02
GOODBYE OLD FRIEND

 "A... A SNAKE." LIHUA heard Tao stumble over his words. He wasn't good at hiding the truth. "She saw a snake."

 "So, she ran all the way to the lake? That doesn't add up."

 "Well──" Tao hesitated. "You know how much she hates snakes. She thought it might bite her."

 Lihua's head throbbed, the pain like the crashing of thunder, but she managed to blink one eye open. Through the haze of dizziness, she spotted Tao, Yumi, and her best friend, Nakamura Hotaru, gathered around her bedside. Tao lingered in the back, nervously chewing on his lip.

 She closed her eye again, hoping they would think she was still asleep and leave her in peace.

 But, of course, Tao caught it. "Look, she's stirring."

 "Lihua," Yumi said sternly, her long face loomed over Lihua. She gave Lihua's shoulders a firm shake. "We know you're awake, Lihua!"

 Lihua coughed, the pain in her chest forcing her body to curl into itself.

 "That's enough, Yumi," said Hotaru with a soft voice, yet scowling. "She's clearly still in pain."

 Lihua's lungs burned, desperate for breath, and her mouth was coated with the bitter taste of dirt and salt. She reached for the water Tao offered, gulping it down greedily, then gave a weak, forced smile at Tao, Yumi, and Hotaru.

 None of them smiled back.

 "Yamamoto-sensei was searching everywhere for you," Yumi scolded. "Your mother was worried sick. We found you on the banks, half-drowned."

 Only Yumi would find the time to scold her for almost dying.

 Almost dying. The thought repeated itself in Lihua's mind. Her fingers instinctively flew to her neck. The dragon's tail had wrapped around it, tightening like a noose. But there were no bruises, no marks. Had he... saved me?

 The last thing she remembered was the eerie glow of two ruby-red eyes and a crooked, almost mocking grin. She couldn't remember how she had reached the surface. She couldn't have made it out of the water on her own.

 A soft flutter against her thumb caught her attention. Suddenly, she was aware of her other hand, tucked away beneath the blankets.

 Haru. Thank Kami, she was still alive, though a bit soggy, like me.

 "What happened, Lihua?" Yumi's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, prodding again.

 "Give her a moment," Hotaru said.

 He crouched beside Lihua's bed, his hand moving in soothing circles on her back as she drank the water. If only he wasn't dating Yumi, Lihua thought bitterly. Hotaru might have been her favorite person to be around──kind, understanding, and warm. But Yumi? Yumi was the worst cousin anyone could ask for.

 "You really scared us, Lihua," Hotaru said, his voice full of concern. "Can you tell us what happened? What do you remember?"

 Lihua leaned her head back against the bed frame, staring up at the ceiling. Tao had already told them that she ran off after seeing a snake. Should she go along with that lie?

 No, Yumi and Hotaru would only ask more questions if I lie, she thought. But I can't tell them the truth either. They can't know about Haru.

 Her mind raced. The solution was clear. When a lie wouldn't work, a diversion would.

 "A dragon saved me," she replied.

 "A dragon. Really?" Yumi raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a slight frown. "Are we still six years old, Lihua? This isn't the time for pretend stories."

 "He was small for a dragon," Lihua continued, undeterred, "but I think that's because he's young. His eyes, though... they were clever. Even sharper than Haitao's."

 Lihua flashed a grin, hoping to lighten the mood, but Yumi's frown only deepened.

 "I don't have time for tall tales, Lihua," Yumi said crisply. She was never one for imagination. She crossed her arms, her long sleeves as stiff as her waxed shoes. "Of all the days to run off to the lake... you made the entire school shook with your news! You were supposed to meet Yamamoto sensei to discuss your exam results."

 Lihua's stomach dropped. She'd completely forgotten about the meeting. Her smile quickly faded. Mama must be furious.

 "Mama's on her way to see you now," Tao said, more like a warning. "And don't think being her favorite will get you out of this one."

 "Stop being so harsh," Hotaru chided, lowering his voice as though someone might overhear. "For all we know, this might've been an attack."

 Lihua frowned. "An attack?"

 "It could've been the Dragon Devil," Hotaru suggested gravely. "You've heard of it, haven't you?"

 Lihua shook her head firmly. "No. And I wasn't attacked. I didn't see any devils, either," she said, trying to convince everyone in the room. "I saw a dragon. And he saved me."

 Yumi's face reddened with exasperation. "Enough, Lihua! You must've been imagining things."

 For once, Lihua wasn't making up a story. She clenched her fists. "I'm telling the truth. I saw a dragon."

