Chapter Summaries

Richie, Anya, and Twilight played Fight the Landlord, with Richie using his insight into their cards to control the game. Anya revealed her long straight too late, and Richie won with his final ace, leaving Anya demanding another round.

• Richie explained the rules of Fight the Landlord to Anya and Twilight, and all three prepared to play.
• Richie became the landlord and opened with consecutive pairs, prompting Twilight to use his rocket and take the lead.
• Richie played strategically against Twilight's pairs while Anya passed repeatedly to preserve her long straight.
• Anya finally played most of her straight, but Bond showed her that Richie had the winning ace.
• Richie played his ace to win, and Anya protested and demanded another round.

Yor cooked Southern Stew for the Forger family, surprising everyone when it turned out delicious and brought them closer together. She then served another dish of her own creation, and the family promptly died of poisoning.

• Yor came home and announced that she would make dinner, alarming Twilight, Richie, and Anya.
• Yor prepared Southern Stew while Anya, Richie, and Bond nervously hid from the cooking.
• Twilight, Richie, and Anya cautiously tasted the stew and found it delicious.
• Yor cried with joy at their praise and said she felt more confident as the Forger family's wife and mother.
• Yor served her own creation, and three members of the Forger family died of poisoning.

Eden Academy held the first day of its autumn sports festival, where students competed in team events. Richie’s Group Seventeen gained ground in tug-of-war by making Group One laugh, but Si Ang rallied Group One to close their eyes and pull, leaving the match’s outcome uncertain.

• The Forger family attended the opening ceremony in matching outfits, and the students were assigned to groups and team events.
• Richie, Anya, and the Second Son drew their events, while Si Ang sat with Richie because his parents were absent.
• Anya competed in South-to-North Water Diversion, where Group One lost narrowly to Group Seventeen but beat Group Two.
• Richie and Si Ang were assigned to the final tug-of-war between Group Seventeen and Group One.
• Richie’s group used a teammate dressed as a robber clown to make Group One laugh and pull less effectively.
• Si Ang told Group One to close their eyes, and they began pulling frantically as the rope shifted toward their side.

The Forger family took part in Eden Academy’s Autumn Sports Meet, with Anya enjoying the family games and Richie competing alongside Yor. On the third day, Richie prepared for the serious athletic events, hoping to earn enough Stellas to help complete his father’s mission.

• Group Seventeen won the tug-of-war after the dancing clown distracted Group One, ending the first day of the sports meet.
• Twilight deliberately fell off his bicycle in the Slow Cycling race, allowing Anya to finish second and share her prize with Becky.
• Richie and Yor won the Hats and Hammers game, and Richie reassured Yor after she worried about upsetting the opposing father.
• The students performed for the crowd until nine at night, and Anya and Richie fell asleep on the way home.
• Twilight insisted that the family attend the third day, which featured serious athletic competitions, and Richie prepared for the long jump and five-thousand-meter race.
• Richie learned that his painting had won first place nationwide, bringing him closer to earning the Stellas needed for his father’s mission.

Richie resolved to help Twilight complete Operation Strix before his deteriorating health worsened, but Si Ang tried to stop him from competing. After hypnotizing Si Ang and returning to the long jump, Richie discovered he could still participate and stunned the judges with his leap.

• Richie reconsidered Operation Strix and became determined to help Twilight finish it quickly before his health declined further.
• Richie signed up for the long jump, and Twilight, Yor, and Anya encouraged him to take part.
• Si Ang pulled Richie away from the competition and vowed to keep him from risking his life.
• Richie hypnotized Si Ang, left him sleeping safely in a corner, and hurried back to the event.
• Richie learned the long jump was still open, then leaped past the judges' expectations and left them astonished.

Richie won first place in the long jump, then pushed through a dangerous five-thousand-meter race to win that event as well. He collapsed into Twilight’s arms after crossing the finish line, telling his father he had done it.

• Richie jumped 2.99 meters, and the judges awarded him first place in the long jump.
• Richie returned to Twilight and Yor, who checked on him, while Anya taunted Second Son for not entering a competition.
• Twilight warned Richie to stop if he felt unwell before the five-thousand-meter race began.
• Richie exhausted himself early in the race, then suddenly accelerated and overtook the other runners.
• Despite blurred vision and a dwindling breath, Richie crossed the finish line first and staggered into Twilight’s arms.

Richie collapsed after winning both the standing long jump and five-thousand-meter races, so Twilight took him to the hospital. After the victories stunned Eden Academy, Si Ang joined Yor and Anya to visit Richie, and they arrived just as Twilight carried him out of the hospital.

• Twilight caught Richie when he collapsed, and Yor took Anya to request leave while Twilight brought him to the hospital for a checkup.
• Eden Academy announced Richie as the champion of both the standing long jump and the five-thousand-meter race, leaving Si Ang heartbroken and the crowd astonished.
• Anya, Damian, and Henry reacted to Richie's two titles as students, teachers, and parents began praising him across the school.
• Si Ang found Yor and Anya after learning Richie had fainted, and Yor agreed to take him to the hospital with them.
• Yor, Anya, and Si Ang reached the hospital as Twilight came out carrying the unconscious Richie.

