"You'll definitely meet again."
Mom's words still rang in his ears.
The boy thought that Mom had been right after all.
Maybe he really was going to see Ya Ya again.
At least...
Since the day he'd wanted to see Ya Ya again, there had never been a moment when he'd felt so close to what Mom had said.
"I see it every day lately."
Spirit Maple remained expressionless.
Yet, somehow, it still managed to convey a hint of irritation and displeasure.
"It's annoying."
Xiao Xiao raised an eyebrow.
"Does it need your help with something?"
It kept showing up every day, even though it was clearly unwelcome...
Aside from that, he couldn't think of another reason.
No.
There was one more.
Ya Ya had taken to Spirit Maple at first sight.
It liked Spirit Maple especially much.
It wanted to get close to Spirit Maple.
Hmm...
Could that be the reason?
Somehow, that seemed... less likely for a monster?
"No."
Spirit Maple shook its head.
"It's bored."
Spirit Maple's blunt words made Xiao Xiao's lips curl.
He found it a little amusing.
So it really was the other reason.
The boy was struck by a curious sense of familiarity.
Ya Ya was still the Ya Ya he remembered.
The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, too.
"Will it come today, too?"
Xiao Xiao asked a very important question.
The boy's eyes widened at once, and he stared without blinking at the monster in the tree.
"It probably will."
In response to Lord Xiao Xiao's question, Spirit Maple still chose to give a cautious answer.
That answer...
Xiao Xiao smiled. "It hasn't come today yet."
"Mm."
Spirit Maple nodded.
"When does it usually come?"
Xiao Xiao glanced