"Ngh…"
Fumino blinked tiredly, rubbing the drowsiness out of her eyes as she slowly sat herself up from her bed. Something had awoken her from her sleep, an abrupt noise it seemed. Though she wasn't aware of the time, the grogginess felt in her mind gave her the impression that it was still early in the morning. The noise must have simply been her father leaving the house again for the university.
She fell back onto her pillow with a plop, deciding to leave it at that. She was much too tired to give it a second thought, and slowly but surely, sleep made its way back to her as she felt herself lulled back into unconsciousness.
Until...
DING DONG.
The noise came again.
And this time she was made well aware of its source.
'Ah...so that's what it was...'
Not even bothering to change, Fumino, with a barely awake state of mind, slid out of bed and made her way downstairs to the front door of the mansion. It was a Saturday, she vaguely remembered, one of the few where she was both free from work and upcoming exams. She had returned home late last night from her apartment, exhausted, but with high hopes of getting a good night's rest before her planned date with Nariyuki today. Thankfully, that was supposed to be in the afternoon. If she had to guess, the person at the front was likely a package delivery for her father, and there was absolutely no way that it could be Nariyuki ready to pick her up for their-
Fumino opened the door and took in the sight of her visitor.
She blinked.
And again.
"H-Hey Furuhashi..." Nariyuki said with a small smile.
Reality dawned on her as she slowly realized just what state of appearance she was currently in.
She was still wearing her pajamas.
Her hair was a mess.
To top it all off, she hadn't even bothered washing her face.
And of all the people that could have witnessed her like this…
It was Nariyuki.
The speed in which the blush made its way to her cheeks was near to an instant, and before she could even hope to stop herself, Fumino shut the door in the boy's face.
Again.
"F-F-Furuhashi?!" Nariyuki's voice came muffled through the door, very much like the first time he had visited her at her apartment.
"W-why are you here so early, Nariyuki?!" She yelled back, mortified beyond belief. "Our date isn't till...oh my god...did I actually oversleep for that long?!"
"N-no, you didn't! Y-You didn't oversleep..." He assured her. "It's still morning...I just had to come over to tell you that-"
"J-just give me a moment, okay?" She interrupted him pleadingly. "I can't talk to you when I look like this...I look absolutely barbaric right now!"
"B-but I've seen you in your pajamas before already...and we've even woken up together multiples times whenever we've slept toge-"
"T-t-t-that's different!" She blubbered frantically. "And how can you say embarrassing stuff like that so openly, you dummy! The neighbors will hear you!"
"S-sorry…"
With as fast as of a pace she could muster, Fumino rushed through her morning routine, changing into the most casual set of clothes she could find and then quickly washing up before putting her hair up into a ponytail. Even at the accelerated rate she was undergoing, it was still a solid ten minutes before she made her way back downstairs to the living room where Nariyuki was waiting for her.
"S-sorry for the trouble, Nariyuki…" She said, still slightly embarrassed from before. "I just...really felt uncomfortable looking like that earlier…"
Nariyuki shook his head in understanding. "It's okay, I get it. I still remember what you taught me back then. Girls always want to do their best when it comes to grooming, right?"
At the reference to their 'feminine psychology' lessons from high school, Fumino smiled as she looked away shyly.
"It's more just because I want to look my best in front of you..." She admitted honestly. Nariyuki blushed, and as he did, he continued speaking with a deep-seated honesty.
"Well if you ask me, I think you look really cute with bed hair."
Silence, and this time, Nariyuki didn't earn a reply. Instead he was met with a wide-eyed stare from the girl, speechless and surprised.
"A-ah, s-sorry!" He apologized frantically, realizing just how creepy his comment had just been. "That was a bit weird to say wasn't it..?"
"I-it's okay…" Fumino assured him, though it was quite evident just how flustered she had been by the compliment. Trying her best to put the feeling aside, she changed the subject. "So uhm...what did you come over to tell me?"
"Oh yeah…I completely forgot about that actually…" Nariyuki rubbed the back of his head before looking to the ground in what appeared to be a guilty expression. "I don't really know a better way to put this, but…" He bowed suddenly. "S-sorry Furuhashi! I don't think I can make it to our date today…I'm really really really sorry, but something came up..."
Fumino blinked, completely taken aback by the apology. The news itself was indeed a surprise, but what really gathered her attention was the profuse amount of shame held in the boy's voice. Nariyuki seemed to be quite hung up about the apparent change in plans, and that alone was enough for her to forgive him instantly even without context.
