The little girl held a large dandelion in her hands. She looked at Rita in confusion at first, then seemed to understand something and sweetly called out to her in a soft, adorable voice.
The little girl before her was Rita's shikigami, Firefly Grass. The name Firefly Grass came from the saying, "Rotten grass turns into fireflies." "In the last month of summer... rotten grass turns into fireflies." Fireflies laid their eggs among grass roots by the water, where they mostly lay dormant underground. The following year, the grass pupae transformed into adults—these were fireflies. Ancient people mistakenly believed fireflies themselves transformed from rotten grass, hence the saying "rotten grass turns into fireflies."
"Little Firefly Grass, secretly protect the girl standing beside the bicycle nearby. Don't let anything dangerous happen to her, and don't let her get too far away."
Looking at little Firefly Grass before her, Rita could not help reaching out... and gently patting her head. Firefly Grass clearly enjoyed Rita's touch, even narrowing her eyes slightly.
"Firefly Grass understands."
She answered Rita softly, the large dandelion in her hands swaying from time to time. Unlike those giant dandelions that turned into fuzzy balls after blooming and scattered in the wind, this one looked more like a flower bud—and it hurt terribly when it hit someone. "Mm, go on!"
With that, Rita withdrew her hand.
"Yes."
As Firefly Grass turned away, Rita continued toward her family's villa ahead.
"A delivery box?"
When Rita reached the front gate and was about to push it open, she suddenly noticed a delivery box sitting outside. She had no idea who had left it there. After looking around and finding no one else nearby, she hesitated for a moment... then picked it up. Looking at the name on it, she saw