face gradually turned deep red, and then she no longer dared to look Nangong Yu in the eye. She immediately covered her face with both hands and squatted on the ground, looking like she was shutting herself off and didn't want to be disturbed.
However, even though she was this ashamed, Seele still took her Brother's words to heart and added in a weak voice, "Then, what does Brother want to ask..."
"Uh... it's just that Kiana wants to make barbecue for everyone to eat, why doesn't everyone want to..."
"No way!!!"
With a sudden movement, even Seele in this state was scared and stood up. Her overly loud shout even attracted everyone's attention.
Noticing the five pairs of eyes staring intently at her, the breath Seele had just gathered instantly deflated. She silently walked behind Nangong Yu, draped her entire body onto his back, and then mumbled in a weak voice, "I, Seele can do it..."
Perhaps the many overwhelmed the few, or perhaps Seele's one sentence became the last straw that broke Kiana's back. After she shouted aggrievedly, "You all don't believe me!", she stood up alone and ran towards the other side of the yard, quickly disappearing from everyone's sight.
There was nothing they could do; Mei's backyard was too big, almost comparable to a park.
"Kiana... I should go find her."
This scene made Mei feel a bit unbearable, but just as she was about to stand up, she was pulled back by Bronya and Sirin.
"Let Kiana calm down, that's all. Mei, do you really want to eat Kiana's cooking?"
Bronya said somewhat helplessly, and Sirin also nodded repeatedly.
This kind of thing was common; it was just throwing a little tantrum. Let her be by herself for a while, and she'll be happy and forget everything.
"...Okay."
Sighing softly, Mei also sat down again.
With Mei continuing to barbecue, the few of them ate while chatting.
But when they had almost finished eating, they still didn't see Kiana return. Suddenly, the few of them started to worry again.
"I..."
"I'll go."
Saying it one step ahead, Nangong Yu stood up. In this situation, it was more suitable for him, the only one who hadn't refuted Kiana just now, to go.
"Okay, then I'll trouble you."
Waving to Mei and the others, Nangong Yu walked in the direction Kiana had left.
It must be said that Mei's backyard is indeed large. After walking for a while, Nangong Yu finally heard an unusual sound ahead and subconsciously quickened his pace.
Soon, he saw a clearly rising bonfire on the flat ground not far away. Beside the bonfire, Kiana was squatting there with her butt sticking out, seemingly fiddling with something.
"Kiana~"
Hearing her name, Kiana immediately jumped up, covered her butt, and ran towards Nangong Yu with a limp, her face beaming with immeasurable joy.
"Ah, it's A Yu! Come quickly, I'll show you some good stuff!"
As if she had completely forgotten what just happened, Kiana grabbed Nangong Yu's hand without any reservations and pulled him towards the bonfire.
Feeling the pulling force, Nangong Yu always felt like something was off. The current Kiana gave him a feeling of being overly excited.
Following her pull to the bonfire, Nangong Yu quickly saw everything clearly.
Above the swirling flames, skewers of mushrooms were being grilled. Before even getting close, he smelled a rich, fresh aroma.
No, it can't be...
An absurd thought appeared in Nangong Yu's mind. He broke free from Kiana's hand and, seeing her confused expression, asked, "Where did you get these mushrooms?"
Kiana scratched her head and said casually, "Just in the little woods nearby! I just picked them fresh, they're colorful and beautiful! A Yu, come and try them!"
"Hiss..."
Nangong Yu's expression turned panicked. He quickly pulled Kiana, wanting to take her back, but she frowned and forcefully pulled away.
"Hey, what are you pulling me for!"
"I suspect you ate poisonous mushrooms. You should go to the hospital for a check-up quickly."
Unexpectedly, Kiana was so strong. Nangong Yu's sudden movement just now had made her wary, and it was now difficult to make a move.
"Poisonous mushrooms? Impossible, absolutely impossible, I'm perfectly fine right now!"
Kiana took another wary step back. "You must be like those bad people, wanting to catch me to do homework! I'm telling you, no way!"
"No, listen to me, you really..."
"I'm not listening, I'm not listening!"
"Meow~"
Perhaps attracted by the scent, just as Nangong Yu and Kiana were at a stalemate, a little wild cat followed the smell and came up to them, looking at the two curiously and meowing.
Nangong Yu didn't react much, but Kiana's expression suddenly turned shocked.
"Cat, cat, this cat has become a spirit! It can actually speak human language!!!"
"Huh??"
Kiana no longer bothered being wary of Nangong Yu. She quickly pulled him behind her and said in disbelief, "This is the first time I've seen a cat become a spirit. I don't know if it can transform, or if it's dangerous."
"...No, you're saying this cat is speaking human language?"
"Yeah, didn't you hear? She just said, 'It smells so good here, what are you two doing?'"
"Meow~"
The cat meowed again, startling Kiana instantly.
She suddenly pushed Nangong Yu behind her, blocking him from the cat, and said nervously, "This cat says it wants to eat us! You run quickly, I'll hold it off for you!!"
"..."
Although this scene touched Nangong Yu greatly, he still didn't hesitate to call for an ambulance. At the same time, he used his phone to call Mei and the others over.
Not long after, several people sat in the ambulance, looking with complex expressions at Kiana, who was tied up on the hospital bed.
Even at this point, Kiana was still shouting non-stop: "Don't catch me! Catch the cat, catch the cat! The cat has become a spirit, why are you catching me? You've caught the wrong person!!!!!"
In the end, it took a dose of sedative to completely calm Kiana down.