After this strange and eventful day on campus, it was finally time for school to end. It was around five in the evening now, and the sky was already nearing dusk. Since the three of them lived close to one another, they naturally headed home together—riding the train, walking along the familiar streets, chatting as they went.
"...So this is the life of a high school student?"
Standing between the other two, the Shogun murmured softly.
"Eh? Mio?"
Tsugumi, walking on her right, froze for a moment. She didn't understand why the Shogun would say something like that.
"It probably is..."
Inori, on her left, responded in agreement.
"Haa... I've never been a high school girl before. This is my first time."
The Shogun looked at Tsugumi as she answered.
"Eh? Never? Then... Shogun, could it be that you—"
Tsugumi's lips trembled slightly.
"This one has never attended school."
She replied bluntly.
"..."
Tsugumi went blank.
"Is that strange?"
She asked.
"No, I wouldn't say strange... it's just... a bit complicated."
Tsugumi forced a small smile.
"Mio... I'm hungry."
Beside her, Inori touched her stomach and tugged lightly at her sleeve as she spoke.
"Then let's head back quickly..."
"Hey... how about the three of us eat together tonight?"
As they resumed walking, Tsugumi leaned forward slightly and happily made her suggestion to the two of them.
"That's fine. If you want to come over, you can anytime."
The Shogun smiled gently at her.
"Hehe... then how about coming to my place today?"
"Mm... Inori wants to eat Tsugumi's cooking."
Inori chimed in.
"Alright, alright~"
...
Tsugumi's house, as mentioned before, was right next door to theirs—true neighbors in every sense. It was extremely convenient to visit each other. Just change into indoor shoes and walk a few steps, and they could see one another.
The layout of her home wasn't too different from theirs, but the details were noticeably distinct. Since neither the Shogun nor Inori bothered with decoration, their living space was rather minimalistic. In contrast, Tsugumi's home felt more like that of a typical girl. The moment one stepped inside, a warm atmosphere similar to her personality could be felt. In fact, compared to their place, this felt more like a "home."
"Make yourselves comfortable..."
It wasn't their first visit, so Tsugumi didn't give many instructions. She took off her small leather shoes, her delicate feet stepping onto the floor as she skillfully searched through the refrigerator for ingredients.
The Shogun and Inori did the same, removing their shoes before entering. The Shogun casually took an apron from the wall and tied it around her waist, then followed Tsugumi into the kitchen with practiced familiarity.
"I'll help you..."
"Mm..."
Tsugumi wasn't surprised. Instead, she smiled naturally in response. For a moment, their backs looked like those of an old married couple.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Inori glanced at them briefly, smiling warmly at the sight. Then she sat directly on the carpet in front of the television. In front of her was a low winter table used for keeping warm, with fabric draped around it to trap heat. Soft pink cushions surrounded it, and behind her was a high-quality beanbag chair. Hugging a cushion, she easily found the remote and turned on the TV, casually watching whatever program was playing as she waited for her "parents" to finish cooking.
As time passed, the sky gradually darkened. Soon, it was around seven in the evening...
"Tsugumi..."
Looking at the pot of soup steaming in front of her, the Shogun called out softly to the girl beside her, who was cutting vegetables.
"Mm?"
Tsugumi paused her knife, turning to look at her in confusion.
"Your... parents?"
She hesitated, worried the question might be sensitive, but out of curiosity—and perhaps concern—she still asked. She had never seen Tsugumi's parents. Every time, it was always just her alone at home.
"...They're working abroad. They only come back a few times a year. Sometimes they send me things... and letters."
Tsugumi seemed to understand her thoughts and smiled reassuringly, speaking softly as she continued cutting vegetables.
"Have you ever thought about... going with them?"
She asked. From what she had occasionally heard in the news, places abroad—compared to here, which was called Japan—were somewhat safer, at least relatively.
"I have... but... it's not possible."
Tsugumi shook her head.
"...Is it because of the so-called 'virus'?"
She asked.
"Mm. When I was very young, they went overseas. That was also when the virus outbreak began. At that time, foreign countries were also strictly investigating so-called 'virus carriers.' Because my records aren't complete, I can't leave the country. Even if I did go abroad, I wouldn't be able to register as a citizen or attend school. Maybe they realized that. They used to be able to come back sometimes, but now with national restrictions... we hardly ever see each other."
Tsugumi slowly cut the vegetables, her gaze drifting as if recalling something—or perhaps someone. Her voice grew softer, like drifting snow.
"Do you miss them?"