"I-it's okay...you don't need to bow, Nariyuki." She said with a chuckle. "And why didn't you just leave me a text? You didn't have to come all the way over just to tell me that, did you?"
"I know, but...I just...felt really bad. I always look forward to spending time together with you, and this is the first time where I had to call a rain check for one of our dates…" He trailed off, his face once again falling to a remorseful state.
"I just...wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't at least tell you in person..."
Fumino's initial reaction was to stare silently, but it wasn't long before her eyes softened, and a series of giggles escaped her lips, changing the previous downhearted atmosphere to a much more warmer one.
"Jeez...you're such a worrywart..." She said fondly before stepping closer, slowly taking a hold of his hand. "It's okay, Nariyuki...things like this happen. We can always just reschedule it to tomorrow, you know?
"I...I guess…"
"But is everything alright? Did something happen?"
For a moment, Nariyuki seemed to hesitate with how to answer, but eventually he replied with a slow nod. "My mom caught the flu this morning. She was supposed to work the whole day today for her job at the mall, so I decided to help cover for her shift since she can't go..." He explained. "I've done it before, so it's not like it's anything new. I just...sadly won't be free in the afternoon anymore...I was planning on heading there right after this actually."
Fumino nodded sympathetically, and her grasp tightened around his fingers, her expression still concerned. "Does she have a fever?"
"She does...but I'm sure she'll be alright." Nariyuki assured her with a smile. "Mizuki is out on her school trip this weekend, so unfortunately she won't be there to watch over her, but I made sure to leave her with some fever medicine and enough water. As long as she gets some rest then I think she'll be okay… "
He hoped that was the extent of it. To be honest it was a bit concerning. He didn't want to have to leave the woman alone, especially when Mizuki wasn't home, but really it couldn't be helped. It wasn't like he could ask Hazuki and Kazuki to take care of her, but he had at the minimum requested the two of them to keep quiet and allow her to rest peacefully for the day. They were mature enough to at least do that much. He hoped…
With all the concerns piling up in his mind, it was no surprise that Fumino's next words caught him unaware.
"How about I take care of her for today, then?"
"Huh?" He blinked, failing to follow at first, but it didn't take long for him to understand what the girl was offering. He waved his hands in front of him frantically. "No, that's way too much! I can't ask you to do that, Furuhashi! Today's supposed to be your day off!"
"Isn't that more of a reason for me to help?" Fumino said before smiling softly. "And besides, do you really expect me to just sit at home knowing that there's no one there to take care of your mom?"
"Well…" He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "When you put it that way…"
"And what about Hazuki and Kazuki? Someone has to keep watch of the two of them, no? If you ask me, it works out perfectly." Again, another sound reason, and any retort that he originally had was slowly becoming futile.
Nariyuki looked away, still unable to shake off his feelings of guilt. "But regardless...you should be enjoying your time off relaxing...asking you to go out of your way to help us...especially since I was the one to cancel our date..."
"...it just seems unfair..." He finished rather meekly.
Fumino tried to hold back an affectionate smile, but it escaped despite her best efforts. It always seemed to end up this way. No matter how small of a task it was, even for the most trivial things, Nariyuki was always looking out for her. She could never understand it...just how he could possibly be this selfless, and seeing it all again filled her with a warmth that stirred her forward. Slipping her hand out of the boy's perpetually larger one, she reached up to cradle Nariyuki's face.
Their eyes met, and she smiled tenderly.
"You remember our promise, right?"
Nariyuki's eyes went wide, surprised by the sudden question. He pondered it fully, and that being so, words from the past played back in his mind in reflection.
'From now on...I want to always be there to support you….'
"O-of course…"
She smiled at his answer, and gently she grazed his cheek with the stroke of her thumb.
"Then you understand right? Supporting you is something that I'll always be willing to do no matter what it is. Being there for you...being able to help you...nothing could make me happier than that." She said wholeheartedly, and then with a firm gaze, her eyes bore into his.
"So don't ever feel bad about it, okay?"
He stared for what felt like an eternity, lost in the gold of her eyes, beautiful and fervid.
'I'll always be here for you to lean on me...so don't ever feel afraid to ask, okay?'
He sighed in defeat, smiling softly while doing so.
"Okay..."
