"Wow~ a talking tanuki? How amazing!"
Yuanbao immediately thought of Diona in the Mondstadt tavern, who also had a pair of cute cat ears.
So cute~
"Huuuaa... let me emphasize again, Sayu is not a tanuki, huh? Where did this child come from? How did you climb up here? Uh... stay steady, don't move around..."
Sayu looked down from the tree. She was several meters above the ground. If she accidentally fell, it would be terrible and too dangerous.
Sayu forgot about being angry at being called a tanuki and quickly soothed the other party not to move.
"Sister Sayu, my name is Yuanbao, nice to meet you!"
Yuanbao could feel that this tanuki sister was a good person.
Yuanbao stomped her little feet and then spun in place, signaling the other party not to worry, that she was very capable and moved on the tree trunk as if on flat ground.
Sayu looked at the child in surprise, finding that the little girl named Yuanbao seemed not to fear heights and was perhaps even more agile than herself.
'I don't want to entertain her, but she called me Sister Sayu! Hehehe...'
Sayu beckoned Yuanbao over to sit down. Being called 'sister' for the first time felt so wonderful.
All her life, she had either been called 'little tanuki' or 'little Sayu'. Such a respectful title as 'sister' had only been heard in her dreams.
At this moment, Sayu's self-esteem and vanity were greatly satisfied.
She decided to accept Yuanbao as her little sister.
Therefore, as an older sister, Sayu needed to impart some valuable experience from a seasoned veteran to Yuanbao, to prevent her from taking the wrong path.
"Yuanbao, since you call me sister, I can't let you call me that for nothing. Listen carefully, I'm going to teach you all the experience I've accumulated over the years on how to grow taller..."
Sayu and Yuanbao sat opposite each other and began the serious lesson.
"But, Sister Sayu, you're not tall either?"
Yuanbao was very confused. Sister Sayu wasn't tall, so where did she get the experience to grow taller?
*Screech—*
Yuanbao's doubt was like a sharp sword piercing Sayu's heart.
Sayu opened her mouth, but couldn't speak for a long time.
Sayu: This is unfair! I was just trying to kindly share my experience...
Sayu felt like crying, but didn't dare. If anyone else dared to say that to her, Sayu would jump up and punch them.
"The reason big sister hasn't grown tall is because I've taken many detours. Yuanbao, listen carefully, remember these valuable experiences from your sister, and you'll definitely be able to grow tall!"
"Okay, Yuanbao will listen carefully~"
"First, and most importantly, get enough sleep. Only when you're asleep will other organs in your body reduce their nutrient consumption, and all the nutrients you consume will be used for bone growth..."
"Second, eat enough! As the saying goes, you need to be full to have the strength to grow tall! The food we eat should be cheap and filling. I strongly recommend salt-rice balls, one can keep you full for the whole day..."
"Third, don't let people pat your head; being patted on the head often prevents you from growing tall..."
"..."
Sayu shared more than ten tips in one go. She felt like she hadn't spoken as much in the entire past year as she had today.
"Alright, that's all the experience I'll share with you for now. Big sister needs to take a little sleep... ah, no, rest. If the shrine maiden sister comes, please let me know~"
After speaking, Sayu yawned listlessly. Talking so much must have consumed a lot of nutrients, and she needed to sleep to make up for it quickly.
Hu aaa... Grrr...
Sayu fell asleep extremely quickly, which amazed Yuanbao.
'Truly worthy of Sister Sayu!'
After an unknown amount of time, a few shouts came from below.
"Sayu, stop hiding, I've found you!"
"Sayu, it's time for morning practice, everyone else has already finished..."
"Sayu, after morning practice, you can have breakfast. Today's breakfast is your favorite salt-rice balls!"
"Sayu..."
Yuanbao leaned on the tree trunk and looked down. Judging by their clothing, they must be the shrine maiden sisters Sayu mentioned.
Sayu had said that if the shrine maiden sisters came, she should be informed.
"Sister Sayu? Sister Sayu... the shrine maiden sisters are here!"
Yuanbao poked the sleeping Sayu with her little hand and whispered in her ear.
"Huuuaa... It really is the shrine maiden sisters! How can this be? I haven't slept enough yet, and I really don't want to do the shrine maiden's morning practice. It's boring and takes forever, I'd rather sleep..."
Sayu slightly lifted her ear-flaps and looked down in the direction Yuanbao was pointing. She indeed saw the shrine maiden sisters searching for her.
She didn't want to do morning practice. Even if breakfast had her favorite salt-rice balls, Sayu didn't want to endure the torment of morning practice.
"No, Yuanbao, we have to run. Don't get caught by the shrine maiden sisters..."
Sayu put on her hood and crouched down on the tree trunk, warily watching the shrine maiden sisters below, already preparing to slip away.
"Okay, okay!"
Yuanbao's face lit up with excitement. This game was much more interesting than sleeping.
"Wait, we'll do this..."
Sayu whispered into Yuanbao's ear, explaining her perfect escape plan.
With everything ready, Sayu began to unleash her Huhuhu-style ninjutsu.
*Rustle rustle...*
Instantly, a strong wind blew, making the surrounding leaves rustle, making it difficult for Shikanoin Heizou below to discern which direction Sayu would escape from.
"When the wind blows, it's a good time to escape. Let's go..."
Sayu was surrounded by swift winds, curling herself into a ball. With the momentum of a wind wheel, she 'whooshed' down the tree trunk, darting into the bushes and disappearing from sight.
When the sound of the wind subsided and Shikanoin Heizou reacted, Sayu was already nowhere to be seen.
The bushes around showed signs of movement, and Shikanoin Heizou felt a headache. Sayu's escape skills had improved again.
'But still, who laughs last is not yet decided.'
Shikanoin Heizou smiled slightly. She knew Sayu's weakness too well.
Ten!
Nine!
Eight!
...
Shikanoin Heizou stood still, counting down in her mind, as if waiting for something.
Three!
Two!
One!
The moment she finished counting, Sayu's pained cry was heard from a distance.
Seeing this, the smile on Shikanoin Heizou's face widened. Sayu was indeed still the Sayu she knew.