The moment she asked, she felt it was a foolish question. Who wouldn't miss their parents?
"...At first, I did. But now, I've gotten used to being alone. Besides... I have you two with me, right?"
Tsugumi shrugged lightly, then pushed the chopped vegetables into the pot. With practiced movements, she added seasoning and set the timer, waiting for it to finish cooking.
"...Truly?"
She asked deliberately.
"Mm... really. In the past, when I thought of family, my grandmother would appear in my mind. After she passed away, all that was left was confusion... and the unfamiliar sound of my parents' voices. But now, when I think of family, the first images that come to mind are you, Mio... and Inori. No one else."
Tsugumi turned to look at her. In her brown eyes was a gentle, watery light—along with a fragile smile.
"..."
In the living room, Inori glanced toward the kitchen. Seeing their posture, she immediately understood—they were having another heartfelt conversation.
"Mio... you're very gentle. Really, very gentle. I'm sorry... maybe it's because I've been alone for so long, but I... I have no resistance to 'gentleness.' I fall into it very easily. So... Mio, please don't find me bothersome, okay?"
Tsugumi stepped closer and gently touched her face, her voice trembling slightly.
Perhaps this was why Tsugumi liked that boy—because he was also gentle? Though... she hadn't really seen that herself. On the contrary, she felt that Tsugumi, who so easily fell into gentleness, was already incredibly gentle—like water.
"I won't... if you want, you can come find me anytime."
She held the hand on her face and spoke softly.
Besides, she still didn't think she herself was a gentle person.
"...Mm, thank you... Mio."
Tsugumi smiled again, that smile so warm it could easily draw others in.
Haa... well, everyone has their own strengths. Perhaps that was the wonder of the world.
After a few more minutes...
The two of them finally brought the finished dishes to the low table where Inori was sitting. The steaming, fragrant soup stirred Inori from her drowsiness, and she slowly leaned closer like a child.
"It smells so good."
She praised them.
"Pfft..." ×2
The two exchanged glances and smiled.
And so, under the warm lighting of the living room and the background noise of the television, the three of them gathered together once more and began their cozy dinner as usual.
"Hmm—"
After taking a bite of the stew, the Shogun narrowed her eyes in enjoyment.
"Haa..."
She let out a soft breath afterward.
"How is it? Is it good?"
Sitting beside her, Tsugumi looked at her profile and asked with concern.
"Mm... it's quite delicious. On par with my own cooking."
She smiled and praised the girl next to her.
"I-Is that so? That's good... ///"
Tsugumi's face flushed slightly upon hearing that. She gave her a sweet smile before taking another bite of the dish made by the person beside her.
"Mm~! Mio's cooking is as amazing as ever."
As if returning the compliment, she praised her in the same way.
She knew the beautiful girl beside her was a great cook—after all, she had eaten her food many times before. But today was the first time she had cooked for her, so she had been a little nervous. Fortunately, the other seemed to like it.
"If you two keep being modest like that, I'm going to eat everything."
On the other side, Inori took a bite of her rice ball and spoke while chewing, her voice muffled.
"Wait—Inori... don't talk while chewing~?"
Like a mother, Tsugumi leaned over and gently reminded the girl on the Shogun's left.
"That's not fair~ you were talking too."
Inori puffed up her cheeks in dissatisfaction.
"W-We swallowed first!"
Tsugumi retorted, sounding exhausted.
The dishes on the low table were quite plentiful. Their fragrant steam filled the room, making the already warm atmosphere under the soft lighting of the living room feel even cozier.
About half an hour later, most of the food on the table had been eaten, yet none of them seemed in a hurry to end the meal. Sometimes, the lingering moments after eating were the best part of dinner.
Slurp~
Taking a sip of the sweet drink in her cup, she let the liquid flow down her throat and into her stomach, closing her eyes to savor the post-meal comfort.
Beside her, Inori had already leaned back against the cushion, hugging a pillow as she comfortably watched TV. Meanwhile, Tsugumi was leaning over the table, stirring the coffee in her cup, her gaze absentmindedly fixed on the flawless profile of the person beside her—her hair, eyelashes, lips, and cheeks all deeply imprinted in her mind.
"..."
The Shogun could feel the gaze from the person beside her, but she didn't mind. She continued sitting on the carpet with her knees drawn up, holding her cup and drinking quietly.
"Mio..."
"...Mm?"
At last, she responded when called, turning her head as if she had already expected it.
"...Mio... you said earlier that you've never gone to school?"
