Aoko's Ordinary Day

Today was neither a weekend nor a holiday, so Aoko went to school as usual.

Even though she was too sleepy to open her eyes, she still climbed out of bed. Aoko was a remarkably disciplined person.

Alice's breakfast still needed to be prepared by her, though it was only a simple sandwich, a fried egg, and a glass of milk.

By the time Aoko finished making breakfast, Alice had just gotten up and elegantly began eating right away. It was practically seamless—or rather, the result of their cultivated tacit understanding.

After finishing breakfast, Aoko prepared to head to school. However, a light rain was falling from the sky, so she had no choice but to stroll through the rain beneath a little red umbrella.

Fortunately, the school was not far away. Even on foot, it only took twenty minutes; if she was in a hurry and ran, it was even faster. Once, when she had overslept, Aoko made it in less than ten minutes.

Yet Aoko could always sense a red figure following her, a figure that only she herself could perceive.

Ever since that incident in winter, that figure had been following her. As for what exactly had happened during that incident, she could no longer remember very clearly.

The house next door had clearly prepared a cat shelter, so why had cats still chosen her car's engine as their nest?

During the frigid winter, Aoko had started warming up the old car early. The instant she turned the key in the ignition, she heard the cats' cries of agony.

What followed were the cats' shattered bodies, along with one kitten that still had a faint trace of life left.

Overwhelmed by guilt, Aoko had gone to find her omnipotent grandfather, hoping this Magician could save the kitten's