The soft rustle of silk robes. The faint clink of porcelain. Morning sunlight spilled across the polished wood like golden threads weaving warmth into the walls.
Ryo stepped into the dining hall quietly, his footsteps silent — but his heart thundered with a strange rhythm.
And there they were.
The two girls who were once his world, and in this second life, would be again.
Crystal.
She sat with her back straight, posture elegant as a sword on display. Her long jet-silver hair shimmered like midnight silk, tied in a high ponytail that swayed with the grace of a falling snowflake. A single silver ribbon held it in place, glinting in the light like a strand of moonlight.
Her robe — a shade between frosted blue and pale silver — hugged her slender frame with dignified restraint, flowing like water frozen in motion. Not a wrinkle. Not a flaw.
But it was her face that truly stole breath.
Delicate and refined. Her skin pale like fresh snow. Lips soft but always set in a faint frown of disapproval. And those eyes — sharp, narrowed, piercing blue — as if she could slice through your soul without lifting her sword.
She was beautiful. Unapproachable. Icy.
The kind of girl whose gaze could silence a room — and never even know it.
Then there was Lily.
Cuddled into the cushions with a bun in her cheek and joy on her face, she was the very opposite of her older sister. If Crystal was winter, Lily was spring.
Her short honey-brown hair was tied in playful twin buns, with little pink ribbons that bounced with every giggle. Her round cheeks were soft and rosy, dusted with the warmth of youth. And her big, golden-brown eyes sparkled with the innocence of someone who had never known a bad day.
Her robes were a swirl of yellow, peach, and soft pink, patterned with flowers and stitched with butterflies — all slightly wrinkled from her constant moving.
She looked like she'd been born from sunlight itself.
And her smile… gods, that smile. One glance could melt the anger of a storm.
She was adorable. Pure. Irresistibly cuddly.
Ryo stared at them both, hidden behind the doorframe — and for a moment, his throat tightened.
Ten years.
Ten years since he'd seen this.
Ten years since he felt this warmth.
Then—
"You're late," Crystal said flatly, without even looking up. Her voice was as cold and smooth as polished glass.
"Late!" Lily echoed dramatically, puffing out her cheeks. "Onii-chan, I saved you a seat and everything!"
Ryo stepped in, lips tugging into a smirk.
He had promised himself he wouldn't break again.
So instead… he teased.
"Well, well," he said lightly, "still acting like a sculpture, Ice Queen?"
Crystal's eyes flicked toward him, her expression blank. "Still acting like a clown, I see."
He sat beside her, unbothered. "You missed me. I can tell by how violently you're not smiling."
"I missed silence."
He chuckled. She hadn't changed.
And neither had Lily.
"Onii-chaaan~!" she squealed, leaping onto him without hesitation. Her small arms wrapped around his neck like a scarf. "You're finally up! I thought you died in your sleep!"
"Tempting," he muttered, ruffling her hair. Her soft scent — like sweet rice and peaches — hit him. "But who'd protect you from the veggie monsters?"
"Ehh!?" She glanced at her bowl. "Mamaaa! There's green stuff in here!"
Scarlett's voice called from the kitchen, laughing. "Eat your greens, Lily-bug!"
Lily groaned dramatically. "I've been betrayed…"
Crystal sighed. "You spoil her too much."
"She's small and loud," Ryo said, leaning into Lily's hug with a calm smile. "At least one of my sisters shows affection."
Crystal didn't respond.
But her gaze lingered a little longer than it should've.
Scarlett walked in then, glowing in soft pink silk, and the table felt complete.
"It's nice, all of us at the table again," she said warmly. "It's been too long."
Ryo picked up his spoon slowly.
Too long?
No.
It's been an entire lifetime.