Morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains.
The moment I woke up, a sense of displacement washed over me. The sensation against my back was different from my usual mattress.
"...Right."
I wasn't at the Konohana manor.
Before I'd even realized it, my "normal" had shifted from this apartment to the days spent at the manor. Wavering between a lingering sense of alienation and a deep-seated familiarity, my mind slowly roused into wakefulness.
The place had evidently undergone some cleaning and minor renovations, but the view from the floor was almost exactly as I remembered it. The same ceiling I’d stared at thousands of times since childhood was right before my eyes.
"Are you awake?"
As I headed toward the bathroom to wash my face, a voice called out.
I turned to find Ms. Shizune watching me, dressed in her loungewear.
"Good morning. You're up early."
"It’s a habit. I believe you’re quite the early riser yourself, Itsuki-san."
It was seven in the morning. If I had no plans, I could have slept in much later, but I, too, had woken up out of habit.
Ever since I’d started working part-time in high school, I usually woke up at this hour—mostly for newspaper deliveries.
"Ms. Shizune, do you have work today as well?"
"Yes. Though not until the afternoon."
It seemed she could take it easy this morning.
That was a relief. It looked like Ms. Shizune would finally get a chance to catch her breath today.
"Should I wake Hinako?"
"...Let's let her rest for now. She worked quite hard yesterday."
I agreed.
I walked slowly toward the bathroom, trying to keep the creaking of the floorboards to a minimum. After washing my face, I caught another glimpse of Ms. Shizune and found myself stiffening slightly.
"Is something the matter?"
"No, well... everything just feels very fresh."
Since Ms. Shizune was almost always in her maid uniform, seeing her in anything else was a rarity. Unlike Hinako, who preferred cute, fluffy loungewear, Ms. Shizune wore a simple, functional sweatshirt.
"...Please do not stare so much."
The reaction was also fresh and a bit intriguing, but I looked away, sensing she might actually get cross if I stared any longer.
Ms. Shizune adjusted the partitions slightly, widening the living room—our shared space. Following her lead, I moved the table from the wall to the center of the room.
"Now then, shall we prepare some breakfast?"
"Oh, I've already made something simple."
"You have?"
"I prepped it yesterday while the curry was simmering. It's nothing fancy, though."
I opened the refrigerator and took out the plates I’d put inside the night before.
"Sandwiches. Tuna and egg."
I’d made them using recipes I’d found on my phone while the curry was on the stove.
"Thank you very much."
Since I’d prepared enough for three, I sat down across from Ms. Shizune and began to eat. There was a portion for Hinako, but if she ended up sleeping until noon, I figured I’d just eat it myself.
The sandwiches weren't bad, even if I said so myself, but that was mostly thanks to the ingredients. I’d used the high-quality canned tuna and premium bread we’d stocked up on.
"You are going to see your school today, correct?"
"That's the plan."
"If you run into your former classmates, have you considered how you will explain your current situation?"
I hadn't thought about it at all.
I’d dropped out at an awkward time, so if I reunited with them, they were bound to ask about my life.
I had to figure out a story... but if the priority was avoiding trouble for the Konohana family, maybe it was better not to meet them at all. No matter how I explained it, I couldn't deny the risk of letting something slip.
"...Would it be better if I didn't go?"
"If we were to be as cautious as humanly possible, yes. However, if you were to strictly adhere to that logic, Itsuki-san, you would have to sever ties with every person you have ever known. That would be far too heart-wrenching, so Master Kagen has granted his permission."
It was true. Even for the sake of the Konohana family, I felt a deep resistance to cutting off all my old friends.
"Let's agree that you are allowed to explain that you are attending Kikou Academy. As for your relationship with the Young Lady, you are simply classmates."
"What about the reason I'm at the Academy?"
"You can say you were adopted."
The cover story about being adopted by the president of a mid-sized IT company seemed like it would serve me well here too.
"We’re both getting quite good at this, aren't we?"
