Snowflakes fell gradually, and the knife-like cold wind swept across the land.
Most people were now hiding in their warm homes, so there were almost no pedestrians on the road, and the whole world seemed empty and desolate.
"...The changes are quite significant."
Aozaki Touko, wearing a white shirt and black trousers, with her orange hair tied into a ponytail, walked slowly up the slope as if on an outing, taking in the surrounding scenery and comparing it to her hometown in her memories.
She continued walking until she reached halfway up the mountain.
She saw the house where she was born in this world.
It wasn't a classical Japanese building; instead, it was a modern two-story flat house, with a garage built next to it, specifically for her Father's car.
Hmm… a very ordinary family.
Probably just the level of an average middle-class family.
In any case, it didn't quite fit the image of a prestigious magical family.
—Ding-dong.
Pressing the doorbell. Aozaki Touko took out a suitcase from her Reality Marble, waiting with a gentle smile, like an ordinary girl returning home after a long absence.
Soon.
A slightly hurried patter of footsteps.
In a moment, the door was pushed open.
"Aoko, you've grown up."
Looking at the girl who came into view, Aozaki Touko exclaimed. The girl before her had grown a lot, with soft black hair falling to her waist, and her appearance had become even more beautiful, already a graceful beauty.
"...?"
A familiar, doting voice. Aozaki Aoko paused slightly upon hearing it, looking at the familiar yet somewhat strange person before her. Her black hair had turned orange, and her aura seemed more austere and self-possessed.
However, the tenderness in her eyes remained unchanged.
"Welcome back, Touko-nee."
Without another word, she hugged Aozaki Touko tightly, inhaling the familiar scent from her hair. That subtle sense of unfamiliarity dissipated like mist.
"I'm home."
Aozaki Touko raised her hand to stroke Aoko's long hair. However, this action seemed to trigger a switch; Aozaki Aoko's embrace tightened even more, her soft body pressing closely, as if she wanted to merge Aozaki Touko into her own body.
This was an outpouring of long-held longing.
It was also her small revenge as a younger sister.
"Touko-nee, it's been a long time."
"I'm sorry."
"Is that all?"
"I brought gifts back, you know."
"What is it?"
"Hmm, a doll made by your elder sister."
"I'm past the age for playing with dolls."
"This one is a little different."
Embracing each other like this, listening to Aozaki Touko's consistently gentle words, Aozaki Aoko's embrace gradually loosened. They just chatted quietly in low voices.
For Aozaki Aoko, what exactly was her elder sister's role?
In her tender childhood, Aozaki Touko, as her elder sister, was like a goddess descended from heaven, a symbol of omnipotence.
She would patiently tutor her with homework, and no matter how pressing her magical research was, she would always make time to be with her.
Every time it was her birthday, she would always give her surprising gifts, and at night, she would hold her and gently tell stories.
If anyone bullied her, she would retaliate like a lioness protecting her cub.
This… actually bordered on doting.
If her elder sister were a Mother, she would probably be the kind of doting Mother who spoils her child.
Aozaki Aoko sometimes thought that it was truly amazing that she hadn't been spoiled by her elder sister and become an unreasonable girl.
But no matter what.
She absolutely had no reason to dislike Touko-nee.
Nor did she have any reason not to like Touko-nee.
"Touko is back!"
A woman wearing an apron walked over, holding a spoon in her hand. Her eyes lit up with surprise as she looked at Aozaki Touko, then she quickly turned and ran towards the kitchen.
Soon, she rushed out somewhat hastily.
"It's so cold outside, come in quickly. Aoko, help your elder sister with the luggage."
She said with a surprised tone.
"Okay."
Aozaki Aoko picked up the suitcase placed by the door.
On the other side, Aozaki Touko and her Mother in this world came to the living room, chatting about family matters, like a normal family, appearing very warm and harmonious.
Time passed.
Outside, the house was enveloped in the darkness of night, and lights came on in the Aozaki Family home.
"Hmm… that monster I met in Germany, he was a vampire with six tails and seven legs. I fought him for seven hundred rounds with a holy sword, and finally defeated him after much struggle."
In the living room, Aozaki Touko propped her cheek, telling a story that even children wouldn't believe.
However, both her parents and Aoko listened with great interest, not because they didn't know Touko was rambling, but simply because it was rare family time, and they only wanted that warm atmosphere.
"As per tradition, elder sister, since you defeated a monster, did you get any equipment?"
Aozaki Aoko finished listening, squinting and smiling as she asked.
"Yes, I did. Because this equipment is pretty good, I picked some to bring back as gifts for you all."
Saying this, Aozaki Touko opened her suitcase and took out the gifts she had already prepared.
"This is for you, Father."
Handing over a car key, Aozaki Touko smiled and said, "But you'll have to go pick it up yourself."
