Herta Dolls

On Qixi Festival, by the time the two were ready to go home, it was already late at night.

The sky lanterns still hung high in the sky, and the bright moonlight gently shone on the earth, illuminating the path for the two. The festive atmosphere still lingered in the corners of the market, and a few sky lanterns that had just been released could still be seen scattered in the distance.

Sera and Miss Herta certainly couldn't have walked home, but their return journey would inevitably lead them back to the entrance.

Goodnight, Herta.

Sera pushed open the door, tilting her head with a smile before closing it.

"Um."

Miss Herta replied to Sera with gentle eyes and a soft voice.

Goodnight, Sera.

After she finished speaking, Sera's door was slammed shut.

The moment the door closed, Sera didn't leave. She leaned gently against the door, standing there without making a sound. Miss Herta's footsteps slowly ascended the stairs, the sound gradually fading until it disappeared completely.

Sera certainly wasn't going to sleep. Back in her room, she furtively sent a secret signal to No. 0. Soon after—ta-ta, ta-ta-ta.

A rhythmic knocking sounded, and without hesitation, Sera opened her door.

"Did you bring the items, No. 0?"

Sera asked in a low voice, glancing towards the second floor as if afraid of making any noise.

"It brought..."

No. 0, also appearing quite knowledgeable, leaned close to Sera's ear and spoke in the lowest possible voice possible from No. 0's machine, while subtly shaking something in his hand.

"Needles, thread, and everything else you need are all prepared in this box."

But what would Sera need these for?

No. 0's face clearly showed confusion. In the afternoon, Sera sent No. 0 a secret message, asking No. 0 to prepare some things for him without letting Ms. Herta find out, and to deliver them quietly that night.

"Of course—it's a farewell surprise for Herta!"

Sera smiled, her eyes narrowed, looking quite pleased. She reached out and took the box, her fingertips gently tracing the warmth of No. 0's palm.

Upon hearing Sera's words, No. 0 didn't focus on the gift. Instead, he concentrated all his attention on the issue that concerned him most. No. 0 leaned forward No. 0, raised his head, and looked at Sera expectantly.

"Why is Sera leaving? Can't she stay and keep No. 0 and Ms. Herta...?"

Towards the end, she couldn't suppress her grievances, and her voice trembled with a hint of tears.

Sera fell silent for a moment. Yes, he had only told Herta, but he had forgotten to tell No. 0, the creation he and Herta had created together. How was he supposed to explain this now? Sera felt a headache coming on.

No. 0's eyes were fixed intently on him, filled with fear and unease about what Sera had just said.

If we linger here, Miss Herta might notice us, so--

Sera pulled No. 0 into his room, and he quietly closed the door behind him.

No. 0 didn't care at all, and just stubbornly looked at Sera, waiting for him to give him an answer.

Seeing No. 0 looking at her like that, Sera's heart softened, and she gently comforted No. 0.

"Alright, I'm back where I belong, waiting for you to find me."

"...?"

No. 0 tilted his head, puzzled.

Sera then began to explain in a low voice.

"I have returned to the present from the future, and the past no longer needs me. I must return to the future to reunite with you who are waiting for me."

"..."

No. 0 was silent for a moment, then reached out and grabbed Sera's sleeve. No. 0 gently tugged down the wide sleeve, and Sera obediently bent down.

"We will definitely find Sera."

No. 0's voice sounded muffled, but there was an unwavering determination in his tone.

"Okay, I believe in Herta and No. 0 too."

With a slightly light smile, Sera reached out and ruffled No. 0's hair.

"Now I need to prepare a gift. Do you want to watch from here?"

"May I?"

No. 0 blinked.

"Of course."

Sera gently patted No. 0's head, then picked up something placed aside and began cutting the fabric.

Since it was her first time doing needlework, Sera's movements were a bit clumsy. However, to cope with this situation, Sera specially asked No. 0 to prepare some extra materials for her to practice with.

Since she didn't know how to make it, Sera searched for relevant tutorial videos on the spot. Soon, she started practicing the most basic steps by following the videos.

After practicing for only a few moves, Sera felt her movements becoming increasingly fluid. No. 0, watching Sera's seemingly divinely inspired learning speed, wasn't surprised in the slightest. He simply thought that Sera truly deserved to be called Sera, just like Ms. Herta, one of the greatest people in No. 0's heart!

After Sera felt she had mastered the skills, she turned her attention to the materials she was preparing. The materials for practice were prepared separately and were different from these.

Every stitch caught Sera's eye. At this moment, he was completely absorbed in preparing a gift for Miss Herta —a gift he had made himself. Of course, Sera would do the same, and more than that. While being completely absorbed, he also wanted to be full of heartfelt sentiment.

Her long, smooth fingers were not as nimble as they appeared; the fabric was sewn into shape by Sera's hands.

Without the slightest pause, because Miss Herta's image was already deeply etched into Sera's mind.

The fabric was still soft and limp because it hadn't been padded yet, but Miss Herta's image had already subtly covered the original scattered pieces of fabric.

By the way, the Miss Herta -shaped doll that Sera made is in her witch form!

So the doll is dressed in a witch-style outfit and wears a large witch's hat. The witch's hat sits nicely on the doll's head, but it's not fixed in place; on the contrary, the witch's hat can be removed.

With the cotton stuffing added, the witch's Herta doll was completely finished.

Looking at the remaining half of the materials that hadn't been used, Sera had another idea in mind.

She reached for the fabric and began sewing again, and soon— Sera finished it.

That is...

No. 0 had already recognized who Sera had made it for, but No. 0 was still somewhat incredulous and asked cautiously.

"Sera, this is..."

"Of course it's for No. 0!"

Sera smiled and patted No. 0's head, showing him No. 0 doll and shaking it.

"How is it? Does it look good?"

As she spoke, Sera removed the doll's beret, then put it back.

"Sera's imitation is certainly accurate!"

No. 0 nodded without hesitation.