Hotori

The most unreliable adult (whose job, according to Sakiri, is to get completely wasted every day), the mysterious boss that Nanally admires, and the enigmatic boss for everyone else in Eibon.

Right now, she's examining a frog-shaped cosmetic device.

"What excellent taste you have, dear customer! You picked the most valuable treasure from my entire collection straight away! Surely you've heard the legend of the 'Angel's Kiss'? That's right! The holy grail of skincare that makes you radiant and supple, the 'Pale Sacred Dew' long-sought after by elite nobles for centuries, is now resting in your very hands! If it weren't for… my urgent need for funds, forcing me to part with this treasure… Well, 50,000 Fons! And this treasure could be yours!"

Hotori gave a dramatic gesture in a bold stance, suggesting she won't budge on the price. The merchant, who was speaking in flattering tones, made a pained expression and hesitated.

"Customer, you really don't hold back! In that case, 5,000 Fons. Let's be friends!"

Whenever she thinks she's getting a bargain, or whenever she believes she's found some treasure, she can never hide the smile appearing on her face as she slams the table and shouts "Deal!"

Perhaps within half a day she'll discover she's been scammed, then become furious and drown her sorrows in alcohol.

Or perhaps when she receives the bill at the end of the month, she'll furrow her brow with bitter regret.

But at least the moment of owning a brand new "treasure" is undoubtedly worth celebrating.

"As for the future… well, we'll deal with that when the future comes!"

"'All-you-can-drink' means you pay a fixed price based on the number of people in your group, and until you leave and settle the bill, you can take unlimited beverages from the drink area… that's what their menu says."

"Including alcohol? That's pretty generous! Everyone should really enjoy themselves today, and you kids better go grab the most expensive juice they have!"

"…Restaurants definitely lose money when they run into shameless customers like Hotori who can really hold their liquor, right?"

Of course, this business model has countermeasures for dealing with customers who go overboard: besides the inventory limits for each type of beverage, there's also the time restriction… but when it comes to Hotori, that just happens to not be a problem.

However, based on what happened later, when Hotori kept ordering table after table of appetizers to maximize the value of the all-you-can-drink deal… This rare dining-out experience still ended up with expenses far exceeding the budget.

There are currently no late-night chat sessions happening between antiques in Eibon… probably. After all, not many of them can talk. This doesn't stop the Temporal Globe from rolling around when bored, surveying the other items in the shop and letting its imagination run wild.

(Hey, newcomer, where are you from?)

(I used to sleep in a dirty street until someone took a liking to me and bought me. The cost of my freedom was 998 Fons. Does that put me at the bottom of the hierarchy in this shop?)

(There are plenty who don't even know their own worth. Like me, I stayed in a dark, cramped place for ages and ages… so long that the little crack I had grew bigger and successfully merged with the original carved patterns… until… light came in. That woman appeared, gently lifted me out, and smiled.)

(Was it one of those scheming, triumphant smirks?)

(No. It was a completely confident smile, like she was certain I'd be there. But for some reason, that smile made her seem somewhat… regretful?)

(Haha, I bet she dusted off the dirt only to discover you weren't in as good condition as she imagined!)

The discussion that never happened and never will happen grows more animated, accompanied by the blinking sounds of the Temporal Globe. The Mirror of Anam simply reflects peacefully, capturing all the stillness and the passage of time across its surface.

An exquisite pocket watch crafted with cloisonné enamel technique.

Above the ghost orchid pattern, an orange-red gemstone is set, like eyes that have grown gentle after fading through long years… Yet the watch face still retains bright and delicate colors, showing no signs of age.

It's neither an Anomaly nor an Esper creation. Though beautifully crafted, it's truly just an ordinary pocket watch without any special powers.

Hotori never discusses its actual value. Perhaps it's some precious treasure she keeps hidden away? Something she wouldn't sell for money unless Eibon was on the verge of bankruptcy… her ultimate backup insurance, maybe?

The Tsukinoki family's courtyard pairs perfectly with fallen snow. The snow gives it an added sense of historical elegance, like covering displayed antiques with a blanket of dust, except this dust is pure white and pristine.

Unfortunately, year after year, such scenery passes by in the blink of an eye. Hotori has always felt this way.

Even at a young age, she was already deeply melancholic about the changing seasons and passing years. This was because she feared that the ever-changing outside world would bring unwanted changes to this reclusive family. How wonderful it would be if everything could freeze like a still life at its most perfect moment.

"The best time to appreciate snow is when it's melting. For that… you need to be in motion, don't you?"

Many years later, when she truly could make snowy scenes stand still, one early spring she encountered, not by chance, an old guest who had once stayed at their family estate for a time. Now an elderly man in his twilight years, he took a sip from his wine cup after every sentence during their casual conversation.

Hotori realized this would be their final meeting. She poured the wine and waited with rare solemnity to hear his next heartfelt words.

"What's most precious isn't what remains unchanged and eternal. It's the things that break… the things that are breaking right now."