“Well then, you two. Enjoy your date,” Luna said with a mischievous smile, bowing her head gracefully before turning on her heel to leave the garden.

  “B-b-bery date?” Yuzu gasped, her voice slightly higher than usual. She grabbed her own cheeks, her furred ears twitching wildly as a deep red hue spread across her face. Her tail fluffed up like an alarmed animal, swishing erratically behind her.

  I blinked at Luna, then at Yuzu, who now looked like a flustered mess. “Wait—hold on, that’s not—”

  Luna giggled, waving a hand over her shoulder as she walked away. “Oh, don’t mind me. Just a maid making observations~” Her voice carried a playful lilt, her emerald-green hair swaying with every step as she disappeared into the dimly lit hallway leading back to the mansion.

  Yuzu puffed out her cheeks, still frozen in place as she hugged her tail in embarrassment. “M-Mashiro! Say something! Bery not know how to react!” She stomped one foot lightly, looking up at me with pleading eyes, her flustered state only making her look more adorable.

  I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck. “...It’s just Luna messing with you. Don’t take it so seriously.”

  But Yuzu wasn’t convinced. She pouted harder, hiding her face behind her hands. “Bery sneaky maid...” she muttered, her voice muffled, but her tail continued its frantic movements, betraying just how flustered she really was.

  I grabbed Yuzu’s hand gently, her small fingers twitching slightly at the sudden contact. Her ears perked up, and I could feel the warmth radiating from her palm as I led her toward the nearest bench. She followed hesitantly, her tail still fluffed up from earlier embarrassment, but she didn’t pull away.

  The garden was bathed in soft, golden hues from the countless fireflies drifting through the air, their delicate lights flickering like tiny stars. The cool night breeze carried the faint scent of blooming flowers, mixing with the dampness of the grass beneath our feet. The sky stretched endlessly above us, a deep shade of navy dotted with constellations that seemed to shimmer just for us.

  As we reached the bench, I let go of Yuzu’s hand and sat down, stretching my arms slightly. Yuzu hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering between me and the empty space beside me. Then, with a small huff, she plopped down, tucking her legs up slightly as she curled her tail around herself like a fluffy blanket.

  “Bery sneaky maid ruin mood,” she grumbled, still pouting.

  I chuckled, shaking my head. “You’re still stuck on that?”

  Yuzu turned her face away, cheeks still tinted pink. “Bery yes.”

  I looked up, and my breath hitched at the sight above. The sky stretched infinitely, a sea of deep indigo adorned with countless stars, twinkling like fragments of distant dreams. But what truly captivated me were the two enormous moons hanging above the horizon.

  One of them gleamed with a luminous blue glow, its surface rippling with streaks of silver, as if frozen waves had been etched into its surface. The other was a rich, verdant green, its hue softer but no less mesmerizing. The two celestial bodies bathed the garden in an ethereal glow, blending their colors into a surreal, dreamlike harmony.

  The fireflies floating in the air seemed to reflect the celestial light, their golden flickers dancing in rhythm with the gentle night breeze. The garden itself shimmered under the twin moons, the leaves and petals glistening as though touched by stardust. The sight was something out of a fairy tale, too breathtaking to be real.

  Beside me, Yuzu gazed up as well, her ears twitching slightly as her tail curled tighter around her lap. Her eyes widened, reflecting the moons' glow.

  "Waah… bery pretty," she whispered in awe, her voice softer than usual.

  I stiffened slightly as I felt Yuzu’s soft, warm head rest against my shoulder. Her fluffy black ears twitched lightly, brushing against my cheek as she let out a small, content sigh. The cool night breeze rustled through the glowing garden, but her warmth was comforting against my side.

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  “Y-Yuzu?” I murmured, glancing at her.

  She didn’t respond immediately. Her eyes remained fixed on the twin moons above, half-lidded with a serene, almost sleepy expression. Her tail wrapped around herself as she shifted slightly, making herself more comfortable.

  “Mm… Mashiro warm,” she mumbled, her voice quiet and drowsy.

  I blinked, feeling my face heat up slightly. “…I, uh, thanks?”

