Prodded out of bed by the imperious doll, Hozuki Nozomi wore an expression of fond resignation. With a gentle shake, he roused Shiina Mashiro from where she nestled against him. Going through their now-familiar morning ritual, he helped the drowsy girl change and guided her out of the room. As for Suigintou, he simply scooped her up, settling her comfortably in the crook of his arm.
Suigintou stiffened momentarily, a protest about her own ability to fly dying on her lips. Before she could voice it, Nozomi preempted her. "I should introduce you to everyone," he stated matter-of-factly.
The suggestion startled her.
"Are you not concerned they will be frightened upon seeing me speak?" she questioned, her voice laced with a defensive pride that couldn't quite mask a sliver of old insecurity.
No matter how exquisitely crafted, she was, in the end, a living doll. Most ordinary humans would likely recoil, labeling her a cursed object or a specter. It was why Rozen Maiden historically remained cloistered in their contractors' rooms, solitary guardians awaiting their masters' return—a lonely, hidden existence.
Nozomi merely smiled and glanced at Mashiro beside him. "Mashiro, this is Suigintou. Are you afraid?"
Shiina Mashiro blinked her large, amethyst eyes, her gaze sweeping over the doll's Gothic lace and porcelain features with an artist's detached appreciation. She gave a slow, deliberate shake of her head. "Not scared. Suigintou is very beautiful."
Suigintou fell silent for a beat, thrown off by the simple, direct compliment. Recovering, she crossed her arms with a haughty hmph.
"Do as you wish, then. But if terror takes you later, do not blame me!" Her words were bold, but internally, a unfamiliar thread of nervousness wound through her. Solitude was her accustomed state; her historical interactions with her 'sisters' were largely defined by rivalry and conflict with Shinku. Genuine, casual coexistence with others was a foreign concept.
When Nozomi carried her to the dining table, her arrival caused a minor stir.
"Wow, so beautiful!" Aoyama Nanami exclaimed, leaning forward. "Nozomi-kun, is this a doll? The craftsmanship is incredible!"
Kamiigusa Misaki, who usually wolfed down her breakfast before dashing to school, paused, her eyes lighting up with a desire to examine the intricate details up close.
Frieren and Fern exchanged a glance, their heightened magical senses picking up the unique, non-human energy signature pulsating softly from the doll's form.
Yusa Emi, the seasoned otherworldly hero, took an extra second to appraise Suigintou, noting the potent will contained within the small frame.
Shiina Mahiru and Ogiwara Sayu's eyes sparkled in unison. "Nozomi-senpai, where did you get this? It's amazing!" Mahiru asked.
Nanami, unable to contain her curiosity, reached out to gently poke Suigintou's cheek.
Swat!
A small, gloved hand batted Nanami's finger away. "You impudent creature! Do not touch me without permission!" Suigintou snapped.
"Ah?" Nanami froze, her brain processing the action and the voice. A second later, her eyes went wide. "Ehhh?! The doll… it talked! It moved! Did it just slap me? Am I dreaming? Nozomi-kun, this is a ventriloquism trick, right? Tell me it's a trick!"
Watching Nanami's flustered reaction, Nozomi chuckled and shook his head. "Allow me to formally introduce everyone. This is Suigintou, the first doll of the Rozen Maiden. She did indeed speak, and she will be joining our Sakura Dormitory from now on. Please make her feel welcome."
Aoyama Nanami stared, mouth slightly agape, her worldview subtly cracking at the edges.
Suo Yuki, after a moment of stunned silence, broke into a radiant smile, her eyes forming hearts. "So cute! Such an exquisite doll-sama! Onii-chan, please, let me hold her!"
Nozomi shrugged. "You'll need Suigintou's permission for that."
No sooner had he spoken than Suigintou levitated gracefully from his arm and settled into Yuki's waiting embrace.
Nozomi's eyebrow twitched. "Hey now, could you at least pretend to be a little reluctant to leave me?"
Suigintou shot him a triumphant sidelong glance from the safety of Yuki's arms. Because you are a lewd human! she thought decisively. The embrace of a pure, admiring girl was infinitely preferable. Suo Yuki beamed with delight, while Mahiru and Sayu immediately clustered around, cooing praises.
Confronted with this sudden, warm attention, Suigintou grew flustered. She was accustomed to being met with fear or avoidance—her aesthetic, reminiscent of ill-omened crows and dark feathers, often provoked subconscious unease. This enthusiastic acceptance was overwhelming. Sensing her discomfort, Nozomi deftly intervened.
"Alright, everyone, give her some space. You'll have plenty of time to get to know Suigintou later. For now, let's focus on breakfast before we're all late."
Throughout the meal, Aoyama Nanami kept stealing glances at Suigintou, who was daintily partaking of a small serving of jam and toast with regal poise. A talking, autonomous doll…
If such magical beings existed, what other wonders was she ignorant of in the world? And for such a being to attach itself to Hozuki Nozomi… Just what was he? She noticed the others, while surprised, seemed to adapt quickly. Did they all know something about his unusual nature that she didn't?
As she ate, Suigintou felt a particularly persistent, longing gaze upon her. It came from Ayano Kimishima, who stared with undisguised yearning. Suigintou pointedly ignored her. If she indulged every person who wanted to hold her, what would become of her dignity?
She was the formidable Suigintou, a doll whispered to be cursed, not a common plaything! Seeing herself ignored, Ayano's shoulders slumped, her mind already plotting how to curry favor with Nozomi to get a chance later.
Frieren, having assessed the doll's magical composition, returned to her meal with mild interest. A sentient doll was novel, but as an elf who had journeyed for millennia, she had encountered similar elemental spirits and constructed lifeforms. It was nothing to get overly excited about.
After breakfast, Nozomi turned to Suigintou. "Would you like to come to school with me today? Officially, you were a gift from Misaki's mother. Now that you're… active, Misaki and the others would probably be very interested."
"Hmph. I have no desire to go," Suigintou refused flatly. "I have my own affairs to attend to." She intended to use the dream channels to discreetly observe the status of her other sisters, to gauge who else had awakened.
Nozomi understood. Now that she was conscious, the idea of being shut back in her box for the day, merely waiting, held little appeal. Despite their need for periodic rest within their boxes to stabilize their Rosa Mystica, Rozen Maiden craved engagement and experience when awake. A life of solitary waiting was a quiet torture.
Before leaving for school, Nozomi carried Suigintou to the full-length mirror in his room. As she was surveying their reflection with a critical eye, he swiftly leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her cool, porcelain cheek.
"Remember, don't wander too far from our link, and be careful," he said, his tone softening with genuine concern.
"Y-You! You impudent, disrespectful scoundrel!" Suigintou sputtered, a hand flying to her cheek. Even if she didn't cling to Shinku's particular brand of aristocratic 'ladyhood,' such sudden intimacy from a man was utterly flustering. On instinct, several inky black feathers materialized and shot forward, peppering Nozomi's school blazer with neat, precise holes.
Before he could offer any defense or further teasing, Suigintou let out a final, indignant hmph and stepped backward, her form dissolving into the mirror's surface as if stepping through a silvery curtain. Her parting words echoed in the suddenly still room: "The next time you dare such liberties, your person will share that garment's fate!"
Left alone, Hozuki Nozomi looked down at the perforated jacket, then back at the now-ordinary mirror. A slow, undaunted grin spread across his face as he nodded to himself.
"Understood. I'll be sure to do it again next time."
After all, he was practically indestructible, and he knew with absolute certainty that Suigintou would never truly harm her contractor. So why not? A little provocation was simply part of deepening their unique bond.