Late July.
Mr. Ruzia was at my house.
Today was the day for our meeting.
At Mr. Ruzia’s request, the meeting was to be held at my place.
I was working with him in the house when Nana and Akari came back from their dog walk. “Whew~~~~~♡”
In the living room, Mr. Ruzia, wearing a one-piece, shone his eyes.
“Nana! She’s so cute! This little puppy!”
In front of Mr. Ruzia, a miniature dachshund was sitting politely.
“What’s her name? What is her name?”
”…She’s [Chobi]♡ Since she’s small, Chobi.”
“I see! Chobi, huh~! That’s a good name!”
Mr. Ruzia seemed to be in excellent spirits.
On the other hand, Nanae was in a great mood because she got praise about her dog.
”……If you don’t mind, would you like to hold Choby?”
“You can hold him!? I’m so happy!” “Are you kidding me? You sound like a child,” Akari said with an air of exasperation.
Rushia carefully took Choby from Nanae.
“Oh! Choby! So silky! Warm and fuzzy! He’s adorable~♡” “Hm hm!”
“Ahh, stop it, don’t lick my face… hyah♡ You naughty little thing~♡ My~♡”
Seeing Rushia act so frivolously, I thought it might be a good idea to have our regular meetings at my place. She doesn’t have many friends.
With the pretext of a meeting, we might be able to give Rushia more time to play with her friends. And just then. Ping-pong… “Huh? Who is it?”
Akari tried to stand up with a “Heave-ho.”
“I’ll get it. You go have fun with your friends.” “You’re so parental!” “I am the guardian, after all.”
“Mmm… It’s inconvenient if you’re always acting like my guardian~… I mean, since you’ll eventually be the son-in-law~?” I poked Akari’s forehead with my finger. “Don’t get cocky.” “Hehe~♡ You’re welcome~♡”
Ignoring Akari and the others, I headed toward the entryway.
Opening the door… a wave of unexpected heat rushed toward me.
Standing there was… a woman in a suit, wearing sunglasses.
But… I knew her. “Huh? Inukawa…?” Tall stature, glossy black hair.
A well-defined body with a slender build. “So it’s you, Inukawa.”
Standing there was a friend I’d attended university with. It was Ichika Inukawa.
”…I guess I look pretty noticeable, huh. Even with the sunglasses on.”
Inukawa took off her sunglasses, a slight smile forming on her lips.
“I wouldn’t forget a friend’s face.” ”…?” Inukawa’s eyes went wide.
After flapping her mouth open and shut for a moment, she quickly put the sunglasses back on.
“Mmnngh…! It’s been a while, okay… Okaya-kun. About seven years, right?”
“That’s about it. Since my wedding.”
I married Misae immediately after graduation.
On that occasion, he had invited Hayashikawa and the other friend to the ceremony.
That was the last time they ever saw each other up until today.
There was a sense of familiarity… but far more than that. “Why are you here?” “Ah, well…” Just then—
“Hayashikawa! I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
Tete te, Rusia came running over to him.
In her arms, she carried Chobi.
“Your Highness, I’ve come to pick you up.” “Your Highness…?”
Hayashikawa looked clearly at Rusia and said that.
While he didn’t know Rusia’s background, based on the way she spoke and her demeanor, he had always thought she possessed an air of being a young lady from a prestigious family.
So, you’re this girl’s driver, Hayashikawa.
“Hayashikawa. I’m sorry, but… today, I’d like to stay over at my friend’s house.”
“W-wait…!? You want to stay… overnight?”
“Ah. Chobi… I just want to play more with your friend’s dog… is that not okay?” Lucia asked timidly.
“Eh, t-that’s just… you’re saying the young lady will be staying over at Ogaya-san’s house, right…”
”? Ah, yes it is… what’s wrong? Ah, I see. We needed to get grandfather’s permission.”
“Eh? A-ah, that’s true… on that front too. U-understood, I’ll ask him”
Inuka took her smartphone from her pocket and stepped outside for a moment.
He glanced over at me once. ”? What?” ”…Never mind.”
Inuka went outside, leaving me and Lucia alone together.
“Ogaya… do you know Inuka?”
Lucia asked me while holding Chobi tightly in her arms. “Yes, we do, sensei.” ”…Ogaya.”
Lucia leaned her face closer to mine.
“K-e-i-g-o. And… please stop calling me sensei.”
When I had come to my house before, we had agreed that Lucia would not use honorifics with me. ”…I see. Lucia.”
“Yeah. So? What is your relationship with Inogawa?”
“He’s a college friend. From our first year, right through to graduation.”
“Y-You’re college friendsiiiiii!?” Rushia’s voice shot up in a high-pitched squeal.
Chobi flinched and leaped off Rushia’s arm with a little boing.
Then it headed back to the living room where Nanaiko and the others were waiting. “Is there really that much to be surprised about?”
