She woke, and a chill ran like a shadow through Yue Liuyi—something felt wrong, wrong as frost on spring petals.

Where was the wrongness, exactly? The thought came first, heavy with fog. The answer followed slow, like a reed bending in wind.

First: she should be on a soft blanket, tucked beside Dixue. Not sprawled on the floor, cold as stone beneath her.

Second: she should be able to blink; eyelids are shutters on a sunrise. No matter how she strained, they stayed lifted, dry as paper. Arms and body, too—locked like a statue.

Sleep paralysis? A ghost sitting on her chest? Yet the last, and sharpest point stabbed like an icicle—beside Dixue lay a blue-haired girl, serene as a pond, breathing steady as tide. Who else but her?

Waaah! Haunting! Haunting!

She tried to speak, but sound died like smoke in winter air. The silence felt the same as when the Third Princess had pinned her mind beneath a silk glove.

What’s happening! I can’t even turn my head—help!

Her mind screamed for rescue, but no echo returned.

Ailuna lay on her side on the carpet, wrists and ankles chained, the links cold as iron snakes.

And Yedie Snow hugged the sleeping “her,” a blissful smile budding like apple blossoms.

Wait, my pillow… this spot… don’t tell me—

From where her sight fixed, Yue Liuyi gauged the place. It matched exactly where Dixue had set her doll last night.

No, no—

At last, the truth rose simple and cruel. She had become a real body pillow.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Time flowed quiet as tea, and eight o’clock arrived like a sparrow’s hop. Yedie Snow stretched, bones a harp-string sigh.

Heheh, my Little Yue is adorable today.

She looked down at the slumbering Yue Liuyi in her arms. The silver-haired girl’s smile warmed like morning rice—seeing beloved Little Yue promised a smooth day like clear skies.

But that habit of sleeping in hasn’t changed. Fine. It’s still early… no rush~

She smoothed her slightly messy bangs—silver glinting like frost—and stood. The oversized shirt draped her, and dawn light spilled over her straight, smooth legs, bright as porcelain and youth.

Yue Liuyi had no heart left for the view; panic beat like a drum.

She screamed herself hoarse inside, trying to catch Dixue’s eye, a lantern flailing in wind.

LittleSnow! Help! I turned into a pillow!

As if hearing her, the silver-haired girl’s sea-green eyes drifted toward the pillow and leaned in, tide coming ashore.

LittleSnow!?

Hmm… not as cute as the real Little Yue, but perfect for teasing her. And when she’s not here, it’s a decent stand-in. Let me think—what should I dress her in today?

She didn’t seem to hear a single plea. She just scooped Yue Liuyi up, casual as picking a cat.

Ugh!

Yue Liuyi realized with a shock—she still had sensation. Arms held her in places not very proper; touch bloomed heat like a blush.

The chest’s so well done. Soft to the touch—the best~

Let go! If this keeps up, I’ll turn weird—seriously weird—

She couldn’t resist at all. As a Yue Liuyi doll, her body stayed mute; even if she broke, Dixue would never notice.

Then try the school swimsuit… the one Little Yue strictly rejected. I heard it’s a uniform from the Sakura Realm~

!!!

Her clothes were peeled off, one by one, like petals falling. Skirts scattered on the floor like confetti. So right now she must be—

Heheh, gotta finish before Little Yue wakes. Once the rice’s cooked, you can’t uncook it.

Dixue pulled out a sapphire-blue swimsuit and measured it against the doll’s body—hands precise, eyes bright as glass.

LittleSnow, don’t!

Resistance was smoke against rain. Yue Liuyi could only endure. Shame wrapped her snug as a net—the school swimsuit, tight and clingy. It was a little small; it hugged her everywhere; even her chest felt stuffed and compressed.

Hmm… Little Yue’s measurements are big. Bigger than mine. Seems I ordered it small.

Her “small order” turned Yue Liuyi’s stillness into torture. Unable to move, she felt the fabric rub certain spots—itch blooming like ants—no way to scratch.

Uuuu… LittleSnow, save me…

It’s just a doll, so it’s fine, right? We’ll keep it like this! Looks even more lewd, and Little Yue will blush harder~

No… I can’t…

Dixue couldn’t hear a thing. She hugged the freshly dressed Little Yue and went to work, morning calm like ink on rice paper.

Today’s Yue Liuyi doll was posed in mortifying fashion.

