On a lazy afternoon, mischievous sunlight sometimes restlessly leaped onto the windowsill, slipping lightly through the green blinds to secretly peek at the sweet slumber within. At other times, it was like a soft ribbon, gently caressing the earth and scattering rich warmth across the Human World. That mellow radiance was the sun's passionate embrace, granting every life sacred strength.
In Chiba Prefecture, students had begun leaving school one after another. Compared to middle and high school students, who still had club activities, classroom duties, and the like, most younger elementary school children had already left campus.
"Tamaki, don't walk so fast!"
Beside a very clean one-way street, a little girl with a bowl cut and an endearing appearance was happily trotting ahead with a small schoolbag on her back. She looked about six or seven years old, probably in first grade, and was exceptionally cute and innocent.
Behind her, a girl who resembled her somewhat but was much older chased after her with a panicked expression, as though she was afraid something might happen to her. Her hair was tied into two bunches, and she seemed lively, uninhibited, and mature for her age, though she was probably still in elementary school as well.
At the same time, the clothes she wore were very plain and seemed to be rather old, making her look somewhat unfashionable at first glance. Her family's circumstances were probably not very good.
"Older sister is too slow!"
Looking at the girl chasing after her, the little girl adorably said to her older sister.
"Tamaki is really happy today! Did something good happen?" Gogoryu Hinata looked at her younger sister, Gogoryu Tamaki, and noticed that she was unusually cheerful today.
"Because... because..."
Gogoryu Tamaki blinked her adorable big eyes, both little hands hidden behind her back.