That afternoon, at the Nishimiya house.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke stood at the door carrying large bags. All the groceries and daily necessities were bought with his money. The Nishimiya family wasn't well-off, but they wouldn't accept direct financial gifts, so this subtle form of help was necessary. It was only reasonable for a guest paying a rare visit to bring generous gifts.
"I'm home." "Excuse the intrusion."
Ryosuke followed Shoko into the narrow kitchen. He put the meat he bought into the old refrigerator in the corner, filling the empty space until it was packed. He then turned to Nishimiya Shoko and said, "Shoko, you're the head chef today, and I'll be your assistant."
Nishimiya Shoko's heart instantly raced. Cooking in a small space with the person she liked—was today her lucky day? She was lost in thought while slicing meat on the cutting board.
Ryosuke, who was washing vegetables by the sink, noticed Shoko was distracted. He called out softly, "Shoko?"
"Y-yes!" Nishimiya Shoko snapped to attention, replying loudly. She stood stiffly, like a student called upon by a teacher in class.
"You could easily cut yourself if you zone out, Shoko," Ryosuke reminded her calmly. He walked up behind Shoko and gently held her hands. "Watch closely. This is how you use the knife... slicing like this is both safe and fast." Ryosuke taught her hand-over-hand, like a patient instructor.
But Ryosuke quickly noticed Shoko's abnormality. He frowned slightly and quietly asked, "Why are you shaking?"
W-w-w-woah! You're too close to me! Nishimiya Shoko had turned into the small quail she was when they first met, blushing deeply and remaining silent. Her small hands were held by the boy's strong, large ones. The warmth transferred to the back of her hands made her heart beat fiercely. The mix of happiness and anxiety made her feel like she was oscillating between heaven and hell.
She occasionally recalled her bold actions in the Shinjuku gazebo late at night a while ago, and she couldn't believe that girl had been her. Finally, she used all her strength to utter a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, "Ryo... Ryosuke, I can do it. You go busy yourself with something else." She suspected that if this continued, she wouldn't even have the strength to stand, let alone cook.
Ryosuke eventually released her hands and returned to the sink. This was Shoko's meal to prove her maturity to her mother, and she needed to complete it herself.
The warm sensation on the back of her hands vanished. Shoko felt both relieved and regretful. She began to resent her own incompetence and timidity. However, realizing her mother would be home soon, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. Soon, she firmly grasped the knife again.
Nishimiya Yaeko came home, dragging her tired body. Though physically exhausted, she was mentally much better than a year ago. She put down her bag, intending to cook for her daughters and mother as usual. However, as soon as she changed into her indoor slippers, she smelled the aroma of food.
"Welcome home!" ×4.
The perfectly synchronized chorus made Nishimiya Yaeko freeze.
"What is this?"
Nishimiya Yaeko rubbed her eyes, looking at the pile of hot food on the table in disbelief. She quickly noticed there was one extra person in the house.
"Auntie Nishimiya, all of this was cooked by Shoko herself." Ryosuke noticed Yaeko's gaze on him and patiently explained.
"Mom, I've grown up now. I can cook and take care of myself. You don't have to work so hard anymore," Nishimiya Shoko said, enunciating every word clearly to her mother, afraid she wouldn't hear.
Nishimiya Yaeko stared blankly at the hot food on the table. For years, she had struggled to raise her two daughters and her elderly mother. Her eldest daughter's disability had caused her to be bullied, forcing them to constantly change schools and live without a stable home. The little girl who was once so dependent had grown up so much. The usually strict and tough woman couldn't maintain her cold expression any longer.
She walked up to Nishimiya Shoko, her eyes slightly watery. She spoke softly, with a gentle tone, "Shoko, you worked so hard."
Nishimiya Shoko hadn't heard her mother's kind voice in ages. She sniffled and threw herself into her mother's arms. Nishimiya Yaeko gently stroked her daughter's head, knowing exactly where all these changes originated. She turned and gave Ryosuke a profound, deep bow. "Hiratsuka-kun, thank you so much, truly."
This was not only because he had changed her daughter's situation but because he had saved their entire family. Shoko had real friends, Yuzuru was attending school normally, and Yaeko's own job was finally stabilizing. The women were no longer constantly moving, and the house was finally starting to feel like a home.
Seeing this, Ryosuke quickly helped Nishimiya Yaeko stand up, saying earnestly, "Auntie Nishimiya, it's what I should do."
Nishimiya Yaeko straightened up, looked at the serious boy before her, and a certain thought crossed her mind. She looked at Ryosuke with a meaningful gaze.
"Mom, come eat, or it'll get cold! Now that Nee-chan can cook, you won't have to work so hard anymore, and I'll help Nee-chan too!" Nishimiya Yuzuru patted her flat chest, making a firm promise.