I gave a wry smile at Ms. Shizune's remark. I felt like a professional con artist.
Looking over at Ms. Shizune, I noticed she’d stopped eating. Was something wrong? I hadn't found any issues with the taste, but it obviously couldn't compare to the food at the manor.
"I’m sorry. Did it not suit your palate?"
"No... I was just thinking that having this kind of breakfast once in a while is quite nice," Ms. Shizune said with a faint smile.
She chewed her sandwich carefully and swallowed. She didn't seem to be lying.
"Ms. Shizune, what kind of life did you lead before you became a servant?"
"An ordinary one. My family was slightly wealthy, and I attended a fairly good school, but our standard of living wasn't much different from an average household....So, I'm familiar with meals like this."
That was news to me.
Come to think of it, Ms. Shizune and I rarely had the chance to talk like this, just the two of us. There were many things I didn't know about her.
"Thank you for the meal. It was delicious."
With a refined grace that rivaled Hinako’s "mode," Ms. Shizune finished her breakfast. She stood up, pulling back her chair without a sound, and stacked my empty plate onto hers.
"I'll handle the dishes."
"I can help."
"There are only two sets; I can manage perfectly well on my own."
Ms. Shizune stood at the small kitchen sink with practiced movements. She immediately dried the washed plates with a clean cloth and set them on the shelf.
I picked one up to inspect it.
"............It's sparkling."
Amazing. Does dishwashing really change this much depending on who’s doing it?
"I'm not ready to lose to you yet, Itsuki-san."
"...I don't think I'll ever be able to win."
"Indeed. I have no intention of losing."
I’d said it half-joking, but Ms. Shizune affirmed it as if it were a law of nature. However, her expression had softened, looking almost playful.
◆
I focused on my studies until a little after noon.
I checked on Hinako periodically, but she never stirred; she seemed to be in a deep sleep. I’d worried she might find it hard to sleep without the plush bed at the manor, but then I remembered Hinako could fall asleep anytime, anywhere. She was perfectly fine.
Ms. Shizune, despite saying she had work in the afternoon, had been out since morning for meetings with the security detail and hadn't returned for three hours....I wondered if she was being considerate and giving us some space.
Thanks to the two of them, I was able to study in peace and finished about half of my daily goals. I decided to save the rest for tonight.
At 4:00 PM.
Hinako and I headed toward my old high school.
"We’re here."
Just walking the familiar route had brought back waves of nostalgia, but standing before the school, I was overwhelmed by a sense of emotion that was hard to put into words.
"This is the school you went to, Itsuki...?"
"Yeah."
The green-painted iron gate, the sports field, and the school building beyond. The high school where I’d spent a year was right there.
Compared to the three years I’d spent in elementary and middle school, one year was a blip, but seeing it in person brought back a flood of memories. The exams I’d studied for while fighting sleep, the sports festivals where I’d run myself ragged—I’d experienced all of those here.
"What do you think of a normal school?" I asked Hinako.
She stared at the campus with wide eyes. "...It's small."
"...This is what's normal."
Kikou Academy was simply an outlier. Compared to that place, this school was tiny, and if I were being honest, a bit dilapidated. The signs and crosswalks around the gate were worn down, and the paint on the iron bars was peeling in spots.
A private school might have been different, but public schools were generally like this.
"Was middle school like this, too...?"
"Yeah. Elementary and middle school had the same kind of vibe."
To someone from Kikou Academy, all these schools probably looked the same. This view only reinforced how special that Academy really was.
"It looks cramped, doesn't it? But it's actually enough. There’s no cafe here, and no decorative gardens."
Kikou Academy had facilities no normal school would ever have, along with a massive library and gym. The range of subjects and sports they were expected to master was far broader, hence the vast campus.
But for a normal student, this was plenty.
While I was a student here, I never felt like I was missing out. The environment was fine for studying, and it was safe. For a student in my position, they were peaceful days.
"Itsuki... you lived your life here."
