Standing nearby was Arakan, his silver hair spilling out from under his woolen hat as he stood quietly, his eyes scanning the passing students. His calm demeanor made him stand out, but Aoi noticed the faint wag of his tail beneath his clothes and grinned. Girls were chattering about him.
The sound of a bike pulling up caught her attention, and her whole face lit up. "Onii-chan!" she exclaimed, darting forward.
I parked my bike, running a hand through my white hair as I got off. Before I could even fully straighten, Aoi rushed into my arms, hugging me tightly.
"Aoi!" I laughed, catching her easily and spinning her in a circle. "Hey there, how was school?"
"It was fun!" Aoi giggled, burying her face in my chest. "But guess what? I met someone new!"
As I set her down, her excited energy was contagious. She pointed toward Arakan, who was now watching us curiously. I followed her gesture, my brows furrowing slightly as I studied the boy.
