"Hahahaha!! This sofa is so soft!!"
"Come, let's duel! I'm the lone wolf who melts into the dark!"
The Boys threw themselves onto sofas and carpets, rolling around, touching everything, wild with curiosity.
The girls on the other side were more reserved, though the envy in their eyes couldn't be hidden; they stared wide-eyed, carefully sizing up the place where they would live.
Beside them, Yuno Gasai remained Tsukisa's accessory, arms wrapped around her.
She glanced around and suddenly remarked, "Is this still an orphanage? Feels more like a mini-millionaire training camp."
"Won't these kids be messed up when they grow up? Raised in such luxury, then stuck with lousy salaries, forced to rent flats in the suburbs."
Aria, hearing this, gave a knowing smile and, without a word, pointed at Sen Getsusa.
Sen Getsusa grinned slyly, pulled Yuno and Aria along, walked to the French windows on the first floor, drew the curtains and slid open the glass door.
Outside lay an open garden.
Walking in, she explained, "If they grow up spoiled by comfort, achieve nothing, and end up blaming the orphanage for 'giving me such a nice environment,' I won't waste a thought on people like that."
"Part of the comic royalties goes into Aria's account every month. Apart from necessities and rewards for good grades or helping Aria, things like designer shoes, gourmet meals, even luxuries—"
"none of that exists in Aria's house."
Sen Getsusa lifted her chin toward a lush old tree in the garden, walked up, pressed her palm to its rough bark.
The gnarled trunk had endured decades; it felt hard and biting.
"Aria is Grandma, I'm Big Sis, but we're neither Dad nor Mom—those things don't exist in our orphanage. Thanks to Aria's teaching, the children know gratitude and contentment."
She spoke with her back to Yuno Gasai.
"You know, when I was little—"
Chin raised, staring blankly at the tree, her voice drifted like a ghost: "I envied girls in white puffy dresses, hair neatly done, pricey clips, gracefully playing 'Ballade pour Adeline' on the piano bench."
"Then her mom and dad would grin like fools, clap beside her, kiss her cheek."
"That was what I longed for."
Aria slipped away in silence, leaving them space.
"But I was an orphan—no parents, no money. All I could do, using my status as big sis, was snatch charcoal from the kids and sketch Aria on the ground. In the first three years after I was adopted, I didn't even dare ask my parents for paints."
Sen Getsusa said, "So I come back often, buy them treats and toys. Others may call it spoiling, but I just want to give them the best life; the rest I leave to Aria."
"After all, I'm still young, a growing girl—too many worries will age me."
Yuno Gasai gazed gently at her. "You're kind of their mom."
"Of course—they're all my cubs!" Tsukisa flashed a smile again, spread her arms, shut her eyes, breathing in the garden's grass-scented air.
Suddenly she murmured, "Yuno Gasai, do you like me?"
The soft words rode the breeze into Yuno Gasai's ears.
In an instant, grass and trees fell silent; wind and clouds froze.
Yuno Gasai stared at Tsukisa's back, fists clenched; she knew her next answer was a line between life and death.
"Ha, haha… why would Tsukisa—"
"Why ask that?" Tsukisa's voice, mirage-like, drifted from the old tree. "That crazy girl—shouldn't she have noticed?"
"So much has happened lately, so many sudden turns, I've had no quiet moment to think. Since Aoi Tojo and I ended, where has my love gone?"
She could still see Aoi Tojo's look that day—looking down on her—
A gaze of contempt and disdain… as if staring at something filthy and nauseating.
She seemed to speak, yet didn't; from that shape of the lips Tsukisa smelled blood.
Probably: dirty, disgusting.
The hand that once held hers let go.
Had she really become loathsome?
No—Tsukisa only felt deep regret and nostalgia.
Yuno Gasai bit her lip white and forced lightness. "Wrong, Tsukisa. Overthinking—we're the same gender, after all."
Tsukisa turned and gazed calmly at her.
A person who relies purely on intuition—Tsukisa—was exactly the type Yuno Gasai was worst at handling.
Her original plan hadn't been like this—maybe one year, three, five, gradually deepening ambiguity, a life strolling side by side, naturally supporting each other without needing words.
Long companionship is the sharpest weapon against someone like Tsukisa.
But once she said it aloud today, there was no turning back. Besides… Tsukisa would probably refuse.
Still… it was a chance.
The girl's nails clacked together at lightning speed—click! click!—Yuno's tell-tale sign of nerves.
Her mind raced; a few seconds later she drew a steady breath, stepped forward resolutely, and walked up to Sen Getsusa.
Standing before her, she reached out and closed a hand around Tsukisa's arm. "I think… Tsukisa is scared?"
With a playful wink, Yuno teased, "I absolutely, positively have not fallen for you, so don't worry on my account—or yours. I just…"
Tsukisa tilted her head, puzzled. Had she misread?
Yuno ruffled the girl's hair as casually as Tsukisa often did to her. "I just love being with you. You give me that 'home' feeling. Not Mama, not big sister, just… safe, right here—"
Arm guiding arm, they rose slowly until four small hands pressed together over Yuno's heart.
As devout as a saint at prayer, she cupped Tsukisa's hand between her own, raven lashes trembling. "I don't know what you're afraid of, or what you've misunderstood. I'm greedy, that's all—I crave the home you give me, and a life where I'm loved, protected, valued."
When she finished, Yuno opened her eyes and asked hesitantly, "Does… that trouble you?"
A stage-actress frown pinched her brows; sorrowful eyes brimmed, ready to flood the world in endless rain.
"No, no…" Tsukisa shook her head slowly, then curved a finger and tapped Yuno's nose. "Not at all, Yuno. I thought…"
Yuno burst into giggles. "Oh my, Miss Sen Getsusa! A little less self-love, please!"
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