Beside me, Hinako murmured with a somber tone. She gently touched the iron bars of the gate.
"Has school... already started?"
"No, it's still summer vacation. The people here now are just students in clubs."
On the field, the track and field, handball, and baseball clubs were active. If I listened closely, I could hear brass instruments; the wind instrument club was likely practicing inside.
"Were you in a club, Itsuki?"
"No, I was in the Go-Home Club."
"The Go-Home Club?"
"It just means I wasn't in a club."
"...You were in a club, but you weren't in a club?"
Hinako tilted her head, confused. It seemed the term "Go-Home Club" wasn't in a Young Lady's vocabulary.
"...Itsuki?"
Just as a faintly familiar voice called out, I turned around.
"Oh, it's Itsuki!"
"Wait, seriously?! It's been forever!"
Before I knew it, four people were standing right there—two guys and two girls. I recognized them instantly. They were my old classmates.
"...Hey. Long time no see. What are you guys doing?"
"We were just hanging out and gaming at the park. We ate and were about to head home, but we figured we'd swing by the school on the way."
"We were studying in the library. We just ran into these idiots on the way out."
Apparently, the four of them had only just met up. That explained why the guys were in plain clothes while the girls were still in their uniforms.
"More importantly, man! Where the hell did you go?!"
"Yeah! You suddenly vanished right before the second year started. We were shocked!"
They pressed in, peppering me with questions.
"Hahaha, well, sorry about that..."
I knew this was coming. I wanted to dodge the subject, but it didn't look like they were going to let it slide. I couldn't blame them; if the roles were reversed, I'd be doing the exact same thing.
"By the way, who’s the girl...?"
Hinako's presence finally cut through their momentum. One of the girls voiced the question, and the other three immediately shifted their focus to her.
Switching her Young Lady mode on, Hinako gave a serene smile.
"How do you do? My name is Hinako Konohana."
A strange, strangled sound escaped the boys' throats. Even the girls were captivated by Hinako's refined, lovely demeanor.
If the students at Kikou Academy considered her a "flower on a high peak," she was something else entirely to commoners like us. Her poise was so beautiful it left them momentarily dazed.
"H-hey, Itsuki! Over here!"
The boys snapped out of it and dragged me away by the arm.
"Dude! Who is that?! She's insanely cute!"
"Where did you meet her?! Tell me! Give me some of that luck!"
These guys hadn't changed a bit.
"God, guys are the worst."
"...I mean, I can't really blame them this time."
The girls watched the boys with contempt, though even they seemed to recognize Hinako’s innate class.
I realized now was the best time to explain my situation.
"Actually, I'm attending Kikou Academy now."
"Kikou Academy? You mean that super-elite school?!"
"The one where the rumors say only rich people get in?!"
I nodded. Kikou Academy’s reputation was legendary, even among us.
"Most of you know my family situation was pretty rough. I was actually going to drop out, but the president of a company offered to adopt me, and through that connection, I ended up at Kikou."
"Adopted... that actually happens in real life?"
In my case it was a fiction, but given the example of Tennoji-san, it was a plausible reality.
"And Konohana-san here is a classmate of mine."
Hinako gave a quiet, graceful bow. That seemed to satisfy most of their curiosity for the moment.
"Is she really just a classmate?"
"Just a classmate. We happened to run into each other, so I'm showing her around the old neighborhood."
I definitely wasn't going to mention we were living together. I was getting used to this kind of deception; I kept a perfectly straight face.
The former classmates looked between Hinako and me with varying levels of skepticism.
"Kikou Academy, huh... Well, it's a hell of a lot better than the rumors we heard."
"Rumors?"
The guys nodded. "Man, you vanished so weirdly that people started talking. Some said you were on a tuna boat, others said you were living off the grid in the Amazon."
"What even..."
Wait, I think Yuri told me something like that during the Summer Seminar. Something about slave auctions too?
"No point standing around here. I was gonna hang out at his place, you want to come, Itsuki?"
