For Ichin, the road test for his driver's license was practically a walk in the park. After just two practice sessions to get his feel for the wheel back, he passed the exam in one go.
Once he had his license in hand, he and Utaha started discussing what kind of car to buy.
In the studio, Kō Yagami—who was also learning to drive—walked into the office and glanced at Ichin's computer screen filled with car listings. With clear envy, she said, "How did you learn so fast? Rin and I still have to wait until next month for our tests."
"Hehe, maybe it's just talent," Ichin replied with a chuckle. "But seriously, don't rush. Just take it slow and steady—you'll both get there. Once you've got your licenses, I'll already have my car and can give you some advice."
Despite saying that, Ichin actually hadn't decided on what kind of car to buy yet.
Sports cars were completely off the table—two-seaters were a no-go from the start.
In Japan, the most commonly used brands were, unsurprisingly, domestic ones like Toyota and Honda. But Ichin had already ruled out Japanese cars as well. That narrowed his choices down to German cars.
Among German brands, he dismissed Mercedes outright and was now torn between BMW and Audi.
"Utaha, what do you think? Should we get a BMW or an Audi?" he asked.
Utaha looked at the selection of cars Ichin had pulled up and shook her head. "Honestly, I don't know much about cars. But since it's going to be for our own use, I think comfort should come first. Oh—how about we ask Hiratsuka-sensei tomorrow? Didn't she say she knows a lot about this stuff?"
"That's a good idea. I'll ask her then."
Kō Yagami also leaned over out of curiosity, glancing at the price tags on some of the models. She immediately covered her eyes in horror.
"Way too expensive! I think I'll stick with something cheaper…"
News of Ichin planning to buy a car soon made its way to the programming team a short while later.
Umiko, who was also in the process of getting her license, was making faster progress than Kō and Rin. She was scheduled to receive her license next week.
When Ichin stepped out of the office, Umiko came out as well.
"Have you decided on a car yet?" she asked.
"Not yet," Ichin shook his head. "Tomorrow's Saturday, so I'm planning to consult with Hiratsuka-sensei. She knows a lot about this kind of thing."
"Hiratsuka-sensei, huh?" Umiko rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Mind if I tag along? I want to pick out a car I actually like too. Plus, my lease is almost up, and I'll be moving closer to your place soon. Having my own car would save me some moving costs."
"Sure, come by tomorrow. I'll call Hiratsuka-sensei tonight and let her know."
The original studio space had now been converted into a shared dormitory for the girls. So far, aside from Kō, Rin had already moved in. Umiko would be moving in later this month, and after that, Tsubame and Momiji would be next.
After moving out all the office equipment, the two apartments had been transformed into cozy, communal spaces perfect for living and gathering.
By noon on Saturday, Hiratsuka Shizuka, who had agreed to Ichin's invitation, arrived right on time for lunch.
Seeing the freshly rearranged living room after everything had been cleared out, she raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"Oh! Not bad at all. This place looks really comfortable."
There wasn't a traditional sofa or coffee table—just a few plush rugs laid down, with scattered bean bag chairs that were perfect for lounging around in the afternoon sunlight. It was a space made for relaxation.
With a proud grin, Kō Yagami chimed in, "Hehe, Rin and I spent quite a bit of time redecorating this place! We carefully picked out the wallpaper and the carpet ourselves!"
Just then, the kitchen door opened and Ichin walked out carrying a plate of food.
"Hiratsuka-sensei, go wash your hands. Lunch is ready."
Hiratsuka's eyes lit up when she saw the sweet and sour pork ribs he was holding. She swallowed a mouthful of saliva and exclaimed,
"Oh!!! You cooked today, Ichin? Then I've got to savor every bite!"
Right after Ichin came out, Utaha followed with a tray of roasted meat fresh from the oven. The rich aroma wafted into the room, instantly making Hiratsuka's stomach growl even more.
Without hesitation, she rushed to the bathroom to wash her hands.
Today's lunch included not only Ichin, Utaha, and Hiratsuka Shizuka, but also Kō Yagami, Rin Toyama, and Umiko. Originally, Hajime had also wanted to join, but something came up at home, so he had to sit this one out.
Soon enough, everyone was seated around the dining table, admiring the feast laid out before them. They each raised their drink cups.
"Cheers!!"
Since they'd all be driving, Hiratsuka also opted for juice instead of alcohol.
After taking a sip, she picked up a rib, took a bite, and before long, all that remained was a clean bone.
"As expected, Ichin's cooking never disappoints. I've been to just about every Chinese restaurant in Tokyo recently—whether it's sweet and sour pork, braised pork belly, or any other Chinese dish, none of them taste as good as yours. Seriously, how did you get this good at cooking?"
Ichin chuckled. "I guess it's in my blood. Must've inherited the talent from my mom."
Utaha nodded in agreement. "Totally. Auntie's cooking is amazing. I learned a bit when I went home with Ichin for the New Year, but I probably only scratched the surface."
The corner of Hiratsuka's mouth twitched as she looked at the couple.
"Why is it that no matter how we start talking—whether it's food or anything else—it always ends with me being force-fed dog food? Seriously, you two are unbelievable."
Umiko calmly scooped herself a bowl of xian dou xian (bamboo shoot and pork soup) and commented,
"We've gotten used to it. In this studio, it's a daily occurrence to get hit with a dose or two of their PDA."
Ichin looked at her with mild surprise.
"Huh? Is it really that often? We don't do that much, do we?"
Umiko and Hiratsuka exchanged a look before setting down their chopsticks and shrugging.
"See? People in love are always clueless about their surroundings. Are they like this at school too?"
"Eh, not too bad. At most they just hold hands sometimes," Kō replied with a hint of exasperation.
"But that's already enough to make single folks jealous. Most students are still single, not to mention a lot of the teachers too."
As soon as she finished that sentence, Ichin and the others turned their gaze to Kō—then slowly shifted it to Hiratsuka.
"…"
Deep breaths. Deep breaths.
Exhaling slowly, Hiratsuka stared at the group and said,
"Can we please have a normal conversation?"
Kō, clearly flustered, laughed awkwardly.
"Ah… ahahaha… s-sorry about that."
Thankfully, Hiratsuka was used to it by now, and the mood at the table returned to its cheerful state.
After the meal, everyone found a bean bag chair to lounge in and started chatting about cars.
...