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*Yawn*

When I opened my eyes, all I could manage was a half-lidded squint. My room wasn't bright, but I could barely keep my eyes open. I removed myself from the embrace of my blanket and immediately felt a chill throughout my body, a cold morning it was.

I didn't move while blankly staring at the ceiling. Seconds passed until I decided to get up. Slowly, I squirmed my way to the side and eventually got up. Standing up, I felt the weight of my body. My legs felt numb, my vision was blurry, and I couldn't maneuver the way I wanted to.

I slapped my thigh, resulting in this tingling sensation traveling throughout my body, and then, my eyes stayed open. Finally, I didn't feel numb. I walked and opened the door.

Even if I was awake, every step I took felt like a car was tied to me, a rock was on top of me, and my feet were glued to the ground. Every step was draining.

*Step*

*Step*

I went down the stairs, with my senses still dulled.

*Step*

*Step*

I opened the living room door and I saw them.

"Good morning, Onii-chan"

"Good morning"

"Morning"

The three of them greeted me, with Komachi in the kitchen surely cooking something, while Mom and Dad sat on the table.

"Morning"

I did the same. Looking at Mom and Dad, I saw dark circles under their sunken eyes, almost lifeless...

"Told you so"

I reprimanded them, however, they didn't look my way and continued to look dead.

I went to the table and Komachi delivered a plate in front of me.

"Thanks for the food"

I bit in. The soft avocado in contrast to the crunchy toast was enjoyable. With my coffee now set on the table, I took a sip.

Little by little, the rock felt lighter.

"Well then, we'll be going"

Mom drank her coffee in haste, dad did the same.

The salary man chugs a pint in the night, but they start with a coffee in daylight. It was rather rare seeing it up close, but it wasn't uncommon for the typical household, after all, it was the foundation of our the economy.

In a flash they stood and wore their uniforms, with their bags and suitcases already in their hands, they then went to the door and set out.

"We're leaving"

""See you later""

Both Komachi and I said in unison, followed by the sound of the door being opened and closed.

.

.

.

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.

It was soft, the feeling in my back, like a cloud in the sky, as if I could bounce off it if I wanted to. There wasn't a part of me that could complain. The morning sun then lit the room, it was hot, but it wasn't the suffering kind. It was warm, the comfortable kind. The pillow was thermic, and so my head snuggly rested on it. The sofa that I laid on wasn't Corinthian leather, nor was it made of the finest silk. Regardless, that homely feel and the used smell was comforting, to say the least.

It was fuzzy, it was already making me feel mellow, with Kamakura's purring and Komachi's occasional humming entering my ear.

This could continue for hours and I still wouldn't move. Actually, if it stayed this way, I couldn't have asked for more.

Suddenly, I heard no more of the humming. With the sound of a door being opened, and footsteps climbing up the stairs. It seems Komachi went to her room, meaning, my only company was Kamakura.

.

.

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*Ring*

I heard the bell ring from outside...but:

(Not this afternoon)

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*Ring*

(I won't let anyone ruin this for me)

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*Ring*

(Komachi, please be a dear sister and handle this for me)

*Ring*

*Ring*

*Ring*

"Coming!"

I got up. The moment my feet contacted the ground, I felt despair. My ankles felt shackled to the sofa, still, I bitterly trudged my way to the door, each step made me feel as though it could never be fixed, there was no more, and it was ruined.

I opened the door using a little bit more strength than needed. It might've been forceful, however, when the door opened in full, someone loudly shouted:

"Hikki!"

This someone ran up to me. Her arms circled all the way to my back, and when those arms encircled me, I was tightly hugged, I could barely breathe.

"Hugkh"

"Hikki! You're back!"

The voice of a girl. She dug her face into my chest and squeezed tighter every second. Somehow, I could imagine my ribs shattering from this pressure.

"It's really you?!"

Once again, she dug her face deep as though she wanted to glue her head to my chest. Even with my lungs nearly crushed I managed to tell her:

"Y-yeah, it's me, so for now, calm down"

(Woman, get off! If any of them see us, they'll hunt me down with their glow sticks! The power of their Wotagei is not to be messed with! Don't you at least understand that? For my safety, get off!)

I managed to grab her arms and gently pull her away. When she noticed, she looked at my hands that grabbed her, and then looked straight to me, immediately, her face flushed with deep red and backed away.

"A-Ah s-sorry!"

After she retracted, she still had a bright red complexion. She looked down to hide it. Could there be smoke above her head? Probably not.

"No, it's fine"

I saw her cheeks go from beet red to pale peach as she calmed down. I started to catch my breath again.

"So, what are you here for?"

Getting her attention, she looked up to me dumbfounded, with an expression that said: 'What was I supposed to do again?' as if she had lost sight of her original motive.

"Ah-eh, I heard you were back!"

Now, perhaps from remembering, she proudly beamed in delight. I was still skeptical, of many things. Surely my mind started making new questions.

"And...where did you hear that from?"

"Well, from Yukinon"

Her tone conveyed a sense of obviousness. 'Of course she'd tell me', or something like that. That ever so innocent tone, perhaps it prevented me from feeling spiteful of her, though only to her. After all, it seemed she did nothing wrong, unlike:

(That woman!)

"When I heard it at first, I, like, couldn't believe it. But since it's her, I knew she wouldn't joke"

Jesting to herself, she may have wanted me to agree with her, still, her words were insulting.

