“Sis! Honestly, how can you be so rude?” Her voice popped like a little firecracker.

Michelle puffed her cheeks like a tiny storm cloud, zipped to Mikaret’s face, and bopped her on the head, wings glinting like glass.

“Eh?! Michelle, you’re scolding me over a man…” Her ice-blue eyes flew wide like a winter lake breaking.

“Sis, don’t talk nonsense! Amemiya-kun made us a rare midnight snack; how can you act so rude?” Her words flicked like willow leaves in wind.

Michelle clenched her fists and spoke sternly; her peach-blossom cheeks flushed pink, cute enough to melt frost.

“Eh? Really.” Doubt flickered like a moth to a lamp.

Mikaret turned to me, brow arched like a slim willow. “Why? Amemiya-kun, you should be exhausted too.”

Awkward heat rose first, then words. “Uh, I actually wanted to apologize to you, Mikaret.”

I walked to the bed, set the basket on the side table, and fidgeted with my shoulder-length hair like fingers combing reeds by a pond.

“Sure, I had to beat you to reach the second floor of the Nine Cold Labyrinth, but I hit too hard—really sorry!” The admission thudded like a dropped hammer.

“Pff—ha!” Her laugh rang like a silver bell.

As soon as I spoke, Mikaret laughed. “As the guardian of the first layer of the Nine Cold Labyrinth, I’m your enemy. Even if you killed me, I’d have no complaint… well, fine, I accept your apology, Amemiya-kun.” Her smile thawed like sun on frost.

Her stance shed all hostility, like snow melting at spring. She lifted the midnight snack from the basket by the bed, steam curling like morning mist.

“Didn’t expect you to cook this well, Amemiya-kun—smells amazing. Come, let’s eat together.” Her words warmed like a hearth.

“Mm-hmm, that’s more like it!” Joy fluttered like sparrows.

Michelle looked satisfied; her transparent wings beat with lively light, like dragonfly glass sparkling in sun.

“Yeah, then I’ll dig in first.” Her crescent-moon smile rose soft and bright.

She picked up a bowl of congee, and smiled as cloud-white steam billowed.

“Sure, please eat plenty.” Warmth spread like embers.

“You’re so gentle, Amemiya-kun, thank you.” Her voice slid like silk.

“Right, right! Then I’ll have some too.” Her eyes shone like twin stars.

Watching her sister start, Michelle, who’d been eyeing the basket, couldn’t hold back. Her petite body dropped onto the table like a sparrow to rice; she hugged a spoon too big for her, scooped congee, and pecked away.

“So good!!” Their delight burst like firecrackers.

After the first bite, the sisters exclaimed in unison, voices chiming like twin bells.

“I’m glad you like it.” My heart loosened like a knot coming undone.

Joy swelled first, warm as sunlight; nothing beats someone loving what you cooked.

And so, enemies became friends under Michelle’s gentle mediation, like frost turning to water. We ate the midnight snack together, chatting now and then like coals glowing in a brazier.

About an hour later, after the snack, Michelle led me to the bath, her urging soft as a breeze. “Wash up and rest well.” I agreed with both hands up; my body felt like it was coming apart like an old cart.

…

The night passed in silence; darkness slipped away, and morning rushed in like a pale tide.

When the first strand of sunlight spilled through the window and the day’s first birdsong chimed like silver, habit pulled me from bed.

“Mm… so sleepy.” My eyelids hung heavy like rain-wet leaves.

Even up, I floated in a half-dream, head foggy like mist over fields. No help for it—last night drained me; three or four hours can’t heal everything.

…

So I sat dazed on the bed; my eyelids kept lifting and falling like slow shutters.

“…I’ll sleep a bit more.” The thought sank like a warm stone into water.

I couldn’t resist the sleep demon; I surrendered, lay down, pulled the quilt, and drifted back under like a tide.

“Zzz…”

…

A few more hours slipped by; the clock tipped to two in the afternoon, shadows long as sundials.

“Mmm—” The sound stretched like molasses.

Well-rested, I sat up and stretched, spine unfurling like a cat in sun.

“I’ve resurrected!” I sprang back like a phoenix from ash.

I slipped off the bed, into my shoes, and loosened my body, comfort pouring in like warm water till I almost groaned.

“But my stomach’s a little empty.” It growled like a small wolf.

After stretching, I rubbed my belly and muttered. I washed up, left the room, and headed to the kitchen to cook, footsteps light as feathers.

In the kitchen, noon light pooled like milk.

“Ah, Amemiya-kun, you finally woke up—really late.” Her voice lilted like a bell.

Mikaret in loungewear and an apron cooked lunch, the big-sister next-door look warming me like a hearth.

“Couldn’t be helped; yesterday burned me out,” I said, like a candle guttering at midnight.

I stepped beside Mikaret and grabbed the freshly washed vegetables from the sink, water beads clinging like dew. “Need a hand? I’m idle anyway.”

“Mm, then help chop the vegetables and meat, Amemiya-kun.” The knife’s future gleam promised like a silver fish.

“No problem.” My answer landed light as a leaf.

The kitchen settled into quiet again; aside from chopping, only steam murmured from the pot like soft clouds.

After a while, I handed over the chopped vegetables. Mikaret took them in rhythm, movements flowing like a dance, and slid them into the oiled, waiting pan that shimmered like a golden lake.

Sizzle…

A rich aroma rushed from the pan, stoking hunger like a rising tide.

“Hehe, like this we look like a married couple, Amemiya-kun,” she teased, moving in tandem like swallows in flight.

Mikaret joked as she stirred, wok smoke drawing lazy ribbons like drifting silk.

…

I kept my head down and chopped, wordless. Her teasing made me blush to death; heat flooded my face like sudden sunrise.

“You’re shy—so cute.” Her laughter tinkled like soft bells.

My reaction seemed to please Mikaret, satisfaction blooming like a garden flower.

…

At last, a little past six in the evening, the sky bruised plum and gold.

I wasn’t just fed and watered; I felt better than ever, spirit sharp like a honed blade, ready for the Nine Cold Labyrinth’s second layer.

“Amemiya-kun, you really won’t stay a few days? It’s rare we became friends.” Her voice trembled like a willow in wind.

“Sorry—if I could, I’d stay and play with you and Mikaret a few more days, Michelle. Sadly, my time’s tight…” I shook my head, guilt tugging like a tide.

“It can’t be helped, Michelle. Don’t make it hard for Amemiya-kun.” Her tone held steady like a rock in stream.

After soothing Michelle, Mikaret opened a passage that shimmered like ice to the Nine Cold Labyrinth’s second layer. “I won’t say much, Amemiya-kun. May you have smooth winds and calm seas, finish the Labyrinth soon, and get what you desire!”

“I’ll take your auspicious words; I’m deeply grateful.” I bowed like a bending reed.

I nodded, bowed to the sisters who’d cared for me like spring rain, then turned decisively and stepped into the passage toward the Nine Cold Labyrinth’s second layer, cold light gleaming like glaciers.

A lot happened, yet I cleared the first layer unharmed, and even became friends with its guardian, Mikaret. By any measure, it was a perfect ending, round and complete like a full moon.

Now the second layer loomed ahead; what challenges wait, what fierce foes? Thoughts gathered like storm clouds at the horizon.

Anxiety tangled with excitement, two ropes in one knot. May the second layer, like the first, end well!

…