Pity I can't feel even slightly happy about this right now… Ais wrapped her arms around Zoe Freya's soft waist and asked quietly:
"One more thing, Zoe — could you keep our friendship between us for now? My height, as you've noticed, makes me hard to miss. But even if it only reduces a fraction of the complications, I'd be grateful."
"Of course — Hammond owes you everything, so whatever you say goes." Zoe answered just as quietly.
Believers in the Goddess really are the best… Ais immediately brightened. She took hold of Zoe's right hand and headed back toward the food:
"Then let's finish eating. I'll fill you in properly over lunch."
Zoe rubbed her face with her free hand and asked with some concern:
"But Ais — what do you do if you end up in danger during a case?"
"Ha — a detective isn't a boxer. If I can't fight, I can run. My speed and reaction time are both good, and I've specifically practiced the right techniques. It'd be very hard for even three or four men to get hold of me.
Don't let detective novels mislead you either — the kind of murder case that screams 'danger' from a mile away, I'd absolutely never take. Though honestly, nobody would give those to me anyway."
"I see."
The two returned to the table in the back room. While eating, Ais shared a selection of the big idiot's more academically disastrous memories with Zoe.
It wasn't exactly lying — Ais simply left out the fact that she'd been male at the time. Also omitted: the big idiot's gambling history and how he'd been thrown out of his family home. As for why she'd come to Beklund, Ais attributed it to the influence of Church of the Evernight Goddess followers she'd encountered.
By the time they'd nearly finished, Zoe had no remaining questions about why Ais had chosen detective work.
"So, Zoe — is it possible to use makeup to make my skin look more ordinary? A few common freckles would be even better."
Ais smiled as she slid the last piece of beef across to Zoe.
Zoe caught it with her mouth, chewing as she nodded and answered indistinctly:
"Mmhmm, no problem. Even with poor technique, getting that effect isn't hard — it's just a matter of making it look natural. Same with freckles: getting skin to look smooth and luminous is a lot of work; the reverse is easy. Just don't remove the makeup."
She swallowed and laughed:
"Though ideally you wouldn't go that route. I've never done it before, so I don't have the right tools yet. Give me a little time to get them ready."
The moment she heard this, Ais slid behind Zoe and began massaging her shoulders — a gesture of goodwill, even if she had no real technique for it.
"No rush. And don't worry about my income — I didn't absorb much academically during my university years, but I saved a reasonable amount."
Hearing this, Zoe turned the thought over with a certain gleam in her eye and said slowly:
"Actually, Ais — why don't you just stay here for now?"
"I'm sorry?" Now it was Ais's turn to be surprised.
"Think about it — you said you don't want too many people recognizing your current appearance for the time being. But I can't afford to be away from the shop during the day without raising suspicion, so I can only teach you makeup techniques in the evenings. And if you keep coming to find me, people will notice. It would be less conspicuous if you just stayed here."
The more Zoe thought about it, the more convinced she was by her own reasoning. She nudged Ais lightly and, turning toward the kitchen with the dishes, continued:
"What's the problem? You're alone in Beklund, Ais, and you haven't started working yet. Wouldn't staying here be more convenient for now?"
That does make sense, but isn't this moving a bit fast for two people who just met today… Something felt slightly off to Ais. She picked up the remaining dishes and followed Zoe into the kitchen:
"But we only just met today."
Once Ais had set down the dishes, Zoe took her by the arm and turned on the charm:
"What does that matter~? Just think of it as keeping me company, Ais~. It's been two years since my mother passed — it's just been me and Hammond. I really do get lonely."
Oh please. The charming approach is completely ineffective on me right now. Ais remained unmoved:
"What about your other friends?"
"Over the past two years they've all gotten married one by one. I can hardly impose on them forever." Zoe looked at Ais with expectant eyes.
I'm not actually comfortable living with other people… But unable to think of a suitable reason to decline while looking at those earnest eyes, Ais finally nodded:
"All right, then. I'll think of it as staying at a friend's place for a few days."
And I'm the one asking something of her, so what choice do I have… Feeling once again that she'd been outmaneuvered, Ais watched Zoe begin washing the dishes with visible cheerfulness and said nothing.
That evening, after they'd made and eaten dinner together, Ais had been planning to go upstairs to the sitting room to spend some time with Hammond — who had warmed up to her considerably over the afternoon — when Zoe took her hand and pulled her straight into her own bedroom.
"Zoe, what are you being so secretive about?"
If we weren't both women, I'd be thinking something very different right now… Ais took in the decidedly feminine room with a slightly complicated internal reaction. The previous version of herself would never have imagined entering another woman's bedroom as a close friend.
Zoe pulled her toward the dressing table and answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world:
"Getting your makeup properly done, obviously. I can't tell you how distressing it was to look at what you had on this morning. I absolutely must teach you what real makeup looks like."
You just have an itch in your fingers. Not that Ais had any objection to having an experienced person guide her — it would certainly be better than studying a magazine alone. So she said nothing, just watched Zoe apply things to her face and used the gaps between steps to ask about the problems she'd run into on her own.
When it was done, Ais looked at herself in the mirror — noticeably more striking than usual — and found herself genuinely impressed. Zoe, meanwhile, surveyed Ais's plain, monotone outfit and still wasn't satisfied. She had nothing in her wardrobe that would fit someone this disproportionately tall, however, so she left it at that.
The two spent the rest of the evening petting the cat, eating snacks, and chatting until late.
After they'd both bathed, Zoe looked at Ais — wearing the longest nightgown she owned, which still only reached the knee — and couldn't resist leaning in, pressing her chin on Ais's shoulder, and making a thoroughly appreciative sound:
"Ais, how do you have a figure this good? Your legs are so long."
Ais was scratching Hammond's still-damp golden fur with one hand when she asked, genuinely puzzled:
"By the way, Zoe — where am I sleeping tonight?"
"With me, of course. Come on, Ais, help me dry my hair first — I'll show you how to do a nice hairstyle at the same time."
Zoe shoved the towel into Ais's hands and pulled her back into the bedroom.
Is this normal? Could this be the Witch potion at work?… Despite all her private questions, Ais had no point of reference for how women among themselves actually behaved, and Zoe's manner was so matter-of-fact that she couldn't bring herself to ask.
Once the hair was dry, the two newly acquainted people lay down in the same bed. Then Zoe leaned close to Ais's ear and asked in a conspiratorial whisper:
"Hey, Ais — what kind of man do you like?"
Ais pushed her back a little:
"Zoe, don't get so close — your hair is tickling me! As for what I like in a person, I genuinely haven't thought about it…"
Before she could finish, Zoe tossed her head and draped her entire waterfall of golden hair directly over Ais's face, then leaned in again.
Ais had been fairly unconcerned — until she registered a certain restless hand.
"Zoe! What are you doing?"
"Just helping you desensitize, obviously! And honestly, the thought of this figure going to some man is already making me uneasy. Let me have a feel first!"
Author's Note (this chapter):Pity I can't feel even slightly happy about this right now… Ais wrapped her arms around Zoe Freya's soft waist and asked quietly.
雨书春秋What kind of friendship is this — a lip friendship?