The evening air carried a quiet stillness as the Hayakawa residence settled into its usual calm.
Soft lights illuminated the spacious living room, casting a warm glow over polished surfaces and carefully arranged furniture. It was a space meant for comfort—though it often felt more like a place for appearances.
Rei sat on the sofa, one arm resting along the back, his gaze drifting aimlessly toward the ceiling.
Across the room, Shiori stood near the window, adjusting the curtains slightly before letting them fall into place.
Neither of them had spoken much since returning home.
It wasn't tension.
Not exactly.
Just… something unspoken lingering between them.
"Now then," a cheerful voice broke through the silence, "this won't do at all."
Both of them looked up.
Nazuna their maid whose very close to them since their childhood. She stood at the center of the room, hands on her hips, a bright, almost playful expression on her face.
Despite wearing the neat uniform of a maid, there was something far too lively about her demeanor to match the quiet elegance of the house.
"You two look like you've lost a war," she continued. "It's only been one day."
Rei let out a quiet breath. "…Feels longer."
Shiori said nothing, though her gaze shifted slightly toward Nazuna.
Nazuna clapped her hands once.
"Which is exactly why," she said, "we're going to fix this."
Rei raised an eyebrow. "Fix… what?"
"This gloomy atmosphere!" she declared.
"Honestly, I leave you alone for a few hours and suddenly the house feels ten years older."
"It always feels like this," Rei muttered.
"And that's the problem."
Without waiting for further argument, Nazuna stepped forward and placed a small box on the table with a soft thud.
"…Cards?" Rei said.
"Yes," Nazuna replied proudly. "A classic solution."
Shiori looked at the box for a moment, then back at Nazuna. "You want us to play?"
"I insist."
"That's unnecessary."
"And yet," Nazuna said with a smile, "you're both going to do it anyway."
Rei glanced at Shiori.
Shiori glanced at Rei.
A brief pause passed between them.
Then—
"…Fine," Rei said.
"…Alright," Shiori followed.
Nazuna's smile widened, as if she had expected nothing less.
A few minutes later, the three of them sat around the low table.
The deck was shuffled smoothly in Nazuna's
hands before being dealt with practiced ease.
"Simple rules," she said. "Nothing
complicated."
"Since when do you play cards?" Rei asked.
"Since I realized this house would be unbearably quiet without intervention."
"That doesn't answer the question."
"It answers enough."
Rei sighed faintly, but a small hint of amusement slipped into his expression.
Shiori picked up her cards, her gaze scanning
them quickly.
"…What are we playing?" she asked.
"Bridge," Nazuna replied.
Rei let out a quiet breath. "Good."
Nazuna's eyes flickered briefly between them.
Then she smiled.
The game began.
At first, it was exactly as promised—
Light.
Casual.
Familiar.
Nazuna played with exaggerated reactions, groaning dramatically at bad hands and celebrating even the smallest victories.
"You're both too serious," she complained at one point. "It's just a game."
"You're too loud," Rei replied.
"That's part of the charm."
Shiori remained mostly quiet, placing her cards down with calm precision.
Rei leaned back slightly, his movements relaxed, his attention only half on the game.
For a moment—
It almost felt normal again.
Then—
"I win," Shiori said.
Her voice was cheerful and happy.
Rei blinked, glancing at the cards on the table.
"…Already?"
Nazuna leaned forward. "Oh? That was fast."
Shiori simply gathered her cards neatly, placing them aside.
"It was a good hand."
Rei studied the table for a second longer before letting out a quiet breath. "…Guess I wasn't paying attention."
Nazuna looked between them.
Her smile didn't fade.
But her eyes sharpened, just slightly.
"Let's go again," she said.
The second round began.
This time—
Rei leaned forward.
Not much.
Just enough.
His gaze focused more clearly on his cards, his movements a little more deliberate.
Shiori noticed.
Of course she did.
She said nothing.
A few turns passed.
Nazuna hummed lightly, watching them both.
Then—
"I win," Rei said.
Shiori's hand paused for a fraction of a second.
Nazuna clapped softly. "Oh? A comeback."
Rei placed his cards down, his expression calm.
But there was something different in his eyes now.
Something more focused.
"…Again," Shiori said.
Nazuna's smile returned, brighter this time.
"Of course."
The third round.
The air shifted.
Subtly.
Almost imperceptibly.
The playful tone from earlier didn't disappear—
But it thinned.
Rei's gaze moved more quickly now, calculating without realizing it.
Shiori's movements became even more precise, her decisions sharper.
Neither of them spoke much.
Nazuna watched.
Quietly.
Carefully.
A card was placed.
Another followed.
A pause.
Then—
"I win," Shiori said.
Rei clicked his tongue softly under his breath.
Nazuna leaned back slightly, exhaling.
"…You two," she murmured.
Silence settled briefly over the table.
Not heavy.
But no longer light.
Nazuna tapped the deck gently against the surface.
"It's just a game," she said.
Neither of them responded.
Her gaze moved between them.
Then she smiled again—
Soft this time.
Less playful.
"Right?"
Rei leaned back, running a hand lightly through his hair.
"…Yeah," he said. "Just a game."
Shiori looked down at her cards.
Then slowly placed them on the table.
"…Of course," she replied.
But neither of them quite sounded like they meant it.
The game ended soon after.
Nazuna gathered the cards, her movements
quieter than before.
"Alright," she said lightly. "That's enough for today."
Rei stood, stretching slightly. "Yeah… I've got some things to do."
Shiori rose as well. "I have work to review."