Lunar spent the rest of the day surrounded by the others, and for once, she didn't think too far ahead. She stayed in the moment, letting herself be pulled into whatever small thing was happening around her, whether it was Namawa and Saiya dragging her into something loud and unnecessary, or Persian and Anonym lingering just within reach and having intimate and quiet conversations together.
There was an ease to it all, something warm and familiar that settled gently in her chest the longer she remained in it, a kind of comfort that felt so natural it was easy to overlook. It was the sort of feeling you never really noticed when it was part of your everyday life, but the moment you realized it might be gone, even for a little while, it became something precious, something you wanted to hold onto just a bit tighter with every passing second.
Because tomorrow, she would leave, and things would change.
The thought lingered quietly in the back of her mind, never fully disappearing, but she didn't let it take over, not today. Today wasn't for worrying about what came next, it was for appreciating what she had right now, while it was still right in front of her.
By the time evening settled in, the house had taken on a livelier atmosphere than usual, the air filled with the rich, savory scent of grilled meat that drifted through the yard, blending seamlessly with laughter and overlapping voices as everyone gathered outside. What had started as something simple had quickly turned into a small farewell dinner, casual in nature but full of warmth.
A barbecue, of all things.
It wasn't anything extravagant, and it didn't need to be. The glow of the fire, the clatter of utensils, and the comfortable chaos of everyone talking over one another was more than enough to make it feel special.
Then, just when Lunar thought the evening couldn't feel any fuller, a familiar voice reached her ears. "…So this is why no one was in the house."
She turned immediately, her eyes widening slightly as she spotted two figures stepping into the yard. "…Big sis Oscie…?" she called, a hint of surprise slipping into her voice.
Oscietra stood there with her usual composed demeanor, though there was the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her lips that softened her otherwise calm expression. Beside her stood Aunt Exceed, who looked noticeably uneasy, her discomfort evident in the way she carried herself, as if she wasn't entirely sure she should be there at all. Lunar felt a little bad at the sight.
And yet, they came.
Despite everything, despite the quiet tension that always seemed to linger between them and Aunt Nel, they still showed up. They came to see her, to be here, even if only for a little while. Lunar felt something warm bloom quietly in her chest.
"Oho… didn't think you two would show up," More Than Ready remarked casually as she turned the meat over the grill, though there was a subtle softness beneath her tone when her eyes flicked briefly in their direction.
"We're not here for you," Oscietra replied without hesitation, her voice flat and unbothered, which earned a quiet snort from Autumn Sun nearby. Without missing a beat, Autumn made her way over to Exceed's side, gently placing a hand on her arm and guiding her toward the seating circle where I Am Invincible and Written Tycoon were already gathered, just far enough from the center of attention to feel more comfortable. Exceed looked slightly surprised at first, her posture stiff, but she didn't resist and allowed herself to be led away by the smaller woman.
Oscietra watched her mother get quietly "kidnapped" with the faintest smile tugging at her lips, then shifted her gaze back toward Lunar, and for just a brief moment, something softer flickered across her otherwise composed expression. "I brought something for you," she said simply.
Lunar blinked, caught off guard. "For me?"
Oscietra didn't answer verbally. Instead, she stepped forward and held out the box she had been carrying, offering it without ceremony.
Lunar hesitated for only a second before taking it, her fingers brushing lightly against the lid as she lifted it open.
And then—her eyes widened.
Inside rested a pair of running boots, high-cut and sleek, designed with a clean white base layered with sharp grey and blue accents that gave them a sense of motion even while sitting still. They looked light, almost weightless in construction, yet there was a clear sturdiness to them, a quiet promise of strength and support with every step they would take.
Lunar recognized them instantly.
They were the same pair she had stopped to look at months ago while shopping with Oscietra, the ones she had lingered on just a little too long before glancing at the price tag and quietly walking away, pretending it didn't matter.
"…This is…" her voice softened, the words trailing as she stared down at them.
Oscietra folded her arms loosely. "You looked at them back then," she said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "So when I was thinking about what to get you, I just went back and bought them."