"Yeah, come on. It's a reunion! I'll even buy you some food."
The boys were eager to invite me. Meanwhile, the girls were surrounding Hinako.
"Konohana-san, was it? Hey, do you want to grab food with us too?!"
"Yeah! We have so much to ask you!"
"U-um, I..."
Setting me aside, it was going to be difficult for Hinako to refuse in her Young Lady mode. Unlike the polite students at Kikou, the kids here were pushy in the way only teenagers can be. To Hinako, it probably felt like a tidal wave.
"Hey, you lot!"
A shrill voice cut through the air. I looked toward the sound and saw a small figure in the distance. As she got closer, I recognized her immediately.
"Oh, it's Hirano!"
"Yuri-cchi! Long time no see!"
"Yeah, yeah, hi guys."
My former classmates greeted Yuri before I could. Since it was summer vacation, this was probably a reunion for them as well. Yuri stepped right between them and us.
"Don't crowd them like that; you're making them uncomfortable. Setting Itsuki aside, Konohana-san isn't used to this kind of energy."
I felt the "setting Itsuki aside" part was uncalled for.
"Wait, Yuri-cchi, you know Konohana-san?"
"We met at my part-time job."
"Ah, Karuizawa, right? I guess seeing a young lady there makes sense."
Apparently, word of Yuri’s resort job had traveled.
"Anyway, these two are coming over to my place now, so you guys can see them another time."
"Ehh! Don't hog them!"
"That was the plan! Shoo, shoo!"
Yuri waved her hands, shooing them away with an air of authority. Grumbling about how it couldn't be helped, they finally turned to leave.
On the way out, the two boys cornered me one last time.
"Itsuki. Hirano-san was actually pretty lonely when you left, you know."
"...It seems so."
I’d had a feeling about that since the Summer Seminar. Yuri valued the time we spent together more than I’d realized.
"If you keep being so cold to her, I might just have to make a move on her myself."
"I’m reflecting on it, so don't joke like that."
I let out a sigh, thinking he hadn't changed at all. To my surprise, both of them blinked in shock, as if my reaction was the weird one.
"Look, man, just so you know... Hirano-san is actually pretty popular."
"Huh?"
What?
"Don't 'huh' me. She's friendly, she's a great listener, and as you just saw, she knows how to take care of people. Of course she’s popular."
"Yeah. And she's just plain cute, too," the other guy added.
"Is that so..."
Now that they mentioned it, Yuri did have all the traits that made someone attractive. Beyond what they said, she was a great cook, reliable, and actually had quite a bit of feminine charm. I knew she was well-liked, but I’d never thought of it in a romantic context.
"Itsuki, what are you doing?"
"N-nothing!"
I hurried over to Yuri, ignoring my laughing friends as they walked away.
"...Phew. Now we can finally breathe," Yuri said once it was just the three of us.
"Yuri, thanks. But how did you find us—"
"Don't 'how' me! Today was supposed to be my first day working at Konohana-san's house, and I was looking forward to it! Then I get there and you guys are gone!!"
Oh... right.
Today was the big day for Yuri’s first shift at the manor. We’d originally talked about walking to her house together after she finished.
"...Wait, didn't I tell you we were meeting at your place instead?"
"Wait, seriously?" Yuri whipped out her phone. "...I was so excited I must have missed the message."
"You..."
I checked my own phone. My message hadn't been marked as read. I should have followed up when she didn't reply.
"W-well, anyway, after my shift, Ms. Shizune told me where you were, so I came here....I heard you're staying at your old place for now."
"Yeah. For the time being."
"Hmm. You're going to tell me all about that later."
Both Yuri and I lived within walking distance of the school, so we’d grown up in this town since elementary school. In my case, I’d chosen this high school to save on transit costs, and it was a stroke of luck that the school was decent. Yuri had followed for similar reasons.
We walked along, taking in the familiar sights.
"That cafe wasn't there before, was it?"
