"Mizuki," her Grand-father-in-law called with a soft yet loud enough tone.
"Everything's ready… but, are you sure about this? You don't have to force yourself, you know."
"Yes, Grand-Father," Mizuki said as she's walking towards them with a small smile. "Please don't worry too much. I'll call the moment I arrive — I'll be fine, really… Grandpa-Takahashi."
"Bye, Aunty Mizuki!" the girl called, a bright smile on her face.
Mizuki returned the smile. "You too, dear. I should be going now. Take care of Grandpa for me, alright?"... .
"There she goes...," he said under his breath, a faint sigh escaping him. "I only hope she can handle it… Still, there's nothing I can do now."
Father Takahashi watched Mizuki's back as she walked away, the big white-haired dog trotting happily at her side. In her arms, the tail of some small creature swayed gently — almost as if it, too, was bidding farewell.
The scene sucking the old man into his memories.
A cool breeze drifted through, stirring the loose strands of Mizuki's hair.
The touch of the wind pulled Grand-pa-Takahashi from his trance. He took a deep breath, then exhaled slowly, a soft smile forming on his face.
"My dear, we should head inside," he said gently.
As they started walking toward the house, the girl piped up in her usual cheerful tone.
"Great-Grandpa! When will we go visit Aunty Mizuki?"
"Soon, my dear—after your exams are finished," he replied with a chuckle.
"Eeeeh!? That's not fair!" she protested, puffing her cheeks.
Mr.Takahashi chukles inward, the breeze blocking their voices through the quiet yard.
The silent sound of a girl chuking, can be heared, as they head inside.
"Mm-hmm… uh-huh… yeah, okay."
Click. The call ended.
A Hand palaces an old telephone to its place.
He turns to his left, taking some-what of a deep breath.
"Miss Sachiko! Sayaka! Haru!"
"Come here — the landlord just called!"
"Miss Sachiko! Sayaka! Haru!"
He walks gradually, at the same calling the names , he goes close the door marked with a large 1 in four to five steps and tried the handle — locked!?
Frowning, "Is he not home... ?",he moved to the next door, labeled 2.
"Miss Sachiko! …Miss Sachiko!" he called again, his formal voice echoing faintly down the hall.
"Seventy... seventy-one..."
!Ahh… the landlord. About time he called, Miss Sachiko thought, lowering one of the weights to the floor.
From beyond the door, Mr. Takuma's voice could still be heard, calling everyone over in his usual loud formal tone.
"Seventy-six… seventy-seven… seventy-eight…" Miss Sachiko kept counting, one dumbbell still in her hand.
Without even stopping her routine, she reached the door marked 2 and pulled it open with a light push.
Meanwhile, Sayaka was completely out of it — half-sitting, half-slumping on the futon, a few empty beer cans around her like trophies of defeat.
As the door opened, a cool breeze drifted in, brushing against her skin. The sudden chill made her blink — the haze of alcohol lifting just a little.
"What is it, Takuma? What did the old man say?"
"O–Ahaha! There you are, fine lady," Takuma replies with exaggeration. "May I trouble you to ask the whereabouts of Sayaka—"
"I'mhere!!!"
"??"
Sayaka's voice rang out from behind Miss Sachiko, making Takuma stop his words midway.
"What's the meaning of this?" he continues seeing her there, half-serious, half-joking. "Why are you two in the same room? Don't tell me you're party-ing without me!"
"Nothing like that," Miss Sachiko replied, amused. "She just didn't have the energy to move after all-night drinking in haru's room."
Sayaka straightened up, staggering forward, wobbling as she reached Miss Sachiko, then plopped herself on her back with a groan, her face on one shoulder with her arms on the other.
Miss Sachiko doesn't give her any attention ignoring her... hinting she is used to this kind of antics.
"Mmm… what is it…?" she mumbled sleepily.
"I see… so the ladies are all here," Takuma said with a wry smile with a formal face. "Then may I trouble you once more to ask—where is our dear Haru?"
"He's… not in his room," Miss Sachiko answered, her brows knitting slightly.
"He… he must've goneout… or something…" Sayaka mumbled, swaying slightly before a soft burp escaped her lips.
The brief silence that followed carried a faint unease beneath the humor.
"hmm..., that boy…" Takuma muttered with a frown. "College entrance exams are just around the corner, and he's off partying somewhere. Must be nice being young."
"Very well," Takuma said with a formal nod. "Allow me to inform you, ladies—the new manager will be arriving sometime today."
"A new manager…","ninty... ninety-one..." Miss Sachiko repeated softly. "I still don't understand what came over the old one. He just packed up and left all of a sudden."
"New… manager, huh… sounds like a party to me."
"Very well, I shall see you again when the new manager bestows his grace upon us.
" Farewell ladies..."
Leaving the ladies behind, Mr. Takuma climbed the stairs next to door with number 2, in his yukata, humming to himself.
The moment the door closed, Miss Sachiko glanced at Sayaka.
"Come on, you should at least do a little exercise," she says with doubt in her eyes. "How do you stay in shape if you drink like an hippo every day?"
"Hae hae heee..., that's a secret ".
