"What's wrong?"
This little monster had just been grinning foolishly, apparently thinking of something. Why was it so downcast now?
Xiao Xiao asked with concern.
"...Coo~ coo~ coo-coo~"
The human took my mushroom.
The Mushroom Man looked into the human's eyes.
It was the first time it had looked into a human's eyes from so close. It realized it could see its own reflection in them.
A tiny reflection.
So small.
It thought, feeling a little aggrieved.
"Mm."
Xiao Xiao didn't deny it. After all, it was true.
There was no right or wrong.
After all, to the person picking mushrooms, it had just been an ordinary mushroom.
No different from any other mushroom.
They had no idea that this particular mushroom was a monster's most precious treasure.
For the sake of that mushroom, the little monster had left its home and come to the unfamiliar human world.
It had been determined to get its mushroom back.
In the end, it discovered that it had lost its mushroom for good.
It was heartbroken.
It had cried and cried.
But what was lost was lost.
Xiao Xiao didn't say anything more.
As a human, it didn't feel quite right for him to say anything.
Still, although he couldn't give the Mushroom Man its original mushroom, he could—
"I'll make it up to you with another mushroom."
"Just like I promised you at the beginning."
"I haven't forgotten."
His eyes curved into a smile. "So, would you like to see my yard?"
"I grow mushrooms in my yard."
"Maybe you'll find one you like."
"And—"
Xiao Xiao's voice took on a hint of mystery. "I also want to introduce you to a friend."
"Coo~"
Make it up to it with a mushroom?
A friend?
The sudden flood of information