"It moved. Remember the one that used to be inside the station?"
"Oh, right. So what's there now?"
"A bakery. There’s always a line in the evening."
Being in the station, I figured people were buying bread on their way home from work or school. Even in just a few months, the town had kept changing. It had likely always been changing even when I lived here, but I’d never noticed it until I stepped away.
"Alright, we're almost there."
We passed through the shopping district and walked a bit from the station. A familiar storefront appeared.
"Welcome to Hiramaru Diner!!" Yuri announced with a grin.
◆
We entered the shop around 5:00 PM. Since it was still early, we relaxed inside for a bit before eating once the sun went down.
By then, I was starving. The scent wafting from the kitchen was incredible—an aroma I hadn’t smelled in ages.
"Here we go, two ginger pork sets."
After waiting at a table for a few minutes, Yuri brought the food over, wearing an apron over her clothes.
"Thanks."
"Are you sure you didn't want the hamburger steak, Itsuki?"
"I had that at the Summer Seminar. I wanted to try something else today."
Yuri had brought ginger pork to the barbecue before, but Hinako and the other girls had devoured it so fast I didn't get a single bite.
"Let's eat."
I put my hands together and dug in. I piled the saucy pork onto the rice and took a huge bite.
"Yeah, this is the stuff. Did you make this, Yuri?"
"Just the soup. My dad did the rest."
I tried the soup. Hiramaru Diner’s set meals usually came with different soups, but the ginger pork set was paired with a simple green onion and seaweed broth. Since the pork was rich and savory, the light soup was the perfect palate cleanser.
"It's great."
"You don't have to flatter me....Though I'm happy you like it."
She looked pleased. I wasn't being polite; it really was delicious.
"How about you, Konohana-san? I hope it's okay."
"It is wonderful. Truly delicious... mmm, so good."
Oh no. It was so good the real Hinako was leaking out. Fortunately, Yuri didn't notice the slip and just looked relieved.
"I think I'll eat too. Dad, fried oyster set!"
"You got it!" Yuri's father bellowed from the kitchen.
"Yuri, how was the job today?"
"It was a lot....Ms. Shizune is really strict when she's on the clock."
"Yeah... I know."
Finally, someone who shared my pain. I nodded solemnly.
"But it was an amazing learning experience!" Yuri's eyes sparkled. "I’ve never cooked in a kitchen that high-end before. I saw some fancy stuff at the resort, but the Konohana manor is on another level. The spice measurements were perfect, and they knew the ingredients like scholars....I knew about warming the plates and cutlery to match the food, but seeing people actually do it was incredible."
It sounded like she’d gotten exactly what she wanted. When it came to cooking, Yuri was stoic and greedy for knowledge. It was rare to see her this excited.
"Fried oysters, coming up!"
"Thanks, Dad."
Yuri’s father brought the plate over, then glanced at mine. "Itsuki, that's not nearly enough for a growing boy. Here, have some more meat! Eat up!"
"A-ah, thank you..."
I watched him pile more ginger pork onto my plate with a growing sense of dread. Was I actually going to be able to finish this?
"Dad, you're overwhelming him."
"Quiet, you. A man should be served enough food to make him sweat."
Yuri's father stared intently at my face. "You know, Itsuki, you've gotten a lot sturdier since the last time I saw you."
"I have?"
"Yeah. You've got muscle, and your eyes look stronger."
"My eyes...?"
He nodded firmly. "I was worried when you vanished, but it looks like you're doing well for yourself."
A look of genuine relief washed over his face. I put down my chopsticks and bowed.
"Yes....I'm sorry for making you worry."
Yuri's father was an old-school guy, but incredibly kind, and I respected him deeply. I resolved to finish every last bite of the extra pork he’d given me. Even if it killed me.
He was like this with every high school boy who came in. He didn't give me special treatment just because we were close; he treated everyone with the same boisterous hospitality. It was that warmth that had shaped Yuri into the person she was. Even when my own parents were... difficult, this family had always welcomed me. I had nothing but gratitude for them.