An old pendulum clock is showing 1:30 on the shop's wall near the counter.
Haru slouched in his chair at the coffee shop, glaring at Toma. His emotions jumping between anger and helplessness.
"Can you believe it?" he groaned. "Those bastards keep sneaking into my room at night to throw parties! It's not even my room, but Somehow they always... Somehow...!"
"Oooh man," Toma said, rubbing his temples. "It must be rough. Exams coming up soon, right? So… what's the plan?"
Haru groaned, head hanging low. "I don't know, man… nothing seems to work."
"Dude, seriously—you should just leave that dump and find some-where else. How about that?"
Haru sat up abruptly. "Okay!! You're right. Tomorrow… the first thing I'm doing is moving out."
"That's my man! Call me if you need any help, yo."
After finishing the talk and tea.
Haru and Toma left the coffee shop, waving as they parted ways.
"Bye, man! later!"
"Bye!"
They went their separate ways, the sunlight falling across the busy streets as they moved off in opposite directions.
The old pendulum clock in the shop shows 3:25.
Mizuki has finally arrived in town. She approached a man on the street to ask for directions.
The man froze, eyes widening. "You… you want to go there?"
"Yes… is something wrong?" Mizuki replied, tilting her head.
"No… no, may I ask why you're going there?"
"Oh… I'm the new manager of the place," she said proudly.
"What!?" The man waved his hands frantically. "Miss, you shouldn't go there! That place… it's not for someone like you!"
"Why...?" Mizuki asks tilting her head a little.
The man stepped back frantically waving his hands trying to stop her. "Miss… You don't understand that place isn't for someone like you! You should turn back!"
Anger surged through Mizuki word she spoke with a straight face "Are you going to tell me or not!?" While keeping her anger in check and her eyes closed with anger at that instant. The dog by her side barks once feeling her owner's anger.
"Fine, fine! Listen carefully… go from here to there, then to the train crossing, and finally from there to there…"
"Ah… got it. Thank you for the directions," Mizuki said, and strode off.
The man thinks to himself "what a misfortune this young miss have to go there."
As she is moving forward the crossing behind her, the destination nearing, her dog starts to get excited.
"Woof!... Woof!... " Just a little more we are almost there " ruto".
The dog's face have a half vertical grey and black heart shape birthmark on his forehead. And she is carrying a kitten in her arms with a similar mark on its back.
...
As she approached the house, a sigh of relief escaped her lips.
As she is standing at the gate of the property, her dog ruto barks in triumph.
" Woof...! "
"At last… we're here, Ruto! Zuki!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement.
"From now on, this will be our new home… Maison Arata!!"
The clock on the building read 6:30, but its hands were frozen in place.
Mizuki checked her wristwatch. 3:33.
A faint frown crossed her face."Huh… the building clock isn't working," she murmured.
...
The door creaked open, and Mizuki's voice rang through the hallway. "Is someone here!? Hello! I'm the new manager!"
Miss Sachiko emerged from her room which is next to room 1 ,which is right infront of the main door, in her gym wear, glancing at the newcomer, with a knowing face. Sayaka and Takuma descended the stairs behind her, drawn by the sound of Mizuki's announcement.
Mizuki's eyes almost jumped out of her head. Seeing Sayaka… in that outfit? (Black Lingerie with translosent jacket like wear on top of it, her red undergarments can be seen through them , she seems to be not wearing any kind of bra, and everyone else seems not mind or they might be used to it)For a second, the world spun for Mizuki.
Snap! She clamped her mouth shut and plastered on a professional smile.
"H-hello, everyone! I'm Mizuki Takahashi, your new manager! Nice… to meet you!"
The words were stuttering at first but then she spoke composes herself, but inside, her brain was screaming: What did I just walk into!?
"I'm Sachiko Minato — nice to meet you," Miss Sachiko said, glancing Mizuki over with calm curiosity.
"I'm Sayaka Fujimoto. Nice to meet you too!" Sayaka chimed in, a faint hiccup interrupting her cheerfulness.
Takuma stepped forward slightly, bowing with a courteous smile. "You may call me Takuma, young miss. It's an honor to meet you."
Once everyone had spoken, Mizuki looked around and said,
"So… is that everyone living here!?"
As she was speaking the door behind her opened with a soft creak.
Mizuki turned, and there was — Haru. His eyes went wide, and for a moment, he froze, completely shocked to see the woman standing before him.
He stood there, holding the handle of the half opened door ,in trance-like, unable to move or speak, his mind reeling from the sudden sight.
Mizuki tilted her head slightly, her tone calm but curious. "And who might you be?"
A Faint sound of the truck stoping outside can be heared in background.
From behind her, Miss Sachiko spoke in a strong voice fitting for a strong woman, with her eyes closed in resignation.
"He's one of the tenants here."
"Oh… well, nice to meet you.
I'm Mizuki Takahashi,
and I'll be your new manager from now on," Mizuki said politely, extending a hand in greeting.
Haru didn't move. His mind only registered the word "Mizuki... Mizuki..." .From his mouth only a quiet whisper escaped his lips as his eyes remained locked on hers.
"MIZUKI!!!…"