"Plus...you know how much I love your mom." The girl reminded. "She's basically family to me too. If anything, this is the perfect chance for me to practice the new recipe I learned from Mizuki!"
He shook his head with a chuckle. "It always has to come down to food, doesn't it?"
"Hey! Cooking and eating are two different things!" She pouted and Nariyuki laughed warmly in response. The boy lifted his head and looked at her with grateful eyes, affection brimming in his smile.
And without warning...
He moved forward to hug her tightly.
"Thank you, Fumino…"
Fumino blushed lightly, caught off guard by the physical proximity, but within a matter of moments she was hugging him back, smiling brightly in return.
"You're welcome..."
And that was all that needed to be said.
"Big sister Fumino!"
At her entrance, Hazuki and Kazuki grabbed onto her legs with unshed tears in their eyes, startling her. She had left from the mansion shortly after Nariyuki had departed, only needing fifteen minutes to make the commute to the latter's household, but there was no way she would have expected this sort of emotional outburst as a greeting.
"W-what's wrong you guys..?" She rubbed both of their heads comfortingly, hoping to calm down their crying while also making sense of the situation. The two of them looked up at her, answering simultaneously.
"Mom's fever went up!"
The distress held in their voice was practically identical, characteristic of their twin status. Even their expressions of worry appeared to be the same, and Fumino couldn't help but chuckle in amusement by the fact.
"Don't worry, that's usually how the flu works." She knelt down, making herself eye level with the two. "I'll go take a look at her, okay? Can you guys do me a favor and wait for me?"
They nodded in an obedient manner, eyes still watery. Fumino found the sight all too endearing as she once again rubbed their heads gently. The fact that they seemed so distraught over their mother's health quite frankly showed just how well they were raised. She could only imagine the caring individuals they were going to grow up to be.
She entered the family bedroom, keeping her voice to a minimum as to not startle the woman found resting there.
"Miss Yuiga..?"
At her call, Hanae groaned and turned over in her futon. She blinked twice as she took in Fumino's figure slowly.
"Fumi-chan..?"
She smiled shyly.
"Hi…"
"W-what are you doing here, dear?" Hanae asked with a weak voice. "Are you here to see Nariyuki? I think you might've just missed him." Fumino laughed awkwardly before shaking her head in reply.
"I just saw him earlier when he stopped by my home actually…" She explained. "He told me that you were sick...so I wanted to come over to help take care of you since neither he or Mizuki can be here right now…" Fidgeting with her hands, she then looked to the woman with a timid gaze. "I hope that's alright with you…"
Taking a moment to absorb her request, Hanae blinked dumbfoundedly before releasing a heavy sigh. "That boy...I can't believe he had the gall to ask you to do such a thing. He definitely knows better than that. I'll have to give him a talk when he gets back..."
At the ominous tone in Hanae's voice, panic consumed Fumino as she desperately tried to clear up the misunderstanding. "W-wait! I was the one that insisted on taking care of you, Miss Yuiga. He actually really didn't want me to come...so...please don't be mad at Nariyuki…"
"Hmph...apparently he didn't insist enough. Allowing a fine lady like you to have to go out of her way on a weekend...that's just unacceptable."
It was crazy just how similar the two's arguments were. Nariyuki had basically said the same thing to her earlier at her house, and it was starting to become painfully obvious to Fumino just where her boyfriend had acquired his sense of responsibility.
"I-It's fine…" She chuckled lightheartedly, hoping to assuage the woman's concerns. "And besides...your health is more important right now...so don't worry about it, okay? C-can you tell me how you're feeling?"
"I'm quite alright, dear." Hanae's reply was almost immediate, and with noticeable amounts of positivity, though by the looks of how slow she was in her attempt to sit up, the words were far from reflecting the truth. "On that note, I need to make some tea for you since you're here. I'll make you some snacks while I'm at it too!"
"W-wait what? Miss Yuiga...th-that's completely unnecessary...please don't force yourself."
"Nonsense. It'll only take a seco-"
Before Hanae could fully try to stand, Fumino lunged forward to cling onto the older woman, stopping her in the act. In that moment, both of them were caught unaware by the embrace, but it was the fact that Fumino had initiated the movement instinctively that made it all the more surprising to herself.
She swallowed thickly, to a very small extent aware of the sudden sad and nostalgic emotions that had formed in her chest.
"Mommy!" She yelled out desperately.
"It's okay...Fumino…even if mommy passes away...even if I'm not here anymore...I'll be teleported to a star...just like in your favorite book..."
