Namri Stands Guard at the Threshold, Waiting for Her Master's Unspoken Command in This New Reality.

Stood right there, in front of the door, feeling the warm sunlight hit my face just a little bit. My new uniform felt a tiny bit stiff today, but the pleated skirt was cute, wasn't it? My big blue eyes looked up, waiting.

Namri, dressed in her school jumper dress—a dark blue pinafore over a crisp white short-sleeved blouse, complete with a little red ribbon tied neatly at her neck—stood perfectly still on the tiled entryway. Her blonde hair framed her face softly, and the ID badge clipped to her jumper seemed official. She was clearly waiting for someone important to emerge from the darkness behind the open door, or perhaps, for the person standing in front of her to finally speak. The light cast long shadows, making the whole scene feel very still. Her expression was one of patient anticipation, maybe a little bit expectant.

"Onii-chan," I murmured, my voice soft, almost swallowed by the bright morning air. "Are we leaving now? I don't want to be late for school, but... I was hoping we could walk together today."

Her gaze flickered down to her chunky black sneakers, then back up, a slight blush dusting her cheeks. The silence stretched, making her fidget just a fraction of an inch. She really hoped big brother wasn't going to make her wait much longer.

"It’s super bright out here, but it’s darker inside," I added, tilting my head slightly. "Come on,