Mm…

Yumigawa Nozomi woke into dusk, the sky steeped like amber tea, and found herself lying on the Aerucia Bird’s broad, cloud-soft back.

“Littlesky, you’re awake?”

She rubbed her eyes, heart fluttering like a moth to a lamp, then glanced around with sleep-blurred gaze.

“Hm? Qianji Sister, why are you here? Serenemoon too.”

She turned and saw Yumigawa Senki and Yugong Jingyue seated beside her, like twin moons keeping watch.

“I heard you’re setting a contract with that one from the Valley of Wind. I couldn’t relax, so I came,” Yumigawa Senki said, exasperation like a sighing breeze.

“What ‘that one’! Thou art discourteous!” Elyar bristled, her protest sharp as a sparrow’s peck.

“Oh? If you’re unhappy, how about a bout?” Senki’s eyes flashed like drawn steel, and the slender sword at her hip quivered like a grass blade in a gust.

“Hmph… I am the Spirit King. I will not stoop to thee.” Elyar’s gaze skittered away, panic rippling like disturbed water, her tone all lofty restraint.

“Hey now, your relationship is as ‘good’ as ever,” Yugong Jingyue laughed, her smile warm as spring sun smoothing frost.

Chirp!

The Aerucia Bird turned its head, worry pooling in its dark eyes like rain in a hollow.

“I’m fine, don’t fret. More important—Aerucia, how’d it go? Did you win?” Nozomi’s voice trembled, hope like a lantern in mist.

Chirp…

The Aerucia Bird’s head drooped, wings slack like wilted leaves; it dared not meet her gaze.

“So you didn’t win.” The answer sank in, and her cute face fell, like petals bruised by sudden rain.

“Littlesky…” Both Yugong Jingyue and Yumigawa Senki watched her, worry settling over the group like a heavy cloud.

Then—

“Do not be so downcast. Though I won that battle, I will bind a contract with thee.” Elyar spoke softly, her fingers combing Nozomi’s silver hair like moonlight through reeds.

“Really?” Nozomi’s head lifted, eyes bright as stars breaking through cloud.

“Mm. I like thee, so I will form a pact,” Elyar nodded, calm as still water.

“Ah! Thank you so much, Xiaoya!” Nozomi burst forward, joy like a sparrow taking flight, and hugged her.

“Wh— unhand me!” Elyar’s pretty face flushed, crimson as maple leaves in autumn wind.

“All settled then,” Yugong Jingyue murmured, her relief blooming like a warm hearth.

“Yeah,” Yumigawa Senki’s glance met hers, and both smiled, their tension evaporating like morning fog.

Chirp! Chirp!

Seeing Nozomi no longer dejected, the Aerucia Bird perked up, its calls bright and bell-clear as silver bells.

A little while later…

Yumigawa Nozomi and Elyar slid down from the Aerucia Bird’s back and stood face to face, solemn as temple lanterns before night.

“I, Elyar, Wind Spirit King. Here, I vow to bind a contract and guard at thy side,” Elyar intoned, voice steady like a mountain stream.

“I, Yumigawa Nozomi. Here, I vow to bind with you and walk by your side,” Nozomi replied, heart firm as set stone.

“Contract, bind!”

Their voices struck together like twin chimes, and a gentle radiance unfurled over them like dawn mist.

When the light faded, a mark bloomed on their left hands—two matching sigils, a pact etched like frost patterns on glass.

“Enough for now. Rest, for thou art still fatigued; I will find thee tomorrow,” Elyar said, concern like a shawl laid over shoulders.

“Okay, I know. See you tomorrow, Xiaoya.” Nozomi kept her words light, farewell fluttering like a paper crane.

“What ‘Xiaoya’!” Elyar flushed deeper, then flew toward the Valley of Wind, her departure a green gust through leaves.

“Eh? Did I say something wrong?” Nozomi turned to her two sisters, confusion like a tilted head.

“That’s a tsundere,” Yugong Jingyue answered with a teasing smile, humor bright as sunlight on ripples.

“Hm? Is that so?” Nozomi still looked puzzled, thoughts drifting like a loose kite.

