Nodding...
It was the clearest possible sign.
The girl covered her mouth.
After a long while, the shock in the girl's heart slowly began to fade.
"Sissi..."
The girl couldn't help reaching out and pinching her cheek.
"You nodded, didn't you?"
"You just nodded, didn't you?!"
"Really?"
"I didn't imagine it, did I?"
"I really didn't imagine it, did I?"
"You..."
The girl pinched herself again.
"Ouch~"
The girl drew in a sharp breath.
That hurt.
She reached out and rubbed her cheek.
She didn't pay it much attention.
She stared intently at the red-eyed python.
"Sissi."
"Could you..."
"Nod one more time?"
The girl stared until her eyes ached.
But she still didn't see the red-eyed python nod.
All right.
The girl gave herself an out.
She'd been greedy.
The red-eyed python had already nodded once...
How could she push her luck and ask it to nod again?
The red-eyed python nodded.
The girl was sure.
That's right.
There was no need to keep checking.
She trusted her own eyes.
The girl took a deep breath.
A huge smile spread across her face.
"Sissi~"
The girl's voice was practically bouncing.
"Then it's a deal."
"We're friends now."
"Hello."
"Sissi."
The girl leaned close to the glass.
"I'm Anna."
"You can call me Anna."
"Anna."
The staff member and the short-haired man walked over to the girl, who was about to leave.
They smiled.
"Congratulations."
After a brief moment of stunned silence, the girl smiled.
It was the brightest smile the staff member and the short-haired man had ever seen on her, despite having seen her so many times.
"Thank you~"
The staff member and the short-haired man smiled too.
"Hard work really does pay off."
"You actually managed to do it."
"Impressive."