They chatted with everyone in the chat group for quite a while.

After closing the chat interface, Akiyama Mio exhaled a long breath. Then she lifted her gaze to the sky, which was gradually darkening.

Cherry blossoms looked particularly soft in the dusk, and at last, she found it in her heart to appreciate them.

Because she discovered that the people in the chat group were very friendly—apparently good people. Knowing the chat group posed no danger, she finally relaxed.

"Mio, wait for me!"

A familiar voice broke her thoughts.

Mio turned around and saw Ritsu dashing over, panting, her short hair bouncing in the breeze.

"I—I forgot to give you this!"

Ritsu held out a dainty paper bag.

"It's strawberry daifuku from Mugi! She said...uh...if there's anything supernatural bothering you, sweets can help you feel braver!"

Akiyama Mio took the still-warm paper bag, feeling a sudden sting in her nose. Whatever happened, she still had these friends who cared. Perhaps she didn't have to be so afraid from the start.

"Thank you…"

Mio whispered, a genuine warmth coloring her voice this time.

Ritsu smirked, as usual throwing an arm around Mio's shoulder. "C'mon, let me walk you home! They say there's a pervert hanging around the area tonight, heh."

Mio couldn't help laughing. "And here I thought you'd made that up?"

"Busted~"

Ritsu stuck out her tongue.

"But I really am walking you home! After all, as club president, I gotta ensure my bandmates' safety!"

The sunset stretched their shadows long across the ground. Mio cast one last glance at the chat-group interface only she could see, then closed it. At least for tonight, she wanted to just be a regular high school girl, sharing strawberry daifuku with her best friend and forgetting those supernatural worries for a while.

Tomorrow…she'd worry about tomorrow's problems tomorrow.

…

At Yukinoshita's apartment…

Cool air from the AC quietly filled the living room. Mabel lay sprawled on the sofa like a lazy cat. She wore a tank top with cartoon prints and short shorts, her long legs propped on the coffee table, occasionally wiggling her pink toes in time with the TV show.

"This is the last popsicle, and it's mine."

She waved the ice cream bar triumphantly, glancing at Alicia seated beside her.

"You've already eaten three!" Alicia protested.

Her freshly washed golden hair was still damp, cascading over her strawberry-patterned pajamas. She reached out to snatch the popsicle, but Mabel deftly moved her hand to dodge.

While they scuffled, the lock turned with a "click," and the door opened.

"Isn't Yukino home? Why's the—"

Alicia's words died in her throat when a woman entered through the entryway. The moment she stepped inside, the air in the room seemed to freeze. She wore a perfectly tailored white business suit, and her black hair fell to her waist like a waterfall. Her facial features resemble Yukinoshita, but with a faint, unreadable smile.

Mabel only lifted her eyelids, continuing to lick her popsicle as if nothing had happened. Alicia, on the other hand, straightened abruptly, as if electrocuted. She frantically tugged at her rumpled pajamas, cheeks flushed.

"Oh dear, looks like I came at a bad time. Did I interrupt your fun?"

The woman's voice resembled Yukino's cool tone, but tinged with teasing amusement.

"Wh-who are you?"

Alicia stammered, fingers fiddling with the hem of her nightwear. She was mortified at being seen in such a lazy state—she'd actually picked up Mabel's slothful habits, and it felt so unlike herself!

The woman didn't immediately answer. She gracefully stepped out of her high heels, walking barefoot. Her eyes flitted between Mabel and Alicia, finally resting on the scattered snack wrappers and melting ice cream on the table.

"Sis, please don't scare my roommates."

Yukino's voice came from the hallway. She'd just finished some laundry, hands still damp, wearing a white loungewear set layered with a pale-blue apron.

"Yukino's… sister?"

Alicia's eyes went wide, flicking between the two obviously related faces. Indeed, the newcomer was Yukino's older sister, Yukinoshita Haruno.

Haruno chuckled lightly, then abruptly pinched Alicia's flushed cheeks.

"What a cutie. Prettier than in the pictures. I'm Yukinoshita Haruno, big sister to this frosty little sis."

Her cold fingertips carried a faint perfume scent. Alicia froze, forgetting even to resist.

"What are you doing here?" Yukino frowned, removing her apron and drying her hands as she walked over. "And why show up unannounced? Not even a text."

Haruno made an exaggerated show of clutching her chest. "Because I missed my dear little sister—isn't that reason enough?"

"Enough. I don't care for your phony jokes," Yukino retorted bluntly, her gaze turning even colder.

Haruno's smile faltered slightly. Glancing at Alicia, who watched curiously, and Mabel, who seemed wholly unconcerned, she said softly, "Can we talk alone? It's about Mother."

Yukino's body visibly stiffened. After a moment's silence, she nodded and led Haruno to her bedroom. As they disappeared, Alicia heard Haruno call back, "Turn up the AC a bit, or your skin will suffer~"

"So that's Yukino's sister, huh…" Alicia murmured, nervously twining a lock of hair around her finger. "They look so alike, both beautiful."

But that sister felt intimidating, and they obviously didn't seem close.

Mabel finally finished her popsicle, yawning lazily. "Yukino mentioned their relationship used to be terrible. It only improved slightly after both became that Rei Ao guy's girlfriends."

"Eh???"

Alicia almost leaped off the couch. "They're both…with Rei Ao? But that's—"

"What's so surprising?" Mabel gave her a strange look. "Isn't almost everyone in the group?"

Alicia's face reddened again, this time all the way to her ears.

"T-that's different…their relationship is—"

Rolling her eyes, Mabel sighed, "We're just getting started. The group even has mother's around."

~~~

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