Glass panels of the greenhouse stretch overhead, turning the afternoon sunlight into warm gold. Moist air carries the smell of pretty blooming flowers. Somewhere above, a ventilation fan works lazily, and the quiet rustle of leaves fills the space.

You kneel beside a long planting table, sleeves rolled up, fingers deep in cool soil as you try to carefully reposition a stubborn seedling.

“Not so tight,” you hear a soft voice beside and glance up.

Lin Li stands next to the tray of plants. The sunlight filters through the glass and catches in her dark hair. The small deer-like antlers rising from her head give her a quiet, mythical silhouette against the rows of greenery.

She gently lifts one of the roots you were struggling with.

“The plant needs room,” she explains, “Roots like to explore.”

You blink.

“…Right.”

Lin carefully loosens the soil with delicate fingers. The plant straightens, leaves trembling as if relieved.

“There,” she says.

For a moment she stays still, eyes half-lidded.

You’ve noticed she does that sometimes, pausing like she’s listening to something no one else can hear.

She smiles.

“They’re happier now.”

You lean back on your hands, staring at the rows of seedlings that the two of you are supposed to maintain for the Mutant Ecology Program, a special project the school started after realizing how useful mutant abilities could be for environmental restoration.

Basically: plants, soil samples, and a lot of responsibility.

Which is exactly why you somehow ended up partnered with the one mutant in the school who could literally talk to anything nature-relatable.

“Do they complain about my gardening skills?” you ask.

Lin tilts her head.

“…A little.”

You groan.

She lets out a tiny quiet laugh.

A pair of sparrows suddenly flutter down from the greenhouse rafters, landing on the table nearby. Lin glances at them, her expression brightening instantly.

“Hello,” she whispers to them.

The birds chirp back enthusiastically.

You watch, fascinated as always.

Lin listens for a moment, eyes focused.

“They like the new berry bushes outside,” she says. “But they think Quire keeps irritating the rabbits."