"Anyway…"
Falin returned to her usual tone, raising her voice so the others could hear.
"I really appreciate everything you all did for me.
Especially Marcille. Without her, I wouldn't be standing here right now."
Laios nodded, still excited.
"Yes! We must celebrate!"
He turned to Chilchuck:
"Chilchuck, go to the market—get good liquor and lots of food!"
"I…"
Chilchuck still seemed to want the full story. Clearly, Marcille and Falin were hiding something. But in the end, he just sighed, spreading his hands.
"All right, well, better this than feeding ourselves to the dragon in that labyrinth. I prefer this ending."
He headed for the door. While Laios enthusiastically discussed how to celebrate, Marcille caught sight of Falin unconsciously touching that pendant again, her gaze wandering somewhere distant as though listening to a voice only she could hear.
Falin's expression gave Marcille a serious case of alarm bells. That's the look of a woman in love. But falling for someone from another world—would that even end well?
Marcille had originally been prepared to live out her days alone, yet now she felt unsure herself.
…
At the Yukinoshita Household
Early morning. The Yukinoshita Mama set down her coffee. Her fingertips, upon the tablet's financial reports, traced a third diagonal line. The blue line representing the Yukinoshita family's quarterly earnings dipped steeply, dropping almost vertically in the latest quarter.
"Yet another company terminated their contract…"
The Yukinoshita family had been repeatedly targeted. The mother had already noticed a looming crisis—but she was powerless. If this went on, the Yukinoshita businesses could be swallowed up.
She massaged her temples, trying to tamp down her frustration and figure out some breakthrough strategy. Right now, the entire family's hopes rested on her.
Tap, tap! The sound of brisk footsteps.
She quickly switched her facial expression with an actor's speed. But she realized her shift came half a second too late for her elder daughter Haruno—enough time for Haruno to catch on.
"Mother, you're up very early today."
Haruno came downstairs in silk sleepwear, hair still bearing pillow creases, yet her eyes were bright as a fox closing in on prey. Her gaze swept over the pile of documents and coffee-stained cups at her mother's side.
"Did you have nightmares?"
"I'm just getting older—sleep's gotten lighter."
The mother calmly placed the tablet face-down on the table. Haruno's lashes flickered almost imperceptibly.
"And you? You don't have to deal with business matters now, so why not sleep in?"
Haruno tilted her head, tapping her chin thoughtfully.
"Suddenly I'm craving Mont Blanc from that shop in Ginza. Would you like to come?"
As she spoke, her gaze moved over her mother's taut shoulders, showing signs of long-term tension and perhaps even more strain recently.
"You youngsters enjoy that stuff. It doesn't suit me."
The mother stood, tightening the belt of her robe—carefully blocking any view of the computer screen.
"Fine,"
Haruno shrugged and headed to the bathroom to wash up. Only after Haruno's footsteps faded did the Yukinoshita Mama allow herself to slump back into the armchair. Outside, cherry blossoms began to drift from the trees.
"Sigh…"
Right now, both Haruno and Yukino were in some way connected to Rei Ao. Though she knew Rei Ao's special abilities could effortlessly solve the Yukinoshita household's predicament, she wouldn't mention it. Yukino and Haruno each had new paths and futures; she didn't want them to be burdened again by the family's troubles.
Still, Haruno, already aware of something unusual, wouldn't sit idle. She intended to investigate the Yukinoshita family's circumstances, well aware that the mother's pained expression could only come from two possibilities: something about Rei Ao, or the collapsing Yukinoshita enterprises.
…
On the Other Side
"I'll be going then."
After returning from the other world, Rei Ao dropped Sumika off at her home before departing. Standing at her doorway, Sumika watched him for a long while before finally pulling her gaze away.
The events of yesterday were something she'd never forget. Not only had she and Rei Ao affirmed their relationship, but there had been that unexpected multi-person party, with elves included! She'd never imagined herself doing something so crazy.
Just remembering the way she'd behaved that night made her cheeks burn. Slapping both sides of her face to calm down, Fujimiya Sumika opened the door to her apartment. The entry light turned on with a click.
She had barely settled on the sofa when:
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
Her phone buzzed relentlessly in her pocket. Unlocking it, she saw the 99+ unread messages popping up like a barrage of magical bullets. At the top were 47 missed calls from Sawae, the latest just five minutes ago:
"If you don't answer this, I'm calling the police!!!"
"Uh-oh,"
Sumika muttered, quickly scrolling through. She'd completely forgotten about having no cell service in the other world. The instant her messages went "read," the phone rang.
"Fujimiya. Sumika."
Sawae's voice boomed so loudly that Sumika had to hold the phone away.
"Do you know what I've been through since yesterday?!"
"S-sorry."
Sumika said helplessly. She really had worried Sawae to the extreme. Hearing her voice, Sawae let out a sigh of relief.
"Stay put!"
She hung up. Ten minutes later:
"Open up!"
Doorbell ringing and Sawae's shout came together. Sumika hurried to unlock the door. A blur of lemon-yellow hair tackled her in a fierce hug, bringing with it the scent of citrus shampoo mixed with sweat.
"I thought you'd gone missing!"
Tying her hair in its signature topknot, Sawae had a few strands plastered to her forehead, her white T-shirt damp on the back.
"Tell me: Why was your phone out of service?"
Sumika, guilt rising, avoided looking Sawae in the eyes.
"Well… Rei Ao-kun and I went somewhere… kinda remote."
She wasn't sure how much to reveal.
"Remote enough you had zero reception?"
Hands on her hips, Sawae widened her eyes.
"Wait, you two went off together?!"
Her voice spiked eight decibels. Sumika quickly clapped a hand over her mouth, dragging her into the living room.
"C-come on, Sawae—don't be so loud. People could hear."
Sumika's cheeks glowed as red as a ripe apple, her fingers twisting her shirt hem. Seeing her friend's flustered look, Sawae's eyes glinted—like a cat about to pounce on juicy gossip.
She plopped onto the sofa cross-legged.
"Start talking, details, all of 'em. That's your compensation for making me worry so much."
"E-eh?!"
Sumika exclaimed.
~~~
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