229 Welcome Home

With a bouquet of lilies in hand and three beautiful girls walking beside him, Kyousuke was, without a doubt, the most eye-catching person on the street.

Instead of entering through the northern gate of the sports field, the four of them made their way to a narrow slope tucked between the field and the Keijuku school buildings.

It was the same "Ghost Slope" featured in Haruki Murakami's Norwegian Wood.

Compared to the clean streets outside, this path felt more like a tunnel carved through the trees. On the left side, an iron fence marked the boundary of the park.

Through the gaps in the fence and between tree branches, a few people could be seen strolling inside.

On the right stood the tall wall of the school building.

Students weren't allowed to climb it, but bamboo stalks seemed to ignore the rule, leisurely poking their heads over the top and scattering leaves across the ground.

These fallen leaves wouldn't be swept away until the next morning, adding a touch of wilderness to the footpath.

The moon hadn't fully risen yet, and the dim lights from the park and school were far from enough to illuminate the narrow path.

It was here that Kyousuke finally understood why this place was called Ghost Slope.

The spring breeze was so gentle it couldn't even rustle a cloud, but the moment you stepped onto Ghost Slope, the bamboo groves began to whisper like falling rain.

Coupled with the moonlight blocked by thick tree canopies, it really felt like a ghost or two could drift out from behind the school wall at any moment.

Bathed in the pale moonlight, lilies in one hand, Kyousuke glanced ahead at the three girls.

Sakura and Shouko were both dressed in long pants and long sleeves.

Only Naoka, as always, wore shorts, her long, shapely legs exposed to the cool air. In the dim light, her pale skin looked even more delicate and smooth.

'Isn't Naoka cold?'

Kyousuke couldn't help but worry, as usual. But then he remembered — Naoka was as traditional a Japanese girl as it got.

She didn't even wear thermal leggings in the winter. So he gave up on the idea of rushing ahead to a more crowded, warmer spot.

"Shou-chan... I think I heard something weird," Sakura said, suddenly clutching Shouko's arm.

She had been staring at the fence earlier, like she was seriously trying to spot a ghost.

Now her voice trembled, and her wide eyes darted around in panic.

Naoka, walking on the far left, rolled her eyes but kept moving without a word.

"Maybe it was a crow?" Shouko offered after a moment of thought.

"No, it was a scary sound. And I swear I felt someone blowing cold air on the back of my neck!" Sakura whispered.

As she spoke, she subtly waved at Kyousuke behind them clearly signaling that it was his cue to sneak up and spook Shouko.

But Kyousuke just rolled his eyes right back at her and firmly refused to play along with the prank.

"Sakura, maybe you're just underdressed. Want me to lend you my jacket?" Shouko offered gently, completely unaware of Sakura's antics.

"No, it's not that, it's—"

"Idiot Sakura," Naoka interrupted, "as long as Kyousuke's here, there's no way Shouko would be scared by one of your lame horror stories."

Shouko couldn't hold it in any longer and burst into laughter. Ghosts, the apocalypse — none of it mattered.

As long as Kyousuke was with her, she didn't feel afraid of anything.

"I am scared!" Sakura protested dramatically. "That's it! Tonight, we're watching a horror movie. The scariest one we can find!"

Her declaration sounded less like a plan and more like she'd just won a prize for being the most easily frightened.

Their playful chatter lit up the gloomy alley, filling it with warmth and life.

They left Ghost Slope and entered Mejirodai Park through the south gate.

On the wide baseball field, a bunch of kids were playing a messy game of street baseball, and the basketball courts were bustling too.

This upscale neighborhood didn't earn its status from just a few famous literary figures.

The very park the four of them stood in now had once been part of Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka's estate.

After his death, his family couldn't afford the massive inheritance tax and had to sell off a portion of the land, which eventually became Mejirodai Park.

Coincidentally, just a little further south, the Hosokawa family's Higo estate had also been entirely converted into a park.

———————————————————————

By the time they got home, they were carrying bags of snacks and late-night treats.

Kyousuke took out a cleaned vase, filled it with water, and placed the lilies inside. He adjusted the bouquet a little until it looked just right.

Then the four of them collapsed onto the thick carpet, leaning against the soft sofa, sighing in perfect sync from the comfort.

Sakura pulled out a DVD she'd clearly prepared in advance while the home theater booted up.