She tilted her head slightly, her tone as straightforward as ever. "You needed a new pair anyway. The ones you've been using are practically falling apart."
That… wasn't wrong.
Lunar let out a small, sheepish laugh, rubbing the back of her neck. "I mean… I stitched them back together, so they're still usable…"
"That's exactly the problem," Oscietra cut in flatly, not even giving her room to justify it. There was a brief pause before she added, her voice a little firmer now, carrying a quiet conviction beneath it. "The future strongest uma musume in the world shouldn't be running in worn-out shoes."
Her eyes met Lunar's directly. "At the very least, wear something that can keep up with you."
Lunar looked down at the boots again, her gaze lingering as her fingers tightened slightly around the box, a quiet mix of emotions settling in her chest. There was gratitude, of course, and a bit of hesitation, but beneath that was something softer, something harder to name, a warmth that simply stayed with her the longer she held them.
"…Thank you, big sis Oscie," she said gently.
There was still a small pause before she fully pulled the box closer into her arms, but this time she didn't hold back. Instead, she smiled, bright and unguarded, the kind of smile that reached her eyes without hesitation and made everything she felt impossible to hide.
That alone was enough to make Oscietra look away slightly, clicking her tongue under her breath as if brushing it off, even though the faintest hint of satisfaction lingered on her face. "Just make sure to use them properly," she muttered.
Lunar nodded quickly. "I will."
Before she could fully process the weight of the shoes still resting in her hands, the moment was suddenly broken by a burst of energy from the side. "Oi! You can't just start the surprise without telling us first!"
Namawa's voice rang out loudly as she stepped forward, pointing accusingly at Oscietra, who blinked in confusion, while Lunar turned toward her with the same puzzled expression. "…What surprise?" both of them asked at the same time.
Namawa looked completely betrayed by that response, her shoulders dropping before she let out an exaggerated groan. "You've got to be kidding me… we planned this whole thing!"
Before she could continue her rant, another figure stepped up beside her, far quieter in comparison. It was Invi, and both of her hands were occupied, each holding a plushie.
The moment Lunar's eyes landed on them, everything else in her mind disappeared. Ashen-colored hair, distinct designs, and a pair that fit together perfectly, like they were made to complete each other.
Lunar's eyes widened instantly. "…No way," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly before rising all at once. "THAT'S THE LIMITED PAIR SET—"
She practically sprang forward, nearly dropping the box of shoes in the process as she leaned in, staring at them like they might vanish if she blinked. "The hugging Oguri Cap and Tamamo Cross plushies…?!" she continued, her voice climbing higher with every word. "The Japan-only release? The one that sold out in less than a day?!"
Her pale yellow eyes shone so brightly in that moment that they almost looked golden, completely lit up with excitement as she stared at the pair in pure disbelief.
"How did you even get these?" she asked, her voice caught somewhere between disbelief and excitement as her gaze moved rapidly between them, trying to make sense of something that shouldn't have been possible. "Nobody resells these, and even if they do, the price is insane…"
Invi lifted her chin slightly at that, clearly satisfied with the reaction she had managed to pull out of her. "Connections," she replied simply, though there was a quiet note of pride beneath the calm delivery, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment. "I made sure to secure them the moment they dropped."
Namawa, of course, didn't let that explanation stand for even a second, leaning in with a wide, mischievous grin that already spelled trouble. "In other words," she chimed in brightly, "big sis Invi cried to Mom so hard that she had to send one of the bodyguards all the way to Japan just to grab them before anyone else could—"
There was a brief pause.
Then—
thud.
Invi's knee drove cleanly into Namawa's backside, sending her straight to the floor.
"OW—HEY—!" Namawa yelped, rolling slightly as she clutched the point of impact, her voice echoing with exaggerated betrayal. But Invi didn't even spare her a glance.
Instead, she turned back to Lunar as if nothing had happened, her expression already composed again as she extended both plushies forward, holding them out carefully. "Here," she said.
Lunar blinked, her thoughts still catching up. "…Eh?"
