Or rather...
Xi Anya had no extra energy to doubt Xiao Xiao's words.
Even if there was only the slightest hope...
She wanted to meet the owner of the feather.
That wish filled her heart, occupying all her thoughts.
"Chiu Chiu~"
Yue flew toward the wisteria trellis.
Its tiny figure vanished behind the thick cascade of flowers.
But soon, its clear call rang out again.
Yue nimbly spun in midair and flew toward Xiao Xiao.
A silvery-white feather was held in its fiery red beak.
The stark contrast in color made the red seem even more vivid and the white... even purer.
"Ah—"
Xi Anya hurriedly covered her mouth.
To her, it was as if the feather had flown straight into Student Xiao's hand.
Just like... a scene she often saw in TV dramas... a martial arts master using inner energy... to retrieve an object from a distance.
"...Master Xiao..."
Xi Anya murmured softly.
What was going on?
This student they called Master Xiao... really did seem a little mysterious?
Xiao Xiao followed Yue onward.
They took a winding route.
Each time they stopped, it was because they had found another feather.
"So many feathers..."
Meng Jixi pursed his lips. "Isn't it afraid of going bald?"
"Pfft~"
Xi Anya couldn't help laughing.
The next second, she covered her mouth, her eyes blinking with an almost innocent look.
"And—"
Meng Jixi glanced at the girl, then looked back at Xiao Xiao. "Is it playing hide-and-seek with us?"
"Or... messing with us?"
It kept dangling feathers in front of them...
Xi Anya opened her mouth, wanting to say something.
She thought... it probably wasn't messing with them.
At first, the feathers had only appeared in front of her.
Even later, when she pretended not to notice