"Are we really watching this?" Kyousuke asked, a hint of dread on his face.

Sure, watching a horror movie with three beautiful girls sounded like a dream — definitely the kind of thing Sakura would arrange just to tease him.

But the problem was... Kyousuke didn't like horror movies.

Not because he was scared — he just disliked anything that wasn't beautiful. If he wanted intense sensory thrills, he had far better options.

The movie in question was none other than Saw. Everyone had heard of it, but none of the four had actually seen it.

Sakura, despite all her big talk, had never watched a horror film before.

Shouko and Naoka simply hadn't grown up in households where there was time or the atmosphere to sit down for movies.

"Uh… well…" Even the bold Sakura started to waver under Kyousuke's questioning gaze.

"Let's watch it!" Naoka immediately jumped in, energized by Sakura's hesitation.

Shouko curled up between Kyousuke and Naoka like a little ball.

"Why don't we pick something cheerful instead? How about Home Alone? Perfect for a family night," Kyousuke suggested.

Everyone immediately agreed — unanimous approval. They'd all seen the series dozens of times back in Suimon City, but it still held a special charm.

From elementary school to high school, this place was their home now. Watching a movie full of laughter and memories together here just felt right.

Though the night air outside turned chilly, the living room stayed cozy. Shouko brought over a large blanket and draped it over everyone's feet.

Even with the air conditioner running, nothing beat the comfort of a blanket in times like this.

It felt like watching the movie for the first time all over again.

The laughter never stopped.

Warmth filled the room, and the gentle scent of lilies slowly spread through the house.

The large space softened the fragrance, making it calm and elegant.

As Kyousuke sipped from his glass of water, it felt as though he was drinking down blooming lilies.

Tomorrow was their physical exams, so they weren't supposed to eat in the morning.

Kyousuke chose to turn a blind eye to Sakura munching away on snacks like there was no tomorrow.

After Home Alone 1, no one wanted to stop, so they watched the sequel too.

Only then did they officially declare the first "Kyousuke Family Movie Night" a success.

Sakura and Naoka tidied up the living room, while Kyousuke went out to the garden with Shouko to water the plants.

In truth, Kyousuke mostly just stood by watching. Shouko handled everything herself.

The garden was watered using well water, pumped up by a small motor.

The grass was chilly at night, so Shouko put on plastic slippers and gently watered each plant with a long yellow hose.

Why did Shouko love this garden so much? Kyousuke guessed it was because she'd grown up in apartment buildings, unlike Sakura and the others who came from standalone homes.

Or maybe it was because Shouko herself was just like the flowers — delicate, beautiful, and fragile.

Just as he loved youthful, blooming girls, Kyousuke loved flowers. He loved giving them to the ones he cherished.

Kyousuke was deeply grateful to his mother, Hojou Mikiko, for staying behind in Suimon City to raise him.

But he wasn't the kind of person who could just blurt out, "Mom, I love you." So, instead, he chose to give flowers.

And even if he wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to say something like "May you always be as beautiful as a flower."

So all he could do was quietly place them into a vase.

Beautiful things bring joy to the heart—and Kyousuke had never cared to analyze what giving flowers really meant.

The act of giving them was romantic in itself. It didn't need a deeper explanation.

Long before humans even had written language, they gave flowers to express kindness.

That gesture had survived across countless generations, and just thinking about it made him feel overwhelmed by its quiet romance.

And then...

He glanced back toward the living room.

Sakura, on her way to leave a trash bag by the door for tomorrow's pickup, had stopped by the dining table.

She stared at the lilies and broke into a goofy smile.

A few moments later, Naoka also wandered over, leaned in, and took a deep breath of the flowers' scent. Her face showed nothing but bliss.

Whatever reason someone had for receiving flowers, Kyousuke believed they would feel loved, even if just a little.

He had money—more than enough to fill a room with flowers for each of the girls every day.

But that would be excessive, almost rude. This way was better. Each girl could see them. Each one could feel like the flowers were for her.

And as for him—Kyousuke had gathered the most dazzling bouquet of all, right there in his living room.

By now, Sakura and Naoka had gone upstairs to wash up. Shouko had headed to the bathroom on the first floor to wash her hands.

"Kyousuke-kun…"

The girl walked up to him with her head bowed, her voice barely a whisper.

