Chapter 20 Tomoyo: Come to think of it, I still don't know your measurements, Yehui.

"With Tomoeda Town being so large, why must this Clow Card insist on picking on elementary school students?"

One had to consider that the high school Toya attended was right next door.

"Could it be that the Shadow Card is just a bully who picks on the weak?" Ye Hui pondered.

What a truly nasty personality! It was completely different from the Wood and Wind cards.

Soon, Sakura arrived at school and saw the crowd whispering around a pile of desks stacked like a small mountain.

"Ye Hui, do you know what's going on?"

After chatting with a few girls, Sakura approached Ye Hui on her way into the classroom. In her eyes, Ye Hui was a "senior," and he might know more about these things.

"It's a Clow Card."

"Eh?!"

Ye Hui had no interest in solving mysteries with Sakura and spoiled the answer directly.

Upon entering the classroom, everyone began tidying up the desks. When Tomoyo walked in and saw the scene, she was also surprised. However, upon learning of Ye Hui's assessment, she actually became energized...

"That's great! Sakura, fight! Let's battle!"

"...Eh?"

Sakura blinked. When did Tomoyo develop this style?

Tomoyo tilted her head, her eyes sparkling like stars. "Once you start fighting the Clow Card, I can record your heroic posture in battle!"

Sakura: "..."

After taking the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Ye Hui's strength had greatly increased. With his help, the students quickly finished rearranging the desks in the classroom. However, the school had more than one classroom, and in the end, the school simply declared a holiday.

At the Kinomoto residence.

"Thanks to the Clow Card, we get a day off!" Ye Hui said with a smile.

Elementary school life was wonderful, but an unexpected holiday during school hours was even more delightful. He and Tomoyo sat around with Sakura, took a sip of their drinks, and began to discuss the battle plan.

Kero jumped out and shouted, "Let's battle!"

"But we'll have to act at night," Tomoyo said, eyes narrowing. "It will be more discreet, and we can be better prepared!"

Ye Hui naturally knew what she was preparing. Upon hearing this plan, Sakura’s expression shifted. "Tonight? Nighttime is not really..."

Sakura crossed her arms in front of her. Thinking of what she might see at the school at night made her shiver uncontrollably.

Ye Hui laughed heartily. "Kinomoto-san, you're definitely afraid of ghosts, aren't you?"

"No... it's not like that..."

"Then spirits? Oh, that’s the Japanese term. I've heard there are millions of gods and demons here..."

Tomoyo covered her mouth and giggled, her eyes curving into crescents.

【Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +27】

"I'm not going, I'm absolutely not going!"

Ye Hui described the spirits in great detail. In Sakura's mind, images of being chased by ghosts began to surface. She was even more terrified!

Kero tried to reason with her calmly from the side, but Sakura couldn't hear a word. Kero glared at Ye Hui, "Look at what you've done!"

Tomoyo pursed her lips and said, "Still, the school at night is indeed quite dangerous. In that case..."

Sakura’s heart skipped a beat, and her eyes lit up. "Tomoyo..."

Tomoyo: "We will go with you!"

Sakura: (ಥ-ಥ)

The hopeful look on Sakura's face froze. Since Ye Hui, Tomoyo, and Kero had all decided to act at night, Sakura couldn't refuse.

The group continued to rehearse their classic poses. Ye Hui also brought out the food he had prepared, along with some elementary talismans, and distributed them to Tomoyo and Sakura.

"These talismans have an expiration date. Once the color of the runes fades, they are expired..."

"Huh? Expired?" Kero grabbed a talisman. "This thing can actually expire?" He curled his lip.

Ye Hui glanced at him sideways. "What of it? Whose items don't expire? It’s not some legendary divine treasure, just a piece of talisman paper. How long do you expect it to work?"

Kero scoffed. "There's no such thing as 'expired' for Clow Cards."

Ye Hui rolled his eyes. "Clow Cards were made by Clow Reed. I'm not Clow Reed. Do you really expect the talisman paper I make to have earth-shattering power?"

Kero huffed, "You're right about that; Clow Reed is Clow Reed, he’s a great magician! It seems you, this 'cultivator,' are just a small fry~"

Ye Hui narrowed his eyes. "Do you want me to put a laxative in the next cake I make for you?"

Kero's eyes widened. "How can you use underhanded tricks just because you're losing an argument?!"

Ye Hui smiled. "As a 'small fry,' I don't have such advanced methods yet, so of course, I have to use moves that only a small fry would use."

Kero’s cheeks puffed up in anger. He held back, remembered the delicious cake he had eaten last noon, let out a huff, and turned his head away without saying another word.

【Cerberus Emotion Value +20】

Seeing this, Ye Hui smiled even more smugly. The two girls looked at each other and couldn't help but share a smile.

...

At night.

Sakura climbed down the tree outside her window and made her way to the school.

"Where is Ye Hui...? Eh?!"

