"Touji! Utaha…!"
A sweet yet dignified-looking woman, dressed in a wine-red knit sweater paired with a matching plaid long skirt that exuded an elegant aura, stood beside a car and waved excitedly at the young man and woman emerging from the terminal. She was quite conspicuous among the stream of vehicles!
Touji and Utaha looked over, their faces instinctively breaking into smiles. They then pulled their respective suitcases and walked briskly toward her.
Meanwhile, Kasumigaoka Airi moved to the back of the car and popped open the trunk of the brand-new vehicle.
"Mom."
Touji and Utaha reached the white car and greeted her.
Kasumigaoka Airi smiled warmly in return, reaching out to take their luggage. "Come on, let's get these put away first…"
"I've got it." Touji gently dodged her hand, lifting his own suitcase into the trunk himself. He then helped Utaha with hers.
Kasumigaoka Airi watched them with a fond smile in her eyes. Once the luggage was stowed and the trunk closed, she ushered them in. "Get in the car, you two."
Touji and Utaha responded with a simultaneous "Hai," and the three of them opened the doors and climbed inside.
As soon as they settled into the back seat, Touji and Utaha greeted their father, who was behind the wheel.
Their father, Kasumigaoka Eiji, smiled and returned the greeting. Then, with a proud pat on the steering wheel, he showed off the new car. "So, Touji, Utaha, what do you think of her?"
The new car was also a Toyota, but a Toyota C-HR, which was significantly larger than the Toyota Yaris they had back in Tokyo. The increased space promised a much more comfortable ride!
"Hmm… it's more spacious than the one at home, and the seats feel more comfortable. It's pretty good," Touji remarked, glancing around the interior.
Utaha nodded in agreement. "It's also much cleaner than the car back home."
"Ah… aha…" Hearing Utaha's comment, Kasumigaoka Eiji, who was slowly guiding the car away from the terminal, chuckled awkwardly. The car back home was several years old, and he admittedly hadn't been the most diligent about keeping it pristine.
Kasumigaoka Airi turned in her seat to look at her husband, teasing, "Otou-san, you really need to take better care of this car, you know?"
"Wakatta, wakatta… I know, I know. It's a new car, of course I'll take good care of it," Kasumigaoka Eiji readily agreed.
"Hmm?" Kasumigaoka Airi's eyes narrowed playfully. "Are you saying you'll definitely be more attentive to new things than to old things?"
"…I didn't say that."
...
It was undeniable—Utaha had clearly inherited a part of her mother's personality.
Touji listened to the exchange in silence. He lowered his head and sent a quick text to Kani Nayuta: 'Already in the car.'
From the passenger seat, Kasumigaoka Airi turned around again. "Touji, Utaha, are you hungry? Should we stop for a late-night snack on the way?"
"No need, we just ate a full meal on the plane," Touji replied, looking up.
Utaha chimed in, "I'm not hungry right now either."
"Alright then… Let's head straight home. We'll take you out to explore tomorrow."
"Hai."
...
Approximately half an hour later—
Touji and Utaha arrived at the apartment where their parents were now living.
Slippers, toiletries, and other necessities had all been prepared in advance. Since it was already late, Touji and Utaha took turns taking quick showers before making their way to the second bedroom that had been assigned to them.
"Nii-san, it's… not possible for the next few days."
Utaha, who had been playing on her phone in bed, pushed away Touji's wandering hand and shot him a warning glare. What if their parents heard something from the next room? It would be social suicide!
Touji was naturally aware of this concern as well. Lying in the same bed as Utaha, he whispered, "I know, I wasn't planning on that…"
"Nii-san says he wasn't planning anything, but his hand seems to have other ideas," Utaha retorted, her voice low.
"It just… has a mind of its own," Touji said with an innocent expression, conveniently blaming his left hand. It had been misbehaving just moments ago.
"Is that so?" Utaha looked at Touji, pulled his hand out from under the covers, and with a slight upturn of her pink lips, declared, "Since it's misbehaving, then I must teach it a proper lesson! To make it remember…"
As she spoke, she set her phone aside and gave Touji's hand a firm pinch.
Touji was momentarily speechless. His mouth twitched as he pulled his hand back. "Why are you, a fully-grown person, arguing with a hand?"
"Look at what Nii-san is saying. If your hand is misbehaving, is there a problem with me disciplining it?" Her wine-red eyes swept over him, Utaha wearing a half-smile.
In response—
Touji put on an expression of great alarm. "Yabai… It's developing a rebellious streak! I'm losing control…!"
As the words left his mouth—
His left hand instantly broke free from Utaha's grasp and delivered a swift, retaliatory poke to her side, right at her most ticklish spot.
"Kya!"
...
In the master bedroom, Mr. and Mrs. Kasumigaoka, having just finished their own nightly routines, heard the commotion from next door. They exchanged a glance, let out a simultaneous sigh of relief, and then broke into similar, knowing smiles.
Indeed—
The house felt much more lively with the children around!
They'd felt the apartment had been far too quiet for the past month since they'd moved in, and they hadn't quite gotten used to the silence.
...
Back in the second bedroom—
"Stop messing around!"
Utaha, her hair slightly disheveled and her cheeks flushed, pressed down on Touji's hand. Her eyes were moist as she looked at him. "Nii-san, it's very late. It's almost time to sleep."
If they kept this up, she probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight without some form of… conclusion…
Touji stared at her beautiful face, smacked his lips, and conceded. "Hai, hai… Alright, no more messing around. Time to sleep, time to sleep."
If they did keep going, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep tonight either—that was the downside of staying with parents. But he could endure it for a few days.
The two reached a silent understanding.
Touji picked up his phone from the bedside table, exchanged final goodnight messages with Kani Nayuta, then switched off the lamp.
The room plunged into darkness.
A quiet, uneventful night ensued—!