"What's up?" he asked, smiling as he gently ruffled her hair, still surrounded by the faint sweetness of the girls' scents lingering in the air.

"Well… it's just…" Shouko looked up, cheeks flushed, her eyes shimmering like a pool of spring water.

"Are you hungry?" Kyousuke guessed, remembering how Shouko hadn't touched any snacks or late-night bites while the others were eating during the movie.

But her reaction completely caught him off guard.

"No!"

She suddenly shouted, then turned quickly toward the stairs to check if anyone heard.

Once she was sure all was quiet, she sighed in relief and patted her chest.

"Haha, then what is it?" Kyousuke said gently, taking her hand and guiding her to sit down on the sofa.

His voice softened. "Are you worried about the voice acting agency stuff?"

"Uuuu…"

Looking into his warm, dark eyes, Shouko let out a soft whimper, covering her face with both hands.

Kyousuke didn't press her, waiting patiently for her to calm down.

After about half a minute, Shouko finally made up her mind. She stood up, stepped to the side, and planted herself squarely in front of him.

Her cheeks were still pink, but her expression was tense.

The mix of shyness and seriousness on her face made Kyousuke feel like he was witnessing something precious.

"Shouko, are you trying to…"

He was about to make a teasing remark when she suddenly grabbed his hand and placed it gently on her belly.

His hand was large compared to her petite frame, and though she'd meant for him to feel only her stomach, his fingers naturally reached a bit higher.

Huh?

'Since when did you get so bold, Shouko?' Kyousuke thought, stunned by her soft, warm body.

"Kyousuke-kun… do you think I've gotten… fatter?" she asked, her eyes welling up.

Kyousuke burst into laughter.

Pulling his hand back, he tugged Shouko beside him and playfully ruffled her hair again.

"You've been worrying about that all evening?" No wonder she hadn't touched any snacks—she was being adorably ridiculous.

"Mm…" Shouko still looked glum.

She was so convinced she'd gained weight, she'd probably sworn off eating anything past noon the next day—including water.

"You haven't gotten fat at all," he assured her. "Your tummy feels perfect. Honestly, I can't wait for summer so I can take you to the beach."

He grinned, going full Kyousuke with the compliments.

"Actually, scratch that—we don't even need a beach. Let's set up a giant inflatable pool in the yard. Or rent out a private island. That'd be fun too."

"Really? But… Sakura's waist is so much slimmer than mine…"

Shouko rarely questioned anything Kyousuke said, but even she couldn't ignore her own insecurities.

She was still just a typical girl when it came to looks—especially around the boy she liked.

"Hmm…"

He couldn't deny it—Sakura's waist, when it peeked out beneath her shirt, was almost unfairly slender.

"I knew it… I do need to diet," Shouko said, her voice quivering on the edge of tears.

"Haha, none of that!" Kyousuke said, giving in and finally offering the reassurance she clearly needed.

"In April, when the cherry blossoms bloom, we admire the lively trees in full bloom. But even when the petals fall, it's still beautiful, right?"

"That's just two different kinds of beauty. There's no need to compare."

"So… I'm like the fallen petals now…" Shouko murmured, fishing for more comfort.

'You little trickster,' Kyousuke thought, amused by how Shouko had started clinging to him like a mischievous kitten.

"You're beautiful just as you are, Shouko. You don't need to lose a single gram. I absolutely adore you."

"R-Really?" she stammered, her face turning crimson. That was exactly what she'd wanted to hear, but hearing it so directly still made her blush uncontrollably.

"Alright, time to wash up and get to bed. We've got an early start tomorrow."

"Okay!" she perked up instantly, her gloom vanishing like it had never been there.

After saying their goodnights, the three girls retreated to their rooms.

Once Kyousuke had showered and stepped out, the hallway was quiet, each of the rooms around him dim and still.

He moved to the door on the left and turned the handle gently.

Just like the renovation contractor had promised, the door opened with a sound so smooth and silent that even he, with his sharp hearing, could barely catch it.

A sliver of light from the hallway slipped into the room. Inside, Sakura was sitting cross-legged on her bed in white pajamas.

She perked up the moment she saw him and eagerly waved him over.

"You're so slow, Kyousuke! Hurry up!" she whispered, her voice quieter than usual.

"Idiot, keep it down!" Kyousuke hissed, quietly closing the door behind him.