“Oh, no… I mean, sure. Uh-huh. Since you’re an adult too, it’s only natural you went through a college era. …Wait, you? Did you go to the same university as Inogawa?” “Oh, right.”
“Then you’re… from Keiō University?” ”? Ah, yes.”
“T-That’s amazing… You. From Keiō, a top-tier university in Japan on par with Haneda. No wonder your work is so impressive; it makes perfect sense that you went to Keiō.”
Rushia nodded along enthusiastically, clearly impressed. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.
“It doesn’t take much talent to be good at studying, I guess.” “I humbly accept your praise.”
“Huh! …You’re using honorifics on me!” “Oh, sorry… slipped out of me.”
“Next time you use honorifics, I’m going to make a wish. One thing, okay? Just one?” “Ah, whatever, sure.” “Hah?!?!”
“I mean, without a punishment that’s at least strict to some degree, this habit isn’t going to be cured… What’s wrong?”
Rushia’s face turned crimson, and she started flapping her mouth open and shut like a little bird.
“R-Really… is it okay?” “Yeah, sure.”
“I am telling you… my word is absolute!” “It’s fine, really.”
If it were just a child begging for something, I could probably go along with it.
“If I ask you to meet my parents, will you actually do it?” “Hmm? Sure, why not.”
“No way!? You’re serious right now!”
Rushia had brought the publisher a tremendous amount of profit with her previous work, 【Sentoushi】, after all.
As a token of gratitude, I’d been thinking of paying them a visit once to show my regards.
“All right, yes! Listen well, Okaya. You must keep your promise! If you use honorifics, you’ll have to meet my parents!”
“Got it. I’ll be careful not to use them.” “No! Use them!”
“That would ruin the penalty game, wouldn’t it?” I poked Rushia on the forehead.
“So, it’s like that… but… ugh… if someone offered you a billion yen to just take the punishment game, would you accept?”
“Ha! What a funny joke. Sure, I wouldn’t mind, as long as they actually pay up the hundred billion.”
”…I’ll think about it.”
It was refreshing to see that this earnest girl could pull off a joke.
“Ah, Hirasawa. You’re back? What did the old man say?”
Without me noticing, Hirasawa was standing at the entrance. ”…”
“Hirasawa, what’s wrong? Lucia is calling for you.” Startled, Hirasawa snapped back to her senses.
“I… I’m sorry… I got in touch with the old man. He said I could stay overnight.”
“Great! Thanks, Hirasawa!”
“I’ll come pick you up again tomorrow, so please contact me.”
“Contact…? Hirasawa, I don’t have a smartphone?”
“Oh… that’s right… what should I do…” After thinking for a moment, I said to Hirasawa.
“Should I call Hashigawa?” “Eh…? R-Really?”
Though hidden behind her sunglasses, she looked visibly surprised. “Yeah. Is it still your old contact info?”
“Ahh, um… I broke my old phone and lost all the data.”
“Oh, that’s what happened. Well then, let’s swap our contacts.” ”! R-Really…?”
”? If we don’t exchange them, how am I supposed to reach you tomorrow?” “Y-You’re right…”
I exchanged my LINE ID and mobile number with Hashigawa.
Once we were done, Hashigawa clutched her smartphone to her chest. “Okaya-kun. Thank you.”
What was the “thank you” even for…?
Ah, probably gratitude for letting Lushia stay over.
“Don’t worry about it. Relax. I won’t lay a hand on the kid.”
“Mmuu… Okaya, that’s actually… kinda offensive.”
Hashigawa let out a breath of relief. “Eh, that makes me feel safe.”
“You think I’d have the nerve to do something with a minor?” “That is certainly one way to put it.” Niwaka let out a soft laugh.
The way she laughed was exactly the same as it had been back in university, and it stirred up a wave of nostalgia in me.
“Why don’t you come upstairs for a bit? There’s stuff I really want to talk about.” ”……!” Niwaka took a step forward.
But then… her expression shifted as if she suddenly realized something.
Looking at me—more accurately, looking at Ruchia standing behind me—Niwaka shook her head.
“It’s nice, but I’m currently… 【on the clock】.”
“Oh… right. That’s right. Sorry, that was a push on my part to invite you up.”
“No, don’t worry about it. I really enjoyed the invitation.” “I see…” I paused for a moment before saying.
“Hey, how about we go out for drinks sometime?” “「Eh…!?」”
Niwaka was surprised… and apparently Ruchia was just as surprised. “O-okay?!”
“A-and you and I… j-just the two of us!?”
”? No, I was actually thinking of inviting 【the Prince】 too.” “O-oji?”
Huh? Torsia tilted her head in puzzlement.
On the other hand, Ninigawa immediately recalled something.
“Right… that’s what it is. He works in the same line of work as Kudo-kun, doesn’t he?”
“Not exactly the same job, but we’ve crossed paths a lot through work.”