Her grip on the box of shoes shifted awkwardly as she stared at the plushies, then back at Invi, then back again like she was waiting for the situation to correct itself. "What do you mean 'here'?" she asked slowly. "Aren't these yours?"
Invi shook her head without hesitation, the answer coming as naturally as breathing. "They were," she said. Then, just as simply, "Now they're yours."
And just like that, everything clicked.
Her gaze lifted from the plushies in front of her, drifting slowly across the yard as if she was seeing it properly for the first time, and only now did she notice what had been there all along. Boxes and items neatly resting in the hands of the people gathered around her, some obvious, some half-hidden.
Namawa, still lying dramatically on the ground, raised one hand into the air as if presenting the entire scene like a grand performance. "Ta-da…" she groaned weakly.
Lunar stood in the center of it all, one hand still holding the box with the running shoes, the other hovering uncertainly in front of the plushies, her thoughts struggling to catch up with what her eyes were telling her.
"…This is all…" she began, her voice quieter now, the earlier excitement softening into something deeper as the meaning behind it finally settled in. Her chest tightened slightly, not from confusion this time, but from something warmer. "…for me?"
Before Lunar could fully process everything in front of her, another presence cut cleanly through the moment.
Aunt More appeared like a whirlwind straight from the grill, her apron slightly stained, the faint scent of barbecue sauce clinging to her as she strode forward with zero hesitation. "Move," she said, casually shoving Invi aside just enough to make space.
"Hey—be careful!" Invi protested, protecting the plushies in her hands. "I don't want the plushies smelling like smoke and sweat!"
More Than Ready ignored her completely.
Instead, she reached forward and swapped out the box of boots in Lunar's hands for a neatly wrapped one, pressing it firmly into her arms before Lunar could even react. "Since you won't be here for Christmas," she said. "Just think of this as us bringing Christmas to you early."
Lunar blinked, then carefully opened the box. The moment she saw what was inside, a small snicker escaped her before she could stop it. "…Oh."
She lifted it slightly so the others could see.
It was a sweater. A very… loud sweater.
Bright red and deep green clashed together in a way that somehow worked despite itself, the stitching just uneven enough to show it had been made by hand, and right at the center was an elf face—except the hair was unmistakably styled like hers. Beneath it, in bold, slightly crooked letters, were the words:
"Believe in you-elf."
A few soft giggles slipped out from the side where Autumn Sun sat with the rest of the adults, clearly amused by the design to the point even Exceed couldn't quite hold her smile, while Namawa, Invi, Saiya, and Oscietra all reacted in near unison with varying levels of groaning and secondhand embarrassment.
"I hate this." Oscietra muttered.
More Than Ready, however, looked completely unaffected by the mixed reception. If anything, she seemed even more pleased with herself, puffing up slightly as she crossed her arms with pride. "I made it myself," she declared. Then, tilting her head just a little, she added, "So? Do you like it?"
Lunar replied immediately. "I do," she said gently, her smile completely genuine as she held the sweater a little closer to herself. "I'll wear it for Christmas. Thank you, Aunt More."
More Than Ready's face froze at the reply before then, without warning, she let out a high-pitched squeal, her hands flying up to her cheeks as her entire expression lit up with unfiltered excitement. "Finally! Someone who appreciates my masterpieces!" she exclaimed, practically bouncing in place. "I knew you would understand me, Lunar!"
Black Caviar stepped forward at just the right moment, gently pulling the situation back before it could spiral any further, her presence alone enough to settle the lingering excitement as three maids followed closely behind her in quiet coordination.
With a small, respectful nod, one of them spoke up. "If you would allow us, we will take these and store them safely for Miss Lunar." Lunar nodded, still a little overwhelmed, and carefully handed over the sweater, while Invi passed the plushies along and More handed over the boots she took.
Black Caviar watched the exchange with a quiet, satisfied smile before folding her arms lightly across her chest, her gaze sweeping across the group. "Alright," she said, her tone calm but expectant, "who's next?"
Before anyone else could jump in, Persian stepped forward.
She held out something small, placing it gently into Lunar's hands without much fanfare. It was a book, about the size of her palm, with a plain green cover and a single sticker placed neatly at the center bearing the name Lunar Light.