  Yuzu let out a small hum in response, her ears twitching slightly before she closed her eyes completely. The peaceful atmosphere, the glow of the fireflies, and the soft sound of rustling leaves made everything feel strangely intimate.

  I hesitated for a moment before sighing in defeat, letting my own gaze drift back up toward the moons. If she wanted to rest like this, I supposed I could let her, just for a little while.

  “I want to be like this for a while,” she repeated, her words carrying an unusual clarity, as if she was speaking with the ease of someone completely at home with the language.

  I felt my breath hitch for a moment. Yuzu’s voice, normally playful and fragmented with her unique way of speaking, was now smooth, flowing effortlessly as if she had always spoken this way.

  Surprised, I turned my head towards her. “Yuzu?”

  She met my gaze, her jet-black eyes reflecting the glow of the fireflies, shimmering with an almost gentle warmth. “Human language is so hard,” she admitted, tilting her head slightly, her soft ears twitching. Then, her lips curled into a small, content smile. “I like talking to Mashiro in this language more.”

  It took me a second to process what she meant. Yuzu wasn’t speaking in human language anymore, she was speaking in her native fox-kin tongue, and somehow, I understood her perfectly. The usual choppy, playful way she spoke was gone, replaced by something fluid and natural. It was almost strange hearing her sound so… normal.

  I blinked. “Wait, you—”

  She giggled softly, pressing her forehead lightly against my shoulder. “Mashiro always hears me in human language, so I sound silly,” she murmured, her voice carrying a rhythmic, soothing quality. “But when I speak like this… I feel closer to you.”

  A warmth spread in my chest, though I wasn’t sure if it was from the way she spoke or the way she looked at me, her gaze filled with a quiet affection. The fireflies floated gently around us, their golden glow blending with the silver light of the twin moons, creating an almost dreamlike scene.

  I swallowed, suddenly feeling flustered. “I… I see.”

  Yuzu let out a small hum of satisfaction, nuzzling a little closer, her tail flicking lazily. “Mashiro is comfy,” she said simply.

  I sighed, shaking my head with a small chuckle. “You’re ridiculous.”

  “I like being ridiculous.” Yuzu smiled, her expression filled with a playful kind of warmth. With a soft sigh, she shifted, resting her head gently on my lap, her silky black ears twitching slightly. Her tail curled comfortably around herself, the tip flicking lazily as she made herself comfortable.

  The night air was cool, carrying the faint scent of blooming flowers from the garden. Fireflies floated around us, their golden glow reflecting in Yuzu’s jet-black eyes as she gazed up at me. From this angle, the soft light of the two moons bathed her face in an almost ethereal glow, highlighting the delicate curves of her features.

  “When I saw you being taken by that evil witch, I immediately went to get you,” she admitted, her voice softer now, lacking her usual exaggerated tone. Her fingers lightly grasped at the hem of my sleeve as if reassuring herself that I was really here.

  I chuckled softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from Yuzu’s face. “So you just charged in without thinking?”

  Yuzu grinned up at me, her tail flicking lazily against the bench. “Of course. That bery Mashiro thing to do too, no?”

  I sighed, but I couldn’t help smiling. “I think you mean ‘very,’ not ‘bery.’”

  “Bery is better,” she huffed, pouting slightly before settling her head more comfortably on my lap. Her ears twitched as the cool night breeze brushed against them.

  I felt my heart tighten slightly at the memory. Viola had appeared so suddenly, dragging me into her mansion before I even had the chance to resist. And yet… Yuzu had come for me without hesitation.

  I hesitated before speaking. “You were really worried about me, huh?”

  “Bery much.” Yuzu nodded, her tail curling slightly around my waist. “I don’t like it when Mashiro is far away.”

  Her words were simple, but they carried a weight that made my chest feel warm. I ran my fingers through her silky black hair absentmindedly, feeling the way she relaxed under my touch. The fireflies flickered in the air like tiny stars, casting a soft golden glow over her face.

  “…Thanks, Yuzu.”

  She closed her eyes, a peaceful smile forming on her lips. “Always.”