A young girl arriving alone at the door of a boy her age in the dark of night—especially when that boy already had a girlfriend—was the kind of scenario that could spark all sorts of interesting stories in anyone's mind.
As the mother of the boy's girlfriend, and someone with a somewhat complicated relationship with him, Mai couldn't help but let her thoughts wander.
"That day, on Saturday, something felt off. At the time, Setsuna stopped me from entering her room, and Saionji was also there. You two..."
Gazing at the young man before her, Mai pondered the nature of his relationship with Sekai. Her daughter's image surfaced in her mind, and the three of them together reminded her of that Saturday's events.
She had her suspicions, yet after her candid talk with Setsuna that day, she couldn't dismiss the possibility entirely.
Fixing her eyes on the boy in front of her, she searched for any telltale signs in his expression. However, Haruto remained unfazed, his demeanor calm and composed, leaving no room for doubt. His lack of reaction made Mai second-guess herself.
Still, something about his overly indifferent response felt off. Letting out a long sigh, she ultimately relented.
"Forget it. You're young, and it's not my place to interfere in your affairs. Besides... Setsuna is no longer a child. She has her own thoughts and decisions to make. As her mother, all I can do is watch over her."
Her gaze lingered on Haruto, an inexplicable pull making her feel as if he had cast some kind of spell on her, making her act in ways she normally wouldn't. But at this point, there was no use dwelling on it.
Watching him pour tea, she approached, wrapped her arms around his shoulders, and leaned into him. Though younger than her, he was still a man—taller, with broad shoulders that felt reliable.
"Speaking of which, how's your writing going? Have you used that contact I gave you?"
"No, I started writing one book but put it on hold. I found a more suitable idea and began another one. I've only written the opening, so it'll probably take another month or two."
"I've heard that some authors spend years on a single book. Is one or two months really enough?"
With her face close to his ear, Mai's warm breath sent a tingling sensation down Haruto's spine.
Taking a sip of tea, Haruto set down his cup, turned to face her, and pulled her into his embrace. Her mature figure was entirely different from the youthful Setsuna, and he preferred the smooth, refined feel of Mai's back beneath his touch.
"Not all stories need years of crafting. My work isn't heavy with deep philosophy or ideology. It's just a lighthearted story—something you could call a 'light novel.'"
"I don't quite understand all that, but... keep it up."
"Yeah."
He gazed at Mai and leaned in for a kiss before urging her to head home.
"You could come over to my place instead and stay with Setsuna tonight."
"I'm a bit tired. Maybe tomorrow."
"As a young man, you should take care of yourself. Otherwise, what will Setsuna do when you're older?"
"Then shouldn't you restrain yourself so I can spend more time with Setsuna?"
"I heard turtle soup is great for stamina."
Haruto fell silent, unsure whether to be amused or exasperated. Watching Mai show no intention of reducing their time together, he wasn't sure if he should feel pleased or resigned.
After seeing her off at the door, Haruto stood alone for a moment before heading to the bathroom for a quick shower. He then went straight to bed, falling asleep early.
By the time he woke up, the morning light had already filled the sky. Checking the clock, he realized it was almost nine.
8:47 AM.
An odd time—was it still morning, or should he consider it mid-morning?
Sitting up, he felt sluggish, his energy depleted from the previous night with Mai.
Remembering her mention of 'turtle soup,' he wondered if he should consider some dietary supplements.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, he let his thoughts drift until the clock struck nine. He finally tossed off the blanket, changed into a green hoodie and khaki pants, and glanced at his reflection in the mirror. Satisfied with his appearance, he grabbed his essentials and stepped outside.
The fresh outdoor air was a stark contrast to the stuffiness inside his apartment. He considered leaving the window slightly open for ventilation but, recalling the stalker photos and the theft of his underwear, decided against it.
After checking his surroundings for anything suspicious, he locked up and headed south.
