Miss Herta Really Likes It

"That's good. But now, No. 0, please close your eyes and wait a moment."

As soon as Sera finished speaking, No. 0 closed his eyes.

Although her eyes were closed, No. 0's auditory system was still functioning. The sound of Sera opening a drawer, and pulling out... a piece of paper?

It must be paper, because No. 0 had already heard the 'scratching' sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper. Although No. 0 was very Sera about what Sera was doing, No. 0 still did nothing else.

"Alright, open your eyes."

Sera's voice came from in front of him. As soon as No. 0 opened his eyes, he saw Sera's smiling face.

I left a surprise on it!

However, the surprise can only be found after No. 0 returns.

"No. 0 understands."

No. 0 nodded solemnly and accepted the doll that Sera handed him with both hands.

"No. 0 will leave now."

After Sera nodded slightly, No. 0 carefully left Sera's room and gently closed the door.

Hehe~

Looking at No. 0's cautious demeanor, Sera chuckled softly, shook her head, and then turned her gaze to the Witch Herta doll.

The morning sun shone brightly, and the chirping of magpies echoed outside the window. Sera opened her eyes. Unlike most people who have just woken up, her mind wasn't foggy; on the contrary, she was incredibly clear-headed.

The crucial reminder was reflected before Sera's eyes; the countdown, with less than a day left, was gradually decreasing.

"Knock knock."

A knock came at the door.

Sera reached out towards the light in the air, and the shape of her clothes began to change from her hand, with an elegant black long dress covering her original nightgown.

The six jet-black wings unfolded as a phantom image, because Sera had temporarily folded them away for convenience.

Sera sat up in bed and opened the door. As expected, Miss Herta appeared before Sera.

Did you sleep well?

Miss Herta's face was beaming with a smile, but a hint of sadness lingered deep in her eyes. It was a sadness so subtle it was almost imperceptible, but Sera was someone who was very sensitive to changes in those around her.

So Sera noticed that sadness, and so Sera gently took Miss Herta's hand.

"Cheer up today!"

The soft voice stirred Miss Herta's heartstrings, and her sadness was quickly replaced by a smile. Miss Herta responded softly.

"Um."

"Now, Miss Herta, please close your eyes."

Sera spoke in a solemn tone, and Herta obediently closed his eyes.

Sera took out a prepared gift from the Imaginary Space —a witch's Herta doll.

"Now, please extend your hand--"

Miss Herta stretched out her hands, and she felt something being placed into her hands by Sera.

"You can open your eyes now, Herta ~"

Herta opened his eyes, his first glance not at the gift but at Sera, before slowly lowering his eyes to look at the gift in his arms.

A doll resembling herself, or perhaps herself dressed in witch mode.

"How is it? Do you like it...?"

Sera felt a little uneasy. He knew that Miss Herta should like the gift he had made, but he still felt a little insecure.

"I certainly love the gift Sera made."

Miss Herta looked down at the doll with joy in her eyes; she knew very well that it must have been sewn by Sera herself. Yesterday, during the Qixi Festival, Sera's thoughtful gaze as she looked at the Weaver Girl doll was still vividly imprinted in Herta's mind.

"The amusement park arrangements are all set. Shall we go now?"

Miss Herta placed the gift solemnly in the most conspicuous spot in the living room, then turned to Sera and asked her about it.

"No, let's go this afternoon."

Sera shook her head, then tilted it, her eyes filled with longing.

Let's go to the garden for a while.

Miss Herta paused for a moment, then a smile appeared at the corner of her eye; she naturally understood what Sera meant.

Hand in hand, but Miss Herta was clearly leading the way. After all, Sera's superb talent for getting lost was still fresh in her mind, and thinking of that scene, Miss Herta's smile deepened.

The Herta Puppet were already waiting in the courtyard, with two deck chairs placed beside them.

Guided by Miss Herta, Sera lay down on a recliner.

"Speaking of which, this is the same recliner you were lying on before."

Miss Herta sat on a chair to the side and pointed to the chair where Sera was lying.

Sera didn't reply immediately; instead, her eyes shone with longing before she finally answered after a while.

"I knew it had a familiar feeling."

Sera spoke softly, glancing teasingly at Miss Herta beside her.

"I thought you, Herta, had already thrown this chair away."

"How could that be? I'm not the kind of person who wastes things."

The two quickly quieted down and simply gazed at each other and the purple lilies in the garden.

Sera recalled the purple lisianthus he had mistaken; even this genius acknowledged by Miss Herta —he made small mistakes occasionally, didn't he?

Miss Herta had been watching Sera closely and naturally noticed the change in Sera's expression. Following her gaze... she saw the purple lily.

Miss Herta easily guessed what Sera was thinking, and a smile appeared on her lips.

From somewhere, they produced the 'Never-Fading Purple Lisianthus' that Sera had made.

But Miss Herta's movements were very subtle, Sera didn't seem to notice.

Miss Herta gently touched Sera's face with her left hand; it was soft and squishy.

"What's wrong?"

Sera's expression clearly showed confusion as she turned her head to look at the smiling Miss Herta beside her.

"Look what this is."

Miss Herta conjured a flower from her empty right hand.

Looking at the Curio he had personally crafted in Miss Herta's hand, Sera's expression became somewhat embarrassed. After all, he hadn't been able to distinguish between a purple lily and a purple lisianthus at first.

The difference between the two is now clearly etched into Sera's Remembrance.

"I can now tell the difference between purple lilies and purple lisianthus flowers..."

Sera's voice became more wistful, and Miss Herta's gaze softened even more.

"Yeah, some idiot not only changed himself, but he changed me too."

Their eyes met, and they both burst out laughing.

Looking back, less than a week had passed. Miss Herta no longer seemed lonely; she felt at peace, especially when she was with Sera.

Even lying quietly like this, Miss Herta could feel a faint sense of happiness in her heart. Miss Herta truly loved these days... truly loved them...