[Warning 15+]
Part Five
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 173
Under the Uncertain Night Sky, She Is Still Shiftin'
―Even If, I Can't Treat You with That Same Energy Anymore
Chapter 173
Under the Uncertain Night Sky, She Is Still Shiftin'
By the end of summer or the beginnin' of fall, the sun started settin' much earlier.
People on the street were also bein' ushered along by the sun, gettin' sucked back into their homes.
After dinner at the Kirishima Residence, which was earlier than it had been before Summer Break.
Ignorin' Hayato who was washin' the dishes, the three of them—Haruki, Himeko, and Saki—were huddled around a laptop in the livin' room, gettin' hyped up over what kind of yukata to choose.
"Huh!? Saki-chan, you're goin' with somethin' this flashy!?"
"It's not just Hime-chan; My classmates recommended it to me, too..."
"Y'know, I think Saki-chan actually pulls this look off pretty well."
Haruki let out a surprised yelp and blinked in confusion.
What Saki was pointin' at on the monitor were yukata with vibrant primary colors and flashy patterns—some of them makin' you want to blurt out, "Is this a courtesan outfit!?" The obi belts were huge and ornate, and some were even skirt-length like a miniskirt. When Haruki checked the brand, it was a gyaru-style label that even she recognized.
Sure, Saki might look good in somethin' like that. But honestly, Haruki couldn't hide her surprise.
If anythin', Saki is quiet and not the active type. She's probably nowhere near the type of person who would prefer this kind of style.
In fact, Saki herself said with a shy smile, "I think my classmates recommended them just for fun or out of curiosity."
"But it's a great opportunity, so I thought tryin' an adventure like this might be okay. It feels like I could become a different version of myself, y'know?"
"That's it! I should take a page out of Saki's book and try a totally different direction than usual!"
"...I see."
Saki smiled, but she confessed her feelin's with a tone of voice that carried a firm resolve.
Haruki's heart skipped a beat. Unlike herself, who just drifts along with others, Saki has a solid core—that's the kind of girl Saki is.
"Oh, right. Himeko, Saki, about the Fall Festival, some buddies of mine—well, a couple, actually—said they wanted to come along. Is that cool?"
Just then, Hayato, who had finished the dishes, walked over while wiping his hands.
The super cute fox patch on Hayato's apron swayed. It was a birthday present from Saki.
"A couple... ...oh, wait, don't tell me it's Ema-san and her boyfriend!?"
"Yeah, that's them. They said they get nervous if they're just by themselves."
"Kya! I'm totally cool with that!"
"Hime-chan, do you know them?"
"Didn't I tell you, we went to the pool the other day? They're the childhood buddy couple that went with us—"
"Wait, hold on, tell me more about that!"
Then the two of them started gettin' excited over Hayato's buddy couple (both Iori and Isami Ema).
Saki was askin' questions with genuine interest. Like Himeko, Saki probably doesn't mind those kinds of topics... ...Unlike Haruki.
Hayato, who was givin' a wry smile watchin' the two girls gossip about other people's love lives, caught eyes with Haruki.
"Hayato, that apron is startin' to suit you."
"It's a bit too fancy for me, though."
When Haruki brought up the apron, Himeko, who heard it, chimed in.
"Oh! But Big Bro, you got it dirty from oil splashes the other day, didn't you? Even though it was a present?"
"I can't help it, it's an apron, after all."
"Ahaha, but I'm just glad to see you're actually usin' it."
"Oh, about that, I already got the stains out, so I'll be careful with it."
"If Big Bro cherishes it that much, I'm sure you'll be happy. Right, Konsuke?"
"You named it?"
"Fufu, I just named him."
Sayin' that, Saki showed a mischievous smile.
That expression, which hadn't been seen much until now, was enough to leave Hayato flustered, goin', "O-Oh..."
Lately, Saki had become a bit more talkative.
Saki's tryin' to change.
Little by little, but for sure. Just like with the yukata earlier.
Haruki watched Saki and gave a wry, troubled smile.