Lunar tilted her head, turning it over once in curiosity before looking back up. "What is it?" she asked, clearly intrigued.
Persian scratched lightly at her cheek, a rare hint of awkwardness slipping through her usually composed self. "Just… open it first," she said, avoiding direct eye contact. Lunar didn't press further as she simply nodded and flipped it open.
The very first page made her pause.
At the top, printed neatly, was a picture of Persian herself—dressed in a full suit, standing straight with an overly professional expression, like the author of some serious academic publication. Beneath it, in clean text, was a single word:
Author.
Lunar blinked once.
Then a quiet giggle slipped out before she could stop it, her lips curling into a small smile as her eyes lingered on the image just a moment longer. "You look so formal here," she murmured, clearly amused, before continuing down the page.
As she read into the abstract, however, that amusement slowly shifted into confusion.
"This book is a compilation of quotes," she read softly, "…or more accurately, expected dialogues from members of the Caviar family in various situations, written for Lunar Light in case such scenarios occur… or out of boredom."
Lunar slowly lowered the book just a fraction, her brows knitting together as she tried to make sense of what she had just read. "…What?"
She flipped the page.
The next heading was written in neat, clean text: "If you found yourself waking up late for school."
Lunar's eyes scanned the lines beneath it.
Black Caviar: "You can still make it if you run fast enough!"
Lunar let out a small laugh almost immediately, nodding to herself as the image formed perfectly in her mind. "That's exactly something Aunt Nel would say," she muttered, already convinced as she continued reading.
She skimmed through the rest, finding entries from Written Tycoon, Saiya, and even Anonym, each one written with such uncanny accuracy that it didn't feel like guesses at all, but rather like things they had genuinely said at some point before.
Then she reached Namawa's entry.
Namawa:"I'm already late… what's five more minutes…"
Lunar pressed her lips together, trying to hold it in, but the smile broke through anyway as a soft huff of laughter escaped her. "…Yeah," she admitted under her breath. "That's definitely her."
She kept flipping through the pages, one after another, her pace gradually slowing as her eyes widened just a little more each time, because the further she went, the more she realized just how extensive it was. There were scenarios for everything—training days, arguments, casual conversations, and even oddly specific situations like getting stuck in the bathroom, which made her pause for a second just to wonder how Persian had even thought of it in the first place.
Finally, she looked back up. Her gaze landed on Persian again, who was now standing there with a face that didn't quite hide the faint tension in her cheeks.
"…How did you even make this?" Lunar asked, genuinely baffled as she lifted the book slightly. "There's so many situations in here… and the quotes are all so… accurate."
She flipped through a few more pages absentmindedly, still trying to wrap her head around it. "It's like you've been observing everyone nonstop or something…" she added, her tone somewhere between impressed and incredulous.
Persian shifted slightly under Lunar's gaze, still trying to maintain her usual calmness despite the attention now fully on her.
"Well… I suppose I've always paid attention," she began, there was a faint hesitation tucked beneath it. "I like to think I have a fairly good grasp of everyone's personalities and habits, enough to at least deduce what they would roughly say in most situations."
She paused for a moment, choosing her words more carefully as she continued. "But that is only on a surface level," she admitted. "This isn't meant to be some profound, analytical account of their behavior… it's more for you."
Lunar's fingers continued flipping through the pages as she listened.
"I thought that if you ever found yourself missing us," Persian went on, her voice softening just slightly, "this might give you something to look back on. Not just as a memory, but as something a little more… interactive, I suppose. Something you could engage with, rather than just recall."
Finally, Lunar slowed her flipping entirely, stopping on a page that drew her eyes immediately. The heading read: What should I do when I'm having a bad day?
She blinked once, her gaze scanning down until she found Persian's entry: Look for someone to hug. The warmth of any hug can melt negativity instantly, causing a positive reaction for both parties.
Before Persian could even articulate the rest of her thought, Lunar acted. She leaned forward, faster than Persian could anticipate, and wrapped her arms around her. The motion was swift, yet gentle, deliberate and entirely sincere, leaving Persian momentarily frozen, her eyes widening slightly as her train of thought was cut off mid-flow.