"It's fine! I already tested it—even if you pound on the walls, you can't hear it from your room," she said smugly, though she still kept her voice down.

'Why does this still feel like we're doing something we shouldn't?' Kyousuke muttered internally.

"Alright, lie down and pull the covers up," he instructed, flipping back the blanket and motioning for the hyperactive girl to settle in.

"Okay~~" Sakura drawled in response but made no move to cover herself, instead staring up at him with her bright amber eyes.

"Are you a baby again or what?" he teased, tucking the blanket around her himself.

Sakura reached out with both hands, pulling the blanket up until it covered her mouth. Only then did she stop.

Her hands didn't retreat either—she simply lay there, her wide eyes full of anticipation, watching her childhood friend.

Kyousuke smiled indulgently at the sight. He reached out and gently brushed her hair away from her face.

Grabbing the remote from the nightstand, he dimmed the lights. Then, he picked up his phone and opened a document.

"I'm going to start now, okay?" he said softly. In the quiet, dim room, Kyousuke's clear voice grew even gentler, like silk gliding across bare skin.

"Mm~" came a tiny sound from under the blanket. Sakura's beautiful, wide eyes remained open, fixed on the boy sitting at the edge of her bed.

"…Hmm?"

Finally, those eyes closed—reluctantly, but peacefully.

Seeing Sakura's calm little face, Kyousuke nodded with satisfaction and swallowed.

Then, using the gentlest voice he could muster, he began reading the story from his phone.

Yes, he was going to tell her a bedtime story—just like when they were kids.

Back then, little Sakura would wake up crying from nightmares, clutching her bunny plushie, barefoot and teary-eyed, as she charged into his room and plopped right onto his stomach to wake him up.

And just like that, his "brilliant" literary career began—with him making up bedtime stories on the spot.

"Will you still protect me if I have nightmares in the future?"

"Yeah."

"And when we grow up, will you still tell me stories?"

"Of course."

"They have to be super interesting, though!"

"…You're so demanding. Now close your eyes already."

That's how they sealed a promise—one they never intended to break.

Now, in a new home, Sakura had declared it was time to revive their beloved old tradition.

"I'm a shark that can't eat salt—not even a little bit!" Kyousuke began in a silly, exaggerated voice.

"My parents were so worried about me that they moved us far from the ocean when I was just a baby. We now live in a forest."

"Then… doesn't that mean he can never be a salted fish?" Sakura interjected.

"As long as you're lazy enough, anyone can become a salted fish."

Kyousuke replied without missing a beat, then raised an eyebrow when Sakura peeked open one eye again.

"Hey, eyes closed. This is bedtime storytime, not book club."

"Okaaay~" she replied sweetly and shut her eyes again.

"I don't really miss the ocean," Kyousuke continued, slipping back into the story.

"This lake is just fine. I love it here. (And it's totally not because of the clownfish family I met.)"

"The water is sweet, the plants are tastier than seaweed (unless it's from Mr. Island Whale, my mom says), and the best thing of all are Auntie Clownfish's seaweed cookies."

"Wait… sharks eat seaweed?" Sakura asked.

"Well, if you can't eat salt, learning to eat seaweed isn't that far-fetched, right?"

Kyousuke didn't mind the interruption.

He didn't even tell her to close her eyes again—he knew it was impossible.

For Sakura, bedtime stories weren't about falling asleep.

They were a way to wash away all the chaos and worries of the day with something silly and heartwarming.

He continued:

"'Whatcha thinking about, Mo?' came a small voice beside the little shark. Startled, he turned his head."

"'Ack!' the voice yelped. 'Mo, what are you doing? You just flipped me off your back!'"

Startled, Mo the shark froze, standing perfectly still like he was playing freeze tag.

"'Geez! Mo, don't you realize how big you are?'"

A tiny clownfish with red-and-white stripes swam in front of his big nose, waving a pink fin at him.

"'Sorry, Yi… I forgot,'" said Mo, scratching his head, looking sheepish.

"'Ugh, you're hopeless,'" Yi said with her fins on her hips, pouting.

"'Hehehe,'" Mo just laughed bashfully.

"'Oh! Oh! Guess what—I swam deeper yesterday! Like, a whole fifth of a seaweed's height!'"

Yi had also moved from the ocean, and unlike Mo, her problem wasn't dietary—she had a deep-sea phobia.

