“Thanks, LittleSnow—today was so much fun it felt like fireworks bursting in my chest!”

“Mm-hmm, me too—my heart’s still floating like a kite in spring wind!”

After they cleared the haunted house, the two girls rode joy like a wave and dove into everything else—the claw machine, the shooting gallery, 3D pinball—laughter ringing like wind chimes.

“So playing with a friend is this joyful—like warm rain after a dry spell.”

Dixue blinked; curiosity rippled in her eyes like ripples on a jade pond. At first she’d only tagged along for Yue, but then she started savoring it.

“Same here. It’s my first time trying so many fun things—the whole day felt like sunlight pouring through leaves.”

“But LittleMoon, you’re so good at these games, like a fox slipping through fences. You’ve done this a ton, right? So sneaky!”

“As a gi—”

Yue Liuyi swallowed the rest, the words catching like a leaf on her tongue. This afternoon she’d tried games she’d never touched before, and even the easy, cozy ones shimmered—turns out the fun isn’t just the game, it’s the mood, like tea tasting sweeter with company.

“Mm… it’s my first time having this much fun. If we’ve got time later, we can come again, LittleSnow.”

“Really?”

“Mm.”

“Then—pinky promise.”

“Ah… pinky…”

Their hooked fingers curved like two crescent moons, and their smiles warmed the air like lantern light.

“Um, ladies…”

Maria watched the two “not-so-little” girls pinky swear like lolis, and a flush crept up her face like dawn on snow.

“I knew there’d be sugar, but I didn’t expect a toothache level of sweet…” She smoothed her clothes like pressing silk, then pulled a prettily bound book and a silver pistol from her pocket. “The book’s printed, and I fished the prize from the arcade cabinet. I’ll hand them over now.”

At Maria’s sudden arrival, Yue Liuyi drew back her pinky like a fish slipping from a net. Yedie Snow didn’t mind; she simply wrapped her fingers around the blue-haired girl’s wrist.

“Thanks, Maria. Tonight… are you free?”

“Free?” The question hit Maria like a pebble in a still pond; surprise rippled, then she adjusted her glasses, battle-ready. “Yes! Is there a mission, Lady Dixue?”

“There is. Tonight—come to the Skyship. We’re throwing a celebration.”

“Wh-what? A c-celebration?”

Dixue’s words froze Maria and Yue in place like frost on petals.

“To celebrate mine and LittleMoon’s—no, our companion ceremony! And the birth of the ‘Moon-Snow Forest’ traveling bookseller!”

“Do we… need to be that formal?”

“Of course. I’ve told everyone—seven o’clock tonight. Come to think of it, we haven’t gathered in ages—the moon’s been lonely without drums.”

Maria’s thoughts tumbled like leaves in a gust. The girl who felt like an iceberg had chosen to host a feast… maybe love really does change a person, like spring thawing a mountain.

“What about the arcade?”

“We’ll close for one night. The loss is a drop in the sea.”

“Okay, I’ll tidy up and swing by to help.”

“Great. See you tonight.”

“See you.”

Maria’s dramatic reaction stirred Yue’s curiosity about the “old” Dixue, but the silver-haired girl’s hand was still curled soft around her wrist like ivy. No chance to ask in secret.

“Let’s head out.”

“Huh? Lately it feels like I’m always being led by LittleSnow—like a cloud tugged by wind…”

“Hehe. With you around, I’m the big sister.”

“Ugh… somehow that feels unfair, like a kite with a short string…”

“You’re too scatterbrained. Leave it to your reliable big sis.”

(I’m reliable too… I’m just not used to being a girl yet…)

Yue wanted to say it, but Dixue’s happy face shone like sunlight on water, and the words slipped away like sand through fingers.

(I need a good chance to tell her who I am. If I don’t, the threads will tangle again…)

She scratched her head, a little vexed, like a cat puzzling over a closed door. Still, to her, turning into a girl was a unique gift—not really a disguise, more a second moon in her sky.

Hand in hand, the two girls left the arcade and stepped onto the Celestial Courtyard’s covered walk.

The scene felt familiar yet new—a breeze through an old painting. Blood-stained memories had been swept away by bustle and lantern-bright joy. Without the Heart, the central ancient tree breathed out silver mist, and every inhale felt clear and free as mountain air.

“What do we do next?”

“The central supermarket. We need supplies for the party.”

“Okay.”

Even in an age of tech, people hadn’t abandoned the supermarket—carts squeaked like crickets, goods gleamed like lacquered fruit, and picking things felt like harvesting morning dew.

