Setsuna stood at the doorway, her eyes vacant, staring after the car as it drove away. Then, she watched Haruto ascend the steps, gradually disappearing from her sight. She remained there, dazed, staring blankly at the spot where he had just been.
Haruto, unaware that Setsuna was watching him from the balcony, didn't notice her at all. After saying goodbye to Koharu, he stepped into his apartment. Looking at the few ingredients left in the fridge and listening to the steady rain outside, he didn't feel much like going out.
"Since it's raining today, I'll call Tsubota-sensei and take the day off from tutoring. As for ingredients, I have enough for tonight… tomorrow shouldn't be too bad either."
He walked over to his desk, opened his laptop, and checked the news. Tomorrow seemed like it would still be drizzly.
"September rain, huh? Once autumn comes in September, October will get cold… I've only prepared spring and summer clothes. I'll have to get some winter clothes ready too."
Haruto began thinking about the coming winter. He considered the size of his apartment and decided to get a kotatsu—a low, heated table. That way, he could work comfortably in winter without freezing.
Using the air conditioner for heat consumes roughly 1.5–3 kWh per hour, while a kotatsu only uses about 0.35 kWh. Considering current electricity rates, the air conditioner costs about 38 yen per hour, whereas the kotatsu costs just 9 yen. Even with some variation, the kotatsu is far more efficient.
He walked to the window and watched the rain pour. The city seemed soaked and gray, making him feel sluggish. Turning on the dehumidifier, he called Tsubota-sensei to inform him that he wouldn't be attending tutoring today. Tsubota-sensei didn't object and agreed immediately.
Given Haruto's recent progress, Tsubota-sensei was very satisfied. Despite only being a first-year high school student, Haruto was already capable of participating in university-level entrance exams. With two more years to prepare, entering his target university by the third year would be no problem.
"If I have time, I'll read the news. Although I've made great progress compared to before, there's still some emptiness I need to fill," Haruto thought.
"I understand," came Tsubota's reply.
After a brief chat, Haruto ended the call, noting that Tsubota was busy helping students with questions.
Using the remaining ingredients in his fridge, he made a simple fried rice for dinner, then sat at his desk and began reviewing the news as instructed by Tsubota. Rather than entertainment gossip, he focused on official news. He went through recent reports, making notes and summarizing the key points and figures involved.
"I'm not sure if this will be useful, but recording it like this might help me develop some sensitivity to these things," he thought.
Developing such skills couldn't happen overnight; only consistent effort over time could yield results.
As he was writing, the doorbell suddenly rang. The sudden sound in the rainy night made Haruto pause. After finishing his last note, he closed the notebook, placed his pen beside it, and walked to the door.
Peering through the peephole, he saw a familiar height, hairstyle, and the red bow he knew so well. Seeing her face made him frown.
He opened the door to find a girl in a sky-blue dress, her hair still damp from the rain. He didn't understand why she hadn't brought an umbrella. Without a word, he gently pulled her into his apartment.
In the bathroom, he draped a towel over her head and closed the door. Standing in the hallway, the girl remained still. With a sigh, he approached her and began carefully drying her hair and wiping her cheeks.
"Even if you live nearby, there's no need to get this drenched without an umbrella," he said, frowning.
The girl didn't respond. Haruto, feeling a bit frustrated, wiped off the rain from her clothes and tossed the towel into the washing machine.
"Why aren't you saying anything?" he asked.
Her eyes were dim as she slowly lowered her head.
"I hate it when you keep everything inside. If you dislike or resent something, you should tell me," he said with a sigh.
Haruto poured a glass of warm water and handed it to Setsuna.
"Drink this to warm up. Otherwise, you might catch a cold tomorrow. You know how fragile your body is," he said.
She quietly took the cup and sipped, then slowly lifted her head to look at him.
"There's something I want to do, Haruto," she said.
Seeing her gaze, he relaxed slightly. He didn't know what she had in mind, but knowing she needed him eased his mind a little.
"What is it?" he asked.
She pressed a hand to her flat stomach, stepped closer, and softly said,
"Let me… become a mother, Haruto."
Later, lying on the bed and occasionally catching her breath, Haruto answered a call from her mother, Mai.
"Setsuna isn't home—is she with you?"
"Yes, resting."
"R-Rests… she's not coming home tonight?"
"Yes, that's right."
At home, Mai felt relieved knowing her daughter was safe with Haruto. From his response, it seemed their relationship had been mended, at least somewhat.
"I understand. Take good care of her."
"I will."
Haruto hesitated, unsure whether to tell her mother about their situation, but seeing Setsuna still weak and half-asleep, he decided to wait.
The call ended.
"Ugh—"
Hearing Setsuna's groan, he quickly went to care for her.
"Not telling your mother?"
"I don't want to. I'll tell her when the time is right."
Late at night, Haruto sat on the edge of the bed, looking at Setsuna's flushed face as she rested. He went to the window and looked out at the dark city, lit only by streetlights.
"Perhaps if she knew, your mother would hate me," he muttered.
"She wouldn't," she replied softly.
"Have you thought about a name for the child?"
"Mizuki."
Setsuna slowly sat up, meeting his gaze with certainty. Haruto considered it a fine choice. He had little talent for names, and 'Mizuki' seemed as good as anything he could come up with.
Looking back at her, he realized she had already fallen asleep. He sat beside her, closed his eyes, and eventually drifted into a restless sleep himself.
The next morning, Haruto woke to her pure, sleeping face. He got up, his body stiff and sore, then walked to the fridge. Seeing it nearly empty, he silently grabbed his wallet and went to the nearby market.
After shopping for breakfast and groceries, he returned to find her still asleep. He called Mai to ask her to to help ask for leave her daughter from school, then prepared breakfast.
By eight o'clock, she was still asleep, so he reported the absence himself. Haruto's teacher, Fukuhara Shin, knowing his usual responsible behavior, didn't hesitate to approve.
At nine, Setsuna finally awoke and saw Haruto at the desk, seemingly watching a video.
"Ha… Haruto?" she asked groggily.
He paused the video and turned to her.
"You're awake," he said.
Her voice was hoarse. He poured a cup of warm water and handed it to her. She sipped lightly, her throat feeling a little better.
"What time is it?"
"Nine. I've already asked for leave for you today and told your mother."
"You too?"
"Yes."
Her expression became complex, then she lowered her head. She placed a hand on her abdomen, unsure what to say, staying silent. Haruto watched her reaction, noting the hand over her stomach.
Unlike her, he wasn't emotionally affected, and didn't think such things would come easy.
"Rest today. Breakfast is a bit cold; I'll heat it up again," he said.
"Okay."
She looked at his back, eyes full of quiet anticipation.
Haruto spent the day taking care of her, noticing her expressions were different from before—more active, more varied than the calm, composed girl he knew.
'She's becoming more proactive,' he thought.
Later, she climbed onto his lap, arms around his waist, staring at him. Haruto glanced at her once and returned to his news reading, though she clearly wanted his full attention.
When Mai returned from work, she found her daughter missing from home. Confused, she hurried to Haruto's apartment and rang the doorbell.
Ding-dong—
The sound cleared Haruto's foggy mind. He groaned, ran a hand over his forehead, and slowly rose to answer the door.
Standing there, Mai's calm expression quickly shifted to shock, then suspicion. She stared at him for a long moment before finally asking,
"You… are you alright?"
~~~~~~~~~~
You can support me by subscribing on Patreon and read up to 10 chapters ahead.
patreon.com/Ranabir_20