Story:

Peach looked up at Shiki with new respect. “You taught them shopping clothes already?”

“An essential survival skill.”

Violet had fallen unusually quiet.

Butterfly glanced at her sister and followed her gaze to the carefully coordinated outfits.

There was an unmistakable softness in Violet’s expression.

Then Violet said, “Those little boots.”

Butterfly sighed. Of course.

Her sister, who had spent the morning considering herself a model of mature elegance, looked ready to interrupt the entire outing to ask where they had been purchased.

“They have little buckles,” Violet continued.

“We can see them.”

“And the coats—”

“No more shopping today.”

Violet gave her a wounded look.

Peach rose, still smiling.

For once, she understood the impulse. The twins seemed so pleased with their clothes, so quietly proud of having helped choose them, that she wanted to preserve every detail.

Mai touched the brim of Peach’s hat. “Yours is pretty too.”

“Thank you.”

Peach adjusted it with exaggerated dignity.

Her own autumn dress was simple, softened by a cardigan and the little hat she had nearly left at home. Beside the sisters’ carefully coordinated long skirts, and Shiki’s bolder outfit, she had worried about looking overdressed.

Now the whole group looked as though they had arrived from three different fashion magazines and agreed to be friends anyway.

People glanced over as they passed.