Mitsuyo laughed at the old couple before her as she placed their tea on a coffee table. The grandmother ranted, restlessly defending her point, while the grandfather mumbled something under his breath, but continued to look unfazed and stare at the television.

"Mitsuyo-chan, you will join us for lunch?" Grandmother asked, as she did every other day of the past two months. The girl felt bad for having to say no, but she had a lot of work waiting for her at her own house.

"Not today, grandma." She said apologetically, "I have to make food at home, so I will eat with my parents. But thank you! I'll see you tomorrow!" She called, already on her way out. Glancing at the time on her cell phone, she picked up her pace and hurried home before her mother and father get back from work.

They would scold her if she failed to prepare them anything at all. She was home all day, so she had chores to do, of course. Her mom criticized her for caring for the elderly couple so much – not because she didn't want Mitsuyo to help them, but because the girl spent a lot of time over at their house and usually overworked herself, while leaving some of her own chores undone.

Mitsuyo had met the Kiyoshi grandparents a little over three months ago, when she was grocery shopping and the old lady needed help carrying her things. They met every few days that way, talked and got along very well, so eventually, Mitsuyo just went over to help around, or even if she just wanted to make them company.

Old people were very easy to get along with. They're calm, accepting and appreciative. It's easy to talk to them and – given they had a lifetime behind them – interesting, as well.

She unlocked the front door and hurried to get things done on time.

Having been home schooled, since she had trouble fitting in regular school when she was little due to shyness, Mitsuyo hadn't spent much time with other children her age, aside from few neighborhood kids and cousins she grew up with. Over time, of course, they all got very busy in school, with their studies, after class activities and social lives, and so she had barely any chance to see them. But she was always surrounded by adults and elderly, and so it was them she felt fairly comfortable around.

After rice was cooked, she fried some fish sticks and set the table, then busied herself with reading a book.

….

The next day, Mitsuyo couldn't go to the Kiyoshi house as early as she usually did, because she had classes until noon and homework to do after, as a first university semester had already started. They chose homeschooling option, again. She was done with that and her chores by 4pm, and then headed over to theirs.

They greeted her lovingly, as always, and the grandmother made tea, despite Mitsuyo's offers to make it instead.

"Sit down and relax. I am already beginning to feel uneasy for making you do everything, Mi-chan." Grandmother said, slowly taking her seat in her rocking chair, and accepting her own cup of tea that Mitsuyo held for her.

"Oh, no! I like doing house chores, and I enjoy your company, grandma." The girl insisted. She really didn't like the idea of making them feel burdened by her help.

"My Teppei came back from America, but I can't make him do everything either, he still has to rest and go to therapy."

Mitsuyo knew they had a grandson, they had both talked about him quite a lot, but she never got to meet him as he was in America, having to get a surgery there. She didn't know the details about his health issues, but she wondered if they were serious, often. She didn't want anything bad to happen to him – he had to be a wonderful person, having been raised by these two.

"Don't worry, grandma. I told you I am here for anything you need."

After finishing the tea and having some cake, Mitsuyo reassured the two elders again that she didn't mind doing chores for them, and went to do the dishes and laundry.

It was late autumn, and quite cold, but the day was bright and with no rain so the laundry was drying outside. Mitsuyo made her way through the familiar house, passing through one of two bedrooms, heading for the terrace where the already dry laundry hung.

The room was messy and full of things. A suitcase and sports bag were gaping half open in a corner, shoes were scattered by the bed; the bed itself was a tangled mess of three different, colorful blankets and what appeared to be a very thick quilt under.

Just yesterday it was perfectly neat, but Kiyoshi's grandson did return, after all. He must be in therapy. Mitsuyo concluded, going on about her business.

She collected piles of the laundry from the wire and threw them on the bed one by one, then closed the terrace door and went to fold it. She took her seat on the edge of the bed and slowly began, when she appeared to have heard a silent groan.

A little confused, she decided to ignore it at first, thinking she must have imagined it. But then it happened again, and the bed moved, making her fall off of it, along with the towels and shirts she had just organized, and stare in horror as – quite possibly – the largest person she had ever seen sat up on the bed, looking back at her with tired, half-lidded eyes.

Mitsuyo swallowed her saliva audibly, having barely any control of her gaze as it wandered over his big arms and shirtless torso, and up again, to his face.

As if he had just actually realized what has happened, Teppei – she concluded – quickly threw the covers off himself and got up, offered Mitsuyo his large hand and helped her stand.

"Are you alright?" He asked with worried voice, and face full of kindness. That's definitely Teppei. Mitsuyo remarked to herself. He was just as nice as she thought he would be.

"Y-Yes, I'm… I came to..." She had a perfectly valid reason for being there, but just couldn't quite say it. He was nice, but truth be told he was overwhelming. He was probably over thirty centimeters taller than her, shirtless and was still holding her hand and shoulder.

Mitsuyo hadn't spent much time with people her age – and that means half naked, frighteningly big boys too.

"You must be Muranaka-chan? Grandma and grandpa won't stop talking about you." He finally stepped away, offering a small smile. Mitsuyo noticed he limped a little.

"Yes, I was just…" She finished by pointing limply at the laundry scattered all around them. "I'll go. I'm sorry for waking you." She saw that he was about to say something else – probably to stop her – but she had to leave. Another moment in there and she felt like she might get a panic attack.