Lunar pressed her face softly against Persian's chest, her expression warm and quiet, and whispered, "Thank you, Persian. I really… love it."
Persian's breath caught almost imperceptibly. "…I…" Her arms slowly moved on their own, wrapping around Lunar in return, holding her just as gently as she was being held. "I'm glad," she managed, though her voice came out softer than usual.
Lunar tilted her head slightly, still enveloped in the warmth of the embrace, a soft, teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Did you expect me to react like this?" she asked, her voice gentle, carrying that alluring sincerity that always seemed to make people stumble over their words.
Persian's eyes flicked away for a fraction of a second before she immediately lifted a hand to cover part of her face, trying—and failing—to hide the faint flush spreading across her cheeks. "…I hadn't," she admitted quietly, her tone almost a whisper, betraying just how unprepared she had been for such an unguarded reaction.
Not far from them, Written Tycoon watched the scene unfold with a calm, approving expression, as a small smile tugged at her lips. "That's my girl…" she murmured under her breath.
After a few more seconds, the two of them slowly separated, though the warmth of the moment stayed between them. Lunar carefully closed the book she had been holding and extended it toward one of the nearby maids. "Can you keep this safe for me?" she asked, her voice steady but carrying that subtle note of sentimentality that made it clear how much it meant to her.
The maid nodded politely and accepted the book with both hands before stepping away to place it on the table in Lunar's room where the rest of her belongings were being gathered.
Before Lunar could fully let the moment settle, another figure stepped forward—Anonym. Unlike the others, she wasn't holding a box or anything neatly wrapped. Instead, she carried something much simpler, draped over her arm without any attempt to dress it up, very on brand of her.
A sky-blue blanket.
Lunar's gaze landed on it immediately, and she didn't even need a second to recognize it. "…Wait," she blinked, standing up a little straighter, her fingers instinctively reaching toward the fabric even before she fully comprehended. "Isn't that your blanket?"
It was the same one Anonym carried around everywhere, the one she used for naps no matter where she was, unless she happened to be sharing one with Lunar instead.
Anonym gave a small nod. "Yes."
Lunar tilted her head, still trying to process it. "You're… giving it to me?"
Another nod. "Yes." There was no hesitation in her answer, no second thoughts.
Lunar's brows knit together slightly. "But… isn't this your favorite blanket?"
Anonym nodded again, just as simply as before, and then finally added a few more words. "It is," she said. "But since you're leaving… we won't be sleeping together anymore."
Her hand extended the blanket just a little further, and her voice softened, imbued with quiet significance. "If you have this," she continued, "then it will feel like I'm still there."
Lunar stilled, that explanation landed a little heavier than she expected. "…I see," she murmured softly, reaching out to take the blanket, her fingers brushing over the soft fabric.
Then another thought crossed her mind. "But wait," she looked back up, a flicker of concern in her voice, "what about you? Won't you need a blanket to sleep with?"
Anonym shook her head lightly. "I have a new one. It's fine."
Her answer was straightforward. But inside her mind, a quiet thought slipped through, completely unspoken. Your blanket will be mine soon, after all.
A few paces away, Black Caviar had been watching the entire exchange with her usual calm, observant gaze, her eyes flicking briefly between Lunar and Anonym before drifting across the room, scanning the faces of the others as if cataloging the scene in her mind. Eventually, her gaze landed on one person in particular. "…Saiya,"
Saiya stiffened noticeably at the sudden call, her shoulders tensing as she turned to face her mother. "Y-Yes?" she responded, a little too quickly, her voice betraying the flutter of nerves she tried to keep under control.
Black Caviar raised a brow, her expression probing. "Do you have a gift?" she asked, her words leaving no room for evasion.
Saiya's throat tightened. She let out a small cough, rubbing the back of her neck as her gaze dropped to the floor, avoiding eye contact. "…I do," she admitted softly. "I'll… give it later. Before we sleep."
That answer immediately drew attention.
