Rain pattered down, falling on the ground, on the treetops, through streets and alleys, upon every place beneath the starry sky.
Pedestrians hurried along, perhaps rushing home, or perhaps simply unwilling to be drenched by the rain. They all had somewhere to return to.
The Girl in White sat by the roadside like a simple spectator.
Watching people come and go before her, watching the streets teem with traffic, her gaze drifted into the distance as she suddenly recalled something from long ago.
Big Sister seemed to have always liked doing this too.
Sitting there quietly by herself, looking in a certain direction.
Was she daydreaming, or missing someone who had long since vanished into the currents of history?
A million years had passed. Time flowed on, civilizations rose and fell, and the traces left behind by old friends probably existed only in her memories.
"Um... can I buy an umbrella?"
A somewhat timid voice came from ahead, pulling White's thoughts back from wherever they had drifted.
A girl who looked about the same age as her stood there, pointing at a white umbrella on display. Her face was slightly red.
"Of course. One Silver Coin," White answered with a smile.
The girl took a Silver Coin from her pocket and placed it in White's palm, accepted the umbrella from her, then bowed in thanks before quickly running off.
Not far away stood several other girls of the same age. When they saw the girl who had bought the umbrella return, they gathered around and whispered about it.
White was curious, so she listened closely.
"Wow, she was really, really cute. It made me want to hug her, but I was too nervous to say much just now. What a pity."
"The umbrella looks pretty nice. Should we go buy