"I wasn't that worried, honestly. Yuri was the one losing it..."
"Dad! Stop!"
"Oh, look at that, the rice is done."
Faced with his beet-red, fuming daughter, he beat a hasty retreat. Yuri glared at me in silence.
I bowed my head again. "I'm really sorry for worrying you."
"...It's fine. We already talked about this at the Seminar. My dad just can't keep his mouth shut."
Yuri sighed, but I caught a small smile on her face.
"It's been a while since we’ve had a night like this."
"...Yeah. I'm glad we could do it again."
She seemed to have cheered up. But when I looked at Hinako next to me... she looked oddly lonely.
"Konohana-san?"
"...Yes? Is something wrong?"
She turned to me with her usual graceful smile, but the air of melancholy remained. Maybe I was imagining it. I just shook my head.
Yuri, however, was watching Hinako very closely.
◇
After we finished eating, Yuri went back into the kitchen to help out. At the back table, Itsuki and Hinako were chatting away. Itsuki was rubbing his stomach—definitely from overeating.
Suddenly, Yuri's father, who was finally taking a break, headed over to their table. Itsuki and her father started reminiscing, and Hinako watched them with a gentle smile, making sure not to interrupt.
(............She really is too good for him.) Yuri thought.
Cute, refined, and elegant. A true flower on a high peak. But from what Yuri could see, the distance between them hadn't changed at all since the Summer Seminar. Hinako had the poise of a queen, but apparently, she had the romantic initiative of a snail.
"Konohana-san, over here for a sec." Yuri beckoned.
Hinako looked puzzled but followed her. "What is it?"
"Those two are gonna be at it for a while. Let’s have a talk of our own."
"A talk?"
"Yeah. Just the girls."
Yuri called out to the kitchen that she was taking a break and pulled off her apron. She led Hinako to the back of the shop, up the stairs, and into her room.
"Sorry it's a mess. I didn't know what to wear to your house this morning, so I basically exploded my dresser."
"No, it's quite alright."
Hinako looked around with genuine interest. She’d seen the opulence of the manor that morning, but this was the exact opposite. To a commoner, it was an average room; to a Young Lady, it was a museum of a different life.
"This photo..."
Hinako stopped in front of a picture on the desk. It showed Yuri and Itsuki in gym clothes, wearing headbands.
"Elementary school sports festival," Yuri explained. "I was actually faster than him back then."
"You were?"
"Itsuki didn't get athletic until the upper grades. He was actually kind of a klutz."
Hinako listened, captivated. Yuri saw her chance.
"You want to see? Itsuki's photos?"
"...If it isn't a bother, I would love to."
You're not fooling anyone, Yuri thought with a grin, pulling a hidden album from her desk drawer. As soon as she opened it, Hinako was mesmerized.
"This is..."
"Middle school class observation."
"Class observation?"
"You don't have those? It's when parents come to watch the kids' classes."
"No. Our parents are usually far too busy."
Yuri figured that made sense. Itsuki's parents hadn't come to his either, though in their case, it wasn't because they were busy.
"The Itsuki of this time... he looks..."
Hinako looked at the middle school photos, hesitant.
"He looks like he has a chip on his shoulder, right?"
"Y-yes."
"He was going through a rough patch. By middle school, you start realizing exactly how different your home life is from everyone else's."
"But look, he made cute faces sometimes too."
"This one... is very cute."
"I made him a cake for his birthday, and he was way happier than I expected."
It was a photo of Itsuki with his cheeks stuffed, grinning like a fool. He’d been so happy that Yuri had almost cried when he told her it was the first time he'd ever had a birthday cake.
"And this? Is this the high school from earlier?"
"Yeah. Entrance ceremony."
They were standing together at the gate. Back then, Itsuki had no idea he’d end up at a place like Kikou Academy.
"He looks a bit sleepy."
