Although Yu was grateful for his friends' understanding, he felt as if there was something missing. As his friends, mostly Teddie, were fooling around in the living room, Ayane was helping Nanako cook lunch.

"Big Sis, look!" Nanako showed her newly-acquired Big Sis bits of finely-chopped onions. "I chopped onions without crying!"

"That's great, Nanako-chan!" Ayane set aside the bread and eggs they would use for fillings and took out a bowl for Nanako. "Here you go, Nanako-chan. Put all of those onions in here alongside all the vegetables we have prepared, okay?"

"Okay!" Nanako peppily replied. "Salad, salad, we're gonna make some salad!"

"That's a great song, Nanako-chan."

"Isn't it Big Sis?" She giggled. "When I grow up I want to be a pianist, so I always sing some tunes for practice!"

With her cleaned hand, Ayane couldn't resist patting Nanako's head. It was gentle, softly rustling her palm across Nanako's hair. Out of nowhere, Nanako broke out a hug, which surprised Ayane in a welcoming way, and she hugged her back with a smile.

"Well would you look at that," Dojima mumbled, fishing for dialogues with Yu. "If anyone didn't know any better, they really looked like sisters."

"Ayane is trying her best," Yu replied. "She was actually quite nervous before. I'm glad she became fast friends with Nanako."

"She must really love you then," Dojima teased. "If you have your sister's blood in you, I'd say you're already gunning for marriage."

Yu couldn't help but laugh at the thought, which seemed to be something so far away right now.

And yet, maybe it wasn't so far away as he thought it would be.

"I'll think about it."

"Haha, look at you," Dojima smacked Yu's back in a fatherly way. "My own niece, all grown up and ready to take on the world."

The past few months were the most hectic of times in his life. Seeing everything becoming peaceful for once was a relieving sensation. With Adachi's plan foiled and Inaba free of fogs, only bright days awaited him

No, that wasn't right.

Yu stood up from his chair and walked toward the kitchen. Seeing the almost finished lunch, Yu volunteered for a last minute help. To that, Ayane cheekily teased him, and Nanako followed up with her own jeers.

"Are you here for the free sample, Yu?"

"I bet Big Bro's hungry for Big Sis' food!"

Both of them were having the largest smiles on their faces.

"You got me," Yu laughed as he roped his arm around Ayane's shoulder. "I can never resist taking the first bite of her food."

Ayane sheepishly tried to push Yu away, embarrassed with her face flushed red, but gave in to her happiness. "Geez, not right here. It's embarrassing."

"Excessive PDA!" Rise roared from across the room. "No excessive flirting in this house when we're around, buster!"

"...But this is my house."

Dojima let out a sigh, though he too was smiling all the while.

Yes, this was what was missing. He should be moving forward not only by himself, but with Ayane too. Little by little, one step at a time.