Mist curled lazily between the bamboo stalks as the forest shifted and twisted, as it always did. Somewhere deep within it, Tewi Inaba hummed to herself, crouched low as she carefully brushed leaves over a freshly dug pit.

“Perfect~” she said, dusting off her hands. “No one ever looks right here.”

As if summoned by fate—or bad luck—footsteps crunched nearby.

Reisen Udongein Inaba emerged from the fog, her satchel lighter after a long day in the Human Village. She sighed, ears drooping.

“Report to Eirin… endure Lady Kaguya’s head pats… why is my life like this…”

A sudden rustle.

Reisen froze. “…Who’s there?”

From behind the bamboo, Tewi popped out, grinning ear to ear—casually spinning Reisen’s megaphone gun around one finger.

“Looking for this, moon rabbit?”

Reisen’s eyes widened. “Tewi! Give that back! How did you even—wait. Don’t tell me. Did Lady Kaguya help you again?”

Tewi shrugged innocently. “Maybe~ Maybe not~ But you should really watch your step.”

She waved cheerfully. “Later!”

And just like that, she bolted.

“Tewi—HEY!”

Reisen took off after her, weaving through the bamboo as laughter echoed ahead. Then—

THUD.

“OW!”

Reisen vanished into a pit with an undignified yelp.

Tewi skidded to a stop and peeked over the edge, giggling. “Aww, you fell for it again! You really should—”

A hand shot up and grabbed her ankle.

“…eh?”

With a sharp tug, Tewi tumbled into the pit with a surprised squeak, landing in a heap beside Reisen.

Reisen adjusted her hat, eyes glowing faintly with psychic irritation. “…My turn.”

What followed was less revenge and more correction—Reisen using a mix of lunar trickery and relentless prodding on Tewi bare soles leave Tewi laughing, breathless, and utterly defeated.

“Okay! Okay! I surrender!” Tewi wheezed.

Reisen crossed her arms. “You stole my weapon. You set traps. You laughed.”

She pulled out a bundle of rice balls. “Eat.”

“…You’re cruel.”

“Eat.”

Later, as dawn filtered through the bamboo, Reisen climbed out of the pit, dusting herself off.

“Try not to prank people who can fight back,” she said calmly, before walking off toward Eientei.

Tewi lay there, staring up at the sky. “…Worth it.”

But as she stood, something felt… off.

She looked down.

“…Huh?”

Her reflection in a puddle showed subtle changes—softer features, a fuller figure, an unmistakable aura of youkai luck gone wrong.

“…Oh no.”

Somewhere in the forest, the bamboo creaked—as if laughing.