Sparrow Sparrow's curiosity was clearly stronger than Bobota's. She floated over and inspected the little box in Angel's palm from top to bottom.
The box was about the size of an egg and rather oddly shaped. Atop the square box, which was etched with cloud patterns, stood a metal ornament shaped like a trumpet flower.
"Big brother, what is this?" Sparrow Sparrow studied it curiously. She sensed a strange fluctuation from the box that was somehow connected to Angel, but she had no idea what it actually was.
Though somewhat exhausted, Bobota also looked over curiously.
"This is a special miniature stage-play device," Angel said with a smile.
Angel remembered Bobota saying that he had always wanted to take Sparrow Sparrow to see a stage play. Yet he had thought there would be plenty of time in the future, so he had dragged it out without concern. Only after Sparrow Sparrow was abducted did Bobota regret it beyond measure.
"Do you want to see it?"
The moment she heard "stage play," Sparrow Sparrow's eyes lit up. "Can we watch it?"
Angel nodded, a smile curling at his lips. "You two can relax a little, just in time."
Sparrow Sparrow bounced with delight, while Bobota looked at Angel. For some reason, an odd feeling rose in his heart. He felt that Angel's smile seemed to carry some hidden meaning.
As Sparrow Sparrow nodded, Angel lightly stroked the trumpet flower on the little box.
A strange melody suddenly began to play.
The cheerful Sparrow Sparrow was startled by the eerie music, and her smile froze abruptly.
Bobota, meanwhile, shuddered. The strange melody reminded him of that night when Sparrow Sparrow had gone missing—the torrential rain, the dim sky, the panic churning in his heart...
"Big brother, wh-what is this?"
Angel was still