Hiro hugged the pillow in her grasp closer as she watched the credits of the film she had just finished started to crawl up the screen. A small smile crossed her face; partially due to her enjoyment of the film and partially because she knew she subjected herself to hearing the verse "Why Should I Worry?" in her head for the rest of the day.

"That song is stuck in your head too now, isn't it?" Akira asked.

Hiro nodded her head. "I don't think anyone can watch Oliver and Company without having that song stuck in their head for awhile."

"But that was an entertaining and nicely animated movie. I know it wasn't part of my quest to watch Disney Renaissance, but still a worthwhile watch. What does that leave us with?"

"I think The Rescuers Down Under, Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

He was surprised to hear that there were only three films left, though he also felt the surprise was somewhat ironic when he recalled the surprise Hiro had when he stated he never watched any of them.

I used to feel like the only one in the world that never watched The Lion King. Can't believe it took me so long to watch some of these films.

"Should we spin to see which movie's next?" Hiro proposed.

"That depends," Akira replied. "What time is it?"

Hiro glanced down at her phone. "About when afterschool clubs are in full swing."

"We'll have to save it for next time then," Akira said, standing up.

"Right…" Hiro lamented. "Wouldn't want another case of no club today appearance that makes me feel like a horrible, lying mother because I've been hiding something from my son for a long time.

The guilt of hiding her relationship was always there to varying degrees. At times, it rises to the point of self-deprecation, but when it does…

"You're not a terrible mother," Akira tenderly cupped Hiro's face in his hands. "You're just concerned about you son."

"Y-Yeah… I know, I was just…" Hiro always felt herself briefly mesmerized during these moments. "I felt really powerless to do anything to help him when he was depressed all those years and I've been hiding this while it was still going on."

"It hasn't been that long."

"Still happened then."

Akira remained silent before asking, "Speaking of which, how is Shujinkou?"

"He himself is fine, but he's really concerned with his friends right now, which really means that he's not really fine since he's like me when it comes to worrying," Hiro replied with a sad chuckle. "Like how I'm worried about him being worried while also being worried about his friends too,"

"It's okay to worry, Hiro. Just remember don't let it get you down so much that you start taking cheap shots at yourself. Besides, I'd rather you focus on your supporting your family than thinking of ways to slip in that you're dating someone. That can always be for later."

She's heard that before a few times too, but she always wondered if he was just saying that for her sake.

"I know I've asked this before, but it really doesn't bother you at all? A part of you doesn't mind at all?" Hiro asked.

Akira smiled, showing no hesitation as he answered.

"To be perfectly honest, the only place you're hiding this fact is your own home, so I don't really have much to be annoyed with. Also, I get to satisfy my inner child wish of being sneaky. But most of all, that concern you have for others is one of the things I greatly admire about you.

So no, I have absolutely no issues at all."

Mesmerized once again, Hiro leaned forward and kissed her guest.

"…You're really good at charismatic speeches." She said.

"It's a prerequisite of my job," he replied, trying his best to retain his composure.

"Still, thanks for going along with this for so long."

"None necessary. Now if you'll excuse me…" Akira soon reached past her and grabbed his jacket. "I'll be heading home and not looking for the soundtrack of the movie we just watched."

"How many soundtracks have you bought since we started doing this?" Hiro curiously questioned.

"All of them…" His voice had a hint of regret and defeat as they approached the front door. "Anyway, I should really get going before something could happen."

"Right, until next time, Akira."

"I look forward to it."

Hiro watched as her guest disappear from her line of sight and closed the door behind. Now alone in an empty and silent house, all she could wonder was what she could possibly do.

Only one thing to do then.

Sometimes when Hiro had no idea what to do, she would grab some sea-salt ice cream and sit on the porch. With two bars in hand, she took her position in front of the house and looked down at the frozen treats.

Sea-salt ice cream…

There have been quite a few of things that have confounded Hiro throughout the years; Her first date, her ability to encase herself in yarn, her ability to enter another relationship before Shujinkou was out of the house.

But one of the most notable moments that sprung to mind was the first time she made sea-salt ice cream with Shujinkou. Just hearing the name made her wonder if it lived up to its name and how it can be ice cream. Also, would it be good?

Her face radiated with bliss as she took her first bite of the day. "I still can't get over the fact that it's both salty and sweet…!"

She went for another bite until a shadow loomed over the frozen treat. Looking up, Hiro found Natsuki standing over her.

"Hey, Natsuki," Hiro greeted. "Shouldn't you be at the club right now?"

"I… I didn't really feel like going…" she said with downcast eyes.

