The morning sun peeked through the lace curtains, casting a soft golden hue across the bedroom. Pillows and blankets were scattered everywhere, and the once tidy fort by the queen-sized bed now looked like a fortress after battle. Inside it lay a pile of sleeping girls, bundled up together in warmth and laughter from the night before.

  The first to stir was Akie, who groggily rubbed her eyes and sat up, her hair a tousled mess. She stretched her arms high and yawned before heading to the bathroom to wash her face. Soon after, faint murmurs and shifting blankets signaled the others waking up one by one.

  “Mmm… morning already?” Hailey muttered, squinting at the sunlight.

  “Unfortunately,” Ariana replied, her voice muffled by a pillow.

  The girls giggled as they began to take turns washing up, the room filling with the faint sound of running water and sleepy chatter.

  Just then, a soft knock came from the bedroom door.

  Yumio, already halfway through brushing her hair, went to open it. Her mother, Emi, stood there with her usual warm smile.

  “Good morning, girls,” Emi greeted, her voice gentle yet lively. “How were your sleeps?”

  “It was fine, Mom,” Yumio replied with a yawn, rubbing her eyes. “Did you need something?”

  “I just wanted to invite your friends to have breakfast with us,” Emi said, glancing around the room at the still-tidying girls.

  Yumio turned to look at them. The girls exchanged smiles before Hailey stepped forward, beaming. “We’d love to, Auntie!”

  “That’ll be wonderful,” Emi said with a pleased nod. “Breakfast will be ready by five. Don’t keep us waiting too long, alright?”

  The girls chorused their thanks and waved as Emi left the room. Yumio gently closed the door and turned back to her friends, who were now buzzing with energy.

  “Is everyone done washing up?” she asked, tying her hair into a loose ponytail.

  The girls nodded in unison, ready and cheerful.

  As they descended the grand staircase, the soft morning air of the mansion greeted them. The smell of freshly baked bread and sizzling bacon drifted from the kitchen, making their stomachs rumble. On their way to the dining room, they suddenly bumped into the boys—Touya, Yukio, Yurio, and Seito—who seemed to have just come back from their morning jog.

  Touya was the first to greet them, flashing his usual charming grin. “Good morning, girls!”

  “Morning, Senpai,” Akie replied shyly, her cheeks flushing pink. Yumio caught the exchange and raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at her lips.

  Does Akie-nee have a crush on Nii-san? she wondered, glancing between the two.

  “You girls sure had a blast last night,” Yurio said with a teasing smirk, causing Yumio to blink in surprise.

  “Yeah… sorry if we were too loud,” Yumio said, giving a sheepish laugh. “I hope we didn’t disturb anyone.”

  “You have no idea,” Yukio said, crossing his arms. “I could hear you all the way down the hall.”

  Yumio’s face turned red with embarrassment. “I’m really sorry, Kio. We got a bit carried away.”

  To her surprise, Yukio chuckled and reached out to ruffle her hair gently. “Relax. It’s fine. I’m glad you had fun.”

  Yumio blinked, then smiled softly. “Thanks.”

  Ariana nudged her playfully. “C’mon, Mio, we’re going to be late for breakfast.”

  “Right,” Yumio said, shaking off her embarrassment as they all walked together toward the dining hall—laughter echoing down the hallways of the Kishimoto Mansion.

  The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries filled the Kishimoto dining hall. Morning light streamed through the tall glass windows, reflecting off the polished marble floors and the elegant silverware neatly set across the long dining table.

  The teens took their seats as Takeshi, the head of the family, looked around the table with a pleased smile. His presence was calm yet commandin—the kind of warmth that filled a room without effort.

  “I’m glad everyone’s here!” he said, his voice carrying an easy cheer. “It’s good to have you girls join us for breakfast.”

  “Delighted to be here, Uncle,” Akie replied politely, flashing a gentle smile.

  The servants began to move gracefully around the table, placing plates of scrambled eggs, buttered toast, and fresh fruit before them. The clinking of porcelain and silver blended with the soft chatter of morning conversation.

  “So,” Takeshi began as he reached for his cup of coffee, “how are your classes going? There are no classes today, I believe?”

  Hailey nodded, setting down her glass of juice. “Yes, Uncle. The school had some sort of system problem they needed to fix until today.”

  “Our studies have been going well,” Yuina added, ever the diligent one. “Pretty sure we’ll be able to graduate in no time.”

  Emi smiled fondly from across the table, her gaze proud yet tender.

  “The college also postponed classes,” Akari chimed in. “Apparently, there was some construction damage near the main building. They said it should be fixed by the end of the week.”