Sakura looked left and right at the gate, not seeing Ye Hui’s figure. She began to tremble, and just as she was shivering, she suddenly saw a curled-up dark shadow on the pillar at the school gate. The moonlight shone down, casting a long shadow at her feet that she hadn't noticed before...

"Kinomoto-san, it's me!"

Ye Hui waved and leaped down.

【Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +32】

Sakura sniffed, tears welling up in her eyes. "Ye Hui?! What... what were you doing up there?"

Kero flew out of Sakura's bag, waving his wings. "You’re too mean! How could you scare Sakura? Apologize immediately!"

Ye Hui blinked and bowed to apologize without hesitation. "Sorry, I was reminded of a character named Itachi Uchiha from a manga I read, and I was paying tribute..."

"Eh? What... what Uchiha? I've never heard of that..."

Ye Hui chuckled. "Maybe that manga isn't suitable for elementary students. Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke, came home from school only to find his brother squatting on a lamp post, and his entire family was gone..."

Sakura: "༼⁰o⁰；༽!!!"

【Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +25】

Sakura was startled again. Ye Hui once again performed the Japanese craft of bowing to apologize. The effect was immediate!

Sakura forgave Ye Hui and looked at the quiet campus behind the iron gate. "So scary!"

After Ye Hui's storytelling, the darkness felt even more frightening to her.

Ye Hui said, "Don't worry, this Clow Card is actually a bully who fears the strong. Otherwise, why didn't it go make trouble at your brother's high school?"

Kero glanced at Ye Hui; at least the kid had some conscience! He nodded as well, "That's right! Don't worry! Shadows are actually very timid. If you're strong, it becomes weak."

It had to be said that Ye Hui's perspective was quite novel. Sakura followed his line of reasoning—so this Clow Card only dared to show off in front of elementary students! Looking at it that way, it didn't seem so scary after all!

"I understand, thank you, Ye Hui!"

Sakura hadn't expected that Ye Hui, who usually acted strangely, could comfort her like a mature adult. He felt a bit more reliable now.

"Zzzzz..."

At that moment, the sound of car tires rolling over the road grew closer. The car stopped, and Tomoyo stepped out to meet them. "Have you been waiting long?"

Sakura waved her hands. "No, no, we just arrived!"

Ye Hui shrugged. "Tomoyo, are your preparations ready?"

Tomoyo smiled and gave him an 'OK' gesture. "Of course!"

Eh? Sakura looked at the two, who seemed suddenly so familiar with each other, and was stunned. Did they have some other preparation? Why hadn't she been notified?

Sakura felt that Tomoyo and Ye Hui seemed to share a special understanding. Looking at their conversation, she felt like she was the only transfer student who had just arrived at school... and Ye Hui was the best friend who had spent years with Tomoyo!

Then, the female bodyguards whom Ye Hui had once teased for being "unprofessional" stepped out of the cars. Under Tomoyo's instruction, they drove away, leaving behind a camper van.

"Bo... bodyguards?" Sakura blinked. Tomoyo actually had so many of these black-suited bodyguards she only ever saw on TV.

Tomoyo looked back with a smile. "Miss Magic, please come with me."

"Ah?"

...

"This... what is this?"

Sakura followed Tomoyo into the camper van, stunned as she looked at the two rows of clothes.

"Please change, Miss Magic!" Tomoyo embraced Sakura, telling her that for special tasks, one naturally had to wear special clothes.

Sakura was bewildered. No one told her she had to change clothes to fight a Clow Card!

Ye Hui waved his hands. "Hurry up, Tomoyo. Kero and I will keep watch for you!"

Kero glanced at Ye Hui, nodded, and put on a serious expression. "With me here, no one is allowed to peek..."

Ye Hui tilted his head. "Why are you looking at me?"

Kero rolled his eyes.

A long while later, Sakura finally finished changing. Tomoyo immediately picked up her camera and began filming incessantly under the moonlight. Ye Hui didn't film, as he would exchange resources with Tomoyo later, so he didn't need to worry about missing any exciting footage.

Ye Hui remembered that in the animation, Sakura had worn many battle outfits designed by Tomoyo. However, seeing her shy expression while trying on clothes was rare indeed—after all, by the end, Sakura had become numb and just let Tomoyo do as she pleased.

Seeing her current bashful expression... it was simply too cute!

Seeing Sakura becoming increasingly shy under Tomoyo's filming and praise, Ye Hui coughed lightly and said, "Kinomoto-san is indeed very cute. I don't think there's any need to be shy. After all, you're a magical girl; you should naturally wear magical-style clothes..."

Tomoyo smiled, "Ye Hui is right. This outfit is even from my collection! It looks absolutely wonderful on you, Sakura!"

Then, she looked at Ye Hui. "Speaking of which, I don't know your size yet. Otherwise, I could design an outfit for you in a Xianxia style. I've been reading some books on ancient Chinese clothing recently..."