Her mother smiled sadly.
"So don't worry about me, okay..?"
The vice on her heart gripped even tighter.
"Please…" She whispered. "Don't push yourself...Don't ignore your health like this…"
"I promised Nariyuki that I would take care of you...so please...for him..."
Her eyes tilted up and met the woman's imploringly.
"Can you just be selfish and rest for today?"
"Fumi-chan…" Hanae replied speechless, astounded by the sheer concern that the girl was speaking to her with. She didn't quite understand where it had come from, but seeing the girl so desperate for her sake had quite literally stopped her in her tracks.
But then she realized it.
For a moment...Fumino had felt lonely. The girl had been reminded of her own mother...who had unexpectedly passed away from illness.
She just didn't want the same thing to happen to her.
Hanae smiled softly and reached out to wipe away the tears that had unknowingly formed in the girl's eyes. "Okay…I'll rest...but the next time you visit, I'll be sure to make you the best tea we have..."
Fumino laughed tearfully, and again moved forward to embrace the older woman, who hugged back warmly and willingly.
"You know...Kazuki and Hazuki were really worried about you too..."
Hanae chuckled at the added comment. "They're both real crybabies…I promised earlier in the week that I would take them to the park tomorrow...so I'm sure they're just upset by that possibly not happening anymore."
Fumino shook her head. "They're definitely just worried about you…I can tell just by looking at them."
"And...about the park..."
She smiled reassuringly at the woman.
"I'll make sure to take them later for you..."
Hanae's eyes crinkled in mirth, the only response she really had for the kindness offered in front of her. "You're such a sweetheart, you know that? Nariyuki is really lucky to have found such a wonderful girl like you…"
"T-that's…" Fumino blushed deeply. "You're overexaggerating…Nariyuki is much more wonderful than I am..." She said without thinking. As a consequence, her eyes went wide afterward, realizing how she had basically just admitted her feelings for Nariyuki right in front of the woman. "I mean no!" She stammered. "I mean...it's true but...I didn't mean to…"
Her voice caught in her throat, and the delighted smile on Hanae's face served as the final nail on the coffin.
"I'll let you rest now! J-Just forget I said all of that!" She bowed and ran out of the room in hot embarrassment. "E-excuse me!"
Following her departure from Hanae's side, Fumino had proceeded to complete as many chores as she could; washing the laundry, sweeping the house, cleaning the bathrooms, making preparations for dinner...all within a record time of two hours. She had surprisingly become much more diligent when it came to maintaining a living space. She still remembered the tragedy of an experience she had in attempting to help out when she had first been allowed to seek refuge in the Yuiga household all those years ago, and the last few years staying in her own apartment had given her more than ample experience to make up for her previous ineptitude. She had even allowed Hazuki and Kazuki to help out, showing them the ropes for a few of the less hazardous chores. As a reward for their efforts, she had decided to take them outside to play, and they were now enjoying their time together at the neighborhood park, undergoing eventful activities.
Though in truth, she wasn't exactly participating...more so just watching over the two on a nearby bench.
Like any responsible caretaker would.
Almost like a protective older sister.
Fumino smiled somewhat yearnfully at the random thought, chuckling as she shook her head.
'I'm so silly...These are Nariyuki's siblings...Why am I fantasizing over such ridiculous-'
"Big Sis Fumino!"
She jumped up with a yelp, forcibly dragged out of her thoughts as Hazuki and Kazuki suddenly appeared in front of her.
"F-Fumino's just fine, you two..." She said with an awkward laugh. "I-is there something wrong?"
"Come play with us!"
"It's okay…" She smiled shyly. "You guys look like you're having fun already so don't mind me."
Kazuki shook his head in persistence. "But we want you to have fun too! Games are more fun with more people!"
"I...don't really know that many games though..." She answered truthfully. It was a bit disappointing to admit, but her childhood had more or less been different than what most of her peers had gone through. After her mother had passed away, she hadn't had the heart to develop any meaningful friendships, and thus, many of the outdoor activities that the younger generations participated in were well beyond her knowledge. Most of her free time, even back then, was purely spent reading storybooks in her room.
Perhaps...things would've been different if she actually grew up with siblings.
"It's okay!" Hazuki said suddenly, once again pulling her out of her contemplation. "We can ride the swing together! Mom always likes to push us. She's really good at it!
