Miss Witch Doesn’t Want to Become a Songstress

The rumbling of gears gradually subsided, and the tightly shut elevator doors slid open. Hestia and a crowd of pedestrians stepped into a world as bright as daylight.

This was the pedestrian street on the 44th floor of Arpeggio City, illuminated by the overhead dome lights that bathed the commercial district in a brilliance akin to daytime. Young people bustled about, laughing and chatting. Shops along the street gleamed with vibrant displays, showcasing the latest products to captivate passersby.

Hestia: [Where are you? Have you arrived?]

Lina: [We’re at the Tricolor Ice Drinks Shop. It’s just you and Dudu left.]

Hestia: [Got it, I’m almost there.]

Hestia put down her personal terminal and crossed the street to the shop. Although she had already reached the meeting point, she hesitated to enter, worried about the awkwardness of sitting alone if no one else had arrived yet.

Through the revolving glass doors, a gust of cool air greeted her, causing a slight chill. Thankfully, it became more comfortable as she moved further inside.

The shop’s layout featured a spacious crescent shape. Along the black crescent, coffee cup-like tables and round chairs formed private spaces. At the crescent’s center lay a small stage, though no performance was happening at the moment.

“Hestia, over here~” Lina’s voice called out as soon as Hestia entered.

Approaching the table, Hestia noticed Millie was also there, sitting with Lina. However, Millie seemed downhearted, cradling her drink in silence.

Lina had opted for a bold outfit this day—short leather pants paired with a cropped jacket, accented by purple-to-red gradient eye shadow at the corners of her eyes.

“Hestia, take a seat. Let’s wait for Dudu together. Oh, what would you like to drink? I’ll order for you.”

“No need, I’m not really thirsty,” Hestia replied, shaking her head.

“Still as modest as ever,” Lina remarked, flipping through the projected menu on the table. She eventually ordered a popular drink for Hestia.

Soon, a semi-spherical robot delivered the beverage to their table—a purple-red fizzy drink that sparkled with bubbles. Slightly chilled and refreshing, it had a hint of alcohol, resembling fruity beer. Though Hestia hadn’t intended to drink, she accepted it politely and sipped slowly.

“By the way, how did your last exam go? Any results yet?” Lina asked.

“Not yet,” Hestia replied.

“Shouldn’t be long now. Everyone in class has been either celebrating or lamenting lately. Some are overjoyed, while others are crushed.”

Lina gave Hestia an encouraging pat.

“But I’m sure you’ll do fine. You’re one of the most diligent students in our class.”

“Thank you,” Hestia said softly.

The two chatted about their classmates’ recent activities, though it was mostly Lina talking. Her stories ranged from romances and school choices to surprising relationships outside their school.

While they attended the same school and class, Hestia felt as if Lina lived in an entirely different world—one filled with endless gossip and connections. Lina’s contact list spanned dozens of pages, and she was constantly chatting, posting updates, and sharing her life.

At that moment, Lina snapped a picture of the shop’s decor, including Hestia and Millie, and posted it online:

“Hanging out with classmates today~☆”

“A true social butterfly,” Hestia mused silently.

After a while, another girl, Dudu, arrived. She hurried into the shop, carrying a handbag, scanning the room before heading straight to their table.

“Phew, sorry I’m late. Some creep on the way held me up.”

“No worries. Want something to drink? I’ll order it,” Lina offered.

“I’ll have a ‘Crystal Pineapple Wine,'” Dudu said.

“Tsk, you’re not saving me any money, are you?”

Lina teased with a smile but still placed the order.

The drink arrived soon after. Meanwhile, Dudu took out her makeup kit to touch up, only putting it away once her order was served.

“What’s up with Millie? She hasn’t said a word,” Dudu asked, glancing at the quiet girl.

“Ah, her?” Lina waved a hand dismissively.

“Milly’s heartbroken.”

Despite her words, Lina couldn’t hide a smirk.

Finally, Milly snapped out of her reverie.

“Hmph, men are all terrible.”

“Spill the details. What happened?”

Dudu pressed, full of curiosity.

Milly turned away in annoyance but eventually sighed and gestured for Lina to explain.

“Fine, I’ll tell the story,” Lina said, raising a finger dramatically.

“Here’s what happened…”

As Lina recounted the events, Hestia and Dudu learned about Millie’s recent ordeal. After a few family-arranged dates, Millie had started seeing someone who seemed promising. The two had gone on several outings, including to the nearby Okka City’s underground caverns.

Everything seemed fine—until one night at a hotel, Millie stumbled upon suspicious calls on his personal terminal. Her suspicions grew, and after some digging (with Lina’s help), she discovered he had a reputation as a playboy at his school. Worse yet, there were rumors of a girl carrying his child.

“It was such a shock. I even treated him to meals during our dates because I thought he was a decent guy,” Millie fumed.

“Haha, I can’t believe even Millie got duped!” Dudu burst out laughing.

“Alright, enough teasing,” Lina said, comforting Milly.

“Everyone misjudges people sometimes. Besides, he had the perfect facade—smooth talk and all. How else could he charm so many girls?”

“Words are cheap. True sincerity comes in tangible actions—like spending real money on you,” Lina added, turning to Hestia.

“Don’t you agree?”

“Uh…” Hestia hesitated, unsure why the topic had shifted to her.

“Maybe,” she murmured, averting her gaze.

“Still shy, I see. Don’t worry, I just wanted to get you more involved in the conversation,” Lina said with a grin, holding Hestia’s hand.

The group continued chatting, eventually deciding to watch a movie to lift Millie’s spirits. They left the shop for a nearby theater with a large poster for the film “Please Hold My Fingertips.”

“A love story spanning 400 years. Experience the rare beauty amidst a time of war and chaos!”