“Absolutely not!!!”

The girls who’d been at odds a heartbeat ago spoke in chorus, like twin bells struck by the same bolt of lightning.

Woof? It’s not…?

Of course not! Totally different! Her denial flew like a sparrow startled from a branch.

LittleSnow let go of her own hair; her cheeks bloomed pink like peach petals as she forgot to toy with Yue Liuyi. Kaka, we were just playing a friendly game, okay? Nothing indecent. That kind of thing waits till after marriage.

Woof! Then Kaka got it wrong—sorry, woof! His ears drooped like wet leaves.

Kaka doesn’t need to apologize… if anyone’s to blame, blame me, LittleSnow, for going too far. She teases me anytime, even when I just spent myself on a grand spell. Her breath came like a tide going out.

Eh? How is that my fault? When Little Yue makes such a cute pose, it’s begging me to tease you—plus, if you didn’t fight back, Kaka wouldn’t have misunderstood. Her smile curled like a cat on a sunny sill.

She said it like an oath, as if the wind itself agreed.

N-no way I wouldn’t resist! Her protest popped like a squirrel’s chirp.

Hmph! As a little cuddle pillow, you should curl in my arms and purr. Her voice flowed warm as silk under moonlight.

I’m… ngh… I’m the World Tree Maiden; I won’t be that spineless! In short, it’s your fault—if you bully me again, I’ll be unhappy! Her eyes set like a sapling bracing against wind.

Mustering the strength she’d just recovered, Yue Liuyi scooted to the far side of the bed, slipping away like a fawn from a reaching hand.

She hugged the quilt and shivered, adorable as a kitten in first snow.

Alright, alright—blame me, it’s all my fault. LittleSnow sprawled against the headboard, silver hair spilling like a ribbon of moonlight.

(Woof…? They’re really not mating? It looked a lot like it…) Kaka tilted his head, eyes round as twin ponds.

...

Unnoticed, night sank deep, the sky dark as ink, and it was time for the girls to eat.

Yue Liuyi had shaken off the fatigue of the grand spell; her step sprang back like a willow shoot after rain.

Mm… I’m going to change Little Rose’s bandages. Little… LittleSnow and Kaka, what do you want to eat? We still have a bit of pork and celery. Her voice clinked like bowls in a quiet kitchen.

Then rice is fine. LittleSnow’s reply fell neat as white grains in a bowl.

Rice…? We’re out of rice already… only a few steamed buns left. The empty tin echoed like a dry well.

Because of Kaka and Little Rose, Moon Post Bookstore’s food vanished faster than I thought—three days, and the last trip to the farmers’ market is gone. The pantry yawned hollow like a gourd.

Eggs and rice are all used up; what’s left might stretch one more day, at best. Her counting felt like pinching the last crumbs of snow.

That’s not it. Little Yue, step out and turn left—pick the coconut-looking fruit by the riverbank. By now, it should be ripe. LittleSnow’s certainty rang like a bell over water.

Ri-ripe…? LittleSnow, what are you talking about? Dreamwood Star doesn’t have coconuts! Yue Liuyi pressed her cool hand to LittleSnow’s forehead, chill as meltwater: no fever.

Little Yue planted it just now, didn’t you? If it’s an Eternal Tear from the New Land, of course there’ll be rice tree seedlings. Her words scattered like seeds on loam.

Eh…?

The grand spell I handed you was a Seeding-and-Return spell! And the beautiful memories that overflowed while I teased you were to help the plants beside Moon Post Bookstore grow faster. Her laughter pattered like warm spring rain.

Huh?

Just look out the window!

Let me see!

At that, Yue Liuyi poked her small head out the window like a curious bird—and froze.

Before, Winter Leaf Road held nothing but desolation: only dim moonlight like a thin blade on gray concrete ruins; soil starved to ash, staring across at a dry river like two hollow eyes.

Now—this was no ruin.

What spread before her looked like a living botanical garden, green as a breathed-on jade.

From stone cracks, from yellow earth, from the very bones of buildings, tender shoots shouldered through like newborn deer; they broke the ground’s shackles and climbed for the sky.

Grape vines coiled around a toppled utility pole, a green serpent wrapping a fallen spear.

Abandoned brick walls wore a pelt of creeping ivy, shadows like lace in moonlight.

A cherry sapling split the asphalt like a smile breaking through, opening its first pale blossoms like dawn.

By the river channel rose rice trees, their coconut-like fruits hanging like lanterns over water.

The air was thick with a wild, green fragrance, sweet as cut grass after rain.

Th-this is… Her voice failed, a candle snuffed by wonder.

She’d seen this painting in dreams, misty as starlight on water.

But it was the first time it unfurled before her eyes, real as dew on her fingertips.

Don’t get too happy! That grand spell only swept Linelor City and the suburbs; it won’t turn the whole planet like this. LittleSnow’s warning drifted like a cloud shading sun.

Th-the entire Linelor City is like this?! Her heart kicked like a startled hare.

Well, yeah. What else? You thought just the block? The Eternal Tear plus your power isn’t that cheap. Her grin flashed like a fox in tall grass.

Linelor City… with trees… The words trembled like leaves on a new branch.

Okay, okay! Go harvest the fruit, let’s taste rice. Huh… Little Yue?

Uu! The world swam like a boat on a sudden swell, and Yue Liuyi toppled into blissful black, fainting with a smile.