Inside the apartment building hallway, illuminated by dim yellow lights.
Following the address Tsushima Kagami had given her over the phone, Yukinoshita Shizuku found her way to Room 101.
She gently rang the doorbell.
"Hello, it is Yukinoshita Shizuku."
Just as Shizuku announced her name from outside, she heard Tsushima Kagami's voice coming from within.
"The door isn't locked. Just push it open and come in."
Hearing this, Yukinoshita Shizuku tried the handle and gave the door a gentle push; sure enough, it swung open.
Once Shizuku entered the entryway and closed the door behind her, she saw Miss Hayase—the woman she had seen previously at the Livehouse with Douraku-sensei and Tsukuyomi-sensei.
At that moment, she was taking a pair of slippers out of the shoe cabinet for Shizuku.
"Ara, it's Shizuku-chan, isn't it? Please, wear these."
"Thank you."
After changing her shoes, Shizuku walked into the living room with Hayase Kinue.
Upon entering the living room, she saw Tsushima Kagami taking a plate of fried pork cutlets out of the microwave.
Turning and seeing Yukinoshita Shizuku, Kagami smiled and walked over to the dining table to set the tonkatsu down.
"Eat first. I specifically saved some food for you, and it's all still warm."
"Though the tonkatsu got cold, so I reheated it in the microwave. It might not taste as crispy."
After speaking, Tsushima Kagami went to Shizuku, who was still standing there, and ushered her toward a chair at the dining table.
"It was my fault for forgetting to tell you in advance, but it's not too late to get angry after you fill your stomach."
Yukinoshita Shizuku was already hungry, and the journey here had only increased her appetite. In the end, she simply sighed, sat down, picked up the prepared utensils, and looked at Tsushima Kagami and Hayase Kinue.
"Then, I will not stand on ceremony."
"Itadakimasu."
With that, Yukinoshita Shizuku began to eat.
Meanwhile, Tsushima Kagami and Hayase Kinue chatted about their shopping trip that afternoon.
Shizuku listened quietly as she ate.
When Shizuku finally finished eating and set down her utensils, Hayase Kinue hurriedly bowed in apology.
"I am so sorry. It is all my fault."
"Even though Kagami-kun said he needed to go back to pick you up, I insisted on dragging him in to stay, and as a result, I even forgot to remind him of the time."
"I am truly, very sorry, Shizuku-chan."
Looking at Hayase Kinue, who was bowing repeatedly with tears in her eyes, Yukinoshita Shizuku simply shook her head.
"Hayase-san, this isn't your blame to bear. You don't need to apologize."
"On the contrary, it was Kagami who caused trouble for you."
Yukinoshita Shizuku wasn't exactly angry about that. She just felt that Tsushima Kagami should have told her beforehand. He had made her worry blindly, while he was happily eating dinner at someone else's house while she went hungry worrying about him...
Okay, fine, she was a little angry.
"Oh my, Kagami-kun was no trouble at all. He helped me so much tonight."
"Not only did he help me carry my things home, but he also helped me cook dinner, cleaned the tableware, and took out the trash."
Hayase Kinue counted the items off on her fingers earnestly, praising Tsushima Kagami for being such a good boy.
Meanwhile, Tsushima Kagami, who was clearing away Shizuku's empty dishes nearby, noticed that Shizuku's expression seemed to be growing increasingly gloomy.
He quickly put down the dishes, squatted down beside Hayase Kinue, and covered her mouth.
"Mmph, mmph!"
"Alright, alright, Kinue-neesan, please don't say anymore."
Hearing Tsushima Kagami call Hayase Kinue 'Kinue-neesan,' Yukinoshita Shizuku's expression grew a few degrees colder.
Having her mouth covered, Hayase Kinue also noticed that something was wrong with Shizuku's expression. She quickly shut up and cast an apologetic look at Tsushima Kagami.
Tsushima Kagami just smiled, then picked up the tableware again, preparing to wash it.
"Shizuku, sit for a moment. Once I've finished washing up, we'll head back."
Just as Yukinoshita Shizuku was about to nod, Hayase Kinue hurriedly snatched the tableware away.
