With a determined glint in her eye, Renge, poised on the cusp of first grade, joined the others in a preliminary visit to the school grounds before the official entrance ceremony. They came to familiarize themselves with the building, a fin…

Hotaru and her friends spent a pleasant afternoon at play. They gathered around a table, each with a ruler, and engaged in a spirited game of knocking each other’s rulers askew. Later, while walking her dog Pechi, Hotaru found herself disor…

The air in the classroom hung thick with the unspoken weight of exams. Kazuho, their teacher, droned on, his enthusiasm a rare and unwelcome visitor. Natsumi found herself particularly adrift, the tests a constant source of struggle. During…

Receiving a bicycle from her grandmother, Renge is eager to practice so she can ride with her friends wherever they go. However, the rainy season has arrived, prompting her to fashion a teru-teru bouzu, hoping to bring the downpour to an en…

One afternoon, Natsumi used a toy fortune teller to predict Komari's luck. "Bad luck," she declared, "beware of water." Komari, unconcerned, replied that she wouldn't be near any water that day. However, upon arriving at school, they were i…

As the last day of the semester drew to a close, Natsumi and Hotaru found themselves tending the school garden together, weeding and watering side-by-side. A quiet intimacy settled between them; Natsumi realized this was the first time she …

She grew accustomed to the boisterous games of the children in the countryside, though a tremor of apprehension remained at the thought of leaping from the bridge into the river. Returning from play, Hotaru discovered a letter from her frie…

The air in the classroom hummed with quiet industry as the students worked with wood. Renge and Natsumi, paired together, stared blankly at their materials, a frustrating lack of inspiration clouding their efforts. Just as Natsumi began to …

Her mother requested Natsumi retrieve something from the family pond—something to sustain them. Natsumi agreed, a condition of payment. A watch was lent to her, a reminder to return before nightfall. That day, all the children ventured out …

Renge found herself at an empty house, the air thick with a disappointing stillness. She had come with such anticipation, but the family was absent. Just as she prepared to leave, a voice startled her. It seemed to emanate from beyond the g…

Ichijo Hotaru and Koshigaya Komari were strolling when they encountered Fujimiya Konomi returning from practice. Komari, in particular, was captivated by Konomi's cellphone.

Renge and Hotaru made their way to school, intending only to feed the rabbits. Instead, they stumbled upon Renge's legendary sword.