Something is growing behind them.
A pair of enormous butterfly wings unfolded behind her.
Purple with gold patterns.
The edges of the wings gleamed faintly, and each flap left a fine trail of light in the air.
Kanae Kocho opened her eyes, the light of her wings reflected in her purple eyes.
"It feels strange."
You'll get used to it.
Higashino Makoto walked up to Shinobu Kocho and placed the crystal on her forehead.
The same light, the same process, the same wings.
No, Shinobu Kocho's wings are slightly smaller than her sister's, but they are darker in color and have denser patterns.
The deep purple wings were covered with golden patterns, like some kind of ancient runes.
Shinobu Kocho turned around and looked at herself in the mirror.
The wings unfolded behind her, fluttering gently and making a soft rustling sound.
Higashino Makoto.
"Um."
Is it pretty?
Higashino Makoto looked at her for two seconds.
"It looks pretty good."
Shinobu Kocho's lips curled up slightly.
"That's good."
Higashino Makoto walked up to Kanao Tsuyuri and placed the last crystal on her forehead.
A radiant light enveloped her body, and a pair of pure white butterfly wings unfolded behind her.
There were no patterns, no textures, only pure, snowflake-like white.
Kanao Tsuyuri looked at herself in the mirror, her purple eyes reflecting the light of her wings.
"Mr. Higashino."
"Um."
Can I fly?
Higashino Makoto thought for a moment.
"It should work, let's give it a try."
Kanao Tsuyuri turned around and looked at the sky outside the window.
She gently flapped her wings, and her body floated up.
It truly and in a controlled manner floated up.
Her feet were off the ground, her body suspended in mid-air, and her wings fluttered gently behind her.
"I'm flying."
Her voice was soft, carrying a suppressed excitement.
Shinobu Kocho looked at her younger sister, a slight smile playing on her lips.
"Kanao, you've flown too high."
"Oh."
Kanao Tsuyuri descended slightly, hovering about half a meter above the ground.
Jibril stood by the window, watching this scene with her purple eyes.
"Butterfly."
She said in a low voice.
"Interesting."
Higashino Makoto walked up to her.
"Interesting?"
"Yes, that's interesting."
Jibril tilted her head, her rainbow-colored hair slipping down her shoulder.
"Master, you've chosen a very interesting race."
"I didn't choose them, they did."
"Can I study them?"
Higashino Makoto flatly refused.
"There should still be some among Novas Etier. Go find those people, and don't let them get hurt."
Jibril looked at him, a complex light flickering in her purple eyes.
"What does it matter? Even I wouldn't break the master's things. You're being too concerned about them."
"It's not that I'm nervous about them, I just like pretty things."
Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at the three women admiring their wings in front of the mirror.
"They are beautiful, so I don't want them to grow old, I don't want them to become ugly, and I don't want them to die."
Jibril chuckled softly.
"Master, do you know? Normally, your kind of liking is very selfish."
"I know."
Higashino Makoto's tone was flat.
"That's just the kind of guy I am."
Kanae Kocho turned around, her purple eyes looking at him.
"Mr. Higashino."
"Um."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Higashino Makoto walked back to the bedside and sat down.
"Come over."
Kanae Kocho walked up to him and stopped.
Higashino Makoto reached out and gently touched the wings on her back with his fingertips.
The pair of purple wings trembled slightly beneath his fingers, and the golden patterns flowed in the light.
Is it soft?
"Soft."
Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand.
"Softer than I expected."
Kanae Kocho's face flushed slightly.
"Mr. Higashino, where... where are you touching?"
"Wing."
"Wings... you probably shouldn't touch them casually."
"Why?"
"Because it's very sensitive."
Higashino Makoto looked into her eyes.
"So?"
Kanae Kocho's face turned even redder.
So--you--you--
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Kanae Kocho took a deep breath and stepped back.
"Mr. Higashino, you're really mean."
"I know."
Higashino Makoto stood up and walked towards the door.
"Let's go, it's time for lunch."
Shinobu Kocho folded her wings and followed behind him.
Higashino Makoto.
"Um."
"You said before that wings could be hidden using props?"
"Right."
Where can I get that item?
Higashino Makoto took three silver rings out of his backpack and handed them to her.
"The wings will disappear when you put them on, and will reappear when you take them off."
Shinobu Kocho took the ring and put it on the ring finger of her left hand; the wings on her back disappeared.
It was as if they had never existed.
"It feels strange."
You'll get used to it.
Higashino Makoto continued walking forward.
Shinobu Kocho looked at her hands, then at her older and younger sisters.
They also put on rings, and their wings disappeared.
Incidentally, the ring is still worn on the left ring finger.
Higashino Makoto.
"Um."
"Thank you."
Higashino Makoto did not turn back.
"You're welcome. You belong to me, and it's the owner's responsibility to take care of your belongings."
Shinobu Kocho's lips curled up slightly.
"You're really annoying."
"I know."
But I don't hate it.
Higashino Makoto stopped walking, but didn't turn around.
"That's good."
He continued walking forward.
Shinobu Kocho watched his retreating figure, her purple eyes gleaming with a soft light.
Higashino Makoto.
"What's wrong now?"
Are you coming again tonight?
Higashino Makoto was silent for a moment.
"... Come on. Remember not to wear the ring, and show your wings."
The Shinobu Kocho.
That gentle and alluring quality carried a hint of anticipation.
"Okay, I'll wait for you."
Higashino Makoto did not answer. He continued walking forward, his footsteps echoing in the corridor.
Jibril followed behind him, her enormous wings gently folding behind her, her rainbow-colored hair reflecting dappled light and shadow in the sunlight.
The three butterfly sisters followed at the back, hand in hand, smiles on their faces.
"Master, are you happy?"
"Happy."
I knew it.
Higashino Makoto reached up and touched the corner of his mouth. He was indeed smiling.
"... I'll be more careful next time."
"Master, shouldn't you reward me?"
Higashino Makoto glanced at her but didn't reply.
They simply quickened their pace and continued walking forward.
In the distance, the restaurant door was open, and the aroma of food wafted out from inside.
It's lunchtime now.