"The idiot did a newspaper route the morning of his entrance ceremony. He was nodding off the whole time."
Yuri showed her more photos on her phone. Hinako stared at the screen as if she were trying to memorize every pixel.
"You take a lot of photos with him, Hirano-san."
"Yeah. His parents were... well, they didn't care, and they didn't have the money for a camera. My parents just took them in their place."
"I believe he treasures them," Hinako said softly. She remembered seeing a stack of photos in the top drawer of the desk Itsuki was using. "I’m sure he considers them precious."
"...I hope so."
Yuri watched Hinako’s profile. The girl looked more melancholic than she had during the Summer Seminar. It was as if the distance between her and Itsuki had actually grown.
"Alright, I should probably get to the point." Yuri sat down across from her. "I wanted to ask... how have you been feeling lately?"
Hinako tilted her head. "Feeling?"
"You know... what I said at the end of the Seminar. I realized later that I was being pretty meddlesome." Yuri gave a weak laugh. She didn't regret it, but she worried she’d caused the girl more grief. "I just wanted to make sure you were okay."
"...Actually, there is something I wanted to ask you, Hirano-san."
"Anything. Ask away."
Hinako took a slow breath. "What does it mean to love someone?"
Yuri’s brain stalled. ...Are you serious?
In an age of endless romantic dramas and manga, she hadn't expected to hear that question in real life. Looking at Hinako’s pure, earnest eyes, Yuri found herself blushing out of sheer secondhand embarrassment. This was a "sheltered daughter" on a level that defied reality.
"Hold on... let me think about how to explain that."
She could give a dictionary definition, but that wasn't what this girl needed. How do you explain the concept of love to someone who has never even considered it?
Minutes passed, and in the end, Yuri couldn't find the words.
◆
Once we were full, we left the diner. I said goodbye to Yuri’s father and stood with Yuri for a moment outside.
"Konohana-san, about our talk earlier... let's put it on hold for now. I'll get back to you if I find a good way to explain it."
"Yes, I shall be waiting."
I wondered what they’d been talking about. I knew they’d slipped away while I was talking to Yuri's father, but a secret between the two of them felt... odd. Yuri usually told me everything, so this secrecy left me feeling strangely restless.
"What were you two talking about?"
"Hmm... it's a secret."
I figured I shouldn't push, but I couldn't help being curious.
"Itsuki... you’re really close to her father, aren't you?"
"Yeah. He looked out for me. I worked there for a bit... Honestly, he probably did more for me than my own parents ever did."
Even on my high school entrance day, I’d taken photos with Yuri's family. My parents had almost never shown up to anything. This house had always been my source of warmth—the "at-home" feeling I could never find in my own residence.
(...I'm jealous.)
A feeling I’d long since suppressed bubbled up. Seeing a happy family always made me feel a twinge of envy. The shared meals, the noise... I’d always hungered for that. I’d spent so many days wishing I could open a front door and hear a kind "Welcome home."
I’d accepted my lot in life, but the longing still flared up like a chronic illness.
"I'm home," I said reflexively as I opened the door to the apartment. I didn't expect a reply, but—
"Welcome home."
Ms. Shizune turned from the sink where she was washing dishes.
I froze. I hadn't expected those words, and certainly not here.
"Is something wrong?"
"...No, it's nothing."
I looked away from her, my mind going blank. It was the one thing I’d wanted most today, and having it granted so simply made my chest tight. I blinked away a sudden prickle in my eyes and looked back at her.
"I just... realized how nice it is to have someone here."
"I think I understand," Ms. Shizune said with a gentle smile.
I realized why I’d forgotten that "jealousy" recently. It was because, since I started living with Hinako and the others, I’d finally felt fulfilled.
"I'll help with the dishes."
"You just got back. You should rest."
"No, let me help."
Ms. Shizune looked puzzled but eventually nodded. "Very well."
The domestic warmth was here, too. Realizing that made me happier than anything else.
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