-260- I'm first

How should Linwin Lorant respond to Powder?

"Ugh."

Linwin took a deep breath, and the reason for this action was certainly not pain but rather concern.

He lightly tapped his cheek with his finger, his eyes still glancing upwards, stealing glances at the ceiling as he pondered how to address Powder.

Linwin was well aware of the girl's feelings, and he certainly didn't reject Powder's open affection. In fact, he had come to accept Powder's feelings for him.

Things seemed fine for now.

For a while, Silco and Jayce had been telling Linwin, which made him feel quite confident. However, upon sober reflection, Linwin quickly discarded those thoughts.

Accepting Powder and Kaisa was a decision he had already made.

Linwin was an emotional person. Powder had initially been like a little sister to him, but somehow, her affection had turned in a different direction, becoming more intimate.

When did things change like this?

Linwin couldn't recall, but he found his own feelings had shifted. When he first arrived in this world, he never imagined he would be torn between two paths, just as he never imagined he would become a killer.

Lost in thought, the girl in front of him spoke again.

"Hurry up!"

She was wearing a pretty blue dress today, with gray shorts underneath.

Powder's hand was pressed against the exposed part of her shorts, barely visible under the dress. She loudly demanded of Linwin, resembling an angry cat.

"Come on, tell me, when did you two get together? Why didn't I know? How long have you been hiding this from me?"

"Probably a few months ago." Linwin thought for a moment, about to explain to Powder, but she cut him off as soon as he spoke.

"A few months! You've been hiding it from me for months that you're with her? Well, when you brought that.... woman back, I knew you weren't up to any good!"

Powder instinctively wanted to say "that bitch" she had learned it from "someone". But upon realizing it was Kaisa, Powder retracted the insult and settled for calling her "that woman."

Although, well, it wasn't like Powder liked Kaisa.

But, but, she did have some tiny bit of goodwill towards Kaisa.

What? Like? Like?!

Her? Ah, she liked Kaisa? Did she like that person?

How could that be possible!

That person, that seemingly dull person, that person who didn't even seem human, how could Powder possibly like someone like her?

All she did all day was eat, eat, eat. And she didn't even get fat!! And most of all she have that great figure!??

But who spends all day eating? Was she some kind of food ingesting machine?

But, her figure was really nice....

And, even though she saved her, and, even though she sometimes looked really cool.

But, like? It's definitely not like!

Who would like their rival?

People who like their rivals must have something wrong with their heads.

In short, there's no way, absolutely not!

Ugh, so annoying!

Linwin's mind was flooded with countless thoughts, and he had no idea what Powder was thinking at this moment.

If it were another woman, someone Powder didn't know, she would likely confront her and make a scene, causing a big fuss.

But if it's Kaisa... Somehow, Powder, despite being impatient and annoyed, also vaguely feels weird.

Powder finds herself accepting the idea of Kaisa and Linwin being together.

Yeah, it's really strange!

She's possessive! Vi has told her more than once.

So, why does she feel this way about Kaisa taking Linwin away?

Thinking about it, Powder suspects it might be because of that night. That night when Camille attacked her, Kaisa stood in front of her and said those words.

Powder remembers it vividly.

Facing away from her, Kaisa calmly assured her, saying, "I'll protect you."

"Don't worry, Powder."

Hmm... Damn, why did it have to be her who said it?

Why not Linwin?

If it weren't for all of this, Powder could have confronted her!

Yes, it's because she owes her that she finds it hard to deal with.

It's not because she likes her or something!

"Why her? Linwin, I was here first."

"Powder, feelings don't work like that."

"What about me? I... I liked you for so long, since I was..." Powder reached out, bending down and pressing against her thigh.

She loudly tells Linwin, "Ever since I was little, I liked you."

"Don't you know that? No, you do, but you've been avoiding my feelings all along."

Linwin immediately tries to explain and reaches out to Powder.

But Powder accurately slaps away Linwin's outstretched hand.

"Before, I could make excuses for myself, thinking I'm not old enough!" Powder looks at Linwin with a sense of grievance.

Although she can accept Kaisa and Linwin being together, there's still a sense of grievance.

As she said, she has liked Linwin for so long.

And this guy is with someone else?

The sense of grievance, dissatisfaction, and unwillingness surge forth like a spring, unstoppable and overflowing.

"And then you left, you went to Shurima, so I waited."

"I've learned a lot of things, hoping to help you, hoping you'll notice me more."

"When you come back, even if you don't give me an answer, I'll accept it. Because you have so much to do now, so many people need you, you're very busy."

Powder raises her hand, blinking her big eyes. In her blue eyes, Linwin sees the grievance.

Powder: ....

"But now, you're with Kaisa."

"You have to give me an answer now, or I won't be able to let it go." Powder looks at Linwin seriously, steps forward, stares into Linwin's eyes. She doesn't raise her voice or throw a tantrum at Linwin, but instead asks softly:

"Why? In your heart, am I only your little sister?"

Linwin looks at the aggrieved girl in front of him. She's already not very tall, and now she's hunched over, making herself like a small ball.

Looking at herself with grievance, pursing her lips, but trying to appear calm.

Listening to Powder's words, and seeing Powder's current state, Linwin suddenly feels a bit sorry for her.