  Takeshi gave a slow, approving nod. “Well, that’s good to hear. It seems everyone has been working hard.” He set down his cup and looked at them all with a satisfied expression. “Now then, let’s leave all that behind for now and enjoy breakfast together.”

  The group nodded in unison, their voices blending in a soft chorus as they pressed their hands together.

  “Itadakimasu!”

  A moment of contented laughter followed—the kind that could only come from a shared meal among family and friends. As the sounds of chatter filled the grand dining hall, Yumio glanced quietly at her parents, a gentle warmth spreading through her chest.

  For a fleeting moment, everything felt peaceful—as if the world outside the Kishimoto Mansion’s walls didn’t exist.

  “You’re free today, right?” Willow asked, tilting her head as she looked at Yumio, a playful glint in her eyes.

  “Yeah,” Yumio replied, setting down her fork and taking a small sip from her tea. “Why?”

  Yaiza leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. “We were planning to go out later—to buy some stuff. You wanna come?”

  Yumio thought for a moment before smiling. “Sure. I might need a few books to add to my collection.”

  At that, Willow’s face instantly lit up. “Books?!” she squealed, nearly bouncing in her seat. “Then I have to show you my favorite bookshop!”

  Before Yumio could react, Willow had already looped her arm through hers, grinning from ear to ear. “You’ll love it. They have all sorts of genres—from romance to fantasy. And they serve tea and cookies while you read!”

  Yumio chuckled softly at her friend’s enthusiasm, the sound light and genuine. “Alright, alright,” she said, smiling. “You’ve convinced me.”

  The others around the table laughed, the air filled with warmth and easy conversation.

  For a brief moment, Yumio simply watched them—Willow’s bright energy, Yaiza’s calm amusement, and Akari’s soft smile as she listened to their banter. It felt... right.

  She felt a quiet happiness bloom in her chest, something both new and fragile. She was growing closer to these girls—closer than she ever thought she could be with anyone outside of Miyana and Ariana.

  It was her first time feeling like this… surrounded by laughter that wasn’t forced, by people who didn’t treat her like porcelain.

  Yumio smiled to herself as she took another sip of tea.

  She was happy—truly happy—with everything that had happened and with everything that was still to come.

  “Welcome to Storylight Street!” Willow announced with delight as she stretched her arms wide, leading Yumio and the rest of the girls onto a vibrant cobblestone street lined with old-fashioned bookshops.

  Yumio’s eyes widened as she took in the sight—the golden morning light reflecting off the glass windows, the faint scent of coffee and parchment filling the air, and rows upon rows of bookstores with names painted in elegant calligraphy.

  “Wow!” she breathed, spinning slowly to take it all in. “It’s full of books!”

  Willow grinned from ear to ear. “I knew you’d love it. This place is my haven,” she said proudly. “And there’s a library at the end of the street—you can stay there and read for as long as you want. They even have a little reading garden.”

  Yumio’s face lit up, her voice soft with wonder. “That’s... something I’ve always dreamt of.”

  The girls shared warm smiles, quietly happy to see her so full of joy.

  “Let’s go over there!” Yumio suddenly exclaimed, pointing at a shop across the street with an ivory-painted sign that read Ivory Pages.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  The bell above the door jingled as she rushed in, almost dragging Willow along by the hand. The shop was cozy—shelves stacked high with hardcovers and paperbacks, the air rich with the scent of old books and freshly brewed tea.

  “Careful,” Akari teased, following behind. “You’ll get lost in a stampede of books.”

  Yumio only nodded, already wandering between aisles, her fingers brushing against the spines of the classics. Her heart felt light, the way it always did when she was surrounded by stories.

  She turned a corner into the Classic Literature section and reached for a familiar title—but as she stepped forward, she accidentally bumped into someone.

  “Ah—sorry!” she said quickly, bowing in apology.

  “It’s fine.”

  The voice was calm… familiar. Too familiar. Yumio looked up—and froze.

  Standing right in front of her was Liam.

  For a moment, her mind went blank. Then, realizing what she’d done, she began bowing repeatedly. “I’m so sorry—I didn’t see you—I—”

  Liam chuckled softly, raising a hand. “It’s alright, really. No harm done.”

  Yumio finally stopped and looked at him properly. “What are you doing here? Are you… looking for books?”

  “Yeah,” Liam replied, his tone casual but kind. “I was hoping to find one of Shakespeare’s works.”

  Her eyes sparkled. “Oh, really? What kind?”

  “Antony and Cleopatra and Venus and Adonis, if they have it.”