Ninigawa nodded. “I see… if there are three of them…” “Um… if there are three of them…”
Rushia was clearly eager to be part of the conversation.
Kids always want to butt into adult conversations, so I didn’t mind it much.
“Okay-valley-kun, then… is it okay if you handle the setup?” (Note: “Okaya-kun” is a name, likely misread in thought process above, correcting to proper translation) Okaya-kun, then… is it okay if you handle the setup?
“Yeah. I’ll check Prince’s schedule and let you know once it’s set.”
“Thanks. But… it’s been a while. It’s been seven years since I last saw him. Do you think he remembers me?”
“There’s no way Prince would forget a friend’s face.” “That’s true, isn’t it? Fufu.”
Just then, Rushia grabbed my arm tightly with a squish.
“Okaya, how long are you going to keep chatting so nicely? Tsurukawa is in the middle of a work assignment. Don’t make it awkward for him.”
“Ah, I… yeah, that’s true. Sorry about that, Tsurukawa.” “Nah, don’t worry about it.”
Tsurukawa put her hand on the doorknob and opened the door. I followed her outside. I wanted to see her off all the way to the street.
In front of my house sat a large, jet-black limousine.
“You… work at some pretty serious place, huh?” “Y-Yeah…”
Tsurukawa looked away, seeming uncomfortable.
It was clear she didn’t want me to pry too deeply into it. “Hey… Okaya-kun.”
Standing in front of the limo, Tsurukawa took off her sunglasses and stared straight at me.
“Did you really break up with Saito-san?”
…We had gone to the same university, so she must have heard the rumors. “Yeah, I broke up with Misae.”
“…I see. Sorry, that was insensitive of me.”
“Huh? Nah, don’t worry about it. It’s all in the past anyway.” And that was the truth.
I have settled my score with Misae. So even if the topic comes up, it doesn’t stir anything inside me.
Hashidogawa looks into my eyes… and her eyes go wide.
“Oh, so… you’ve cut yourself off from your past.” “Yeah.”
”…Okay-sen, you’re the type to hold onto things, so I was worried about you.”
“Thanks for caring. But… things have been complicated this time.”
If I were alone, maybe I would have dragged it out just like Hashidogawa said.
But now I have Nana-chan and her twin, the two schoolgirls.
With their encouragement and warm meals, I’m managing to get through my daily life.
”…I see. So someone good is near you.” “Hashidogawa?”
“Nope, nothing. I’m just glad to see you doing well.”
“Oh… what about Hashidogawa? Have you already gotten married or…” “N-no, I haven’t!…”
Hashidogawa denied it strongly, her voice rising quite a bit.
Hah! Snapping out of it, she shook her head, her face flushed red.
“Believe it or not, I’m twenty-eight and don’t have a boyfriend, let alone a husband.”
Mikawa shifted fidgetly on the seat.
“Hey, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. I don’t have a lover or a spouse either. Well… I am divorced, though.”
”!?” “W-wait, no… lover… at all?” ”?” “Ah. Right.” “So… you don’t find anyone attractive, like, never?” “Yeah. Never.”
”…Rushia-san… Rushia-chan?”
Why was she suddenly bringing up that name? I tapped Mikawa on the forehead.
“Are you out of your mind? Are you messing with me?” “H-huh…?”
“Rushia is a high schooler, you know. That’s not happening.”
Mikawa stared at me, mouth and eyes wide open in surprise.
But then… she slowly turned her cheeks crimson and nodded.
“T-that’s right! The other person is a minor! Ha-ha… what kind of idiotic thing was I thinking about…”
Ninikawa ran her hand through her long hair, smoothing it back repeatedly.
“So now, Okaya-kun, you’re really free in the true sense.”
“What do you mean, ‘in the true sense’…? Yeah, I’m free, sure.” ”……Right. [Got it]”
Ninikawa looked up and flashed a smile.
“I’ll be looking forward to the drinking party, then.”
“Uh-huh. I’ll get in touch again. Oh, wait, I was supposed to contact you tomorrow anyway.”
“What are you forgetting, huh… Hmph.”
Ninikawa slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
“Then I’ll come pick you up again tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll be waiting. Alright, see ya, Ninikawa.”
“Yes, goodnight, Okaya-kun. See you around.”
The limousine sped away from in front of me without a sound.
However, the mention of Enogawa… recalling my university days, I felt a bit uplifted.
“Alright then… Hm? What’s going on, you guys?”
Nanako, Akari, and Lusia were standing in the entranceway.
All three wore solemn expressions, staring fixedly at me. ”…Well, what do you think?” ”…Black, sir.”
”…Ah, I also think it is Black.”
The three whispered among themselves about something. Black? A color? “What do you mean, black?”
They looked at one another and then said in unison. “Infidelity investigation.”
I sighed, pressed my finger into their foreheads, and said. “Get out of here.”