"Oh, that's a good idea!" Kazuki jumped excitedly in agreement. "Can you help push us, Fumino?"
"I…"
"Please?" They pleaded together.
Seeing the two children stare at her with those wide puppy eyes...it was too much for her to even consider denying them. She smiled softly, completely falling victim to their adorable request.
"Of course." She answered sweetly.
"Yay!"
The two of them ran over and sat themselves on the adjacent swings, looking at her expectantly. She giggled at their enthusiasm, and positioned herself behind them.
At the very least, she knew how the physics of a swingset worked.
"A-are you guys ready?"
"Yup!"
As the breeze blew behind her, Fumino used both hands to make the first push, and the movement of the two children on their respective swings followed instantly. The two reacted with an excited squeal as they slowly started to build momentum. It was almost effortless, the way she went at it, stepping backwards lightly and then meeting the return of the swing with a gentle caress and then a forceful push.
When she extended her arm, they swung higher, further and further until they finally reached the point where the swing's momentum was enough to carry them without her assistance. Their cries elevated in mirth and Fumino found herself giggling along with them.
The sight and sound and even the feel of their excited shouts mingling with the warm atmosphere. It was an entirely new experience altogether. She didn't realize that playing together with them could be so much fun, and her heart raced like a child at recess.
Eventually, the oscillation of the swing reached its end, and Kazuki and Hazuki in due course returned to ground level. They hopped off the equipment together, and then turned to run up to her, contentment and brightness found in their eyes.
"That was amazing! You're so good at pushing, Fumino!" Kazuki said.
"You're a lot better at it than Mom and Mizuki!" Hazuki added.
Fumino chuckled embarrassment. "I-It was nothing, you guys…"
The two siblings made eye contact with each other, sharing a knowing glance.
"Did you have fun?" They asked simultaneously.
She stared back in surprise. They were waiting for her response, looking up with hopeful and expecting eyes. Fumino smiled as she realized just how easy the answer came to her.
"I did."
Hazuki and Kazuki's eyes lit up, clearly satisfied, but no sooner did their expression change did their stomachs decide to rumble loudly together.
GURGLE
The two of them looked at each other in accusation, equally embarrassed.
"That was you!" Hazuki said.
"No, that was so you!" Kazuki retorted.
Fumino laughed out loud, her shoulders rising and falling. She brought a hand up to her eyes, wiping away her tears of mirth as she smiled fondly at the two.
"I'm pretty sure that was the both of you. Let's head home. You guys must be hungry." She said before looking at them expectantly, knowing that her next words were sure to get a reaction out of them. "I'm making hamburger steak for dinner!"
"H-Hamburger steak?!" They said in unison, eyes sparking in wonderment. She giggled warmly, again endeared by the display.
"Shall we get going then?"
They nodded excitedly, and before she had a chance to react, the two ran over on each of her sides and grabbed ahold of her hand. She smiled at the contact, and together they began making their way back to the house.
After walking for a few minutes, she felt something pull on her skirt.
"Hm? What is it, Hazuki?"
The younger girl looked up with inquisitive eyes, not a single ounce of hesitation found in her lips as she voiced her question.
"When are you going to marry our brother?"
Fumino nearly tripped over her own feet.
"W-what?! W-where did that come from...I d-don't...w-we're not..."
"You don't want to marry our brother..?" Hazuki's face fell, and Kazuki appeared to have a similar reaction. She felt herself cave under their forlorn stares.
"I...I do but...it's just a little early for me to give an answer…" She explained. "N-Nariyuki and I still aren't done with college...w-why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
"Well...Nariyuki said that you can only come and visit a few times a month because you're so busy and that you live far away," said Kazuki, and shortly after, Hazuki butted in as well.
"And so we thought that maybe if you and Nariyuki get married then you can visit more and we can play with you more often like today!"
...
"I...don't want to say anything yet...because marriage is a very important promise, you guys. It's not just something that I can answer so simply." She explained awkwardly. "You'll understand it more when you two grow older."
At her reply, their expressions fell in sync.
"But…" She started again.
"If there's one thing that I know is for certain...it's that I don't ever plan on leaving your brother's side..."
"And so...if you guys want. Even if Nariyuki and I are not married right now…Even if I am really busy..."
She smiled resolutely.
"I can always come back more often to play with you two."
Hope immediately filled the twos' eyes at the promise.
"Really?"
She nodded.
"Really."
