Episode One Hundred and Sixteen
The sound of footsteps descending the stairs approached.
Natori-san closed her eyes once, then turned back to us.
“Ibara-san’s luggage will be delivered later by courier.”
Hearing those words, the tension drained from my shoulders.
Sending the luggage back meant precisely that.
“Shall I drive you to the station?”
“We’ll take the bus, thank you. Right, Shigure-san?”
“It will mean a bit of walking.”
“Ah, yes. That’s fine.”
The weather was fine, and the sun was still high. Ibara knew the area well. Above all, I didn’t know what we would talk about in the car.
“I’ll get ready, so wait a moment, please.”
Saying that, Ibara began gathering her personal items: her smartphone charger, her phone, and other small belongings.
“──I apologise.”
Natori-san addressed me thus.
Since entering this room, Natori-san’s expression had scarcely changed. A stony face, suppressing emotion. Even now.
Yet, just a little, as if a spell had been broken, I sensed the tension easing.
“Once more, I apologise on behalf of Nobara-san.”
Saying this, Natori-san bowed deeply.
“We investigated your background and used it to threaten Ibara-san.”
“Ah, no, that’s… well, never mind.”
If an underage girl was spending all her time at an adult’s house, it’s only natural they’d want to look into things.
The threats… well, perhaps there’s no excuse for that, but no actual harm was done.
At my response, Natori-san narrowed his eyes slightly. Probably puzzled.
“You’re an unusual sort, aren’t you?”
She said it outright.
“This might make you uncomfortable, but… I’m grateful.”
“Huh?”
“For what you did for Nobara-san.”
I expected resentment, certainly not gratitude.
All I did was spout nonsense like “Sell off your assets!”
Natori-san narrowed her eyes as if gazing into the distance.
“She’s always been a serious person. To fulfil her responsibilities, she runs until she collapses, she simply can’t stop running.”
“…Ah.”
I thought, they’re mother and daughter.
Not that they resemble each other just because they’re related.
“I knew she hadn’t been sleeping at night. I was the one who arranged the garden replanting when she asked. But I just couldn’t bring myself to say ‘Let’s stop this now’. I thought I could still support her, but…”
A breath escaped from her lips, painted with brown lipstick.
“The matter you proposed will need to be discussed with her husband. Naturally, with the current management and other shareholders too.”
“Yes.”
“The negotiations won’t be easy… but I suspect it will turn out as you say. Eventually, we’ll likely vacate this place too.”
“Eh…”
“The reception room and children’s rooms will become redundant. I shall propose moving to the villa where her husband resides, in the health resort.”
“And then, what of you, Natori-san…?”
“Nothing will change for me. There should remain sufficient assets to employ one or two people, and someone will be needed to manage them. Besides—”
The corners of Natori-san’s mouth lifted slightly.
Like ice that had long been frozen had finally melted.
“My life belongs to Nobara-san. At my age, finding new employment would be rather difficult.”
Keeping a straight face, uttering words that could be taken as either jest or sincerity, Natori-san bowed deeply once more.
†
We said a brief goodbye to Kikuno-san, who was chatting in a room resembling a waiting area, and left the house through the back door.
The thick, enveloping scent of greenery and earth wrapped around us.
A honeybee rested on a white chamomile flower. Its tiny wings, barely larger than a fingertip, shimmered translucently in the light.
It was a beautiful garden, bathed in sunlight.
I stopped, turned, and looked up at the roof.
“What’s the matter, Shigure-san?”
“Is it alright?”
“Is what alright?”
“No, I mean…”
Perhaps today might be the last day she can spend in this house.
Or even speak with Natori-san and Nobara-san.
Though I hadn’t put it into words, somehow I felt it had been understood.
Ibara turned around, exhaled, and took a deep breath.
“It’s fine. I wouldn’t know what to say to them now anyway. We’d probably just end up arguing again.”
“…I see.”
“So I think this was for the best, heave-ho!”
Ibara kicked off from the ground.
I caught the body that flew lightly into my arms.
Feeling the weight of another person with my whole body, I felt strangely, deeply reassured.
The scent of garden grass was overwritten by the fragrance of citrus lemon.
Wrapping my arms around her slender frame to support it, I was hugged back with twice the force.
Hot breath brushed my neck.
“Shigure-san, I want to kiss you.”
“This is still your family home’s garden, isn’t it?”
“I don’t care.”
“Don’t care isn’t an answer.”
“I don’t care I don’t care, I can’t take it anymore.”
“I said no. At least wait until we get home—”
She grabbed my cheeks, and she stole a kiss like she was biting into something.
Lips devouring lips.
This girl, really, truly.
Though I’m just as much to blame for not resisting.
Slowly pulling away, exhaling hot, damp breath, Ibara whispered in my ear.
“Shigure-san, fancy doing some sightseeing?”
“Eh?”
“There’s a big outlet mall near the station, you know.”
“That sounds fun, but… today, I’d rather get back early, if possible.”
Honestly, I’m knackered.
More mentally than physically.
“But if you want to stop by, Ibara…”
“Nah, I want to get back early too.”
She stepped back, hands clasped behind her, smiling like a flower.
Light shone through her pure white frilled blouse, making her look like a real fairy.
I glanced back once more at the beautiful garden.
If Nobara-san and the others were truly leaving this house…
The hedges and flowers, deprived of their caretaker, would soon grow wild under the summer sun, closing in on the mansion like thorns.
But even if a prince should come someday, the princess would be gone.
For today, here, the wicked witch will carry her off.
“Hurry up!”
“Right, right.”
I readjusted my handbag over my shoulder and stepped out into the dappled sunlight.
Chamomile flowers swayed.
The damp breeze already carried the scent of early summer.