It's midnight.
The bar will close at 10pm on four of the seven days.
The store will close at midnight on the 2nd and will be closed on the remaining day.
By the way, the store opens at 11am.
When I returned from the war...no, when I first came to Suzuya after being reincarnated, I was surprised.
Nimi's shop was open until midnight for all seven days.
I want to preserve this Suzuya that my father left behind.
She never showed signs of fatigue to those around her, always treating customers kindly and working hard.
I have also inherited Reid's memories.
I could tell right away that Nimi-san was tired.
Of course, I had many discussions with Nimi about the current schedule.
The result is the current time system.
The inn is open all year round, so the bar will be closed on certain days.
As I started doing 20 days ago, I tidy up the room a bit, warm it up with a fire magic tool that acts as a heater, and head to Nimi's bedroom.
It's a drastic measure...or maybe it's just wishful thinking.
I knocked lightly on the door, and Nimi-san opened it with a troubled smile.
She seemed to be getting ready for bed, as her braids had been undone, revealing her beautiful hair.
She was wearing a loose, light dark brown dress.
Due to the height difference, her gaze is likely to go to her chest, so Nimi looks at her face to make sure she doesn't feel uncomfortable.
"It's bedtime, so I came to pick you up."
"Reid-san, it 's fine now..."
"Hmm, unfortunately I can't trust you... so I'll take you."
"Kyaah... already."
I picked up the embarrassed Nimi-san in my arms and turned off the light in her room with my elbow.
Nimi's cheeks turn slightly red.
Her hands are placed on her large chest in a prayer-like position, and you can see her chest sink into the shape of her arms.
It's a marshmallow after all.
On the way to my room, I spoke to the quiet Nimi-san.
"Nimi, are you eating properly? You feel a little lighter than before."
"I'm eating. If I don't eat, Reid will be worried..."
"Even now... I'm worried. I've been worried ever since 20 days ago."
"That's... I'm sorry..."
"I won't let you go so you don't do anything stupid like that, so be prepared."
I put a little more strength into the arms holding her and pull her closer to me.
Nimi-san looks embarrassed and averts her gaze from me.
"Even though I'm your stepmother, I'm still your mother, you know?"
"Thanks to the care I received, I'm able to carry it like this."
"...Since when..."
He opens the door to his room with his elbow and, although it's rude, closes it with his foot.
I gently lowered her onto the bed and made some tea.
Warm tea is good for me and for Nimi, as it has a relaxing effect.
Tea might be good too, but...it's expensive.
I handed the tea to Nimi, who was sitting on the bed with her head slightly bowed, and she took it with both hands and brought it to her lap.
"Since when did you start seeing me as a woman?"
"That day. The night '20 days ago'. I could tell from Nimi's expression... that's when I made up my mind."
"..."
This is the first time I've been asked this question in the last 20 days.
I put the tea down on a nearby table and looked down at Nimi-san, who was on one knee with her head down.
Since Nimi is sitting, I can only look up a little.
Just a little bit.
"I'd rather have Nimi embraced by another man. I was prepared to be scolded by my father after I died. Also, not to correct you, but I see her as both a woman and a stepmother... I guess it's half and half."
"...You say you'll hold me, but that hasn't happened since 20 days ago."
"That's not the only thing I want to do. I love you, Nimi, both as a stepmother and as a woman. If the time comes... please give me a signal. But first, I need to recover from my exhausted heart."
"..."
"Well, it's time. Let's go to bed."
I got into the bed on the opposite side from where Nimi was sitting and lay down.
Stretch your left arm out to the side and beckon with your right hand.
"Please, Nimi."
"...You don't know when that signal will come?"
She settles down next to me and takes a position that seems to hug me lightly.
At that moment, two large marshmallows take the shape of my sides.
Nimi, who was using her left arm as a pillow, muttered without showing her face.
With his right hand, he pulls the blanket over himself and Nimi-san and laughs in a troubled manner.
"That's right... I might do something like that at that time, as long as it doesn't bother you. If you ask me if I don't want to do it, the answer is yes."
"...Good night, Reid-san."
"Good night, Nimi."
Saying this, I bend my left arm from the elbow and move Nimi's shoulder slightly towards me.
The scent of my family that I have smelled since I was little, and Nimi's gentle scent.
Perhaps because of the sense of relief, I lost consciousness immediately.
"What a cruel person..."
I lightly grabbed Reid's clothes as he began to snore.
The woman who gave birth to Reid lost her life in exchange for him.
When Reid was 10 years old, her husband died in an accident.
Seeing how he was then, I couldn't abandon him.
She ran Suzuya, which her husband left behind, and raised him.
Be kind, strong, and never give up. Live a straightforward and healthy life.
Seeing his smile made all my fatigue disappear.
When the war began, he, an adventurer, also went to war to make up the country's numbers.
For a year, letters arrived, but sleepless nights continued.
But he came back in good health.
It's hard for me to lose my family.
Something must have happened during the war, but after he returned he began to reform Suzuya.
First, the regular holiday. Kitchen renovations and magic tools.
Before we knew it, the rough adventurers had started calling him Instructor and me the proprietress.
Everything was going well... if only the son of the Dwaf Company hadn't set his sights on me.
Rising purchase prices and bad rumors.
He said he'd sort it out right away, but... I...
Judging from my expression, he wasn't angry or sad.
With his usual gentle, kind expression.
He just wanted me.
I thought that she was thinking about such things because she was mentally tired, so we started sleeping together.
If being alone makes you think of bad things, then let's be together.
But, he also wants to do that kind of thing...with me.
It's true that we're not related by blood, but I've raised him like a son.
I thought I had been in contact with them.
Over the past 20 days, I have found a sense of security in his warmth.
I feel like he's a man, I'm there.
"What a terrible person."
Contrary to his words, I also close my eyes out of a sense of relief.
Maybe... No, I had a feeling that he would give a signal soon.