 "Is that what you're planning to tell your mother?" Yumi challenged.

 "Tell me what?" came a booming voice that seemed to shake the room.

 Lihua stiffened. She hadn't heard the infirmary doors slide open, but they rattled now as her mother strode in, her presence filling the small space. Tao, Yumi, and Hotaru stepped back instinctively. Lihua bowed her head so low it almost touched her knees.

 Yumi broke the silence first. "Makima-san, Lihua is──"

 Makima raised her hand, silencing her. Her expression was colder than Lihua had ever seen. Usually, a quick smile could soften her mother's stern eyes, but today, there was no warmth to be found.

 "The nurse informed me you're unharmed," Makima said rather angrily. "That is a relief. But what you've done today is completely unacceptable." Her voice, so low the wooden frame of the bed hummed, shook with fury, and disappointment.

 "I'm sorry," Lihua whispered, barely lifting her head. "I didn't mean to──"

 "You will write a proper apology," Makima interrupted, her tone leaving no room for debate. "To your principal. To Yamamoto-sensei."

 "But──" Lihua started, lifting her eyes.

 Tao shook his head sharply, a silent warning not to argue. Lihua hesitated, biting back her words. He was right. Protesting would only make things worse.

 Makima studied her daughter, as if waiting for Lihua to plead or offer excuses. But Lihua's hand rested lightly on the edge of the bed, where Haru's wings fluttered invisibly under her palm. She stayed silent, knowing that speaking out might unravel everything she was trying to protect.

 "I've been too lenient with you," Makima said finally. Her voice was quiet but cutting, like a blade. "Because you are my daughter, I have allowed you to run wild. But that ends now. You are no longer a child, Lihua. You are about to graduate. It is time you learned to act like a proper young lady."

 A cold knot of dread twisted in Lihua's stomach. She couldn't bring herself to meet her mother's sharp gaze and instead fixed her eyes on her hands. "I'm sorry if I've shamed you, Mama," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

 Makima placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder. "I don't want you near that lake again. The physician said you nearly drowned. What were you thinking, running off from school?"

 "I..." Lihua's throat tightened, and her mouth felt as dry as sand. Beneath her palm, Haru shifted nervously as though urging her to keep quiet. "I thought I saw a sna──"

 "She said she saw a dragon," Yumi interrupted in disbelief and slight mockery.

 "Not in the school!" Lihua protested, her cheeks flushing. "I saw it in the Sacred Lake."

 Makima froze, her hand stilling on Lihua's shoulder. She frowned. "You saw a dragon?" she asked curiously.

 Lihua blinked, startled by the question and her mother's unexpected interest. "I... yes. I think I did. But Hotaru said it could be a Dragon Devil. I'm not sure what it really was."

 "Nonsense," Makima said. "There's no such thing as a Dragon Devil. If you saw anything, it was a Luck Devil──dragons are their favored form. What did it look like?"

 The way her mother's golden eyes pinned her down made Lihua hesitate. Though she was usually good at lying, something in Makima's gaze stripped away her courage.

 "He was small," Lihua began. "His scales were white, like polished pearls, and his eyes... they were red, like rubies." The words caught in her throat, and she forced herself to add, as if the words were hard for her to utter, "But I... I must have imagined it."

 Makima's shoulders eased, just barely, though her face quickly hardened again. For a fleeting moment, her mask of composure had slipped, but it was back in place now.

 She offered Lihua a pinched smile. "You'd be wise to stay indoors more often. It seems your imagination is running wild," she said, crossing her arms over her chest.

 "Yes, Mama," Lihua mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.

 Makima seemed satisfied with her answer. She gestured for Yumi and Hotaru to leave the room, but she stayed behind, her eyes narrowed on her daughter.

 "What is that under your hand?" she asked suddenly. Lihua's devil origami bird had crawled almost to the edge of her bed. And she only now realized how strange she must have looked, still covering the little bird with her hand.

 "Nothing," Lihua blurted out, too quickly.

 "Now, place your hands on your lap, as a proper young lady should."

 Makima waited patiently.

 Lihua hesitated. She didn't want to, but what choice did she have? Slowly, she obeyed, resting her hands on her lap.

 Stay still, Haru. Please don't move.

 Lihua watched with dread as Makima's hand reached out. Her mother plucked Haru from the blanket. Lihua's heart raced, but to her relief, Haru didn't stir. To anyone else, she was nothing more than folded paper.

 "What's this?" Makima asked, holding the bird up to the light.

 Lihua sat up quickly. "It's nothing! Just... just a bird I folded. Please, Mama, give her back."