Still, Mo couldn't help feeling secretly happy about it. If not for that fear, he never would have met Yi.

He stole a quiet glance at the little fish by his mouth.

She really was tiny—and really, really cute.

Sakura listened intently, her amber eyes still wide open, completely awake.

But when Kyousuke pressed the phone's power button and the screen went dark, she finally blinked back to the present.

"So… even unlucky people can find happiness because of their misfortunes?" she asked softly from beneath the blanket.

And just like that, she closed her eyes on her own.

"The point is that, in the end, everyone gets to be happy, Sakura," Kyousuke said gently.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"Mhm… Good night, Kyousuke~" Sakura murmured, reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck. She kissed his forehead back, just as tenderly.

Brushing her hair back again, Kyousuke used the remote to turn off the lights completely and quietly left the room.

Back in his own room, lying in bed, Kyousuke realized—he wasn't sleepy at all.

What? That couldn't be right. He loved sleep! Was tomorrow the end of the world or something?

No, tomorrow was just the day he'd get some good news.

It had been two and a half years since his last full medical check-up. He'd already scheduled one for tomorrow.

You weren't supposed to do detailed checkups too often—every two to three years was best. Too frequent, and you might end up making yourself sick over nothing.

Sakura never complained about any pain.

She seemed perfectly healthy.

With that athletic build, she could pass for a track star. Didn't Shouko even say she was jealous of her figure today?

As long as she kept eating well, exercising, and staying away from junk food, she should be just fine.

Maybe… maybe he should skip tomorrow's checkup and wait until the full three years passed.

If he went too early, what if they found something just because the gap was too short?

The hospital hadn't even raised its prices—was that because their tech was outdated?

In the dark, a horde of daruma dolls surrounded Kyousuke like relentless thoughts, hammering away at his mind like a punching bag.

"Hey! Did you pray properly? Were you sincere? Did you give us your offering money?"

'Of course I prayed! There's a whole line of daruma for health and safety on my nightstand!'

Kyousuke shouted back—internally, he hoped. He wasn't entirely sure anymore. The darkness seemed to swallow up even his sense of reality.

He let out a heavy sigh and sat up.

Pulling the curtain aside, the moonlight immediately poured in, generous and bright.

The plants below, bathed in that silvery light, seemed to glow faintly in the night.

Barefoot, he stepped out of his room.

Even with all the noise in his heart, his movements were quiet and careful, not making a single sound.

He slid open the glass door to the living room and walked outside, heading to the little maple tree growing in the yard. Lying down on the lawn beside it, he gazed up at the sky.

The moon was especially bright tonight—it lit up every leaf vein in sharp detail. And the stars… they were twinkling like they were trying to compete with the moon.

'How strange,' Kyousuke thought.

Are you all trying to steal the moon's spotlight tonight? You're not even supposed to be this visible when it's this bright out.

Kyousuke had no trouble spotting Orion.

It was the only constellation he knew—an easily recognizable one made of four bright stars forming a large quadrilateral, with three aligned stars running diagonally through its center.

It dominated the winter sky, brilliant and unavoidable—just like the season he despised.

Its dazzling presence always heralded the coming of deep winter.

Why did they call it Orion anyway? Were those three stars supposed to be his pistols strapped to his waist or something?

While the boy stayed up late studying the stars, a girl had also stepped out into the night. Leaning against the wall, she quietly watched the figure bathed in moonlight.

Sakura hadn't been woken up by Kyousuke's movements.

That was impossible.

The moment she closed her eyes, his face would appear. His voice would echo in her ears. Just thinking about him was enough to bring her peace and help her sleep.

But tomorrow's health check kept stirring her anxiety. The warmth of his voice in her mind gradually faded, replaced by an uneasy ache in her stomach.

It hurt an inch below her left rib, and again directly beneath her navel. Even her spine began to throb strangely.

'Seriously? Just because I don't know where my pancreas is, you're ganging up on me like this?' she fumed internally.

'Don't tell me that unlucky organ is spread all over my body or something?'

Before she knew it, she had tossed aside her blanket, slipped on her slippers, and wandered out of her room—only to spot Kyousuke, just as naturally as breathing.

'He's worrying again, isn't he?'

Seeing him lying spread out on the grass below, Sakura couldn't help but smile.