In a heartbeat, Hazuki and Kazuki ran up to her and hugged her legs tightly.
"Thank you sis!" They said together, and Fumino couldn't resist the series of giggles that made its way to her lips. Bending down to her knees, she hugged the two back just as eagerly.
"Of course."
"Yummy!" said Hazuki with a delightful squeal.
"It's delicious!" Kazuki added on just as amazed.
Fumino smiled lightheartedly, happy with the reactions received for her newly learned hamburger steak recipe.
"I'm glad you all like it."
"I had no idea you were such a great cook, Fumi-chan…"
Having just woken up from an afternoon long's rest, Hanae was feeling much more refreshed than earlier in the day. Her fever had gone down significantly and she was now at the point where she could physically join them at the dinner table. Out of concern for her diminished appetite, Fumino had prepared a bowl of warm miso soup for the woman as an alternative meal, and the latter had no issues at expressing how amazed she was by the taste, much to the younger girl's chagrin.
"It's only because Mizuki's been teaching me so well these past few years." She admitted shyly. "Without her, I would still be the same mess of a cook I was in high school…"
"Oh, don't sell yourself so short dear. The fact that you're so great now only shows how hard you've worked to get to this point." Hanae replied reassuringly. "Mizuki may be talented around the house, but she has a lot to learn from you when it comes to being a truly mature woman."
"R-really? She already seems like she'll be a wonderful wife when she grows up…"
The older woman chuckled before shaking her head. "It's too early to say, though she would probably be thrilled to know that you said that about her. Lately, it feels like she specifically cares a lot about how you think about her. She even did a little bit of studying on constellations the other day in case she ever wanted to impress you." Hanae admitted privily, and Fumino blushed further at the information.
"I have noticed that she's been a lot happier in our calls recently...though I'm not sure why that is."
"It's quite obvious, isn't it? You've really inspired her," answered Hanae. "And it's not just her...even Hazuki and Kazuki have been behaving differently whenever you're around. I've never seen them ask to help around with chores this much until today." The two children opened their mouths in protest, saying something along the lines of 'why did you have to tell her that!'. Hanae simply chuckled in response before continuing. "It's amazing really...just how much everybody has changed since Nariyuki first introduced you to us."
The older woman then smiled fondly.
"Especially Nariyuki."
In that moment, Hanae's wistful expression stirred something inside Fumino. Her lips parted slightly...and then closed, back and forth as she struggled with whether or not she wanted to voice her inquiry. In the end, her curiosity overcame her doubts, and eventually she asked the question at the forefront of her mind.
"What was Nariyuki like when he was younger?"
Hanae blinked, taking the time to take in her question. She shifted her gaze away from her, looking ruminating and thoughtful, and as more seconds of silence ticked away from the clock, Fumino began to hesitate. She was prepared to tell the woman that it was alright and that she didn't have to answer, but at the last second Hanae spoke up.
"A scaredy-cat."
"A...scaredy cat?" She repeated, dumbfounded.
Hanae nodded, smiling nostalgically before continuing. "As parents...Teruaki and I wanted to give Nariyuki as much freedom as we could when it came to things he wanted to do. We let him try sports, music, art, all sorts of things...but he never really found an activity that he was particularly talented at. Even for academics, he always seemed to be struggling more than his peers." She chuckled at the memory. "I think because of that...he didn't have much confidence in himself, and it came to a point in time where he started becoming afraid of trying new things. Hence, a scaredy-cat."
The woman continued, her expression falling somewhat slightly. "Once Teruaki passed away...I think that really affected him. He always looked up to his father, and so I think Nariyuki felt responsible for filling his shoes. In some ways...it allowed him to mature. He became more responsible around the house...helping me with chores, always looking out for his brother and sisters...I could see day by day, even if he didn't realize it himself, that he was becoming more like his father. It was heartwarming...but...it also made me worry. I knew that someday he would need to be his own person, and the way things had looked at first, it seemed that Nariyuki really didn't know what he wanted to do after graduation...and that worried me."
Fumino listened on intently, absorbed deeply by the retelling.
"But little by little...he changed." Hanae said softly. "He told me one day that he wanted to pursue education, and that he was going to start saving up money for tuition. At first I thought it was just another sign that he was following in his father's footsteps...but it was different. I could tell that it was special...that he was inspired by something...or rather someone. His eyes seemed more lively...purposeful...more and more as graduation came closer. I always thought that college would be something he'd be afraid of, but it turned out to be quite the opposite. He was excited for it, and somewhere along the way...he even managed to tell me what his dream was for the future."
