Mm, back to normal—like a restless tide settling~

She dropped the transformation; Yue Liuyi sprawled over the couch, obedient as a kitten melting into moonlight.

Little Moon’s so good… Little Moon’s the most obedient—her praise fell like warm rain.

Though it was Dixue hugging Yue Liuyi, the silver-haired girl looked shaken, like a startled dove dropped into Yue Liuyi’s arms.

LittleSnow…

Little Moon, what’s wrong? Her words fluttered like a moth at dusk.

Could it be… LittleSnow’s afraid of my boy form? The doubt drifted like mist between lanterns.

With things like this, Yue Liuyi started to sense the truth, like fog thinning at sunrise.

No way, how would I be afraid of boys! Her bravado rang like a temple bell.

True… My Sister LittleSnow is so strong; she wouldn’t be scared, like a mountain under moonlight.

Little Moon… you’re getting cheekier… Looks like tonight, Sis has to hold you tight, like ivy wrapping a playful moon.

Hehe~

Yue Liuyi just smiled. From the boy’s point of view, sleeping hugged with LittleSnow was a win, like a fox stealing warmth.

Little Moon, what are you secretly smiling about? Her tease danced like a breeze through bamboo.

Not secretly smiling. Mm… I should clean this place up… LittleSnow, are you heading back upstairs now? Her glance swept the room like a broom after a storm.

Yue Liuyi looked around. After the scuffle, the couch was a bit of a mess, like reeds after wind.

Cushions were tossed aside. Teacups on the table sat unwashed, like shells left by an ebbing tide.

More importantly, because she transformed on the spot, Yue Liuyi still wore the boy’s clothes. The long shirt draped over the blue-haired girl like a borrowed robe, almost a dress.

Me? No rush… Her reply floated like a feather.

Yue Dier peeked at Yue Liuyi; her cheeks still bloomed red, like peach petals.

Then… what does LittleSnow want to eat? I’ll cook something, like lighting a small hearth in winter.

Mm…

Just as Dixue was about to answer, the bookstore door swung open like a breeze lifting a curtain.

Sisters, I’m back! Her shout broke bright as sunrise.

Kaka burst in, the door flying. Her fluffy dog-ears stood perked, and sweat dotted her bangs like dew on grass.

Huh? Kaka, did you gather anything? The question flicked like a sparrow’s tail.

Woof! I’m back laden! Kaka brought ripe strawberries and sausages! She beamed, burdened like a little hunter with a pouch.

The blonde little girl patted her chest with slow confidence. While Yue Liuyi fetched supplies, Kaka had volunteered to forage, like a cub trotting into the woods.

Strawberries—impressive… but why “harvest” ripe sausages? It sounded like metal growing on trees.

Yue Liuyi couldn’t think of any plant in the New Land that produces sausages—beyond magic flora, that’s straight into black-tech, like iron fruit on a steel tree.

The sausages weren’t picked. An auntie gave them to Kaka! Warm generosity, like bread in a cold hand.

Someone gave them…? Curiosity crept like a cat.

Mm! That aunt seemed to want to adopt Kaka! But after hearing Kaka has a master, she still gave her the sausages, kindness glowing like a lantern at dusk.

Ah… truly a good person, goodness soft as spring sun.

Seeing someone like Kaka warmed her; yet Yue Liuyi started reflecting on her shortcomings as Kaka’s guardian, thoughts turning like fallen leaves.

The blonde little girl before her looked far too much like a stray pup, eyes bright like wilderness stars.

Her shoes and shirt were grimy; dust clung to little arms and legs like dry earth. She brimmed with energy, but her flat belly said Kaka hadn’t had meat in a while, thin as a winter sparrow.

Since the toxic storm hit, Kaka had worked tirelessly for the Moon Post Bookstore—first reinforcing the house, then hauling stacks from the warehouse, and now gathering ripe fruit—each task heavy, like an ant carrying summer on its back.

And she herself hadn’t even given Kaka a single bath, guilt pooling like rainwater in a basin.

Not just Kaka. Even LittleSnow, Little Rose, and herself hadn’t bathed for a while, days stacking like dusty books.

(Ugh… We don’t have a water heater. We can’t really boil water in a wooden tub for baths, can we?) The thought shivered like camp under cold stars.

We could do a quick basin wash, sure, but compared to the Skyship’s big bath, it’s miserably uncomfortable—like trading a lake for a teacup.

And most crucially! Without bathwater to cover, the girls’ bodies would be laid bare, like moonlit porcelain with no mist.

Kaka could bathe herself, but LittleSnow and Little Rose couldn’t. Yue Liuyi would have to personally cleanse their bodies, hands trembling like willow leaves.

And then, every part would have to… The idea rose like steam and fogged her mind.

At that thought, Yue Liuyi swallowed hard, a pebble dropping into a deep well.

Ugh…

Little Moon, what’s wrong…? Her concern hovered like a heron over water.

N-no, it’s nothing… The denial fluttered like a leaf.

Huh? But I can feel Little Moon thinking about something lewd! Her tease pricked like thistle.

W-why! LittleSnow can sense even that? Panic flitted like a sparrow.

Wow! So it is lewd! Could it be… Little Moon wants to turn back into a boy and do something to Sis? Fear fluttered like a moth by a lamp.

Dixue blinked her big green eyes and looked at Yue Liuyi in fear, like a doe at the river’s edge.

Inside the silver-haired girl, her mind boiled into a pot of porridge, steam curling like little ghosts.

If Little Moon really took advantage when she couldn’t resist and did something wicked—like a wolf crossing the fence—

Then, facing the Little Moon she loved most, should she resist, like a reed against the wind…

Or obey, like snow yielding to the sun?