Haruki held the phone to his ear, pacing slowly by the window.
"Haruki, do you know where my parents' house is?" Satomi's voice came through, a little hurried.
"Umm... yeah," he answered, glancing at the calendar. "I remember."
"Good. You go first, okay?" she said.
"I'll be there with Dad. I still have a few things to finish at work, and he said he'll pick me up."
Haruki paused.
"O-okay."
"Thanks," Satomi added quickly, then hung up before he could say more.
Haruki stared at the phone for a second, then lowered it.
He took a deep breath, grabbed his keys from the counter, and started getting ready.
He pulled his helmet from the shelf near the door.
He only owned a scooter — but he loved it.
It was light, efficient, and fast enough to feel the wind without rushing through life.
He headed downstairs into the late afternoon light.
The scooter sat in its usual spot, beside the apartment gate.
He slid the key in, turned it softly, and the engine purred quietly.
Before leaving, Haruki checked his map.
He found Satomi's parents' house — tucked away in a quiet neighborhood.
Once he marked the route, he slipped his phone into his pocket.
Taking a deep breath, Haruki adjusted his helmet.
He didn't really want to go.
Not because he didn't like them— they were kind and respectful people.
But something about visiting made him feel… stiff.
Still, if he refused, Satomi's parents might think he was being rude or careless.
And he didn't want that.
So he twisted the throttle, and the scooter quietly rolled into the street.
Haruki slowed his scooter as he passed through the small town just before reaching Satomi's parents' neighborhood.
He pulled over near some local shops, parking by the sidewalk.
"...Should I bring something?" he muttered to himself, looking around.
Food?
Err... probably not. They likely already prepare dinner.
A gift?
Haruki quietly rubbed the back of his neck, then wandered over to a nearby flower shop.
Something caught his eye—a bouquet of fresh white roses in a glass display.
There was a gentle, simple beauty to them. Clean and understated.
Without thinking too much, Haruki stepped inside and pointed at the bouquet.
"I'll take one of those," he said.
Then, he stopped at a sweets shop next door and bought a small box of handcrafted seasonal desserts.
"Thank you," he said politely as the shopkeeper handed him a neatly wrapped box.
With the rose in one hand and the dessert in a small bag, he returned to his scooter.
He started it up again, the engine humming softly.
Then, he headed toward Satomi's parents' house.
Haruki slowed his scooter as he entered the quiet neighborhood.
"...Whoa," he murmured, looking left and right.
Large houses lined both sides of the street, with wide lawns and carefully trimmed hedges.
Some even had fountains or small pools glinting in the evening light.
"Is this... really the place?"
He looked at his map again, then back at the surroundings.
The road was too perfect. The trees were too neatly planted. The silence... felt expensive.
"...Did I take a wrong turn?"
Haruki pulled over for a moment, double-checking the location, then sighed.
No. This was it.
Satomi's childhood neighborhood.
Still holding the single white rose and the dessert bag, Haruki sat back on his scooter seat for a moment—feeling a little out of place.
But he started the engine again and slowly continued on.
Haruki finally reached the address Satomi had sent him.
He stopped his scooter at the curb, looking up at the house behind the black iron gate.
"...This can't be it," he muttered.
The yard was huge. The house was quiet behind tall hedges, warm lights glowing through large windows.
Haruki blinked.
"Did I mess up again...?"
He pulled out his phone and dialed Satomi's number.
Tuutt... tuutt... click.
"Hello?" her voice sounded distracted.
"Ah, Satomi. I'm at the place you sent... but is this really the house?"
"Yeah. The one with the automatic gate and big lawn, right?"
"Er..."
"What, Haruki? I'm busy here," she said, sounding half-amused, half-annoyed.
"For real!?"
"Yes! You're not lost. See you soon. Talk later." Click.
Haruki stared at his phone for a second, then slipped it back into his pocket.
"...For real, huh..."
He looked back at the gate, took a deep breath, and pressed the intercom button.
"Hello?" came a quiet, muffled voice.
"If it's a delivery, just leave it there. I'll come sign—"
"Umm... it's me..." Haruki said, uncertain.
"...Who?"
"H-Haruki," he mumbled, voice cracking a little.
There was a pause.
A long one.
"...Ah! Wait, I'll open the gate!"
"Umm... o-okay."
A soft beep sounded from the intercom, and the gate slowly slid open with a low mechanical hum.
Haruki eased his scooter forward carefully, guiding it past the gate and parking near the driveway.
As he looked up, he saw a figure standing quietly in front of the house.
A woman — no, a girl — stood at the entrance.
She wore a face mask, a white blouse flowing slightly in the breeze, and fitted jeans.
Her dark hair was tied up in a neat high ponytail.
( Kyouko Image >>> On Comment, Click Here >>>> )
She didn't move.
Just watched him from afar, her eyes lowered slightly.
"A-Ah... Haruki-kun," the woman said softly, her voice muffled behind the mask.
"Come in."
Haruki hesitated for a moment, then stepped forward.
He held out a small gift bag and a single white rose.
"A-Ah... th-this is for... you."
She looked at the items in his hands.
There was a long pause. Almost too long.
Then, gently, she reached out and took them.
"...Ah..."
Another pause.
"T-Thank you," she said softly, her voice barely audible.
Haruki nodded quickly, uncertain whether to speak more or stay quiet.
The evening air was still.
Neither of them moved right away.
Kyouko looked down at the white rose in her hand, surprised.
A faint smile appeared behind her mask.
It had been so long since anyone had given her flowers.
"A-Ah... Haruki-kun," she said softly. "Come in."
"O-Okay..." Haruki stepped forward, hesitating.
"Umm... Mother?"
Kyouko blinked.
The word felt strange— not wrong, just unfamiliar.
She fidgeted slightly, then shook her head.
"Umm... you can just call me... Kyouko."
"A-Ah, sorry. Kyouko-san."
"D-Don't worry about that," she replied gently.
"Come inside."
She stepped aside, quietly holding the door open as Haruki entered the house for the first time.
( End Of Chapter )