Morning came gently to Laterano. Not rushed. Not lazy either. The sun peeked politely from behind the church towers, spilling light onto the white buildings that sparkled like clean porcelain.
Inside a small but well-kept house, a pink-haired little girl sat up on her bed and let out a loud yawn. Her tiny arms stretched high into the air, and the small wings on her back gave a little flap from the movement.
"Ugh… Morning already?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes.
Exu—that's what she was called now—had lived in this body for years. Since she was a baby. So, even though deep inside she carried memories from a much longer life, she was already used to being a child in this winged world. It didn't feel weird anymore. In fact, she kind of liked it.
Waking up in a clean place like this was way better than a blaring office alarm or a neighbor yelling because their Wi-Fi went down.
The bedroom door creaked open. She could hear familiar footsteps approaching.
"Morning, Exu. You got up on your own? Impressive," said the voice—gentle, but cheerful.
Lemuen—her big sister. Or more accurately, the one who held the title of "sister" in the somewhat fuzzy Sankta family structure. The honey-brown-haired teen carried a brush and a small piece of bread in her hands.
"Of course. I'm a responsible kid," Exu replied casually, hopping off the bed. "No need to brush me today—I'm already naturally cute."
Lemuen let out a soft laugh. "Still messy, though. Sit down. I'll help."
Exu didn't argue. She plopped down on a short stool, swinging her legs while Lemuen stood behind her and began brushing her hair gently.
"So... are you excited for school today?" Lemuen asked while smoothing out the strands.
"Hmm... honestly? Not really. But I am curious how many kids have weird hairstyles like mine."
"You said that last week too."
"And I'm still curious, sis."
Lemuen shook her head with a smile. "Figures."
Their breakfast was simple: bread, light soup, and juice. Lemuen sat across the table, scanning a list of tasks from her office while occasionally glancing at Exu, who was spreading butter on her bread with the focus of someone solving a global puzzle.
"Want me to walk you to school?" Lemuen asked.
"Sure, but don't hug me at the gate," Exu replied without looking up. "It'll ruin my rep."
Lemuen chuckled. "Rep as what?"
"As the coolest kid in class, obviously."
The path to school was paved with white stones, winding through small gardens full of soft-colored flowers. A few other Sankta children passed by—some walking calmly, some gliding low in the air with their tiny wings fluttering gently.
Lemuen walked beside Exu. Their hands didn't hold, but they stayed close enough to bump into each other now and then.
"Made any new friends this week?" Lemuen asked, watching Exu hop a little as she walked.
"Hmm... a few kids asked me to play, but they're kinda... too well-behaved."
Lemuen tilted her head. "Too well-behaved?"
"Yeah. They wouldn't even step on the grass, and there wasn't even a 'keep off the grass' sign."
Lemuen laughed softly. "You really are something else."
"I'm not that different. Just... normal, with a little extra flexibility."
The school gates were now in sight. Exu stopped for a moment, gazing at the building that looked like a mix between a monastery and a college lecture hall. She took a deep breath.
"Alright. Time for this week's performance."
Lemuen tilted her head. "Performance?"
"Being the sweet and obedient little kid. That's my role for the week."
"If you ever feel tired, don't force it."
Exu turned and gave her a bright smile. "I'm not tired. I just like to complain a bit so it sounds realistic."
Lemuen stepped closer, straightening Exu's collar. Her gaze was gentle, her eyes holding something unspoken.
"If anything happens, tell me, okay?"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Best sister ever."
Lemuen smiled softly, then leaned down and kissed the top of Exu's head before she could dodge.
"Hey!"
"Have a great day at school, Exu."
Exu walked through the gates, waving her hand without looking back.
Her steps were light, her shoulders relaxed, and her small wings moved slowly with every step.
Living as Exusiai wasn't part of the original plan. But that didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it.
After all, this world was pretty interesting. And she was curious to see who she'd meet this week.