"My, my~" More Than Ready chimed in from the side, her tone shifting into playful mischief like a spark catching dry tinder. "Ooooh, how scandalous~ What happened to my sweet little Saiya? So young and already this indecent~"
A few soft chuckles rippled through the group, mingled with awkward coughs, one notably coming from Exceed, whose eyebrows had shot up in surprise at the sudden direction of conversation.
Saiya's face flushed almost immediately. "W-What are you talking about, Auntie?!" she stammered, clearly flustered.
Before More Than Ready could continue teasing, Black Caviar reached over with effortless precision and pinched her sharply on the backside.
"OW—NELLY, STOP—!" More Than Ready yelped, jumping and flailing slightly as she tried to pull away, her playful energy colliding with genuine surprise. Black Caviar released her just as calmly as she had intervened, her expression returning to its usual neutrality.
For a fleeting moment, however, Black Caviar's mind drifted elsewhere. She couldn't entirely ignore the memory of a certain scene in a bedroom, a rather… compromising position she had once walked in on. Her eyes narrowed subtly, and she allowed herself a fraction of acknowledgment that perhaps that playful comment wasn't entirely without merit.
Meanwhile, More Than Ready quickly retreated, rubbing the assaulted spot with a pained expression as she thankfully escaped any further "punishment."
"Well then," Black Caviar began smoothly, glancing once toward Saiya before continuing, "since Saiya has decided to save hers for later… I suppose I'll give the last gift for now."
From an inner pocket of her coat, she produced a small box, delicate and hand-sized, wrapped in a soft pink finish with thin red ribbons tied with meticulous care. The entire presentation looked almost fragile in her large hands, as if it could shatter at the slightest pressure.
She paused, letting the weight of the moment settle over the room. "What's inside this box," she said, lowering her voice just slightly, "is something very special." Her gaze softened subtly, just a fraction, enough that Lunar felt it brush against her chest. "For me… and for Guair."
At the mention of her mother's name, Lunar felt a sudden tightening in her chest, a quiet thrill of anticipation running like an electric current just beneath her skin. Without a moment's hesitation, she reached forward and accepted the box, cradling it carefully in her hands as though it already carried the weight of countless memories, more than she could ever fully comprehend.
For a long, but short seconds, she simply held it there, her fingers brushing over the soft edges, almost bracing herself for what might lie inside. Then, gently, she opened it.
Nestled against the soft, protective lining was a single golden crescent moon. Lunar blinked, her breath catching slightly as she lifted it out with delicate care. The smooth surface caught the light, glinting faintly, and as she turned it over, she quickly realized it wasn't merely ornamental. "…It's a hair clip," she murmured softly, noticing the pin beneath the crescent.
Her eyes flicked back into the box, and her breath hitched a little. Two more pieces rested inside, smaller but perfectly matching the same crescent design. Unlike the hair clip, these had thin chains attached, their delicate forms unmistakably meant for piercings. Lunar's head lifted slowly, her eyes meeting Black Caviar's, and in that gaze, a dozen unspoken questions already formed before she even dared to speak.
Black Caviar gave a small, knowing smile. "These," she explained, "are the racing accessories your mother used to wear during her career."
Lunar's breath caught again, her gaze dropping back down to the items in her hands. She saw them now not as simple trinkets, but as fragments of her mother's life, imbued with every ounce of passion, grit, and history she could imagine. Her fingers instinctively adjusted, handling the delicate pieces with even more care than before, as if afraid to disturb the stories they carried.
"…But," she hesitated, her voice softer now, "you said Momma brought everything with her when she left Australia… so how do you have these?"
Black Caviar's expression shifted subtly, the faint smile fading into something more reflective, almost wistful. "These," she said slowly, "were extracted from her after her final race, during the hospital occurrences." She paused a little. "I was the one who kept them."
Her fingers brushed lightly against the edge of the box. "And when she disappeared… I had no choice but to continue holding onto them for her," she added, her gaze lifting again to meet Lunar's. "…Until now."
