Sora stepped away from the window and returned to his desk.
Only then did the chilling sensation of being watched by something dangerous gradually fade.
He slowly let out a breath.
Mifuyu was definitely not an ordinary person.
If he had still harbored doubts before, he was now almost completely certain.
Just moments ago, he had observed more than a dozen pedestrians from the window.
Not one of them had noticed his gaze.
Only Mifuyu had reacted.
Almost the instant he looked at her, she sensed something was wrong and immediately traced it back to him.
That was the instinct of a predator.
A terrifying, beast-like intuition.
Had she spent her life in an extremely dangerous environment?
Was that why she was so sensitive to her surroundings?
Sora couldn’t figure her out.
For safety’s sake, he decided not to get involved with the mysterious woman next door for now.
At most, he’d greet her with a nod if they happened to meet.
He also gave up on continuing to observe the street outside.
Opening the system panel, he watched the countdown timer on the Bright Vision buff.
When it finally reached zero, the notification disappeared.
The comfortable warmth in his eyes vanished as well.
Instantly, the world seemed to become “blurrier.” Sora knew it was only an illusion.
His eyesight hadn’t worsened.
He had simply lost the enhancement and returned to normal.
Like getting off a highway and suddenly slowing down to ordinary speeds.
Naturally, there would be some discomfort.
Sora closed his eyes.
He just needed time to readjust.
—— Inside another room.
Eriri was lying in front of her computer, wearing an oversized T-shirt and a pair of black-framed glasses while drawing diligently on a graphics tablet.
“Eriri, dinner’s ready.” “Okay!” Putting down her stylus, she stretched lazily and walked out of her room.
As usual, only Sayuri could be seen bustling around the dining room.
“Dad’s working overtime again?” “Yep.
Forget about him.
Let’s eat.
Look, I made the fried fish you wanted.” Eriri looked toward the table.
A plate of golden fried fish sat there.
“Awesome.” “Wash your hands first.” “Fine.” The mother and daughter sat down together.
After taking a bite, satisfaction appeared on Eriri’s face.
“Well?” “It’s delicious.” “I personally went to the market this afternoon and bought fresh sea bream.” “Thanks for your hard work, Mom!” Sayuri smiled as she watched her daughter.
Feeling strange, Eriri asked, “Mom, why are you staring at me?
You should eat too.” Sayuri lowered her voice mysteriously.
“Eriri, I’d like to discuss something with you.” “What?” “From now on, when we’re outside, how about you call me ‘big sister’ instead?” “…What?” Eriri stared at her.
“Mom, what’s wrong with you?” “Nothing.
It’s just that when I was buying fish this afternoon, I met a student from Toyogasaki.
He said I looked like your older sister.” “And you actually believed him?” “What?
Don’t I?” Sayuri shot her a dangerous look.
Eriri immediately shrank back.
“No!
Mom looks very young!” Sayuri’s expression brightened instantly.
“Exactly.
That boy named Sora has good taste.” “What’s so special about that?
He just complimented—wait a second!” Halfway through her complaint, Eriri suddenly realized something.
“What did you just say his name was?” “Sora.” “…!!!” Her eyes widened.
No way.
How had that guy run into her mother?
Seeing the disbelief and panic on her daughter’s face, Sayuri became even more convinced that something was going on.
“Mom, how did you meet him?” “I already told you.
At the fish market this afternoon.” Eriri suddenly remembered the dinner photo Sora had sent yesterday.
It had included fried fish.
The guy clearly loved fish.
“He was buying fish too?” “No.
He was helping at the fish stall by processing fish.” “Processing fish?” “That’s right.
He’s a very polite boy.
He seems a little short on money and is working part-time there.” Eriri froze.
That wasn’t what she’d imagined at all.
Still, he really was polite.
Even though his method of summoning her to the rooftop had been strange, he hadn’t actually done anything to her.
He’d even prepared milk and bread in advance and treated her to chewing gum.
“Working at a fish market…
Is he really that poor?” Looking at her daughter, Sayuri said, “As a transfer student living on his own, financial pressure is normal unless he comes from a wealthy family.
You didn’t know any of that?” Eriri looked baffled.
“Why would I know?” “I thought you two were close.” “Who said we’re close?!
That guy!” Sayuri’s eyes sparkled.
“What did he do?” Looking at her mother’s obvious gossip mode, Eriri sighed.
“No…
nothing.” Sayuri immediately looked disappointed.
“Eriri, you’ve become less cute.” “…” —— Kotonoha finished preparing dinner and called Kokoro to eat.
Picking up her phone from her desk, she looked at the screen expectantly.
There were no new LINE messages.
Sora hadn’t sent a dinner photo tonight.
Kotonoha felt disappointed.
But then she thought maybe he was eating later than usual.
Perhaps he was still cooking.
With that thought in mind, she carried her phone to the dining table.
While her sister was washing her hands, she secretly took a photo of dinner.
During the meal, Kokoro noticed that her sister seemed distracted.
“What’s wrong, Sis?” After swallowing her food, Kotonoha replied softly, “Nothing.” “Then why aren’t you paying attention while eating?” “…Eat your dinner.” “Okay.” After dinner, Kotonoha cleaned the dishes and washed them in the kitchen.
When she finished, she checked her phone again.
Still nothing.
Quietly sighing, she set it down and grabbed some clothes to take a bath.
Steam filled the bathroom, blurring the silhouette of the girl’s remarkably mature figure.
Afterward, she carefully dried her long hair.
Then she heard the front door open.
‘Mother must have returned from work’ Kotonoha quickly went into the living room and found Manami looking exhausted.
“Mother, have you eaten?” “I ate at the office.
You’ve already finished your bath?
Then go to bed early.” “Okay.” Returning to her room, Kotonoha lay on her bed.
She tossed and turned.
For some reason, she couldn’t sleep.
Then her phone suddenly chimed.
Kotonoha immediately grabbed it.
A message from Sora.
A simple good night.
A delighted smile instantly bloomed across her face.
She quickly sent back: “Good night.” Then, hugging her phone, she soon drifted off to sleep.