Something small and black scurried at my feet.
A rat, I realized. I didn't hate them or anything, but I still instinctively jerked away.
But I lost my footing and slipped.
In the entrance hall to the mansion was an exceptionally long staircase. To make matters even worse, I was at the top step.
It would be inexcusable if I were to fall down them.
I reflexively grabbed at the railing, but in vain; my fingertips only met air.
I blanked out, closing my eyes and tensing for the sharp pain I knew would be coming.
But then I realized someone had grabbed me from behind.

"...are you all right?"

The voice came from right beside me.
Opening my eyes, I saw black pupils staring at me.
Watching in silence, intellectual features.
Androgynous; it was difficult to tell whether this was a man or a woman from appearances alone.
It was one of the inhabitants of this isolated mansion. Thin arms held me up.

"Good; you don't seem to be injured."

At the worried statement, my cheeks flushed crimson.
At any rate, our cheeks were too close. A little closer, and that straight black hair would brush against my face.
Suppressing my wildly-beating heart, I hastily put some distance between us, almost jumping back.
Muttering words of thanks, the back of my neck bright red as I cast my eyes downwards, I half-ran down the stairs.
In the stillness of the early afternoon, the wall clock's chime rang out, as if it had only just remembered to.


After the housekeeper left, the dark-haired person who had helped her―Sera Kaoru―pondered her reaction and thought, puzzled, "Maybe she's shy."


Having watched the entire scene from the floor above, the child in black paused.
On that face was a sardonic smile that was wise beyond its years.


Watching, as if with eyes half closed.