Published: July 26, 2025
The morning of the baptism ceremony is busy, mainly for my mother.
After finishing breakfast and cleaning up, since my parents also have to change into their best clothes, if I oversleep or eat breakfast sluggishly, I get scolded and rushed.
I almost choked on my food as I finished breakfast. While my mother was tidying up, Tulli and I went to the bedroom to change.
The outfit that had been gradually adjusted by mother and Tulli was no longer just fluttering with excess fabric pinched up. Utilizing the little flowers made during winter’s handiwork, small flowers were decorated here and there, making the outfit overly ornate.
If Benno hadn’t given us some leftover thread from winter crafts, we probably wouldn’t have been this extravagant.
I quickly slipped on the fluttery dress like a T-shirt, then wrapped a blue sash around my waist and tied it tightly into a bow. The loose ends of the sash swayed around my calves.
“Myne, weren’t you supposed to make it double?”
Tulli frowned.
I untied the sash once and tried wrapping it twice around my waist. However, although I managed to tie it in winter, this time it was a bit too short to tie neatly.
“Huh? Did you eat too much breakfast? Is your tummy sticking out?”
“No, it’s because Myne has grown.”
“Huh? I’ve grown?”
“Probably. Even though the hem of your outfit was made for below the knees, it’s now around mid-knee. You’ve grown a bit.”
It seemed I had grown between winter and summer. For an ordinary child, that would be normal, but for me, a self-eater with unusually slow growth, it’s rare to feel such progress.
Unlike me trembling with emotion, Tulli was practical. She stared at the end of the blue sash, thinking about how to wear it.
“Either way, the length is awkward. It’s a bit sloppy. Should we just cut it?”
“No, that would be a waste. It’s fine if it looks decent enough. Just make it double.”
“You couldn’t do it.”
“Not around the waist — double the ribbon itself.”
I took the blue sash and tied a tight double bow knot right at my waist. Like a kimono’s obi, once tied neatly, you can flick the ribbon part around to the back to finish.
“How is it? Is the length okay?”
“Cute! Amazing! How did you do that!?”
“Well…”
As I was about to explain, mother entered the bedroom.
“If you’re done changing, Myne, hurry and fix your hair. I’m going to change too.”
“Okay. Tulli, see you later.”
I quickly moved to the kitchen to fix my hair. Since we did Rinshan last night, everyone’s hair was smooth. Yesterday, my father unusually wanted to join, so I washed his hair too.
When I asked why he suddenly felt like it, he said it was because Otto bragged about washing with Corinna. He wanted to be like someone with a fulfilling real life.
“Myne, let me do it.”
As I combed my hair, Tulli came over excitedly. Since I tied her hair at her baptism, she wanted to do mine this time.
“You do the hair ornament wrap-around, so I can’t do that. But at least let me comb it.”
“Alright, please.”
I handed her the comb, and Tulli hummed while combing happily.
“Myne’s hair is so straight and beautiful. And it smells nice.”
“You smell the same too, Tulli.”
I thanked Tulli for combing my hair and carefully held the hair ornament so as not to crush the swaying piece. Then, as usual, I made a half-up style. I can’t do complicated hairstyles because I can’t hold them with cords, and they slip right out.
“All done.”
Even with the decoration, it was the same as always, so I finished quickly.
The hair ornament felt heavier than usual, and when I moved my head slightly, I could see the little flowers swaying. It was fun, so I shook my head a little, and Tulli clapped her hands in delight.
“Wow, it’s so cute! It matches your hair color so well! It sways beautifully whenever you move.”
“It suits you perfectly, Myne.”
“Really, you look like a little lady from a rich family. Myne will be the cutest at today’s baptism.”
My parents, finished changing, came out of the bedroom and showered me with praise. It made me happy to be praised so freely, but I felt a bit shy.