He took the bus to Shinjuku, just as he had the previous weekend. Though there were many entertainment options, not all of them appealed to him. Some places attracted unsavory people, and he preferred avoiding unnecessary trouble.
Exiting the station, he glanced at the towering buildings and the small patch of sky visible above, feeling a momentary sense of oppression before turning away.
Just like last weekend, he entered a familiar manga café, paid for a full day's stay, poured himself a cup of coffee, and browsed the shelves for something interesting to read.
Unlike the previous visit, this time he took his time selecting manga, spending nearly half an hour before picking three volumes and heading to his private booth.
The small, enclosed space felt oddly empty.
"I should have asked Setsuna to come along. It might have been nicer with company."
Spending the entire day in a tiny booth reading manga was fine, but he didn't want Setsuna to feel neglected. Still, since he was already here, he could always invite her next week.
"Next time."
Muttering softly, he settled in with his manga. Hours passed, and when lunchtime arrived, he stepped out to grab a curry cutlet meal, eating in silence before returning to his booth.
After reading for an entire morning, his eyes were strained. Switching to the café's computer, he browsed news sites, which led to watching one recommended video after another.
"Hello, YouTube audience! This is Eiji Kirisaki! Today's video—while my sister is in the bath—"
Seeing the familiar face of a popular vlogger, Haruto chuckled.
Lying back in his chair, he let the autoplay feature carry him through a series of videos. Before long, he dozed off.
A rhythmic thudding sound woke him.
Blinking groggily, he glanced around, momentarily disoriented before recalling where he was.
"Did I fall asleep?"
The sound must have been footsteps.
Rubbing his neck—stiff from sleeping in an awkward position—he sighed, glanced at the time, and decided he'd had enough for the day.
After returning his key to the cashier, he left the café and made his way toward the subway. As he walked, various promoters tried to hand him flyers.
"Hey, young man! Why not relax at our maid café?"
"Interested in earning some extra cash with a part-time job?"
Unlike the morning rush hour filled with office workers, the afternoon streets were alive with recruiters and entertainers. Politely declining, he reached the station and returned home.
Back in his apartment, he changed clothes and opened the window slightly to let in the evening breeze. Watching the sun set in the distance, he sat on his bed and picked up his phone.
He dialed a number.
"Hello, this is the Miyamizu residence. May I ask who's calling?"
A familiar elderly voice greeted him.
It had been a long time since he had last heard his grandmother's voice. Ever since he had stayed in Tokyo, their contact had been infrequent. Despite her worries, her health prevented her from making the journey to see him.
"It's me, Grandma. Haruto."
"Oh, Haruto, did something happen in Tokyo?"
"No, I just wanted to call home so you wouldn't think I'd gone missing in Tokyo."
"Did you get a girlfriend there?"
"Even you know about this, Grandma?"
"At first, I thought it was just Mitsuha making things up, but I guess it's true—you found a girlfriend as soon as you got to Tokyo. Hmm... what kind of person is she?"
"She's a quiet and gentle girl. When I have time, I'll bring her back to Itomori with me."
"I see."
Wearing her reading glasses, Miyamizu Hitoha nodded slightly. The Miyamizu family had always been a matrilineal line, so having a male heir suddenly appeared had been a bit of a surprise to her. She had even considered whether Haruto should inherit the family shrine.
But since he was the eldest grandson and there were still Mitsuha and Yotsuha in the family, there was no real need to keep him at home. The shrine could continue its traditions through Mitsuha and Yotsuha, while Haruto could go out into the world and expand the Miyamizu family in his own way.
Back when he was in Itomori, she had been a little concerned that he didn't seem to have any romantic interests. Yet, as soon as he arrived in Tokyo, he had already found a girlfriend.
The thought of holding her great-grandchild suddenly didn't seem like such a distant dream anymore.
"Are Mitsuha and the others at home?"
"Yes, they're all here."
"Let Mitsuha take the phone. There's something I'd like to discuss with her."