“That kind of thing’s fine, Littlesky. Let’s head back. You need rest, and you need food,” Yumigawa Senki shot a look at Serenemoon, then spoke with brisk warmth, care firm as a guiding hand.

“Okay, let’s go back.”

“Little Aerucia, please take us home.”

They settled again on the Aerucia Bird’s broad back, like travelers on a gentle cloud.

Chirp!

With a ringing call, the Aerucia Bird spread its giant wings, and they flew toward the Mizumi Clan’s manor, the wind road unrolling like silk.

And the day passed like a reed boat floating downstream.

…

The next morning, Yumigawa Nozomi rose early, washed, ate, and stepped out, her pace light as dew on grass.

“Yo, thou art quite early,” Elyar greeted from the courtyard, nibbling sweets like a sparrow pecking crumbs; a maid stood nearby, neat as a bamboo sprout.

“Good morning, Miss,” the maid said, courtesy smooth as polished wood.

“Morning. Xiaoya, I’ll go find Father first.” Nozomi spoke, then took a piece of cake from the table, sweetness melting like sunshine on tongue.

“Go,” Elyar replied, simple and sure, permission soft as a breeze.

With her contract set, Elyar knew of Nozomi’s plan to seek her elder brother; she kept her words few, calm as lake water.

“Mm, I’m off.” Nozomi finished the cake and headed toward the manor where Yugami Yuu lived, steps steady as drumbeats.

…

Upon arriving, Nozomi did as yesterday—she pushed the door open, resolve like a drawn bow, and declared, “I’m going to find my brother!”

“No problem.” Yugami Yuu answered at once, his tea steam rising like quiet clouds.

“Eh?” Nozomi blinked, then noticed her two sisters and her mother inside, the room full as a small constellation.

“So Father, you agree?”

“Yes. I already know about yesterday. With the Wind Spirit King guarding you, I’m at ease. And this time, Senki will go with you.” He set down the cup, his voice even as paced footsteps.

“Eh, eh, eh! Qianji Sister, you’re coming too?” Nozomi’s surprise popped like a startled sparrow.

“Mm. My sword hit a bottleneck a year ago, and I haven’t broken through. I need to see the outside world. And after so long, I miss Emperor,” Yumigawa Senki said, eyes turning to Nozomi, her nod firm as a seal.

“Since Little Emperor left, now Littlesky and Senki will leave too. The Mizumi Clan grows lonelier,” her mother—Ayane—spoke, a thread of sadness like wind through an empty hall.

“Yeah. So I’ll stay and keep Mother company,” Yugong Jingyue smiled, comfort soft as woven cotton.

“Mm, mm, Serenemoon, such a good child,” Ayane’s eyes misted, gratitude warm as soup on a cold day.

“Mother, don’t worry. I’ll be with you,” Serenemoon said, reassurance steady as a lamp at dusk.

…Though something about the mood felt a little off, like a note slightly out of tune.

“Little Emperor should be in the Eastern Moon Empire on the Eastern Moon Continent now. If you can’t find them, it means they’ve moved to Egisia Academy. Give Emperor our regards,” Yugong Jingyue added, directions clear as signposts.

“Mm!” Nozomi nodded eagerly, joy bubbling like spring water—she would soon see her favorite brother.

“Father, Mother, and Serenemoon, goodbye.” Sensing the time was right, Yumigawa Senki stood and bowed, farewell like a folded fan closing.

“Mm, goodbye.”

“Come back when you can!”

“Senki, take care of Littlesky.”

“Got it.”

“Then we’re off. Goodbye!”

Yumigawa Nozomi and Yumigawa Senki finished their farewells and left the manor, their steps light as birds taking wing.

An hour later…

Packed and ready, Nozomi and Senki met Elyar at a clearing, the open ground quiet as a blank scroll.

“Are ye ready?” Elyar turned to them, gaze steady as a mountain line.

“Ready!”

“Mm.” Both voices answered together, resolve like twin blades.

“Good. Spatial Shift—Eastern Moon Continent!”

The air hummed, wind coiling like a dragon, and the world peeled back like silk in a whoosh.