Yuuto stepped back, his body still unsteady, trying to distance himself.
But Honoka stepped forward again, without hesitation.
"H-Honoka, wait!"
Umi immediately grabbed Honoka's wrist, her face tense.
"Calm down… you're just scaring him," Umi whispered sharply, watching Yuuto carefully.
Kotori followed, gently patting Honoka's shoulder before stepping forward as well.
She leaned forward slightly, her expression soft.
"Don't be afraid…"
Kotori spoke in the gentlest voice.
"We won't hurt you."
Yuuto could only stare at the three of them—confused, scared, lost.
His mind was scattered.
"What am I doing…?
Why am I here…?
Why are there humans…?
And… who am I…?"
The thoughts spun like a storm.
But then—
a different voice appeared.
A voice Yuuto recognized immediately.
"Yuuto. Calm yourself.
You're not them.
You don't need to carry their sins."
The voice washed through Yuuto's mind like a warm breeze.
His breathing began to steady.
His eyes stopped trembling.
His identity… slowly returned.
When he lifted his head, he saw a small, pale, gentle hand reaching toward him.
Kotori's hand.
For a moment, another memory appeared in his mind:
"Take my hand."
Miku's voice from his memory.
Yuuto gave a faint, small smile.
He raised his hand and took Kotori's.
Kotori unconsciously held his hand tighter.
Yuuto slowly stood and brushed off the dust from his torn jacket.
"I'm sorry… for startling you three."
The three girls froze.
Because when Yuuto smiled—despite his torn clothes—
his smile looked like a piece of art.
Honoka stopped struggling.
Umi, who had been holding Honoka, froze for a split second.
Kotori still held Yuuto's hand—tightening her grip without realizing it.
A few seconds passed…
"…Um… young lady, could you let go of my hand?"
Yuuto said quietly.
Kotori jerked in surprise.
"S-sorry!"
She quickly let go, her face red to her ears.
Umi loosened her grip, and Honoka immediately dashed forward.
"Hey! Are you a fairy!?"
"H-Honoka!"
Umi chased after her in panic.
But when she got close to Yuuto, Umi suddenly stopped.
"…this scent…?"
Honoka and Kotori noticed it too.
It wasn't perfume.
It wasn't the scent of flowers.
It was the scent of nature.
And it came from Yuuto's body.
Yuuto exhaled slightly.
"Hmmm… before answering that, I should confirm something first."
He raised one hand, palm facing the ground.
Then—
Click.
His finger snap echoed softly.
The ground beneath them lit up.
Intricate symbols appeared, forming a magic circle of soft green mixed with gold.
Honoka, Umi, and Kotori gasped.
"W-w-what is this!?"
Umi panicked, looking around.
"It's so beautiful…" Kotori whispered, her eyes sparkling.
"This… this is magic! Real magic, Umi-chan, Kotori-chan…!"
Honoka shouted joyfully.
Yuuto observed their expressions—
fear… wonder… but no hatred.
For some reason, he really liked their expressions.
Yuuto found himself wanting to play with them.
He gave a faint smile.
The circle slowly faded…
Its light sank back into the ground.
The four stood silently for a few seconds, until Yuuto finally spoke in a calm, gentle tone.
"Well… it's done."
The three girls looked at him at the same time.
Yuuto smiled slightly.
"Alright. You want to know whether I'm a fairy or not, right?
Why don't we sit down first?"
Honoka, Kotori, and Umi exchanged glances.
"Um… sit where?" Kotori asked nervously.
"Here."
Yuuto pointed at the ground they stood on.
"H-here?" Umi repeated, her voice rising suspiciously.
Click.
Yuuto snapped again—light but echoing faintly into the ground.
Suddenly, small roots around the warehouse began to move, crawling closer like living creatures.
"W-w-what is that…" Umi stepped back half a step, face pale.
"Whoooa…" Honoka leaned forward, amazed.
The roots grew larger, rising…
Until they formed curved shapes—
like chairs.
"Well then, the seats are ready. Please sit down, ladies."
Honoka didn't think twice—she jumped onto the root-chair immediately.
"Honoka-chan is so fast…" Kotori murmured, but she climbed on too, eyes shining.
Umi stayed frozen, swallowing hard.
But when Honoka and Kotori looked at her together, Umi surrendered—climbing up and sitting stiffly between them, back straight, face tense.
Honoka leaned forward.
"So, mister… you're really a fairy, right?!" she asked excitedly.
Yuuto lifted his hand gently, signaling them to calm down.
"Relax, young lady. Before I talk about myself… how about you introduce yourselves first?"
Then—Yuuto tapped his foot on the ground once.
Klak.
From the point of impact, the ground rippled slightly…
then a small tree sprouted, growing quickly—forming a backrest and seat like a living wooden chair.
Yuuto sat on the tree-chair, as if it was natural.
The three girls stared, stunned, mouths slightly open.