The girl wore the school swimsuit, duck-sitting on the floor. Thighs parted slightly, forming a V; arms tucked beside her chest, bracing on the ground.

Her head was raised, gaze fixed on Dixue, unmoving and pitiful as a kitten in rain. If the real Yue Liuyi saw it, she’d charge in and put a stop to everything.

Yedie Snow’s plan fell flat. Little Yue still hadn’t gotten up.

Huh? It’s somehow ten already. Why hasn’t Little Yue woken?

Dixue ended her morning task and walked to the sleeping Yue Liuyi. She shook and called, voice worried as a robin, but the girl didn’t stir.

Um… Dixue-sis, Little Yue feels different today from usual.

Ailuna spoke up from the side, her voice soft as moss.

Different?

Mm. It feels like something inside Little Yue is missing today.

This—

The World Tree Maiden’s words caught Dixue’s ear. Ailuna’s senses ran deep like roots; she saw things Dixue often missed.

Also, the Yue pillow seems strange today…

Strange?

Yes. For some reason, there’s a breath of life about it.

Huh?

Dixue rushed to the Yue Liuyi doll, lifted her close, and gazed. Hmm… it is odd. Today’s pillow looks a lot cuter, even more like Little Yue.

Dixue-sis… is it possible Little Yue didn’t wake because of the pillow?

An angel! An actual angel!

To Yue Liuyi, Ailuna shone like a fallen seraph, pure as a spring. The chains on her limbs felt slapped on by jealous devils.

Then maybe… before this too? Dixue’s brows knit like willow leaves. She stared seriously at the doll in her arms. Hmm. Are you my Little Yue? If yes, nod.

Yes! Yes! Yes!! Yes, I am!

But it didn’t nod?

Um… Dixue-sis, dolls can’t nod…

Uh, right… I go dumb the moment it’s about Little Yue. Ugh! Then how do we confirm Little Yue’s soul is inside the doll?

Mm… it’s really hard to tell.

Ailuna worried, her face a pond rippled by wind, not sure what to do.

Don’t give up! Please!

Finally noticed, only to give up—if Yue Liuyi could cry, she’d be sobbing like summer rain.

Right! If Little Yue still has consciousness, we could use that.

Huh?

Diexian.

They prepared a sheet of paper—the wrapper from sakura mochi—plus a little dish, a husk from the rice-tree fruit, and two girls ready as candles. The Diexian game began.

I’ve heard of this. They say sincerity matters… Will it even work, Dixue-sis?

Inviting spirits needs ceremony, but inviting Little Yue can be casual.

Oh…

Little Yue, if you’re inside, listen up, okay?

Dixue set the Yue Liuyi doll to the side, facing the paper and the dish set between the two girls.

Next, move the bowl with your mind. It’s like casting a spell. We’ll ask questions. If it’s “yes,” slide to the blue sakura mochi icon. If it’s “no,” slide to the red pattern.

Okay! Got it!

She had no room left for snark about a bargain-basement ritual. Being trapped, unheard, felt too lonely—like fog swallowing a bell.

Ailuna, let’s place our index fingers on the bowl.

Oh… like this?

Mm. Little Yue’s magic must be weak now. We’ll help her.

The game of “Yue Liuyi Immortal” began.

First question. Little Yue pillow, are you Little Yue?

Yes!

Yue Liuyi glared at the bowl, focus sharp as an arrowhead. Under her stare, it inched toward blue, slow as a creeping vine.

Wow. It moved!

Right? So Little Yue’s inside?

Dixue’s gaze on Yue Liuyi turned gentler, a hint of worry like clouds around the moon.

Second question. Did Little Yue wear white panties yesterday?

LittleSnow, what are you even asking!

Just when the path looked straight, Dixue veered into nonsense, teasing like a breeze flicking her ear.

Um… Dixue-sis, this question’s a bit…

Ailuna-chan, I’m guarding against prank spirits. We have to confirm Little Yue’s identity.

Oh? So that’s why. In that case—

Yue Liuyi stared hard toward red, heat blooming across her face.

Yesterday morning, she wore…

Blue-and-white stripes.

Wow, it moved again!

Ugh… looks like it’s really Little Yue.

Seems Little Yue and the pillow swapped bodies.

Then only one last question…

Dixue gazed at the Yue Liuyi doll and smiled, warm and serene, like tea steam lifting.

Does Little Yue want to be Sis’s eternal pillow? By the way, if you choose red…

Suddenly, her smile tipped wicked, a fox tail swaying behind the moon.