April 19.

Not a special holiday.

Yueci Porcelain hadn’t even known what day it was—

until Nishikino An reminded her.

It was her birthday.

Birthdays called for cake.

Yet Yueci, who’d promised a homemade giant cake for everyone on the afternoon of the 18th, had vanished without a trace.

———

By 11 PM, Yueci was still missing.

Nishikino An canceled all next-day appointments. Frustration burning in her chest, she sprinted toward a luxury villa in the suburbs.

She jabbed the doorbell relentlessly. The shrill chime echoed through the empty mansion like a barrage of gunfire.

Yueci had disappeared again—just like twenty years ago, silent and sudden.

That’s why Nishikino had rushed here.

Finally, the villa door opened.

An elegant silver-haired woman emerged slowly. Tall and poised, she wore a tailored white tailcoat, a vibrant rose pinned to her chest. Moonlight bathed her face, adding an air of mystery.

She swirled the crimson liquid in her wineglass, then lazily eyed Nishikino over its rim before taking a delicate sip.

Nishikino’s fists clenched at the woman’s arrogance, but she swallowed her anger. Her fingers brushed the scar on her right cheek, shadows flickering in her eyes.

She needed to find Yueci.

"Have you seen Yueci…?"

Nishikino called through the iron gate, staring up at the woman on the steps.

The woman paused. A mocking chuckle escaped her lips.

"Ara ara… My little one went missing under *your* watch, little Nishikino… and *you* dare question *me* first?"

Her British-accented words were honeyed, yet laced with venom.

Tension crackled between them—

when suddenly, a lavishly wrapped cake, half as tall as a person, plummeted from the sky into the villa courtyard.

The packaging—whatever it was made of—held firm. The cake inside trembled slightly but remained intact.

Both women froze.

Nishikino leapt back, kicked off the gate, and flipped over the iron bars into the villa grounds.

"Hmph…"

The silver-haired woman watched Nishikino land smoothly, her gaze turning icy. But she said nothing.

Lights illuminated the courtyard.

The woman approached the cake, puzzled.

Nishikino spotted a card taped to the box. She snatched it up—

【❤️ PRIZE CAKE: Handmade with love by Yueci Porcelain ❤️】

【⭐ DRAW TIME: April 19, 00:00 ⭐】

【🍰 Bon appétit 🍰】

Their eyes met in silent understanding.

———

"Hmm…"

Nishikino An stood before a mirror, adjusting her pose to admire the outfit. "Will Yueci like this?"

"Anything you wear, she’ll adore~"

Hachisu Inori sat on the sofa behind her, smiling as she sipped green tea.

Tomorrow was Yueci’s birthday. Nishikino had planned a shopping date.

She didn’t know how many others Yueci might invite, but she wanted to look perfect.

*Ding-dong—*

The doorbell rang.

Nishikino turned from the mirror and opened the door.

No one stood beyond the iron gate.

Moonlight draped the villa in eerie silence.

As she moved to close the door, a massive, ornate cake box on the ground caught her eye.

Hachisu drifted over.

Reading the card, a spark of intrigue lit her eyes.

"This… handmade by Yueci…?"

She lingered on the word *handmade*, suddenly grasping what the "prize" truly meant…

A slow lick traced her lips.

———

"Still making gifts this late?"

Shanwu Lingsheng leaned against the doorway in pajamas, watching Hiru Kawakami at her desk.

Hiru’s hands stilled.

Tomorrow was Yueci’s birthday. Her gift—a half-carved wooden figurine—was incomplete. Frustration tightened her jaw.

"Sleep now," Shanwu yawned. "Just finishing touches left. Plenty of time tomorrow."

Hiru nodded, packing her tools.

As she bent to grab her toolbox, a large box under the desk caught her eye.

*Huh? Was this always here?*

Shanwu followed her gaze, eyebrows lifting in surprise.

They pulled out the box, opened it—

A beautifully wrapped cake gleamed inside.

"What…?"

Hiru’s eyes darted to the card taped to the lid—

"Huh?"

"What… does this mean…?"

She looked helplessly at Shanwu.

Shanwu stroked her chin, thoughtful.

Amusing.

"Inside this cake…"

"Wouldn’t happen to be Yueci, would it?"

Hiru paled, glancing between the cake and Shanwu.

"Oh… no…"

Shanwu’s smile turned mischievous. "Probably just *pieces* of Yueci?"

Hiru’s face darkened.

———

*Ding—*

As phone calendars flipped from the 18th to the 19th, a text alert chimed worldwide.

【IT’S DRAW TIME! 🍰🍰🍰】

———

Eyes locked on the untouched cakes.

———

Nishikino glared at her silent cake, disappointment curdling into anger.

*Who would pull such a cruel prank?*

"I’m leaving."

She shot the silver-haired woman a venomous look and turned away.

She’d track down everyone Yueci met after they parted ways…

The woman watched Nishikino vanish into the night. With leisurely grace, she opened the abandoned cake box.

She smiled at the exquisite layers, then plunged her hand inside.

After a moment’s search, she drew out a slender, blood-dripping hand—coated in sweet frosting.

Licking her lips with evident satisfaction, she carried it back into the villa.

———

Shanwu sighed at her motionless cake.

"No luck this time."

She’d hoped for a late-night chat with Yueci.

Pity.

Hiru slumped over the table, dispirited.

"Tch… boring."

"I’m turning in."

She trudged to her room, deflated.

Shanwu eyed the giant cake. *Fridge it for tomorrow.*

———

Yueci stirred awake from the haze.

Her body felt… remade.

Strange. Sticky. Sweet.

Blinking against the bright light, she took in her surroundings—

She lay sprawled on a giant cake platter.

Cream and fruit clung to her skin.

*Sliiide—*

She turned her head.

Yukiho Doi and Hachisu Inori loomed over her, faces alight with delight.

A cold sweat broke across Yueci’s brow.

Yukiho plucked a glistening strawberry from Yueci’s chest and popped it into her mouth with a soft laugh.

"Now then…"

"Shall we eat the cake?"