They stopped lingering and sat down around the table. They put their hands together and said in unison, "Let's eat."
The Promise on the Porch
After dinner, Nishimiya Yaeko glanced at her two daughters who were cleaning up. She then stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and motioned for Ryosuke to step outside with her.
In the hallway outside the door, Nishimiya Yaeko looked at the young man. She folded her arms and spoke with a gravity she had never shown before. "Hiratsuka Ryosuke, do you remember what you once told me in the office?"
Ryosuke recalled the day he first met Nishimiya Yaeko—the day he fully committed to interfering in Nishimiya Shoko's life. "I remember, Auntie Nishimiya, please don't worry, I—"
Ryosuke was cut off mid-sentence by Nishimiya Yaeko's outstretched hand. She turned her back to him, gazing at the sunset in the distance, and murmured, "I've heard similar words many times when I was young. Whether a person's promise is valid is determined not by what they say, but by what they do. Just remember that."
Ryosuke, who knew the sisters' past from their stories, sometimes wished he had met them sooner.
They stood in silence on the porch, watching the distant sky slowly darken. A rare smile appeared on Nishimiya Yaeko's stern face. She turned back to the boy beside her and said with a gentle smile, "It's getting late, and I still have to go back to the department store. You can visit my home more often in the future, Ryosuke." As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and walked toward the stairs.
A moment later, Nishimiya Shoko opened the door just a crack and poked her small head out. Hiratsuka Ryosuke couldn't help but smile warmly at the sight of her.
Ryosuke's smile caused Nishimiya Shoko to become momentarily dazed.
"Shoko, I have to go home now." His face quickly returned to its usual expression, making the smile seem like Shoko's imagination.
"Ah? So soon? Then I'll walk you out."
Downstairs, the evening breeze rustled the leaves. The gentle shh-shh of the leaves, mixed with the chirping of cicadas, played the symphony of a summer night. Nishimiya Shoko followed closely behind Ryosuke, just as before.
"This is far enough. Go back, Shoko," Hiratsuka Ryosuke said softly to the girl behind him as he turned around.
Nishimiya Shoko looked like she wanted to say something but ultimately nodded, reluctant to see him go. He didn't even pat my head today. That's disappointing.
"Shoko." "Yes!" "Your long hair is very cute, too."
"Eh?!"
Nishimiya Shoko suddenly looked up, meeting Ryosuke's eyes. Seeing his gentle smile, she immediately lowered her head like an ostrich. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her restlessly twisting fingers revealing her unsettled heart. He finally noticed I grew my hair long? Hehe, I'm a little happy.
Hiratsuka Ryosuke stepped forward and habitually gave the girl's head a light, farewell ruffle.
Nishimiya Shoko looked up, her eyes glazed over. Her voice seemed to regress to before she learned to speak, and she mumbled unconsciously, "I like you (Suki)."
"The moon (Tsuki)?"
Ryosuke followed Shoko's gaze and looked up. A crescent moon hung in the endless night sky, bright and cold. Interpreting her word as tsuki (moon), he went along with her, saying, "Yes, the moonlight is beautiful tonight."
Nishimiya Shoko stared at Ryosuke in disbelief, her mouth hanging open without making a sound. She suddenly jumped backward, then ran like a fleeing ostrich to hide behind a nearby tree.
"Shoko, what's wrong?" Nishimiya Shoko's abnormal reaction utterly confused Hiratsuka Ryosuke. He started walking toward the girl behind the tree.
"R-Ryosuke, d-don't come any closer yet!" Nishimiya Shoko heard his footsteps and quickly shouted from behind the tree.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Shoko covered her chest behind the tree, her heart pounding like a drum. Her fair face was flushed up to her ears, like a fresh, bright strawberry.
"Okay, I won't come over. I'm going home now, alright?" Ryosuke said helplessly.
Nishimiya Shoko didn't dare poke her head out, only revealing a pair of bright, clear eyes from behind the tree. She then stretched out her forearm, waved her hand, and mumbled, "Ryosuke, it's late, so you should go home first. Goodbye!"
Ryosuke waved back at Shoko, shook his head, and turned to leave.
Nishimiya Shoko silently watched his retreating figure. Only after he completely disappeared into the night did she emerge from behind the tree, still clutching her chest. But at that moment, she felt like she didn't have the strength to stand. She leaned against the tree trunk, looking up at the sky.
Under the brilliant moonlight, a night breeze blew, making the girl's long hair dance. She closed her eyes, listening to the song of the leaves beneath the tree.
After the wind died down, Nishimiya Shoko opened her eyes, gazing at the cold crescent moon in the distance. Finally, she squinted, smiled sweetly, and began skipping home, humming an unknown tune with her hands clasped behind her back.