Mutated Mutant Crops, Akari Returns

The next morning.

After a night of falling snow, the Orchard, the Villa, and the vegetables growing in the backyard were all covered in pure white.

Icicles gleamed like jade. Tree shadows swayed across the snow, and snowflakes sparkled in the morning sun. The air was crisp and fresh, filled with a soothing stillness.

Mingyou stepped outside and stood in the snow. Gazing at the white landscape, he felt as though the whole world had grown quiet and peaceful. He was so absorbed in it that he forgot the passage of time.

"Haha! We can have a snowball fight!"

Mingyou grinned like a child. The forecast said more snow was coming over the next few days, and Kitakami's snowy weather usually lasted until early spring.

But this much snow meant more work for him. Mutant Crops might not freeze to death, but that didn't mean the snow couldn't crush them. He needed to check for broken branches.

He grabbed a broom and swept all the snow off the Ogerpon Tangerine Tree and Munchlax Berry Tree by the door.

Only then did he notice what looked like a pink fruit growing on the Munchlax Berry Tree.

"Hm?"

He had been so busy lately that he had only just remembered the next batch of Snorlium Berries was due around now. But weren't Snorlium Berries supposed to be blue like Snorlax?

He thought his eyes were playing tricks on him, but a closer look confirmed it: a pink fruit really was growing on the tree. Its shape was unchanged, but it was plumper, with frost coating its skin. It looked mouthwatering.

"This is..."

``` [Star Snorlium Berry (A+): Mutated from a Snorlium Berry. Its flesh is softer than that of an ordinary Snorlium Berry, but it will not break if dropped. It has