  Yumio smiled faintly. “Those are actually some of my favorites.”

  “Yeah? I’m not surprised,” he said with a smirk. “You seem like the type who’d appreciate tragic poetry.”

  She laughed softly. “Maybe.”

  “What about you?” he asked, tilting his head slightly. “Still reading The Iliad? Last time we met, you seemed pretty into it.”

  Yumio nodded. “I finished it a few days ago, actually. I was hoping to find The Odyssey and maybe one of Jane Austen’s novels.”

  Liam looked thoughtful, then pointed toward a nearby shelf labeled Jane Austen. “You might find her there.”

  “Oh, thank you!” Yumio said, hurrying over. She scanned the titles, her fingers brushing across Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Mansfield Park.

  Without a word, Liam reached up to a higher shelf and picked out a book. He handed it to her with a small smile. “Is this the one you’re looking for?”

  Yumio’s eyes widened as she read the title—Sense and Sensibility.

  “Yes!” she said brightly. “That’s exactly it! How did you know?”

  He shrugged lightly. “Lucky guess.”

  “Thank you,” she said, her smile gentle but sincere.

  “No problem,” Liam replied, handing her another book—The Odyssey. “You’ll need this too.”

  Before she could respond, he gave a small wave and turned to leave. “See you around, Princess.”

  Yumio blinked in surprise as he walked away. She looked down at the books in her hands—and noticed that The Odyssey had a small lump beneath the cover.

  Curious, she opened it.

  Her breath caught.

  Inside, tucked neatly between the pages, was her heart-shaped locket.

  Her eyes widened as she held it carefully. My locket…? How did he—?

  It must have fallen the night of the ball, after Mia called for her.

  She looked back toward the door, where Liam had just disappeared into the crowd outside, a small smile playing on her lips.

  “Truly a mystery,” she whispered.

  “Mio! We were looking for you!” Sevan called, waving as Yumio emerged from one of the aisles.

  Yumio turned, smiling softly. “Hey, sorry. I got a little carried away.”

  “Did you find what you were looking for?” Chasey asked, leaning curiously over the stack of books in Yumio’s arms.

  Yumio nodded and walked toward the counter. As she placed her books down, something near the register caught her eye—a small, leather-bound volume with gilded edges and a slightly visible title. Intrigued, she picked it up.

  “I’ll take this one, too,” she told the clerk, slipping it onto the pile.

  After paying, she stepped outside to find the girls waiting for her beneath the shade of a flowering tree.

  “Sorry for the wait,” she said, a little sheepish.

  “Don’t be,” Evelyn replied with a wave. “Willow also took ages in the fantasy section.”

  Yumio chuckled. “What did you find this time, Willow?”

  Willow lifted a small shopping bag, her eyes sparkling. “I found the Myriantha Series and Dasoneira Adventures!”

  Yumio raised an eyebrow, smiling. “Didn’t I already give you my extra copy of the Myriantha Series? And isn’t Dasoneira Adventures a children’s book?”

  “Yeah,” Willow admitted, giggling. “But I just wanted to see if they had the full collection here. And Dasoneira Adventures was written by the same author as Myriantha! You know how much I love her work.”

  “Fair enough,” Yumio said with a soft laugh. “You really are loyal to your favorites.”

  “So,” Shayne said, stretching her arms, “where to next?”

  “How about the mall?” Yuina suggested.

  Everyone nodded in agreement, but Yumio hesitated, glancing back toward the bookstore-lined street.

  “Actually,” she said, “do you mind if I stay here for a while?”

  Akari turned to her. “Are you sure? We can wait.”

  Yumio shook her head gently. “It’s alright. I’m just… fascinated by this place. A whole street full of books.” Her gaze softened as she looked down the road toward the end, where an elegant building with glass windows stood—the library Willow mentioned earlier. “I’ll stay there for a bit. You’ll know where to find me.”

  Ariana frowned slightly, concern in her voice. “Will you be alright, Mio?”

  Yumio smiled reassuringly. “I’ll be fine, Ria. Don’t worry.”

  Willow grinned, stepping beside her. “You’ll love their library. It’s peaceful, and they even have a little canteen—snacks, tea, the works.”

  “That sounds nice,” Yumio said, her eyes gleaming with quiet excitement. “I’ll definitely check it out.”

  As Yumio stepped through the glass doors of the Storylight Library, she stopped in her tracks, her breath catching in awe.

  From the outside, the building looked modest—its white stone fa?ade adorned only with creeping ivy and golden lettering. But inside, it was a world of its own.

