"Spirit Maple."
Xiao Xiao waved to the white-haired monster in the tree.
"We're leaving."
"Goodbye."
"Goodbye."
Spirit Maple straightened up from where she had been leaning against the tree trunk.
She leaned forward slightly.
Her long white hair slid over her shoulder.
"Lord Xiao Xiao."
Her cool, otherworldly voice sounded like a half-remembered dream, heard in a hazy moment between sleep and waking during an afternoon nap.
A flicker of bewilderment crossed the boy's eyes.
Then a hint of envy appeared.
How nice.
Master Xiao and the white-haired monster girl had such a good relationship.
He'd had a chance to have that kind of relationship with Ya Ya, too...
At the thought of Ya Ya, the light faded from the boy's eyes.
Xiao Xiao found Grandpa Xu.
"Leaving?"
The old man checked the time.
"All right, then."
"I won't keep you."
"An old man like me knows young people like you are busy."
"You all have your own plans."
"Next time you have time to stay for a meal, let me know ahead of time. I'll have your grandma prepare a feast."
The old man said with a smile.
"Your grandma's cooking is excellent."
"Of course, I have a few specialty dishes of my own, too."
A hint of pride showed on the old man's face.
"Your grandma can't match my skill when it comes to those dishes."
"Hmph, hmph."
The old man boasted with a childlike air.
Xiao Xiao smiled.
"All right."
"Grandpa Xu, if we want to sample your and Grandma Xu's cooking next time, we'll be sure to make an appointment with you in advance."
"Oh, it's no trouble."
The old man waved a hand.
"Just work around your schedule."
"We old folks don't have any fixed plans."
Even if, by