(Caption) Alice's Fairy Tale Book

He strolled through the quiet library one afternoon. Sunlight poured in through the high windows, and dust danced in the golden beams. The scent of old paper lingered between the shelves. He pulled out a random hardcover book with a yellowed cover—Alice's Fairy Tale Book. On the cover, a girl in a blue dress held a rabbit, her candy-like innocence frozen in her eyes. He chuckled, thinking it was just a relic from childhood, and opened the book.

In that instant, the pages flared with a blinding pink-blue light, swirling like a vortex that pulled him in completely. His world spun; gravity vanished; a bell-like laughter echoed in his ears. When his senses returned, he found himself floating naked in a space filled with clouds like cotton candy, surrounded by drifting bubbles of every color. The air was so sweet it almost hurt to breathe. His clothes had vanished. Cool air brushed his skin. He tried to cover himself, but invisible ribbons bound his wrists, leaving him helpless.

"Welcome to my dressing room~" came a voice, light and echoing, as if countless little girls were whispering into his ears.

As soon as the voice faded, a swarm of cosmetics appeared from the void. Powder puffs fluttered like butterflies, and lipsticks rocketed toward his face. The first was cherry red with a faint strawberry scent. It hovered before his lips, gave a gentle swipe, and the color sank into his skin—impossible to remove. Next came a blush brush, its bristles soft as a rabbit's tail, circling over his cheekbones to paint delicate pink blooms. The eyeshadow palette opened by itself, blue and violet dust glimmering like stardust. His eyelids snapped shut, and when they opened again, his lashes were long and curled, his irises shining with an unnatural sapphire glow.

He tried to shout, but a giant lollipop jammed into his mouth. Its syrupy sweetness melted over his tongue and trickled down his throat. He shook his head desperately, but more sweets swooped in—cotton candy stuffed his cheeks, cookies crumbled to dust, chocolate sauce dripped down his chin. Each swallow made his memories viscous, soaked in honey. The library lights, the deadlines, the names of his friends... all began to melt away.

"Now it's hair time~" the voice announced excitedly.

A golden wig descended from above, its strands cascading like a waterfall. The moment it touched his scalp, it writhed to life, burrowing into his pores, merging with his real hair. A sharp sting gave way to a tingling pleasure. A mirror materialized before him. The reflection had already changed—softer jawline, trembling lashes. The wig braided itself into twin ponytails, curling naturally at the ends. A white ribbon headband pinned itself atop, the bow's silky tails brushing her collarbones.

The cosmetics retreated, and the clothing arrived.

First came a pair of white panties, edged with tiny strawberry embroidery—so perfectly fitted that her cheeks flushed red as apples. Then came over-knee socks in blue and white stripes, cloud-soft, trimmed with lace that gently pressed into her thighs.

A petticoat flew in next, unfolding like an umbrella, followed by layer upon layer of fabric: a pure white underskirt, a pale blue mesh, then deep blue satin ruffles sprinkled with bows. The waist was drawn tight, forming a slender curve, while soft fullness rose on the chest—fake, yet disturbingly lifelike, even pulsing faintly.

Her upper body was dressed in a cropped blue velvet jacket, its cuffs and collar lined with white lace. A pink gemstone brooch shimmered at her chest, liquid swirling faintly inside it. The hem reached only her waist, revealing the layered skirts beneath. A white apron tied itself around her waist, its pockets peeking with two teddy bear plushies that blinked playfully as if saying, "Hello there."

Finally, the shoes—blue Mary Janes, adorned with small bows. The heels were modest, just enough to make her posture graceful. As they slid onto her feet, her toes were gently massaged, her arches refined. When her soles touched the floor, a crisp tap echoed—a perfect fairy-tale sound.

The girl in the mirror blinked back at her. Blue eyes. Golden hair. Blue dress. White apron. A brown teddy bear in her arms. The sugary taste burst on her tongue, and her memories flipped shut like a finished book. Library? Homework? Friends? What were those? She remembered only the girl's smile, the sweet dress, the delicious desserts, and the never-ending tea party.

In the real-world library, someone heard strange sounds—pages flipping, mingled with a girl's laughter. The librarian followed the noise and found the fairy tale book spread open on the table, its pages turning on their own.

Suddenly, a hand holding a pink heart-shaped charm reached out from the book, grasped the edge, and pulled itself through.

The girl in the blue dress landed softly on the floor, her skirt blooming like petals. She lifted its hem and performed a perfect curtsy, her golden twin tails swaying behind her.

"Good afternoon" Her voice was as sweet as melting toffee. "I'm Alice! Would you like to join my tea party? There's strawberry cake, blueberry macarons, and tea that never, ever gets cold~"