The pain and tightness that had gripped her just moments before melted away in an instant.

'What an idiot. I'm the one who's supposed to be nervous—not you. Don't go stealing my feelings! This is my special experience to have, not yours.'

'But... since you've already spent tonight being nervous for me, maybe you shouldn't come to the hospital tomorrow.'

'If you faint from anxiety, I won't be able to carry you back.'

Sakura thought this to herself.

What does it feel like to know you might be dying?

Yamauchi Sakura could answer that clearly—it's terrifying.

The fear crawls under your skin and makes your whole body tremble. A bone-deep chill wraps around you, and no number of blankets can fight it off.

But what does it feel like when someone else finds out you might be dying?

Sakura could also answer that: it's the most overwhelming happiness in the world.

Just the thought of someone caring that deeply—so much that they can't sleep and end up counting stars on the lawn—fills your heart with unbearable sweetness.

So maybe Kyousuke really shouldn't come to the hospital tomorrow.

If the worst comes true, she wants to be the one to carry that truth.

Let him stay the same as always. Right now, the way he treasures her is already perfect.

If things really did go wrong... she didn't even want to imagine what Kyousuke would do.

He was the kind of guy who, even when she joked about winning the Nobel Prize, would seriously respond, "You could try."

He'd probably quit school on the spot, enroll in med school, lock himself in a library, and bury himself in books and research until he single-handedly found a 100% guaranteed cure for pancreatic cancer.

Sakura could already picture the dramatic line he'd say:

"Nothing can take Yamauchi Sakura away from me—not fate, not anything. I'll shatter it all."

"Hehe... That's actually kind of cool."

With that thought, Sakura couldn't help but cup her cheeks in her hands and smile like a total goofball.

She looked down at Kyousuke lying on the lawn, her heart overflowing with warmth and affection.

All her anxiety was swept away, replaced by pure joy.

She gazed at her childhood friend with soft eyes and whispered, "Goodnight," before slipping back into her room.

She crawled into bed, pulled up the covers, and drifted into sleep within thirty seconds—still smiling.

———————————————————————

Friday

Just like the morning before, Kyousuke woke up before sunrise. The sky was still wrapped in a murky gray, and it wasn't even six o'clock yet.

He changed into running shorts and a moisture-wicking shirt, quietly opened the door, and peeked into the room. As expected, the three girls were still fast asleep.

Today, he wasn't going to practice kendo.

He just wanted a good run.

Not at the usual Mejirodai Park track either—this time, he was headed to the Tsukuba University School for the Impaired, less than a hundred meters from his house.

Normally, outsiders like him wouldn't be allowed into the school during holidays.

But since it was still in Bunkyo Ward, he had asked Kisaki to help negotiate with the school's kendo club.

In exchange for offering them occasional guidance, he got a special access pass.

Morning air like this really made him want to go back to bed.

The dry, carbon dioxide–laden chill clung to his lungs, draining his energy. Or maybe that was just the jogging.

As he ran, Kyousuke's thoughts wandered aimlessly.

He passed a small store near the school gates, a place that had apparently been open since 1986.

It was already up and running, the delicious aroma of freshly fried croquettes spilling into the street.

A mix of meat and vegetables fried into golden perfection—he could swear, with sixteen years of beef-eating experience, that they used nothing but the finest cuts.

The savory scent teased his nose, and before he realized it, his feet had veered off-course toward the shop.

"Morning! Want to buy something?" the cheerful owner in a white chef's hat called out.

"N-No, I'll pass. Maybe next time," Kyousuke replied with a pained smile.

He couldn't eat now—not with the health check coming up.

By the time he returned to the estate, his shirt was dry. He opened the gate, walked up to the house, and paused at the front door.

'Should I just shout, "I'm home!" and wake them all up?'

'Then maybe... maybe I'd finally hear the reply I've been waiting so long for.'

He hesitated for a few seconds, then decided against it.

But even so, as he opened the door, he couldn't help but whisper:

"I'm home."

"Welcome back!"

Almost instantly, Sakura appeared at the doorway as if by magic.

Dressed in a pure white tracksuit, she stood at the entryway with a gentle bow, her voice warm and soft—like a line straight out of Kyousuke's dreams.

Then she straightened up, hands neatly folded over her stomach, and looked at him with eyes like polished amber.

Her smile was so sweet, he felt like he could live off it forever.