Tsugumi rested her chin lightly as she looked at her and asked deliberately.
"That's correct."
She nodded.
"...Why? Was it... because... the conditions didn't allow it?"
Tsugumi's expression was filled with concern, her voice as gentle as water.
"Something like that..."
The Shogun nodded slowly. She set down her cup and casually leaned back against the cushion like Inori. Raising her hand, she habitually untied the braid at the back of her head, letting her smooth long hair fall freely. She slipped the hair tie onto her wrist and stretched her legs slightly beneath her skirt, her white-stockinged legs brushing together before comfortably intertwining as she extended them into the warm space beneath the low table.
"..."
Seeing this, Tsugumi also lay down beside her, turning slightly to face her at close range, resting on one arm. On the other side, Inori had already fallen asleep, still hugging her pillow.
"...Back where I come from, there are no such things as schools. No one has ever gone to one."
She spoke softly while looking at the girl lying beside her.
"Mio... your hometown... doesn't have things like we do—"
"Mm... it's very simple there. We hardly have any everyday electronic devices."
She shook her head.
Of course... if elemental power could count as a substitute for electronics.
"I see... you must have had a hard life before, Mio..."
Tsugumi seemed to have misunderstood. Her eyes were filled with sympathy, and she gently took hold of her hand, her voice trembling slightly.
"I wouldn't say... it was hard..."
Why call it hard?
She didn't understand.
"Having nothing, growing up in poor conditions... and still becoming such a considerate person, Mio. You've worked so hard."
Tsugumi's eyes reddened. The next moment, she seemed as though she might cry as she pulled her into an embrace, holding her like a child and gently patting her back.
"It's okay now, Mio... it's all in the past. You won't have to suffer anymore."
"Although... you may have misunderstood something... hearing you care about me like this still makes me... quite happy."
She didn't push her away. She knew how to handle moments like this. All she could do was accept it with gratitude—even if she was being misunderstood.
She felt that the girl in front of her was especially prone to emotional attachment. That only proved how pure her kindness was, and how all-encompassing her gentleness could be—like a warm ocean enveloping her.
She felt that if Tsugumi ever resonated with a Vision, it would undoubtedly be Hydro—the gentle element of water.
Beep—!
At that moment, someone's terminal suddenly rang. Although she had also been given one of these so-called terminals, she had never used it. Tsugumi subconsciously reached for her own, but before she could check it, Inori—who had just been asleep—instantly opened her eyes, pulled the device from her school uniform pocket, and flipped it open with one hand.
"Eh?"
Tsugumi's lips twitched awkwardly. She quietly put her own terminal away. Next time, she'd better change the notification tone—it seemed hers was the same as Inori's.
"...?"
The Shogun glanced at the embarrassed Tsugumi, then at the now serious Inori, quickly understanding. It was probably a notice from Funeral Parlor.
"Is it them?"
She asked.
"Mm... Gai sent a message. Let's go, Mio."
Inori stood up directly and called out to her.
"...Alright."
She nodded, though her expression clearly showed reluctance. Still, she stood up.
"Um... what's going on?"
Tsugumi looked at them, confused, as they prepared to leave.
"Tsugumi, we're heading out for a bit. We'll be back soon."
After saying that, Inori walked out first. She needed to go home and change into casual clothes—wearing a school uniform outside would attract too much attention.
"Eh? At this hour?"
Tsugumi stood up and followed them.
"It's nothing... we'll be back shortly. There's no need to worry."
The Shogun put her shoes back on at the entrance and turned to reassure the concerned girl.
"...Is it something important?"
Tsugumi asked.
"Mm, probably..."
She nodded. She wasn't sure what that guy wanted at this hour, but it couldn't be nothing. He wasn't that idle, and they weren't that patient.
"...Can you... tell me?"
Tsugumi knew full well that their words implied secrecy, but out of concern, she still asked carefully.
"...Tsugumi."
"...?"
She looked up at the purple-haired woman before her.
"We'll... be fine."
She spoke softly once more.
"...Alright. Be careful on your way."
Tsugumi understood that she wouldn't say more. This was already the limit. She wouldn't press further. She simply gave a complicated smile.
Click...
After the door closed...
"Haa..."
She looked at the now-empty living room and sighed softly, returning to her seat. The food on the table had gone cold, though there wasn't much left anyway.
The television continued playing... the warm lights still illuminated the room, yet she felt the temperature around her had dropped.
"...The coffee... has gone cold."
She parted her lips slightly, drinking the now-cold coffee, her voice carrying a faint bitterness.