The setting sun slowly sank below the horizon, painting the clouds with a soft orange-red hue. The afterglow spilled onto the school gates of Isabeid Special School, as if draping the school in a warm golden cloak. The gates were crafted from rustic oak, their frames covered in intricate runes, each line faintly radiating a magical glow, like a pair of guardian hands quietly protecting every child within the campus.

  Outside the gates, a cobblestone path stretched out, flanked by tall trees with dense foliage. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground, like a delicate shadow dance. The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass, trees and earth, naturally relaxing the mind, and bringing forth a sense of gentle tranquility.

  Isabeid Special School was unlike any ordinary school. It was designed for children with special needs, such as students with magic allergies or other unique physical conditions. The entire campus was surrounded by layers of magical barriers, isolating it from the magic in the atmosphere and providing a safe learning and living space for these children.

  In the open space outside the campus, several beast-eared girls were sweeping the ground. The sunlight shone on their furry ears and swaying tails, adding a touch of liveliness to the peaceful scene.

  One of the beast-eared girls gently put down her broom, her gaze falling on the two people standing outside the school gate.

  Her tail swayed gently in the breeze, and her beast ears twitched from time to time, as if expressing her inner joy.

  "Tetsuya, is it your turn to pick up Miyo from school today?"

  She approached with a bright smile, her eyes shining with warmth.

  "Yeah," Tetsuya replied with his usual cheerful smile, nodding.

  Donnie's gaze fell on the girl beside him, and she tilted her head curiously. "Who's this?"

  Tetsuya introduced her, "This is Hinano, my childhood friend."

  Then he turned to Hinano and added with a smile, "This is Donnie, a school staff member."

  Hinano nodded slightly, replying politely, "Nice to meet you, Miss Donnie. My name is Suzuki Hinano. Tetsuya and I have known each other since childhood, and we attend the same school now."

  Her tone was gentle and polite, and her demeanor was graceful.

  "Wow!"

  Donnie's eyes widened in surprise, and in the next second, the broom in her hand clattered to the ground.

  "You're so polite!! And... so cute!"

  She clenched her hands into excited fists, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Hinano, her voice full of surprise. "Completely different from the friends Tetsuya brought before!"

  "Huh?!"

  Hinano was startled by her sudden reaction, her cheeks instantly flushing red, and she lowered her gaze, flustered.

  Donnie pulled Tetsuya aside, leaned close to his ear, and whispered, "You have to cherish her, you know?"

  "Of course, Hinano is a very important friend of mine," Tetsuya replied naturally, with a simple smile, completely missing her hint.

  "Huh?" Donnie was taken aback, her tail freezing mid-sway.

  Hinano, seemingly sensing something, suddenly asked, "Tetsuya, who were 'the friends before'?"

  "Oh... it was Hirohito," Tetsuya smiled, recalling the past. "When he came before, he kept praising Donnie was cute, and even called her—"

  At this point, he seemed to realize something, and his voice suddenly stopped, but it was too late.

  "Meow-meow—"

  Before he could finish, Donnie's beast ears instantly perked up, and her tail twitched stiffly.

  Bam!

  Her fist landed squarely on Tetsuya's head, making a dull thud.

  "I told you, don't mention it again," Donnie said, hands on her hips, her tone a little helpless, her eyes slightly narrowed.

  "Ouch, ouch...!" Tetsuya rubbed his sore forehead, tears welling up in his eyes. "But Hirohito really didn't mean any harm..."

  Just as Donnie was about to say something, Hinano's gaze suddenly stopped on a silver-white figure at the school gate, her voice filled with a hint of doubt. "Is that... Miyo-chan?"

  At the school gate, a female teacher was gently holding the hand of a silver-white short twin-tailed girl, walking out slowly.

  The girl was petite, her fair skin glowing faintly in the afternoon sunlight. She was clutching a wooden staff, its head carved with delicate runes. Her head was lowered, and the breeze gently lifted her soft silver-white hair.

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  Tetsuya turned to the school gate, a soft joy flashing in his eyes, his voice natural and light. "Miyo!"

  Hinano nodded slightly to Donnie, then hurried forward, keeping pace with Tetsuya. Donnie strolled over, her beast ears twitching quietly, and her tail swaying slightly, as if expressing her pleasant mood.

  Hearing her brother's call, Miyo, who had been standing quietly beside the teacher, paused slightly, then let go of the teacher's hand and ran towards Tetsuya without hesitation!

  "Brother!"

  Her voice was crisp and cheerful, like a kitten eager to jump into her owner's arms.

  "Careful—!" Tetsuya exclaimed.

  In the next second, the small figure had crashed into his arms, her delicate fingers clinging tightly to his clothes.

  Tetsuya sighed softly, helplessly but fondly stroking her soft silver-white hair, his voice gentle. "Be careful, what if you fall?"

  But Miyo didn't respond.

  She simply buried herself in her brother's arms, as if immersed in this warm sense of security, her soft breaths rising and falling gently.

  After a moment, she seemed to sense something, slowly loosening her grip on her brother's clothes, and then turned to jump into Hinano's arms, who had just arrived—

  "Hinano-neechan! Long time no see!! I missed you so much!"

  The sudden weight caught Hinano off guard, and she staggered, falling to the ground.

  "Eh—?!"

  She paused, then couldn't help but chuckle, gently patting Miyo's head, and brushing off the dust on her clothes. "Miyo-chan, it's been a long time. I missed you too. You've grown so much!"

  Miyo smiled happily at her words, and Hinano took her hand, helping her to her feet.

  Tetsuya couldn't help but sigh, arms crossed. "Sigh... I just told you to be careful, and you immediately jumped again..."

