HI3: Previous Civilization

"Everything that is done in this world is done by hope." – Martin Luther

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"Pa-ji! Oww!"

Rin landed on the ground, rubbing her head with one hand and her backside with the other.

"Fan-nii, can't you be more gentle with a girl? If you're too rough, you'll never find a girlfriend."

Fan eyed her theatrics. He knew precisely how much force he'd used—barely enough to sting. "Quit pretending, Rin. I barely put any strength into it."

"Still!" She sniffed, then twisted around. "Are we eating or not? If we're not—"

Before she could finish, Fan grabbed her collar and started leading her. "Fine, come on. You said you were hungry."

Rin trailed behind Fan and Ruoyin as they headed for the canteen. Along the way, patrolling guards stopped to salute. Fan gave a nod each time and kept walking. Rin studied his back, stroking her chin in thought.

"Huh… This Fan-nii must be a big shot around here. He's decent-looking, even if a bit blunt. He's got power, money… that's practically perfect for Onee-chan's future husband, right? Except there's that maid as competition…" Glancing at Ruoyin, Rin swallowed nervously.

A flawless face, perfect figure, black-and-white maid attire… every step was a living portrait of grace. "But," Rin reminded herself, "my sister's sword skills could flatten that maid's… probably." (In another area, Sakura—still busy with her tasks—sneezed.)

With a resigned sigh, Rin muttered, "Onee-chan, let your dear little sister help you for once. You're getting older; if you don't find a boyfriend soon, you'll be an old maid. Let me handle it!"

Resolving to act first, she dashed up a few steps and tugged at the hem of Fan's coat.

"Fan-nii, Fan-nii—"

Fan glanced at her. Assuming she was hungry, he pulled out a chocolate bar from his pocket.

"Hold on. We'll be at the cafeteria soon. If you're starving, eat this to tide you over."

"Oh…" Automatically, Rin took the bar, peeled the wrapper, and bit down—her eyes lit up. "Mmm, that's… That's good!"

Moments later, she remembered why she'd approached him. She glared at the chocolate, ready to throw it to the ground, but couldn't bring herself to waste it. Another mouthful later, she gave in. "Sorry, Sis. His chocolate was just too tasty." She devoured it wholeheartedly, mumbling, "So good…"

They arrived at the cafeteria. Rin gawked at the lavish spread and savory aromas, drooling enough to fill a bucket. She seized a tray and bolted for the buffet, only for Fan to yank her collar again, nearly toppling her.

"Oww! Why'd you stop me?" she whined.

Turning around, she noticed Fan's stern, intense gaze, his eyes exuding a solemn gravity. He placed both hands on her shoulders with an air of majestic authority.

"Rin, I have one warning: Take only what you'll actually finish. Don't waste food."

He pointed overhead, directing her attention to a certain spot at the center of the ceiling. "If you waste anything, look at those two over there. Let them be your example."

Following his gesture, she spotted two people suspended from the rafters, gaunt and hollow-cheeked. Had they not occasionally groaned, one would've thought they were corpses. Shivering at the sight, Rin turned back to see Fan smiling calmly.

"Got it now?"

She nodded vigorously. "Yes, I do! I promise I won't waste a single bite!"

They gathered their meals, selecting from the self-serve counters. When it came time for drinks, Rin stopped at a dispenser labeled "Oolong Tea," filled a cup, and sniffed it. It seemed normal—no trace of alcohol. Still, from her bag, she pulled a lighter, flicked it near the top. No flame.

(???)

Rin quietly put the cup down, took another, repeated the test with "fruit juice" and "coffee," only to find them suspicious. She carried each mis-gotten drink to the same random uncle in the corner. "I got the wrong beverage again. Here, you can have it."

After more than ten cups, that poor man was slumped on the table, fast asleep.

Rin mumbled, "So even fruit juice isn't safe? None of it is safe!" She trudged back to Fan, tray in hand, sighing dejectedly.

Fan, finishing the last bite of his own meal, noticed her forlorn expression. Ruoyin leaned over to whisper in his ear, and he broke into sudden laughter.

Rin blinked. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing." He waved it off, stifling more laughter. Moments earlier, Ruoyin had quietly informed him how a little girl (clearly Rin) had tested countless drinks, all spiked with partial alcohol or suspicious colorants, then force-fed them all to the same unsuspecting diner. No wonder that fellow was out cold.

Ruoyin placed a genuine cup of juice before Rin. She lit her lighter once again—no flame this time—so it seemed safe. With a final weary glance, she sipped, and her eyes brightened. At last, a normal drink. She exhaled in relief as Fan snickered at her drama.

Irritated, Rin turned to her plate, devouring the food in a swirl of chopsticks. "This is amazing! So delicious! Is this what Onee-chan eats every day? That's so unfair—what if I'd never found out?!"

Before long, she was stuffed, slumping in her seat with a satisfied burp. Ruoyin had vanished somewhere, leaving Fan sipping his tea quietly. At last, Rin sidled up to him, voice lowered conspiratorially:

"Fan-nii, Fan-nii… how about I introduce you to my sister?"

She failed to notice two figures creeping up behind her. Fan gently set down his teacup.

"Oh, really?"

Rin nodded eagerly, making sweeping gestures with her hands. "She's super pretty, and crazy flexible—"

At that point, a familiar voice piped up from directly behind her:

"Rin. Why are you here?"

Rin's jaw dropped. She twisted around to see Sakura smiling thinly, with Ruoyin at her side.

"E-Eh? Sis?! W-What are you doing here?"

Without a word, Sakura hoisted Rin onto her lap. The younger girl sensed imminent doom.

"Sis, no, wait!" she pleaded. "We're in public… at least spare me some digni— Oww!"

Ignoring her protest, Sakura started a scolding. The smacks made Rin yelp and squirm, tears beading in her eyes. Seeing Fan a short distance away, she cried, "Fan-nii, help me!"

Sakura paused long enough to bow slightly to Fan, pressing one hand on Rin's back so she wouldn't escape. "I'm sorry, Boss. My little sister's out of line."

Boss?! Rin's eyes darted back to Fan. "Wait—Fan-nii is the boss here?"

Fan just chuckled, "No worries. I actually had fun meeting her."

Rin's eyes flared with excitement—So he's the big boss after all! She decided at once: This man would definitely make the perfect brother-in-law. Her grin lasted only until Sakura demanded:

"Rin, hand over that test score. Now."

Rin's beaming face collapsed into a dismal grimace as she realized her day of judgment had arrived.