Richie woke after sleeping for two days, reassuring the worried Forger family. Weak from the long sleep, he called Si Ang at Eden Academy, who had been anxiously waiting for news.

• Si Ang examined Richie and worried that his worsening internal condition was linked to his drive to earn Stellas, so he resolved to learn why Richie kept using his ability.
• Twilight took Si Ang back to school while Yor brought Richie home, and the family spent the weekend keeping watch as Anya repeatedly told Si Ang that Richie had not woken up.
• On Sunday evening, Richie woke to find Twilight, Yor, Anya, and Sixth Sister gathered around him, and Yor decided to celebrate with dinner.
• Anya told Richie that Si Ang had asked to hear from him when he woke, and she helped the weak Richie reach the telephone.
• Richie called the school, and Si Ang answered by asking, "Hello, has Richie woken up?"

After recovering from his injury, Richie spoke with Si Ang, who had spent two days waiting for his call. At school, Si Ang forgave Richie for knocking him out but remained curious about why Richie wanted a star; later, he led Richie through a gap in the fence and into the woods.

• Si Ang called Richie, and Richie felt relieved that he had woken up; after the call, Anya comforted Richie and played tic-tac-toe with him.
• Si Ang rested in the dormitory, relieved that Richie was safe after waiting two days beside the phone.
• On Monday, Richie slipped away from Anya and Becky, but Si Ang caught him on the way to class and reassured him that he did not blame him for being knocked out.
• Si Ang asked Richie why he wanted a star, but Richie could not explain that it was connected to Twilight's mission.
• After their afternoon class, Si Ang led Richie out through a gap in Eden Academy's fence and into the woods, leaving Richie worried about missing class and what Si Ang intended to do.

Si Ang took Richie out of school to see a maple valley, but they lost their way on the hill as a violent storm arrived. The chapter left the boys soaked and frightened, with Si Ang shielding Richie as they struggled through the darkness.

• Si Ang persuaded Richie to skip school and climb a nearby hill to see the autumn maple leaves.
• After climbing far longer than expected, Si Ang realized he and Richie had taken the wrong trail and tried to lead them back.
• Thunder and dark clouds warned the boys that a storm was approaching, and Si Ang began crying from guilt over bringing Richie there.
• Richie comforted Si Ang and suggested finding shelter in a cave they had passed beside a dried-up waterfall.
• Rain poured down before they reached shelter, and Si Ang held Richie close and shielded him as they pressed through the storm.

Richie and Si Ang took shelter in a dark cave during a storm, where Richie discovered that Si Ang had a deep bleeding gash. An old woman appeared with a flashlight and approached the wary children.

• Richie and Si Ang entered a cave to escape the rain and began removing their wet clothes.
• Richie noticed the smell of blood and found a long, deep gash on Si Ang's arm.
• Richie tried to figure out how to treat Si Ang's wound when a flashlight suddenly lit the cave.
• An old woman asked who they were and whether anyone was hurt, then walked over to them.

Richie and Si Ang took shelter from a storm in a cave, where an old woman treated Si Ang’s wound. After Richie explained that they had skipped school and gotten lost, the woman revealed that the mountain was a maze park.

• An old woman arrived in the cave and Richie helped her carry firewood while Si Ang watched cautiously.
• The old woman invited the boys to warm themselves and treated Si Ang’s bleeding arm with medicine and a bandage.
• Richie asked why the old woman was in the cave, and she said she owned the mountain and had come there to nap.
• Richie admitted that he and Si Ang had skipped school to visit a maple-leaf valley but had gotten lost in the storm.
• The old woman told Richie that the mountain was a maze park.

Richie and Si Ang learned that the mountain was a maze and had to shelter in Granny’s cave during a fierce storm. Granny fed them wild fruit and cured ham, then prepared a place for them to sleep, while Si Ang continued worrying about Richie’s health.

• Granny explained that the boys had wandered from a neighboring mountain onto the maze mountain as the storm grew worse.
• When Richie’s stomach growled, Granny brought him and Si Ang fresh wild fruits from deeper inside the cave.
• Richie and Si Ang ate the sweet-tart fruits, and Granny let them have the rest after seeing they were hungry.
• Granny returned with cured ham, sliced it thinly, and shared it with the boys around the fire.
• As their clothes dried and Richie grew sleepy, Granny prepared a place for the children to rest, and Si Ang worried about Richie’s health.

Si Ang and Richie waited out the storm in Grandmother’s cave, where Si Ang worried about Richie’s health and fear of losing him. After Richie entertained them with Dream of the Red Chamber and sang his tune, Si Ang asked to write lyrics for it someday.

