Onii-chan, you’re still awake?
You can’t do that. Staying up late is bad for your health, you know. Huh? Oh, I’m fine. I can stay up as late as I want. I don’t even go to school anymore… I can sleep all day if I want. Hehe.
Mmm, let’s not talk about school anymore. That place was weird. Everyone there was just a bunch of children—spoiled little monkeys. They’re not even worthy of seeing my favorite dress.
But you can look as much as you want, Onii-chan. In fact, I want you to look.
See? The skirt flutters when I move. The pannier makes it puff out like a flower.
Pretty, isn’t it?
But no touching, okay? Even you can’t touch my clothes. Promise.
Anyway, you should go to bed soon. It’s better to fall asleep while the moon’s still out.
The sun… I don’t like it.
If you promise to sleep, I’ll let you touch my ribbon—just a little.
That’s special, just for you.
Why is the sun so hot anyway?
It’s so stupid. It thinks it can do anything just because it’s bright.
Just like the boys in class!
The moon, though, she’s cool and kind.
Even when we stay up late like this, whispering in the dark,
she just pretends not to notice.
I love her for that.
Right, Onii-chan?
If this were daytime, we couldn’t do this.
They would tell on us right away—
they’d tell Mom and Dad that I was with you.
I’d hate that.
Oh, that reminds me!
I got a new butterfly specimen.
I searched all over the internet for it.
I think I’m pretty good at this internet thing now. Hehe.
Look, Onii-chan!
Isn’t it beautiful?
It’s called Papilio pericles, a blue-and-green swallowtail.
It’s not as big as a morpho, but when it flutters those tiny wings,
it’s like color itself is dancing through the air.
So dreamy.
Just like me, don’t you think?
Look—if I lift my skirt and twirl like this…
Do I look like a butterfly?
…Anyway, story time’s over!
I came here to make you sleep, remember?
I have to fulfill my duty!
Come on, get into bed already!
If you need to take your medicine, I’ll bring you some water.
There, lie down.
It’s okay.
I’ll sit right here beside you until you fall asleep.
I’ll just keep looking at my butterflies.
From some angles their wings shine green instead of blue.
I never get tired of watching them—they’re so beautiful.
Why do I love them so much?
Hmm… maybe because of that time we went to the river together.
You caught a butterfly for me, remember?
A cabbage white, I think.
I was so happy.
But when I trapped it in the cage, I suddenly felt sad.
So I opened the lid, and it fluttered up into the sky.
That’s when I realized butterflies are meant to be free,
to spread their wings and dance.
I was scared you’d be mad because I let it go,
but instead you said, “You’re kind.”
That made me really happy, Onii-chan.
Hehe, you’re getting sleepy now.
That’s good.
Just drift off while the moon is still shining.
…Onii-chan, someday I’ll go back to school.
I’ll take off my black dress and my pannier,
and wear a plain, ordinary dress that fits the classroom.
I’ll try not to stand out.
It’s fine if they never know how beautiful I can be—
how, at home, I spread my skirt like a black butterfly.
As long as you and I know it, that’s enough.
Good night, Onii-chan.
I really like you...
When morning comes, I’ll already be asleep,
so wake me again when night falls, okay?
I’ll be awake all night, but you’re someone who can go out into the world, Onii-chan. So you should sleep at night.
Good night, Onii-chan.
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