'For the kids who are scared...the kids who are lost...even if there are thousands or even millions of them out there unsure of themselves...I want to be there for all of them.'
'That's my dream.'
"I never would have expected it. He's grown so much in these past four years. To see him genuinely happy in becoming his own person...as his mother...that's more than I could ever ask for. I couldn't be any more proud of him." Hanae finished sentimentally, and in the next moment, the woman turned her head towards her and smiled.
"And it doesn't take me much to see...just who it was that got him there."
The words didn't initially register in her head, but once they did, a heavy blush consumed Fumino's features as she realized who exactly Hanae was referring to.
"T-that's not-" She tripped over her own words, intensely flustered. "I...don't deserve any credit for the way your son matured…Nariyuki found his dream from his own efforts."
Seeing the girl's shyness over the matter, Hanae smiled playfully. "Oh, no need to be so humble! For your information he always gives me updates on how your twos' dates go, so I'm quite aware of your words of inspiration that you constantly bless him with..."
She leaned in close and spoke softly with a grin.
"Like how you love him just the way he is."
Fumino's face reddened to an alarming degree as she sprung up to her feet in a panic, desperate for an excuse to change the subject. "I-IT'S GETTING LATE! Hazuki, Kazuki, why don't you come help me with the dishes so we can let your mom rest!"
The younger boy apparently didn't take the hint.
"Why is your face so red, sis?"
"N-NO REASON!"
Her humiliation was amplified tenfold when she heard Hanae laugh loudly behind her.
"Destination: Ichinose Prefecture"
Nariyuki boarded the train with heavy steps, visibly exhausted. It may not have been his first time covering for his mother's job, but weekend shifts were always a separate breed of busyness, especially in popular settings such as malls. Fortunately, he hadn't had to stay too late and there were still many hours of the night to be spent once he completed his commute back home.
He found an open seat absentmindedly, stretching and falling back with a plop. So caught up in his exhaustion, he didn't notice a set of eyes glued onto him from the neighboring seat.
"Nariyuki Yuiga."
He turned his head towards the low voice, blinking as he attempted to identify the man sitting next to him.
It was an effortless task.
"M-MR. FURUHASHI?!" Nariyuki yelled in a fluster, nearly jumping out of his seat in the process. "W-what are you doing here?!"
Reiji raised an eyebrow at him. "This is public transportation, is it not? Did you forget that I had weekend classes to teach?
"N-no...I didn't forget...I guess...I was just surprised..." Nariyuki said in embarrassment. "Sorry I didn't notice you..."
The man raised a hand to assure him. "Relax. You act like I'm about to scold you or something of the sort."
"R-right…"
An awkward silence fell over them as Nariyuki struggled to keep the conversation going. He knew very well just how unsociable Fumino's father was, but he usually had conversation topics prepared for situations in which they met. But this time, he had been completely caught off guard, and now he was just a mumbling, awkward mess without a clue with what to say.
He was saved however when Reiji unexpectedly spoke up first.
"I heard that Hanae fell ill today. Is she alright?"
Nariyuki blinked before smiling softly. "Y-yeah. I-it's just the flu...so I think with some rest she'll be fine."
The man nodded and in the ensuing moment his gaze focused on him. "Fumino told me that you went in to cover for her at work. That's quite admirable of you."
"N-no!" Nariyuki replied frantically in which Reiji tilted his head in confusion. "I mean...yes I did," he quickly corrected. "But..it's really not a big deal..."
"I disagree. Children going out of their way for their parents is quite a monumental occurrence if you ask me."
His gruff-like voice was kinder than usual, and Nariyuki seemed to notice it. He looked away with a pensive gaze as his thoughts focused on a certain someone.
"Then...Fumino is even more amazing for going out of her way to take care of my family today." He said, letting himself get lost in the affection that had suddenly formed in his chest. "She really didn't have to, but she wanted to support me...even for something like this...and that's something that I will never take for granted..."
He smiled tenderly.
"I hope she knows...just how lucky I am to have her."
Hearing the deafening silence that followed, Nariyuki seemed to snap out of his dreaminess as he remembered who exactly he was talking to.
"Ah, sorry! I totally got carried away there!" He said in embarrassment, fully aware of the stare that was being directed his way. Reiji narrowed his eyes, but vocally, the university professor provided nothing more but further silence.