• Grandmother prepared cloth for Richie and Si Ang to sleep on, and both boys rested in the cave through the storm.
• Si Ang woke the next morning and worried that Richie might never wake or might leave him someday, resolving to find a cure for him.
• Si Ang struggled to wake Richie, who finally opened his eyes when Si Ang warned that the world was going to explode.
• After they ate, Richie told Si Ang and Grandmother the beginning of Dream of the Red Chamber, then improvised an explanation of its author and origins.
• Si Ang changed the subject by asking Richie to sing the tune that had once made him pass out, and Richie sang it in the echoing cave.
• Si Ang asked Richie to let him write lyrics for the tune someday, and Richie eagerly agreed.

After a storm stranded Richie and Si Ang on the mountain, Grandmother convinced them to wait before descending and led them to her hidden house. Si Ang grew more curious about Richie's unusual knowledge, while Richie decided he needed to be more careful about what he revealed.

• Grandmother urged Richie and Si Ang to stay on the mountain for two more days because the storm had left the paths dangerous.
• Richie tried to leave the cave, but Si Ang pulled him back just before falling rocks could hit him.
• Richie apologized to Grandmother and explained that he was eager to find his parents, while Si Ang worried that his own family might replace him.
• Grandmother took the boys to her hidden bamboo house, where Richie recited a poem as they looked out over the villages and cities below.
• Si Ang asked Richie where he had learned the poem and other languages, and Richie decided to be more guarded about his knowledge.

Richie and Si Ang shared a lavish dinner with Grandmother, who confessed that she was lonely and hoped they would visit her often. They promised to return, then Si Ang immediately passed out after trying her liquor.

• Grandmother prepared a feast of grilled meat and soup for Richie and Si Ang.
• Richie teased Si Ang about being his lackey, and Si Ang privately wished they could stay together on the mountain.
• Grandmother explained that she lived alone and hoped someone would visit her, and Richie promised that he and Si Ang would come often.
• Grandmother celebrated their promise with a drink and served the children soup and roasted rabbit.
• Richie and Si Ang each tried a little liquor, and Si Ang passed out after gulping his.

Richie and Grandmother carried the drunken Si Ang to bed, and Richie teased him the next morning by claiming he had confessed his love and tried to kiss him. Si Ang chased Richie through the courtyard before they shared breakfast with Grandmother, who watched them and remembered her own childhood sweetheart.

• Richie and Grandmother carried the sleeping Si Ang into the bamboo house, then finished their meal while Richie felt sorry Si Ang had missed the food.
• Si Ang woke to find Richie beside him in bed, and Richie asked whether he felt unwell.
• Richie falsely told Si Ang that he had gotten drunk, pinned Richie down, and tried to kiss him, then revealed that he had made it all up.
• Si Ang promised to take responsibility for Richie before Richie confessed the prank and ran outside; Si Ang chased him around the courtyard.
• Grandmother watched Richie and Si Ang play and remembered her younger self and the childhood sweetheart who had left her.
• Si Ang caught Richie and scolded him, then the two boys ate breakfast with Grandmother in the courtyard.

Si Ang and Richie visited Maple-Leaf Valley with Grandmother, then returned to Eden Academy and reassured their worried teacher. Henry contacted their families, and Twilight, Yor, and Anya arrived at the school to see Richie.

• Grandmother took Si Ang and Richie to Maple-Leaf Valley, where Richie admired the red maples and recited Du Mu's poem.
• Grandmother led the children down the mountain and told them to follow her markers if they wanted to visit her again.
• Si Ang and Richie returned to Eden Academy through the Dog Hole and went to Henry's office.
• Henry was relieved to see the children back and called their families; the Evan Family responded without much concern about Si Ang.
• Twilight, Yor, and Anya hurried to Eden Academy and arrived outside Henry's office after he called the Forger household.

Twilight reunited with Richie after he went missing, and the Forger family returned home together. Richie then realized Sixth Sister was gone and searched the house for her.

• Twilight found Richie safe, hugged him, and scolded him for running off before apologizing for his own anger.
• Richie told Henry and Twilight about his days with Si Ang, including Si Ang's injury, and Henry sent Si Ang to the infirmary.
• Twilight took Richie home with Yor and Anya, while Si Ang returned to his dormitory thinking about his time with Richie.
• The Forgers planned a feast to celebrate Richie's return, and Richie noticed that Sixth Sister was missing.
• Richie searched his bedroom and the kitchen, but Sixth Sister was nowhere in the house.

Richie discovered that Sixth Sister had vanished and that his family no longer remembered the cat, so he kept his fear and confusion to himself. At Eden Academy, he received three Stellas for his sports-meet victories and national painting competition win, further astonishing his classmates.

• Richie asked Twilight, Yor, and Anya about Sixth Sister, but none of them remembered the cat.
• Richie told Twilight that Sixth Sister had only appeared in a dream and hid his distress from his family.
• At Monday's assembly, Richie received two Stellas for winning the standing long jump and five-thousand-meter race at the Autumn Sports Meet.
• The vice principal announced that Richie had won the national painting competition and awarded him another Stella.
• Si Ang congratulated Richie with a thumbs-up, while Henry and the students marveled at Richie's achievements.