"This is…!"
Taking the key, Aozaki Father's eyes widened, his hands trembling slightly. The style of this car key was definitely not for an ordinary vehicle; it was for a limited edition sedan, one of only fifty in the world.
Its value… probably over ten million.
This ten million was not Japanese Yen, nor Chinese Yuan,
but US Dollars.
"Husband, what's wrong?"
Aozaki Mother noticed her husband's unusual behavior and looked over curiously. Aoko also cast a curious glance.
They weren't interested in cars, so they naturally couldn't discern the value of the key.
"..."
Aozaki Father turned to look at Touko, who had a slender hand pressed to her lips, making a gesture of secrecy, and playfully winked, appearing very girlish.
Seeing this, Aozaki Father understood his daughter's intention: she wanted to give the family a big surprise when the car arrived.
"Nothing."
So, he feigned composure, shook his head, then got up and left the living room to go outside for a cigarette to calm down.
Today… the gift his daughter gave was simply too stimulating. He wouldn't calm down without smoking seven or eight cigarettes.
"..."
Seeing this, Aozaki Touko gave a wry smile, took out a large gift box from her suitcase, and placed it in front of Aozaki Mother. It landed with a heavy thud.
It was evident that the contents were quite heavy.
"Touko, what's inside?"
"Open it and see~"
Aozaki Touko smiled slightly.
Seeing this, Aozaki Mother carefully unwrapped the package, with Aoko watching beside her.
Soon, the gift box was opened.
Inside was a lady's pure white evening gown.
It reflected dazzling light under the lamp.
"Touko… tell Mother, what are these things set on this dress?!"
Seeing what was inside, Aozaki Mother's eyes gradually widened, her heart pounded uncontrollably, and her body felt weak. She vaguely recognized what was embedded in it.
At the door, Aozaki Father, hearing his wife's strange voice, also poked his head in to look.
"They are all diamonds, Mother. It's a diamond dress."
As her words fell, Aozaki Mother suddenly froze. The cigarette in Aozaki Father's mouth at the door dropped to the ground, and Aozaki Aoko's movements also stiffened.
"...Touko, don't joke around. Tell Mother, is this actually just ordinary glass?!"
Soon, Aozaki Mother calmed down, speaking with a slight tremor in her voice.
If it were an ordinary family, it would definitely be taken as a joke.
However, this person was her daughter, the future Magician, a prodigy in the path of magic. Doing such a thing was entirely possible.
Therefore, she appeared so flustered.
Because her daughter truly was capable of such exaggerated feats!
"No, every single one of these is a diamond!"
Aozaki Touko shook her head.
It was not a lie. She had opened the third stage of her Gene Lock, and with the aid of some magic, she had personally sculpted each diamond by hand.
Not a single one is fake.
"...Is that so~"
Aozaki Mother nodded slightly, re-packaged the gift box, then picked it up and walked towards her bedroom.
Now... she had to hide this thing first, otherwise, just looking at it would make her feel uneasy.
"..."
"..."
The atmosphere in the room became silent for a moment.
On the other side, Aozaki Father seemed to have recovered and sat back down in the living room.
"...Sister, what's my gift?"
At this moment, Aozaki Aoko quietly spoke. As Touko-nee's favorite sister, her gift would surely be even more unimaginable.
"Didn't I say? It's a doll."
Aozaki Touko smiled, took a wooden box from her handbag, and handed it to Aozaki Aoko.
"...Is that so."
Aozaki Aoko felt a little disappointed but still opened the wooden box.
Inside was a girl doll, dressed in a black kimono, looking very cute. If it weren't for its small size, one might even suspect it was a human.
"This child is named Yaya... I made her with great care, you know."
Aozaki Touko's voice was gentle, carrying a sense of pride.
Hearing these words, Aozaki Aoko looked at her sister. Touko's slender hand propped her chin, her orange long hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her gaze towards Aoko was gentle and intellectual, just like the most understanding elder sister.
Suddenly, Aoko's cheeks flushed slightly.
"I love it, thank you, Touko-nee."
"That really is..."
Aozaki Touko's words were cut short as her expression suddenly turned stern. She turned to look at the person who had abruptly appeared in the house, and this person was none other than Aozaki Touko's grandfather.
"Long time no see, Touko!"
Her grandfather said coldly and indifferently, "Let's go, there are some things I want to talk to you about. Of course, if you want to talk here, that's fine too."
"...What an inconvenient time to arrive."
Aozaki Touko sighed slightly, raised her hand to rub Aoko's head, then turned and walked out of the room. Her grandfather, seeing this, understood Aozaki Touko's choice and disappeared from the room using some unknown method.
The warm home suddenly grew cold.
Perhaps the house had a draft.