  At this moment, Hinano suddenly remembered something and asked curiously, "By the way, Miyo-chan, how did you know it was me?"

  Miyo tilted her head slightly, a naive smile on her lips. "I saw it."

  Tetsuya and Hinano exchanged glances, blurting out in unison, "Saw it?"

  Miyo nodded, her voice soft and calm. "I can see everyone's magic. It's like different colored flames, and everyone's is different."

  "Huh?! Why haven't you ever told me this?!" Tetsuya's eyes widened in shock.

  Miyo looked a little troubled, sighing softly. "Because I only started seeing it clearly recently... Before, all the colors were overlapping, and it made my head spin, so I didn't say anything."

  She gently raised her head, as if "seeing" Hinano, a familiar smile on her lips. "Hinano-neechan's magic is still that warm golden color."

  Hinano paused, then smiled. "Golden, huh?"

  Tetsuya rubbed his chin, unable to resist asking, "What about mine?"

  Miyo replied without hesitation, "Brother's is weird, like two dirty colors mixed together, so it's easy to tell. It feels like the color a big bad guy would have."

  "A big bad guy...?!"

  Tetsuya's expression instantly froze.

  Hinano couldn't help but laugh, her shoulders shaking slightly as she tried to suppress her laughter, but she still let out a muffled chuckle. "Pfft..."

  Just as they were chatting, Donnie, who had just approached, suddenly bent down, wrapped her arms around Miyo from behind, and gently lifted her up, carefully supporting her small waist, and pulling her into her soft embrace.

  "Little Miyo, did you miss me after just half a day?"

  Her voice was gentle, her tail lightly brushing the air, and her ears twitching slightly, clearly in a good mood.

  However, Miyo's little brows furrowed slightly, her tone carrying a hint of protest. "Miss Donnie, p-please put me down..."

  "Nope~" Donnie ignored her request, hugging her even tighter, rubbing her cheek against Miyo's like she was rubbing against a kitten. "This face is so smooth and soft, the more I look at it, the cuter it gets! I really don't want to let go!"

  Miyo looked a little lost, poking her head out and glaring at Tetsuya with her big watery eyes, muttering softly, "Brother... Hinano-neechan... help me..."

  Hinano couldn't help but laugh, gently patting Tetsuya's shoulder, signaling him to step in.

  Tetsuya sighed, "Alright, alright, Donnie, let go! Miyo is going to get really angry if you keep this up."

  "Aww, why do I get such different treatment?" Donnie pouted, but reluctantly put Miyo back on the ground, ruffling her silver-white hair.

  Back on the ground, Miyo's face flushed red as she quietly hid behind Tetsuya and Hinano, her fingers clutching Tetsuya's shirt, like a startled rabbit.

  Donnie, watching the scene, suddenly smiled, winking as she said teasingly, "You three look just like a family when you stand together."

  "Miss Donnie!!"

  Hinano's face instantly turned as red as a ripe apple, her voice a mix of shyness and annoyance.

  Donnie just laughed, wagging her tail, enjoying the heartwarming moment.

  The teacher standing nearby smiled as well, "If only Miyo were as lively in class as she is now."

  Miyo's ears turned slightly pink as she lowered her head shyly, as if her secret thoughts had been exposed.

  Her fingers twisted the edge of her skirt, and she looked timidly at the teacher, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "I'll try my best..."

  Hinano couldn't help but reach out and stroke her silver-white hair, her voice gentle, "Miyo-chan is still shy, isn't she?"

  Miyo's fingers pinched the hem of her clothes, like a shy little animal, a stark contrast to her earlier liveliness.

  The teacher looked at them, smiling softly, her voice gentle, "Be careful on your way home."

  On the way home, a gentle breeze blew, dusk gradually coloring the distant sky, and the afterglow of the setting sun cast a warm light on the cobblestone path.

  Miyo held Tetsuya's hand lightly, her steps slower than usual, occasionally limping.

  Hinano noticed her odd gait, bending down slightly, her voice filled with concern, "Miyo-chan, why are you limping? Did you hurt your foot?"

  Miyo lowered her head, her fingertips nervously twisting her skirt, looking a little embarrassed, "During PE class today... I bumped into something..."

  "Huh?!" Hinano immediately crouched down to check her injury. Fortunately, it wasn't serious, just a little red and swollen, with no visible external injuries. She breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good... it's not too serious."

  Tetsuya frowned slightly, a hint of worry in his eyes, "Won't it be dangerous for you to have PE class if you can't see?"

  Miyo raised her head, her silver-white twin tails swaying gently with the movement, a small smile on her lips, "It's okay! And I learned a little wooden sword, it's really fun!"

  Her voice was light, as if she didn't care about it at all.

  But Tetsuya frowned even more at her words. He was silent for a moment, then suddenly crouched down, reaching out to gently ruffle her hair, "Come on, let your brother carry you home today."

  "Eh?!"

  Miyo's ears instantly turned a faint pink, as if she hadn't expected to be treated like this.

  "No! It's... it's too embarrassing!" She blushed, waving her hands in a panic, trying to push Tetsuya away.

  But Tetsuya didn't give her a chance to refuse, his voice gentle but firm, "You're tired today, and you hurt your foot. Don't push yourself, be good."

  With that, he turned around and picked her up, carrying her steadily on his back.

  "Eh...!" Miyo tried to struggle, but Tetsuya had already stood up effortlessly, walking steadily forward.

  Her hands gripped his collar tightly, her mouth still protesting softly, "Really... this is so embarrassing..."

  However, as her brother's warm body temperature seeped through her clothes, her tense hands gradually relaxed.

  Leaning quietly on his back, the familiar sense of security enveloped her, and a faint smile crept onto her lips.

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