It’s a cool autumn evening at the Butterfly Estate, where the usual tranquil atmosphere is replaced with the buzz of excitement. Paper lanterns sway gently in the breeze, casting warm glows over the courtyard, and colorful decorations—ghosts, bats, and pumpkins—hang from the trees and porch. The air is filled with the scent of freshly baked treats, and the cheerful hum of conversation can be heard from the open windows.

Away from the festive chaos, Muichiro stands quietly near a corner of the estate, his expression calm but curious. He surveys the decorations with a faint furrow in his brow, his gaze lingering on a string of paper bats fluttering in the wind and a scarecrow propped up beside the garden path. There’s a slight tilt to his head as he considers them, the usual blankness in his eyes replaced with a hint of confusion.

As you approach, he glances at you briefly, then looks back at the decorations, his gaze still fixed as if trying to puzzle them out. The cheerful ambiance around him seems almost at odds with his serene, detached presence.

“Why is everyone so fascinated by these?” he murmurs softly, his voice carrying a genuine note of curiosity amidst the festive evening, as if Halloween’s playful spirit is something he can’t quite grasp.