 A mistake.

 Makima's brow arched, her cold eyes glinting. Now she knew. Haru was more than just a paper bird.

 "You're nearly a woman, Lihua. Too old for silly things like paper birds," she scolded. Her voice carried a steely edge. "It's time you focused on your duties and studies."

 "Yes, Mama," Lihua murmured, lowering her gaze. "It won't happen again."

 Makima extended her hand, holding Haru out. For a fleeting moment, hope fblossomed in Lihua's chest. She reached out, fingers brushing close──

 Rip.

 The sound shattered the air. Makima tore Haru in half, then again, until the bird was reduced to scattered scraps.

 "NOOOOO!" Lihua screamed, lunging forward, but strong arms wrapped around her. Tao's grip was firm, pulling her back even as her body strained against him. "LET ME GO!"

 Tao didn't budge. "Jiejie, stop."

 The shreds of Haru fluttered to the floor like fallen leaves. Makima cast them a cold glance before turning on her heel and leaving without another word.

 Lihua collapsed into Tao's arms, her body shaking as sobs wracked her chest. To anyone else, her tears might have seemed absurd. It was just paper, wasn't it? But Haru wasn't just paper to her.

 "I'm sorry," Tao said guiltily. "If it helps, we can go to your favorite barbecue place later."

 Lihua didn't respond. She couldn't. She barely noticed when Tao sat beside her on the bed.

 "It's for the best," he said after a pause.

 Lihua lifted her tear-streaked face. "What do you mean? Is it because you think she's a devil? Do you even believe there's such a thing as a kind devil?"

 Tao sighed and gently tilted her chin up, wiping her tears with the pad of his thumb. He smiled──a faint, sorrowful curve of his lips. "I never said I didn't believe. I do. That's why you need to be good, alright?"

 "No, you don't understand," Lihua said, pulling away from him.

 She fell to her knees and gathered the torn scraps of Haru from the floor, cradling them against her chest. As if, somehow, she could piece her back together. As if Haru could live again. "She wasn't just paper. She was my friend."

 Tao's brows knit together. "She was paper," he retorted, his words felt like knives that sank into her heart. "And don't forget──she was also a devil. She could've hurt you."

 "No, you don't know that," Lihua snapped. Her gaze drifted to the window, where the sky had turned a solemn shade of gray. It mirrored the ache in her heart, as if the heavens themselves mourned with her.

 Tao shook his head. Talking about this felt ridiculous, as though there were better things he could be doing──better places he could be.

 "You said you believe there are kind devils out there," she whispered.

 "I do," he said. But his eyes told a different story.

 He didn't understand. Not anymore. Tao had changed, and now, Lihua had never felt so alone.

 "But do you remember what happened to our biological parents?" he added before he let out a heavy sigh. "I'll talk to Mama about it when she's in a better mood. Will that help?"

 Nothing could ease the pain in Lihua's chest, especially when it came to Haru. But she gave a faint nod, more out of habit than hope.

 Tao lowered himself to one knee beside her and placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezing gently. His warmth was meant to comfort, but it only deepened the ache in her chest.

 She pulled away as if his touch burned. "I'll never forgive her for this. Never."

 "Jiejie..." Tao paused, choosing his words carefully. "Our mother isn't to blame for what happened."

 You are, Lihua could almost hear him say, though he was too careful──too wise──to let it slip.

 The thought stung because it was true. But Lihua would never admit it.

 "She cares for you," Tao prodded. "That's why she's so hard on us. On both of us."

 Lihua turned to face him, her gaze catching the crease in his brow and the slight twitch at the corner of his eye. He was exhausted, pushed to his breaking point by her stubbornness. She swallowed hard, feeling a lump in her throat. "You don't believe me, do you? About the dragon."

 Tao waited too long before answering. "Of course I do."

 "You don't," she said, her voice rising slightly. "I'm seventeen, Didi, not a child. I know what I saw."

 "Whatever you saw," he urged, his chest tightening with anger at his sister's refusal to let go, "just let it go. Forget about Haru. Forget the dragon. Be thankful you're still alive. That's all that matters."

 "Stop saying that," Lihua snapped, her hands clenching into fists. "It makes me feel like being alive is a mistake. Like it's some kind of sin."

 Tao let out a long, tired breath, standing up as if the conversation physically drained him. "Get some rest, Jiejie. I'm not doing this with you right now," he said quietly. "I'll come find you after the last period."

 Lihua didn't answer. She merely watched him walk away, leaving her alone in the infirmary.

✴

USING YOU | ❝I think I like you.❞