"Ara, you two should just go back. I can wash the rest myself."
As she spoke, Hayase Kinue removed the apron from Tsushima Kagami's body and ushered him and Shizuku toward the entryway.
"Then, we will be heading back now."
"Sorry for the intrusion today."
After Tsushima Kagami said his goodbyes, Yukinoshita Shizuku also bowed slightly.
The two then boarded the subway and returned to the apartment in Bunkyo Ward without exchanging a word along the way.
...
Upon returning home, Yukinoshita Shizuku sat silently on the living room sofa and turned on the TV. Instantly, the sound of anime from the children's channel that Tsushima Kagami usually watched filled the empty living room.
Yukino crawled out of her little nest and, with a leap, landed in Yukinoshita Shizuku's lap.
Shizuku stroked Yukino's fur while watching the animation on the TV, not saying a word.
Tsushima Kagami sat down beside Yukinoshita Shizuku.
Then, he poked Shizuku's arm with his finger.
"Are you angry?"
"No."
Yukinoshita Shizuku shook her head expressionlessly, her eyes glued to the anime.
Tsushima Kagami nudged her arm with his elbow.
"Are you angry?"
"No."
Tsushima Kagami then gathered his strength and launched an 'Iron Mountain Lean' against her.
Yukinoshita Shizuku, holding Yukino, stood up and dodged it.
Tsushima Kagami stumbled and fell onto the sofa. He tilted his head to look up at Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"Are you angry?"
This time, Yukinoshita Shizuku didn't answer directly. Instead, she suddenly spoke.
"Must be nice, helping Hayase-san wash the dishes."
Tsushima Kagami lay there, striking a 'Sleeping Arhat' pose, and laughed.
"Don't I wash the dishes every time at home, too?"
Yukinoshita Shizuku nodded, then spoke again.
"Must be nice, helping Hayase-san cook."
"I was just acting as a sous-chef."
Tsushima Kagami corrected her.
"I always cook alone here. You've never helped me."
"That's because..."
Just as the words left his mouth, Tsushima Kagami covered his own mouth.
He suddenly remembered that when a woman is angry, the more you explain, the more it sounds like sophistry, and the more unreasonable she becomes. At times like this, one should just go along with her to end the meaningless dispute as soon as possible.
Seeing Tsushima Kagami stop halfway through his sentence, Yukinoshita Shizuku looked over curiously.
Tsushima Kagami stood up straight, came before Yukinoshita Shizuku, and executed a standard 90-degree bow.
" Hontou ni Sumimasen! From now on, whenever Shizuku needs it, I will be your sous-chef too!"
Seeing Tsushima Kagami suddenly bow and apologize, Yukinoshita Shizuku seemed a bit flustered, but she quickly composed herself.
"You don't actually have to apologize like that. After all, waiting for me to get off work every day isn't your obligation, and you never promised anything. I was the one who got angry on my own. I'm truly sorry."
After saying this, Yukinoshita Shizuku also gave Tsushima Kagami a 90-degree bow.
After hearing this, Tsushima Kagami folded himself in half again, going beyond the 90 degrees.
"I did promise. I promised Mother that during our time in Tokyo, I would take good care of you."
"So, not informing you in advance was my fault. It won't happen next time."
Yukinoshita Shizuku turned her head away at this point.
"Really, who bows like that? It looks so ugly."
Hearing this, Tsushima Kagami knew it was finally over. He quickly straightened up and smiled at Yukinoshita Shizuku.
"Are you angry?"
Yukinoshita Shizuku ignored Tsushima Kagami and walked toward the kitchen counter, holding Yukino.
"I was too embarrassed to eat much at Hayase-san's house earlier, so I only had a few bites."
"I'm hungry again. I'm going to cook something to eat."
Tsushima Kagami hurried to follow.
"Then let me be your sous-chef. What vegetables do we need to prep?"
As he spoke, Tsushima Kagami opened the refrigerator to look for usable ingredients.
Looking at Tsushima Kagami's back, Yukinoshita Shizuku stroked Yukino in her arms, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving upward.
"Alright, you go play with Yukino."
"I don't want your help. You're too clumsy."
____
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