“LittleMoon, heads up. The market’s got magic-detection wards. If you cast for fun, they’ll nab you.”

“Mm… got it…”

Yue nodded, a bit sheepish, like a sparrow caught pecking rice. Dixue must’ve heard about the restaurant incident—and probably filed it under “adorably scatterbrained,” which brought unneeded fuss.

“Let’s grab eggs first. Tonight, we’ll bake a big cake.”

“A big cake? We might not finish it.”

“We will—lots of people are coming. I invited them all.” While Yue wasn’t looking, Dixue twined a wisp of her light-blue hair around a finger, playing with it like silk thread. “So we also need fruits and vegetables, and snacks!”

“Mm… sounds like the shopping run is a real quest.”

The Sky Voyager’s supermarket had everything, like a well-stocked ship’s hold. The quality was top-notch; under the lights, leaf veins glowed like carved jade.

But the price tags bit like winter wind.

“So pricey—chicken’s fifty a pound! Huh? Why’s celery so expensive—one hundred a pound?”

“Meat’s easy to keep—just freeze it like lake ice. Veggies need wood-aspect nurturing magic.”

Dixue lifted a bunch of celery. A wash of green light passed, and the stalks shone like polished bamboo. “Like this. Every morning, a professional mage needs to tend each vegetable. Otherwise it wilts and yellows, and the taste dies.”

“Oh… no wonder it’s still so fresh after days on the ship. Learned something!”

“Hehe…”

They chatted about greens with the joy of gardeners in spring and missed the shadow about to fall.

“Hey! Girl! What were you just doing?”

A supermarket guard in a black uniform strode over, boots tapping like drumbeats.

“Yikes!”

Dixue jolted, guilt pricking like a thorn. She’d gotten carried away and forgot the iron rule—no spellcasting in the store.

“Looks like big sis can be scatterbrained too…”

“No way! Watch me, LittleMoon.”

Unwilling to lose face before Yue, Dixue stepped up, shoulders squared like a drawn bow. “Hello. I’m Yedie Snow, acting branch leader of the Rangers Lodge on the Sky Voyager. I’m authorized to use magic in public. Here’s my ID.”

She drew a silver card from her skirt’s edge and handed it over with calm like still water. In her head, the guard would check it, bow like a willow, and return it respectfully. She’d shine like a proper big sister.

Instead—

“Ranger… Lodge… temp whatchamacallit at the Sky—what even is this?” The guard squinted at the silver-white card, then, with his pinky, sneaked a dig at his nose like a mischievous sparrow.

“It’s the Rangers Lodge acting branch on the Sky Voyager! Very official!”

“Uh… I ain’t much for book learnin’. But orders say no casting in the store. Miss, how ’bout you come explain it to my boss?”

He handed the card back gently. “Don’t blame me none. The higher-ups say there’s suspicious folk about, and they’re clamping down. I just follow the rules.”

“Got it…”

Dixue nodded, helpless as a scholar facing a spear—reason meets armor and slides off. She’d have to explain.

Seeing her hesitate, Yue Liuyi stepped forward like a candle offered in dusk. “LittleSnow, don’t worry. I’ll handle the shopping. I’m good at picking things.”

“Shopping’s secondary. I’m worried it’s dangerous to leave you alone.”

“Huh? We’re in a supermarket. With all these people, danger would be a needle in a haystack…”

“No.” Dixue shook her head, green eyes scanning the aisles like a hawk. “This guard could be bait from the Murder Fiend. They might be trying to split us and strike.”

“Hey now, what are you saying?” The guard huffed and flashed his badge—seal and photo gleamed like a coin in sunlight. “I’m a real guard. See?”

“See—don’t worry, LittleSnow. Explain it properly to the uncles in security, and they’ll understand.”

“Mm…”

Backed into a corner she hadn’t expected, Dixue didn’t want to leave Yue’s side. Reluctantly, she let go of that strand of pale-blue hair, as if untying a knot in silk. “But LittleMoon, protect yourself. Don’t talk to strangers. Don’t take candy from weird uncles. Don’t—”

“Okay, okay… I know.”

Yue gave Dixue a gentle push, like a breeze tipping a willow branch, sending the silver-haired girl toward the guard.

“I’ll go then.”

“Safe travels.”

“Don’t leave the supermarket!”

“Mm-hmm, promise!”

“Mm…”

And so Dixue followed the guard away, taking three steps and looking back once, like a kite tugged by its own string—eyes lingering on Yue with reluctant light.