Though just like before, the man eventually spoke up again.
"I asked you this in the past, but you never gave me a concrete answer, so I'm going to ask you again..."
Reiji looked at him seriously.
"What stage of a relationship are you in with my daughter?"
"Huh...we're-"
'Girlfriend and boyfriend' he was about to say, but for some reason he stopped himself.
The way the man was looking at him so intently...it caused him to go silent, and slowly but surely, he realized what Reiji was truly asking for.
"I love her." He finally answered. "More than anything in the world. No matter how uncertain the future is...I know that without a shadow of a doubt that I want to spend every living moment possible by her side...believing and supporting each other till the end."
His eyes stared back resolutely.
"That's how I feel."
The sound of the train coming to a stop resounded around them but it did nothing to disturb the stillness between the two, and for Nariyuki, Reiji's expression was impossible to discern. An entire minute passed until the voice on the speaker finally disrupted them.
"We have arrived at: Ichinose Prefecture"
"Oh...we're here..."
Reiji stood to exit the train, and he did the same, albeit very nervously. Realizing that they were going their separate ways soon, Nariyuki in a panic, opened his mouth to say something.
But for the third time that day…
Reiji beat him to it.
"Nariyuki Yuiga." He stiffened at his full name being called, wondering perhaps if he had gone a bit overboard with his passionate dialogue earlier and had possibly angered the man. The thought unnerved him and he swallowed thickly in anticipation.
Reiji's next words however were filled with nothing of the such.
And instead, the man smiled at him.
"Make sure you walk her home safely tonight."
…
Realizing that Reiji was still waiting for a response from him, Nariyuki bowed quickly.
And a smile of relief formed on his lips just the same.
"Y-yes sir!"
"I'm home!" Nariyuki called out as he slid the door open and took off his shoes.
"Welcome back, brother!"
"Hey, you guys." He smiled, rubbing the head of Hazuki and Kazuki gently. "Where's Furuhashi?"
"Mom's talking to her. She wanted to show her something. I think they were talking about you actually." Hazuki explained.
"A-about me?"
Curiously, he made his way to his mother's room, and as he did so, he could hear the hints of an ongoing conversation followed by a light giggle from what sounded like Fumino's voice. He popped his head in to see what was going on and was welcomed by the sight of his mother and girlfriend huddled up on the futon, inspecting a book together.
He narrowed his eyes, trying to discern its contents.
And his blood froze.
"And you see here...this is a picture of him when he wet the bed for the first ti-"
"Mom!" Nariyuki yelled in a panic, interrupting Hanae's commentary. "What are you doing?!"
"Oh! Welcome back, dear. Fumi-chan and I were just having some quality time bonding together."
"Can't you do that without showing her pictures of me?!" He ran over and snatched the photo album out of the woman's hand. "Please forget you saw any of this, Furuhashi..." He begged the girl with a bow, but his request was left untaken as Fumino burst into laughter from the amusement of the situation.
The girl spoke while wiping away the tears that had pooled in her eyes from laughing too hard. "It's fine, Nariyuki...I mean you've seen pictures of me as a kid when we visited my dad's office, so it's only fair right?"
"I...I guess that's true...but mine are so much more embarrassing..." He muttered uneasily.
"Well if it makes you feel any better I only took pictures of the really cute ones."
"Y-You did what?!" Nariyuki desperately reached for the girl's phone, but Fumino was prepared as she grabbed it first and stood up to escape his clutches. "D-delete them, please!"
Fumino giggled brightly, running away from him, but eventually the boy caught up to her and proceeded to tickle her in a vain attempt for her to comply, they fell to the ground in a giggling mess, and Hazuki and Kazuki, drawn in by the commotion, joined in on the fun by diving into them excitedly, causing an even more of a ruckus to take place.
All the while, Hanae watched on with an affectionate smile, and unbeknownst to the rest of them, she stealthily reached for her own phone to take a picture.
SNAP
It was a sight that she was more than willing to get used to, and quite frankly...
Another wonderful addition to the family photo album.
A/N: Hello people, thanks for reading this chapter! I realize that I'm taking a bit longer to write these lately, but I promise you that I'm doing by best to get these out. Recently got a job along with school starting, so it's been hard to find time to write lately. Appreciate y'alls patience regardless.
As always, feel free to leave a review. Reading y'alls feedback always motivates me to write more!
Until Next Time!
