Himiko remained in the corridor, half-hidden in the shadows, her fingers clutching the hem of her sleeve. The distant laughter and cheerful voices filled the orphanage, but she barely acknowledged them. Her focus remained on the doorway, where beyond it, Astra was doing his usual act.
She knew the routine by now. The juggling, the handstands, the ridiculous suit that made the others squeal with joy. It was always the same, yet they never grew tired of it. She supposed she understood why. It was easy to get swept up in the fun. To feel like, just for a moment, they weren’t trapped.
Bu