(Her sudden drop by may have gotten in the way of a good afternoon, but I also knew this was gonna happen eventually...*sigh*...all because of her)

"Anyway, uh...come in"

I turned back to return to the sofa. Hopeful that what I lost could be regained. Then again, with her around, it seemed unlikely.

"Ah, yeah, sorry for intruding"

The way she removed her shoes and entered from the door, it felt like she practiced it.

(No, probably not)

"So Komachi-chan's in her room?"

She sounded unsure and curious, nevertheless, for her, this didn't happen just once, or twice.

"Yeah"

We went to the living room and she entered so casually. She didn't have a tense face, and she didn't look around. On the contrary, she only looked in one direction as she sat on the sofa.

"Ah! Also, here"

I forgot to notice, but she held a tiny box in her hand, now she was handing it to me.

"It's for Komachi-chan, I couldn't get any for you, since I didn't know what you'd like...but I'll definitely get something next time"

"Don't bother"

"No, I'll definitely get something for you"

She looked serious, and so I took the box. I saw from its top and it looked as though it was full of desserts inside. I went to the fridge and placed it there. I then approached her to say:

"Well, there's nothing much here, but do you want something to drink?"

"No, I'm fine. I'm here for the chit-chat"

She closed her eyes and sported a bright smile. Her overall attitude right now resembled a child on a swing. I looked to my sides, I looked down, I wondered whether I should do something and looked to her again. Finally, I breathed a soft sigh and sat on the sofa as well.

"Go ahead"

I took my phone from my pocket and started to type.

"Yukinon told me you went on a vacation?"

"Yup"

"Really? That's sounds like you, but also...not"

She looked at me with a doubting gaze, conflicted on whether what she said was right, or it could've just been an opinion that she wanted to let out.

"Well, it was a vacation, in my eyes"

It might've sounded sarcastic. It could've been treated as a vacation. At that time, her cheerful attitude returned.

"Nevermind! You're definitely Hikki"

"Is that so?"

"Nnn!"

She closed her eyes again, and that bright smile returned. I couldn't completely comprehend it, for her to completely believe me from just a nonchalant statement, that's too much trust she's putting.

Maybe she saw my reaction, and chose to neglect it, nevertheless, it seemed she planned to change the topic by how she cleared her throat.

"Hikki, do you...um..have a job?"

"Oi, that's insulting"

"Well...it's because you were always saying that you'd never work, so I thought..."

Rather blunt, but I felt that she was careful, and while her tone signified her earnest question, her face compelled me to not lie. If I lied, she might know.

And this slightly guilty sense would, undoubtedly, make me stutter in my mind. It would stay in my conscience.

"Of course you thought that...Don't worry, I have my ways"

Nevertheless, doing that didn't feel all too heavy.

She breathed a sigh of relief, and while it felt as though she pitied me not long ago, it did seem that her worries were real, with that repose sigh.

"It's not as good as yours, but it's good enough"

"Heh?"

"What? what's so surprising?"

"Sasaki Chiho, Kujou Karen"

"Eh?"

"Kirisaki Chitoge"

"Fueh?"

"Yoshiyama Yui"

"Wa-wa-wait! W-what a-are you talking about Hikki!?"

"You think I wouldn't know? I did some digging up, and also because Komachi told me"

I tapped my index on my phone, and a video played. With the noise of the video, she turned her attention to the screen.

"I also saw this"

I placed my phone near her face. What she saw was: herself, on stage with an expensive looking dress, singing cheerfully. The loud crowd made up a lot of the noise, but even so, her voice was clear to me and to her.

"Great performance, Yoshiyama Yui-tan"

I may have said it sadistically, and I may have smirked slightly, though it seemed she ignored my snicker.

"N-No! S-stop! It's embarrassing!"

She repeatedly hit my back. It wasn't painful, it might even work as a massage. Still, she continued hitting my back while she sported the most bashful expression I had ever seen from her.

(Maybe it's embarrassing when it comes to family, about this kind of stuff, but we're not that, we're just some people who know each other, so maybe she's over exaggerating things. Then again, it could be that way towards someone she knows, but this isn't a secret, Everyone knows her by now. Perhaps it's only me that she didn't want to show it to, and while I might be guilty and branded as creepy, and I might be feeling like a parent right now...regardless)

"It's good that you like it, being a Seiyuu, I mean"

She looked dumbfounded. It was off topic, but, it was the truth, and I agreed with myself for saying that to her.

"Because I couldn't imagine anything else that would fit you"

"Hrrmm! Y-you idiot!"

She took the pillow beside her and hit me with it. Then, She looked at me, giggling.

"Hehehe, this is kinda y'know? Like back then?"

It was a face that innocently enjoyed the moment and had truly enjoyed it to the fullest. She was rather focused at that time, and only at that time.

"Maybe"

I uttered in response. She was giggling without looking at me, it even felt like she didn't notice me.

We didn't say anything else for a while. I shot her a glance and noticed her fair skin, well-kept hair, makeup, and her fashionable clothes.

(Any man would surely have their heart skip a beat. Someone like that with earnest appeal. This may be a misconception since I don't know much about her right now though)

(Regardless, I think she's perfectly become an adult)

She turned back to me with a nonchalant question.

"Anyway, Hikki, have you met up with the others?"

"No"

"Why not?"

"Why should I-"

*Ring*

Before I could finish, we heard the door ring.

She's here.

Kiryu