Only then did they realize—
"A-alright, then… I'll go first! My name is Honoka Kosaka!" Honoka said while raising her hand cheerfully.
Kotori bowed politely.
"I'm Kotori Minami. Nice to meet you, fairy-san."
Umi bit her lip, resigned.
'Please don't curse us by knowing our names…' she thought hopelessly.
"…my name is Umi Sonoda," she finally said softly.
Yuuto smiled gently.
"Your names are beautiful."
Suddenly, a thick root crawled toward them, carrying a wrapped package at its tip—like a hand presenting something.
The three froze.
Yuuto took the package from the bowing root.
"Thank you for delivering it."
The root swayed lightly before returning to the ground.
Yuuto looked at them.
"Do you mind if I eat first? I haven't eaten anything since morning."
"N-no… please go ahead…" Kotori said quickly.
"Go ahead!" Honoka added enthusiastically.
"…yes, go ahead," Umi said, still tense.
Yuuto opened the package—simple food—then began eating quickly.
Yet even at that speed, his movements were neat, calm, without looking rude at all.
Kotori covered her mouth.
"H-he eats so fast…"
Honoka sparkled as if witnessing a miracle.
"He's so cool!!"
Umi watched with mixed awe and confusion.
"…how can someone eat that fast but still look elegant…"
Meanwhile Yuuto continued eating, unaware of how amazing he looked to them.
Yuuto exhaled lightly after swallowing the last bite.
"Alright… so you want to know if I'm a fairy or not?"
Honoka immediately leaned forward and nodded rapidly like a child seeing fireworks.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"H-Honoka…"
Umi pulled her arm, trying to calm her.
Kotori simply stared at Yuuto with big glowing eyes, like she was seeing a living fairytale.
Yuuto smiled softly at their different reactions.
He turned to Honoka.
"Why do you think I'm a fairy?"
Honoka blinked fast.
"Eh… maybe… a feeling!?"
Yuuto held back a small laugh, then looked at Kotori.
"And you? Do you think I'm a fairy too?"
Kotori shook her head slightly.
"Me? I don't think you're a fairy…"
"Oh? Then what do you think I am?"
Kotori put two fingers under her chin, pondering.
"…maybe… a magician?"
Then he turned to the girl in the middle—Umi.
"And you? What do you think I am?"
Umi flinched.
"I-I… I s-see you… a-as a human!"
Her voice rose and fell, clearly nervous and lying.
Yuuto tilted his head slightly.
His new eyes glimmered faintly—like reading something.
"…"
Honoka leaned forward.
"Umi, you're lying."
"W-what do you mean, Honoka!? I-I'm not lying!"
Umi's voice shook.
Kotori added gently but sharply:
"Umi-chan, your eyes definitely saw him as something other than human, right?"
"Kotori! I-I… of course he's human! H-how could I see him as… as a knight… or… a prince…"
Honoka and Kotori froze.
"…Knight?" Honoka repeated slowly.
"…Prince?" Kotori echoed, eyes widening.
Both girls looked at Umi at the same time.
"Umi-chan… we never said he's a prince…" Kotori said.
"Or a knight…" Honoka added.
"Umi… don't tell me… you—"
Umi covered her mouth with her hand.
Her face turned red instantly.
She was exposed.
"Y-yes! Fine! I-I really did see him as… a p-prince… and… a k-knight…" she said in defeat, cheeks burning.
Yuuto watched all that and smiled.
A smile that wasn't arrogant—
more like he found a new form of entertainment.
He slowly stood from his seat.
His steps were light as he approached them…
or more precisely, approached Umi sitting in the middle.
Honoka and Kotori held their breath.
Yuuto leaned forward slightly, his face just inches from Umi's.
Yuuto raised his hand, two fingers gently lifting Umi's chin.
"Ohh… so that's it?
So you see me as a knight… and a prince?"
Umi's breath hitched.
"U-um…"
Honoka covered her mouth with both hands.
Kotori held her own cheeks, face turning red.
Yuuto smiled warmly—beautiful and captivating.
"So… you're a girl who likes fairy tales…"
"…and dreams of her knight, huh?"
Umi's cheeks turned bright red.
Her whole body stiffened.
Yuuto slowly let go of her chin and stepped back.
With a light motion, Yuuto bent one knee, lowering himself until he was level with Honoka, Kotori, and Umi sitting on the large root.
His left foot stayed firm on the ground, his right knee bent.
His waist leaned forward slightly.
"Let me introduce myself.
I am a knight from a faraway utopia…
A fae knight of Vivian.
My name… is Melusine."
He bowed gracefully like a knight presenting himself to high nobility.
Then smoothly, he reached for Umi's hand…
…and lowered his head.
"Pleased to meet you… my princesses."
Yuuto kissed the back of Umi's hand politely.
Umi nearly fainted.
Honoka squeaked loudly.
Kotori shook like a malfunctioning fan.
The scene was too beautiful—
and too deadly—
for three ordinary high school girls.