The last note fell on the surface of the cave's water, sending out a ring of tiny ripples before it slowly fell still.
She turned her head, her fin-like ears twitching lightly, her teal hair still damp with the cave's moisture.
"Well? Well?" She leaned closer, her eyes sparkling like a child waiting to be praised.
"I was worried my voice would crack on that high note-"
She stopped mid-sentence.
Bai You was still in the same position as before, her hands on her knees and her mouth slightly open, staring at her without blinking.
Light reflected off the water and flickered across her face, but she seemed completely unaware of it.
Varesa tilted her head and waved a hand in front of her eyes. "Bai You?"
No response.
"Hey-" She drew the word out and poked Bai You's cheek. "Come back to your senses. I'm still here."
Bai You blinked twice in a hurry and drew a long breath, as if she had just been pulled from the water.
The tips of her ears turned visibly red. Her gaze darted away a couple of times before settling on Varesa's collar.
"What, did listening make you silly?"
Bai You couldn't speak.
She had heard Varesa sing while playing through the story, but that awe had come from a distance, like watching a grand fireworks display through glass. Just now had been different.
Varesa had stood right in front of her, her voice striking her ears directly, carrying the cave's echoes and the moisture from the water. Every vocal turn had brushed clearly against her eardrums.
It had sounded even better than she had imagined. So beautiful that she had frozen all over, seemingly forgetting even to breathe.
"Did you really go silly?" Varesa's voice carried a smile as she cupped Bai You's face and turned her head to face her. "Look at me."
Forced to look up, Bai You found herself staring into a pair of eyes filled with light.
Varesa was so close that Bai You could see the tiny droplets clinging to her eyelashes and smell the faint, delicate fragrance on her.
"Did it sound good?" Varesa asked softly, her thumb unconsciously rubbing Bai You's cheek.
Bai You's heart pounded as if it were about to leap out of her throat. She opened her mouth, but in the end, all that came out was a breathy whisper. "It sounded good..."
"How good?"
Varesa smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. Suddenly, she leaned forward and rested her forehead against Bai You's, their noses almost touching.
"Then you'd better remember," she said in a low voice. "I sang that just for you."
Bai You's face burned completely red. She tried to pull away, but Varesa's hand gently cradled the back of her head, leaving her unable to move.
Their breaths mingled, and the sound of water in the cave suddenly became especially clear.
"Varesa..." she called softly.
"Hmm?"
"You're too close."
"No." Varesa refused without hesitation and leaned in a little closer instead.
"You-"
"Me what?" Varesa tilted her head, looking innocent. "You were the one who spaced out and didn't move away. You can't blame me."
Bai You took a deep breath and decided not to argue with her about it. She said softly,
"I really like this surprise too..."
After a while, Bai You stood up and brushed the dust off her skirt, trying to use the movement to hide the heat that still lingered in her face. "It's almost dark now. What next?"
"Next, huh-" Varesa stood up too and brushed nonexistent dust off herself.
Then she suddenly turned around and looked seriously at Bai You. "Come back to the Korolevsky Theater with me."
Bai You was startled. "The theater?"
"Mm." Varesa nodded.
"After all, this is just a cave where I practice singing. There are lots of things it doesn't have, so it's not comfortable to live in. Look,"
She pointed at the uneven stone walls around them and the echo stones scattered on the ground. "I wanted to tidy this place up, but I haven't finished yet. The little sleeping alcove is still very basic too. It'll take a few more days of renovations before it's comfortable to live in."
She naturally took Bai You's small hand. Her fingertips were cool, but her grip was tight.
"So come back to the theater with me for now. There are warm rooms, hot water, and lots of tasty food."
She swung their joined hands, her tone a little coaxing. "Please? Pretty please?"
Bai You looked at her. The cave's light fell on Varesa's face, casting her features in a soft glow. Her eyes were full of anticipation.
"Okay. Did you forget I said I'd always stay with you?" Bai You said softly.
Varesa's eyes lit up at once.
"Great!" She threw her arms around Bai You and rubbed her face against the crook of her neck.
"I just wanted to hear your answer. I knew you'd say yes! Come on, let's go, let's go now. There should be one more train-"
She pulled Bai You toward the cave's exit, her steps so light she seemed ready to fly.
The cave's other exit lay beyond a narrow crack, and they had to turn sideways to squeeze through.
Varesa went out first, then turned back and reached out to pull Bai You through.
Snezhnaya's cold air rushed into their faces.
The snow had stopped, but the wind was still blowing, whipping fine snow against their faces like a gentle slap with shards of ice.
Bai You instinctively hunched her shoulders, and her breath immediately turned into a cloud of white mist.
The horizon glowed faint orange; it was dusk. The setting sun dyed the snowfield a warm gold, and the conifers in the distance were laden with thick snow, like rows of sugar-frosted pastries.
"Are you cold?" Varesa turned to look at her, her fin-like ears flattened slightly back by the wind.
"...I'm okay."
"Liar. Even the tips of your ears are red." As she spoke, Varesa produced a scarf from somewhere. It was teal, thickly knitted, and still carried some of her warmth.
She bent down and wound the scarf around Bai You's neck once, then twice, carefully tucking the ends into her collar.
Her fingers brushed Bai You's chin by accident, cool to the touch.
Bai You held her breath and looked down at her. A little snow clung to Varesa's eyelashes as she focused on adjusting the scarf, her lips pursed slightly, looking as serious as if she were doing something important.
Bai You let her fuss, the corners of her mouth curving upward without her noticing.
"There." Varesa patted Bai You's chest in satisfaction, then slipped her own hand into Bai You's pocket and laced their fingers together. "Now you won't be cold."
"...Your hand is cold too," Bai You said.
"That's why I need you to warm it." Varesa swung their joined hands without a hint of embarrassment.
"Let's go. The train station is over there."