The next day.
"I'm heading out."
Jiang Han clattered down the stairs, sat atop the shoe cabinet, and pulled on a pair of short boots.
Jiang Zhenling, who was sitting in the living room reading the newspaper, poked her head out and looked at her sister.
"Mm, got it... Hm? Is it that cold outside today?"
She saw Jiang Han dressed in a soft, fluffy brown-orange fur cape dress, wearing a pom-pom hat, opaque 120D white tights, and brown-orange short boots. She also had a pair of puff-puff fingerless gloves on her hands. She looked several years younger, with the fresh, youthful air of a girl who had only just entered middle school.
That was certainly warm enough... She folded up the newspaper, frowned, and looked puzzled.
"It's a little chilly. We're on a Sky Island, after all." Jiang Han licked her lips and smiled. "I took a pair of your unopened stockings. I'll replace them next time."
"Hey, asshole." Little Comrade Zhenling unfolded her newspaper.
Just one second later, she lowered it again and said suspiciously:
"Buy me a new pair. Don't give me back ones you've worn."
"I'm not that awful!" Jiang Han shook her shoulders. Once she felt that the outfit fit nicely, she hooked the heel of one boot with her right index finger, bounced up, kicked her left foot back, spun around, and flicked her waist-length short cape. "I'm heading out!"
Little Comrade Jiang Zhenling held her newspaper without looking up.
"Mm, got it. Remember to close the door."
Jiang Han had indeed dressed appropriately. After autumn arrived, the air had gradually grown cooler. Even the oxygen sprayed from the oxygen tubes tied to the trees along the street felt icy cold; when she breathed it in, even her throat felt crisp and