◇◇◇
The city night sky, with no moon and few stars, stretched out dark, like spilled ink.
Still, thanks to the countless lights flickerin' on the ground, the path under their feet was bright—unlike in Tsukinose—makin' the boundary between the ground and the sky seem uncertain.
Havin' left the Kirishima Residence, both Haruki and Saki were on their way home.
"..."
"..."
There was no convo between the two of them.
Only the sound of footsteps echoed.
It wasn't that things were awkward; It would be more accurate to say that they had already finished talkin' most of what they needed to say back at the Kirishima Residence.
Haruki glanced to her side.
Murao Saki.
A girl who leaped into the city on her own will.
It's perfectly clear who Saki's doing it for.
The streetlights illuminate Saki's profile. Haruki's chest churns.
At that moment, a gust of cold wind blew through.
"Whoa!"
"Kya!"
Reflexively, Haruki held down her long hair as it was swept away.
It was chilly at night this time of year, makin' Haruki shiver.
Saki seemed to be the same way; When their eyes met, Saki gave a troubled smile.
It was a beautiful face—strikin'ly mature, and possessin' a beauty that carried a single, unwaverin' core.
Lookin' at Saki like that, Haruki suddenly felt unsteady on her feet.
"Um—"
"Oh! Haruki-san, look at this!"
"—Whoa!"
Just as Haruki was about to say somethin', Saki shoved her smartphone towards Haruki.
On it was the image of Tsukushi, the kitten the Murao Family had started raisin'.
Tsukushi was lyin' on his back with his paws up in the air, with the text "I'm a former stray, I've already forgotten my wild side" dancin' along with it.
If you flicked through the screen, you could see Tsukushi nappin' on the porch with Shinta, jumpin' around with a cat toy, or lookin' up in front of his food bowl as if demandin' more—Tsukushi showed so many expressions.
The corners of both Haruki and Saki's eyes softened immediately.
"Dad is honestly just head-over-heels for Tsukushi now... ...apparently Shinta drops by almost every day, too."
"Fufu, Tsukushi-chan really feels like a full-fledged member of your family now, doesn't he?"
"Tsukushi is such a spoiled little thing; It seems like he sneaks into the futon in the middle of the night without anyone noticin'."
"Wow, that's nice."
Suddenly, Haruki imagined Tsukushi lettin' out a "Meow" in a sweet, spoiled voice and burrowin' into the futon with her while she was asleep.
That would surely be a very happy feelin' to have.
But Haruki is a high school student and isn't home durin' the day.
When Haruki pictured Tsukushi all alone in the empty house, lettin' out a lonely "Meow," she held her achin' chest, feelin' relieved that the cat had been taken in by the Murao Family after all.
Precisely because Haruki knows the loneliness of bein' all alone, she didn't want the cat to become a tool just to fill that void.
Looking at the picture of Tsukushi again, Haruki let out a big sigh.
Then, Haruki noticed a gaze that had been watchin' her as if peerin' in.
"Haruki-san, how about we have a sleepover sometime? Like we did in Tsukinose."
"Eh, u-um..."
"I've started gettin' used to livin' alone, but... ...I don't know, I've been feelin' a little lonely lately."
Saki said that, lookin' shy.
It felt like Haruki's heart was bein' read.
Saki was probably bein' considerate of Haruki.
Oh, that's just so Saki.
And that is exactly why—
"If we're goin' to do it, I'd want to do it at Hime-chan's place since Hayato is there too. We could stay up late, maybe rent some movies we wouldn't normally watch."
"Wow, sounds fun!"
"I want us all to line up our pillows when we sleep."
"Hmm, that might be impossible in Hime-chan's room."
"Then, let's take over the livin' room."
"Ahaha!"
While makin' those plans, both Haruki and Saki headed toward the empty house.
Their echoin' laughter was softly swallowed up by the uncertain darkness of the city.
Author's Notes:
With this, Part 5 Sub-Part 1 concludes.
I will be reviewin' the plot and stockpilin' chapters, so I will resume around next week.