But he hasn't been avoiding her all the time.

Linwin has also secretly felt happy about Powder liking him.

But there's a serious problem back then.

Powder was underage.

Even a few years ago, it felt wrong to think that accepting her feeling is okay.

And now, Powder has grown up.

She's definitely beautiful.

And Linwin has indeed gradually changed his view of Powder.

Thinking of this, Linwin suddenly reaches out and presses her head.

Linwin's action instantly dims Powder's eyes, purses her lips, and she feels a sharp pain in her heart.

All the vitality from before is gone, and now she just wants to hide under the covers and sleep.

Am I really just a little sister to him?

And just as Powder was about to say "I understand, I won't interfere with you and Kaisa, you can rest assured," Linwin suddenly spoke up.

"Powder, do you mind me being with Kaisa?" Linwin's expression becomes very unnatural.

Because saying this is, frankly, too scummy!

But Powder is stunned for a moment, then immediately shakes her head and says, "I don't care about those things. I only care about why I'm not the first one, because compared to the level of liking you, I am confident I can win over anyone."

"That's good."

Linwin reaches out and vigorously ruffles Powder's head, messing up her neatly arranged hair, but a beauty is still a beauty. Even if her hair is messed up, with a few strands falling in front of her lips, she's still beautiful.

Looking at the disheveled Powder, Linwin takes a deep breath and says reluctantly, "Kaisa and I have already discussed this issue."

"When I confessed to her, she asked me, she asked what you would do."

"She knows that you've always..." Linwin touches his cheek, "always liked me."

Powder quietly looks at Linwin.

Linwin is already digging an entire mansion under his feet now.

Really, it's hard to understand! What were those harem protagonist in those novel thinking when they say things like this? Why could they handle something like this casually?

Forcing himself, Linwin continues, "She also knows that I like you too."

Powder is taken aback, and then visibly, her dim eyes light up.

Growing up in Zaun, despite Vander and Linwin's protection, despite Vi and Mylo's protection, Powder has seen many things children shouldn't see.

At that time, Zaun was dirty and chaotic, violence and obscenity intertwined abundantly in this underground city. Instances of human trafficking were everywhere, and those chem barons could have not just two women, but twenty.

And growing up in such an environment, Powder...

As she told Linwin, she doesn't care about Linwin and Kaisa; what she cares about is how Linwin sees her.

Can Linwin accept her love?

How long does Linwin want to keep her waiting?

Can Linwin not accept her?

"I thought when you grow up a little more, then I'll tell you. Because right now, you... you're still....."

"I'm not!" Powder stands on tiptoe, chest out, and says loudly, "I've grown up!"

Linwin nods wryly, "Yes, yes, you've grown up now."

"I'm already an adult."

"But Powder, I also don't know if what I'm doing is right."

"Kaisa said as long as I can get you to agree, she's fine with it, and now you don't care about this, but I want to know, do you really not care?"

"Between me, Kaisa, and you..."

Powder vigorously nods, takes a few steps forward, and looks at Linwin, saying loudly, "I've already said, I just want to know why I'm not ahead of Kaisa? That's all I care about!"

"..."

Linwin looks down at Powder, thinking about how to respond.

Should he say something like....Well, welcome to the family?

No, he really can't say such things.

But...

"Well, Powder, I will find a time to explain this to Kaisa, and in the future..."

"Have you kissed her?" Powder suddenly asks Linwin.

Linwin is shocked, here comes the life and death question!

He stutters and answers Powder, "Um, no, not really."

That night, when emotions ran deep, he almost kissed Kaisa, but... when he tried to get closer, Kaisa became shy.

Anyway, Linwin's first kiss is still pending.

"Thud!"

After hearing the answer, a certain someone looks at Linwin's face, her eyes sparkling, biting her lip, she suddenly jumps up.

The sound of "Thud" is the sound of her head hitting his chin.

——————

"Powder? Powder?!"

"Really, this stubborn girl, talking this long to call Linwin."

In the corridor, Vi, with hands in her pockets, walking towards Linwin's office.

She reached out to grab the doorknob, Vi planned to just open the door directly.

Hm? Knocking the door first?

What a joke, does Vi need to knock on Linwin's door?

Even when Linwin was using the restroom, she would enter without knocking on the door.

She won't be polite with Linwin, although it's a bit rude.

But... Linwin never mentioned this when he scolded her anyways 

"Thud!"

But just as she was about to open the door, there was a muffled sound, and then a very strange noise.

Vi stood there blankly, and when she came back to her senses, her strength in her hand disappeared. She lowered her body and slowly pushed the door open, only opening a small gap.

And in a place Vi didn't notice, on top of her head, a chubby green bird appeared and comfortably nestled on her head.

The chubby bird used one wing to block in front, but it was peeking very seriously.

It was also because of the help of a certain goddess that Vi could sneak up without being noticed by Linwin.

"Holy sweet baby Janna!!!"

Vi stealthily looked at the situation in the room, blinking wildly.

"—!"

A crisp sound rang out.

Linwin sat on his desk with a thud, his eyes full of shock, looking bewildered at the Powder standing in front of him.

Her face was flushed, Powder raised her head and wiped her lips with the back of her hand.

"This time, I'm first!"

Vi: Damn sis, you really did it!