  Warm amber lights hung from chandeliers shaped like blooming flowers, illuminating rows upon rows of books that seemed to stretch endlessly toward the high arched ceiling. The scent of paper, ink, and faint vanilla filled the air—a comforting aroma that reminded Yumio of rainy afternoons spent reading beside a window.

  She smiled to herself. “It’s so beautiful…” she whispered under her breath.

  To her left, a cozy canteen buzzed softly with quiet chatter. People sat on cushioned seats, sipping tea or coffee, their tables littered with open books and notebooks. She approached the counter and ordered a cup of chamomile tea and a slice of strawberry shortcake. The barista handed it over with a warm smile.

  “Enjoy your stay, miss. The tables by the classic section are quieter if you want to read.”

  “Thank you,” Yumio replied, her voice almost musical.

  Carrying her tray, she wandered through the aisles until she found a table nestled between towering shelves labeled Classic Literature. It was perfect—secluded but not lonely, with a soft glow from the nearby reading lamp. She placed her books down, adjusted her glasses, and began flipping through one of her purchases—The Odyssey.

  She was halfway through a passage when someone sat down across from her. The sound of the chair sliding made her glance up briefly, but seeing that the person seemed preoccupied, she paid no mind and continued reading.

  Then came a familiar voice.

  “What an amazing coincidence this is!”

  Her heart skipped. Yumio looked up sharply—and there he was.

  Liam.

  Her mind scrambled for words. “What are you doing here?” she asked, trying to sound calm, though her pulse betrayed her.

  Liam chuckled softly, leaning back in his seat. “This is one of my favorite places to chill. I come here to read when I need to clear my head. Didn’t expect to find you here, though.”

  Yumio frowned slightly but nodded. “I didn’t expect you either.”

  There was a moment of quiet between them before she remembered something—her locket.

  “How… how was my locket with you?” she asked, her tone more curious than accusing.

  Liam raised his hands slightly. “Relax, Princess. I didn’t steal it,” he said with a teasing grin. “You dropped it that night when you left the balcony. I picked it up so it wouldn’t get lost.”

  Yumio blinked, realizing he was telling the truth. “Oh.” Her cheeks warmed. “Then… thank you. I thought I lost it forever.”

  Liam smiled, a softer one this time. “Wouldn’t let something that important just disappear, would I?”

  She quickly looked down to hide the blush creeping up her neck. To distract herself, she reached into her bag and pulled out the book she’d picked up earlier.

  “Here,” she said, handing it to him.

  Liam raised an eyebrow as he took it. “What’s this?”

  “It’s the book you were looking for, right? The one you mentioned before?”

  He unwrapped it slowly—and his eyes lit up when he saw the title.

  “Antony and Cleopatra,” he said, smiling. “You found it.”

  “I thought you might want it,” Yumio said, shyly tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

  Liam’s smirk returned. “You really are full of surprises, Princess.”

  She smiled faintly. “Just thought it’d be nice to return the favor.”

  The two of them sat quietly after that, each lost in their reading. Occasionally, Yumio stole glances at him—how he looked so absorbed in the text, the way the afternoon light softened his features. It was… unsettling how calm and warm this felt.

  When Yumio finished The Odyssey, she stood up to browse more titles. Liam noticed her leaving and, after a moment, followed.

  “What are you looking for?” he asked as he caught up.

  “A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens,” she replied, scanning the higher shelves.

  “Hmm… I think it’s on the upper rack,” Liam said, standing on tiptoe to check.

  “Wait! I think I see it—”

  “There!” they both said at once, reaching for the same spot.

  Their hands brushed.

  Time seemed to freeze. Their faces were inches apart, the space between them charged with a strange, delicate tension. Yumio could feel her heart racing wildly in her chest, her breath caught in her throat. Liam’s expression softened, his usual smirk fading as their eyes met.

  She quickly pulled her hand back. “S-sorry,” she muttered, stepping away.

  He cleared his throat and grabbed the book, holding it out to her. “Here. You wanted this.”

  “Th-thanks…” she stuttered, her cheeks pink.

  “You’re… welcome,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

  The silence that followed was almost comical. They returned to their seats, both pretending to read but neither truly focusing.

  Yumio peeked at him again, then said softly, “You know… you’re kind of a mystery, Liam.”

  Liam looked up, his lips curling into that familiar teasing smile. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing about you, Princess.”

  Her blush deepened. She quickly looked away, pressing her hand to her chest.

  Why is my heart beating so fast…?

  Liam watched her from the corner of his eye, his own thoughts racing.

  What’s happening to me…?