"I see…" Hiro instinctively raised her second sea-salt ice cream bar towards her guest. "You want some?"

"Uh…"

Taken aback by the sudden kind act, Natsuki wordlessly accepted the treat and took a bite out of it.

"So are you here to wait for Shujinkou?" Hiro asked. "If you want we could wait inside and eat more ice cream."

"You really like sweets a lot too, huh?"

"It's a weakness…" Hiro sheepishly admitted.

Natsuki lowered her head. Hiro's honest and somewhat demure response affected her in ways she couldn't understand.

"Are you okay, Natsuki?"

"Y-Yeah. It's just…"

Natsuki bit her lip, keeping her from saying anymore.

"…Never mind. It's stupid… Me coming over here like this."

"Like what?"

"Like this when…"

Not another word was said for what seemed like forever.

"Is there… Is there something you want to talk about?" Hiro asked.

Natsuki shook her still lowered head.

"You know, sometimes it's easier to get things off your chest if you tell them to someone you're not particularly close to and yet trustworthy enough to tell it to," Hiro said.

"It's just… I feel bad about something I did today," Natsuki admitted.

"What happened?"

"I blew off your son earlier."

"Oh. Well, you don't need to worry about that, he's not the type to hold grudges over things like that," Hiro assured her. "A lesson Mom instilled into us."

"I know, but I'm pretty sure that I know what's going on through his head right now. No offense, but he practically wears his emotions 24/7."

"Yeah… He unfortunately gets that from me."

"I didn't want to deal with his pity today and yet I came here," Natsuki sighed. "Pretty dumb when you realize that he's probably at the club right now."

"I wouldn't call that dumb. From what I hear you just followed your heart here," Hiro argued.

"Followed my heart?"

Hiro could understand the incredulous reaction anyone would have upon hearing those words."I know it's cheesy but it makes the most sense."

"I guess... It's not like its any cheesier than pretty much calling Shujinkou 'a glimmer of light to my life.'"

"Oh!" Hiro's eyes darted back and forth after hearing that. "Um…"

Natsuki immediately raised her head, her face completely red with embarrassment. "Wh-What?"

"Nothing, it's just… I didn't really expect you to get so personal so quickly."

"I mean, you did just say that it was easier to talk to someone I didn't know well…"

"I know, I was just surprised. I thought there would be a little build-up to that point."

"I guess, but…

Natsuki recalled her conversations with this particular family.

"Something about you and Lady Hisa and Shujinkou; something about the three of you just make it easier to talk about things with. Like you make it clear that you won't chew me out or laugh at me in the first sentence."

"Well, I never really liked it when people did that to me. It's really hard to let your personal feelings out so I try to never look down on them," Hiro explained.

Once again, Hiro's response greatly affected Natsuki. This time however, she knew exactly why.

"That's… That's a nice way to look at things. But have you always been like that?" the pink-haired guest asked.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, the stress of life in general, doesn't it make it hard to be calm and patient to the people around you at times? Hasn't there been a time where you ever lashed out?"

"I… I don't think so. I'm think I'm too passive to lash out at anyone. Plus, the people around me usually alleviate any of those moments."

"Oh…"

Natsuki felt a plethora of emotions upon receiving that answer, leaving her confused and emotional vulnerable.

"What about Shujinkou's dad?" she asked.

"Jomei?"

"Sorry… I crossed a line." Natsuki immediately averted her gaze and awkwardly took another bite out of her ice cream.

"No, it's okay…" Hiro assured her. "Um… Jomei never really lashed out at anyone to my knowledge. Unless drunk, he was usually calm and collected and even drunk he didn't lose his composure in regards to lashing out due to stress."

Though he did show a little more emotion whenever Hi-"

Hiro's chest tightened as she paused for a moment.

"Mostly he was in his own world," Hiro concluded.

Natsuki recalled the first time she's seen Jomei and the effect his presence had on Shujinkou. What stung the most during that time was seeing Shujinkou cry. Even if she didn't know him well then, it hurt her to see that.

This really is unfair… isn't it?

"Natsuki?"

Again?

Tired over how she's constantly snuck up on recently, Natsuki sighed as she turned towards the voice. Behind her were the only two people she should've expected to appear out of nowhere.

"What are guys doing here so early?" she asked.

"No club today since Monika's helping with Halloween and Shujinkou mysteriously disappeared and reappeared," Sayori explained.

"It's been a weird day," Shujinkou said, scratching his right cheek. "Anyway, how'v-"

Natsuki brushed past him, leaving before he could finish his sentence.

"…been."