Lunar carefully placed the two piercings back into the box, making sure they were snug and secure, but the crescent moon hair clip remained in her hand, warm and weighty between her fingers. She studied it for a moment longer, her pale yellow eyes tracing the curve of the gold, then lifted her gaze toward Black Caviar. "…Aunt Nel," she said softly, her voice tentative yet hopeful.
Black Caviar hummed in acknowledgment. "Hm?"
Lunar hesitated for just a fraction, then swallowed and asked, "…Can you… put it on for me?"
For a heartbeat, something flickered across Black Caviar's usually composed expression—an emotion she rarely allowed to surface. A soft warmth, almost imperceptible, passed through her eyes before she gave the slightest, reassuring smile. "Of course," she replied quietly.
Lunar stepped closer and handed the clip over, her silver hair shifting gently down her back as she turned to stand still, waiting. She didn't move, didn't fidget—simply let Black Caviar work, trusting her completely.
With practiced precision, Black Caviar reached into Lunar's hair, parting her wolfcut down the middle. Her fingers moved fluidly, gathering sections with careful patience before twisting them together. She flipped the bundle upward, shaping it into a short, loose tail at the back of Lunar's head, and secured it with the golden crescent clip at the base. The clip held everything neatly, transforming Lunar's usual slightly messy, carefree look into something unexpectedly polished, orderly, and refined.
It wasn't stiff or overdone—just a tidier, cleaner version of herself, the kind of subtle elegance that felt entirely natural yet entirely new. Once satisfied, Black Caviar's hands fell away, leaving Lunar to adjust to the quiet change.
Instinctively, Lunar reached back, brushing her fingers over the clip, tracing the delicate gold as she tried to picture it from the front. "…I can't really tell," she admitted softly, uncertainty threading her voice.
Before she could dwell on it, I Am Invincible stepped forward, phone in hand, flipping it toward her. "Here," she said simply, and Lunar blinked at the reflection that appeared on the screen.
She tilted her head slightly to one side, then the other, examining the subtle change from every angle: the small tail at the back, the cleaner shape framing her face, the tiny tip of the golden crescent clip peeking out like a quiet flourish.
It felt… different. Not foreign, not uncomfortable. Just new.
Turning slowly toward the others, Lunar's voice carried the slightest tremor of uncertainty, soft and almost hesitant. "…Does it look good?"
Her gaze flicked from face to face, searching for approval, reassurance, and maybe just a little bit of wonder reflected back at her.
The responses came almost immediately, a chorus of warmth and approval filling the room.
"It suits you! But I prefer the usual style~" Namawa chirped without hesitation.
"It's cute, but I think you'd look cute with anything.." Persian added, her tone a little embarrassed but no less certain.
"Way more put together than usual, for sure," Saiya said with a small grin, her eyes reflecting genuine admiration.
"Still looks like you, just…upgraded in status," Invi commented, clearly approving.
"Not bad, put you in an elegant dress and we'll have a fine young lady." Oscietra nodded, hands on her chin in a deep thought.
Anonym didn't say much, but her gaze lingered quietly on Lunar a little longer than usual, which was as close to as an answer enough with even Aunt More chiming in enthusiastically about how it brought out Lunar's features better than ever, her voice rich in approval.
Lunar listened to all of it, her expression gradually softening before she turned back to the one person she still wanted an answer from. "Aunt Nel," she said gently, "what do you think?" There was a brief pause before she added, a little more softly this time, "…Um… did Momma wear it like this?"
Black Caviar didn't answer right away. Her gaze rested on Lunar, but for a moment, she wasn't just seeing her. In her mind, an image of Guair surfaced: hair tied tighter, neater, gathered into a pristine bun with not a single strand out of place, perfectly complementing her small, sharper features.
That memory lingered, overlapping with the present. Lunar, softer, looser, her hair flowing naturally even when styled, yet the same golden crescent clip sat perfectly at the base. Different from her mother's style, yet no less beautiful, no less complete. Just… hers.
The past and present blurred for a moment before Black Caviar exhaled softly, letting the memory fade. Her gaze returned fully to Lunar. "It looks good," she said finally. "It doesn't look perfectly like your mother."
"It looks perfectly like you, Lunar."