"I'm home…"

"Ringo, welcome back."

"Welcome home."

"Oh, hi, Potato…"

At the tip of a hat, Rin immediately landed on my lap.

"Good work out there."

"Thanks…"

You know, I don't always get the chance to comfort Rin when she's tired or depressed, so that is one thing that I really needed to change. If a simple brush on my head has helped, then surely it will also help when I'm the one doing it to her.

On the flip side, Rin is naturally loved by the people closest to her. I suppose it's the result of her conditional kindness. She rarely asks for help, really. But any kind of assistance is something she appreciates when people reach out to her. She has given so much, so it is just fair and deserving for her to sometimes be on the receiving end.

On the other hand, something of that thought is not really one that I can openly accept. In the grand scheme of things, she has not done wrong, while I have sinned. Which is why, for instance, hearing the Exiles giving back to me gave me so much conflicting thoughts. I still honestly don't think I deserved any of it, but I just thought that while I don't, the ones around me do. I'm most certain that even in the last second of my inevitable end, I would ask myself why I am living right now when I took a life.

The past is the past, but it will continue to haunt me whatever I do. But in the midst of that, I'm content enough that there will be people that will cry for me if ever I'm gone.

"…"

I'm 22 and I'm already thinking about this stuff. I haven't even deposited for my own, you know? I don't really know how I got to that point when all I'm thinking about is how I can cheer up Rin's exhausted mind and spirit after a long day.

"Hey, I'm not going anywhere so take a nap for a bit. It will be a bit more before Auntie is done."

"Let me wash my face and change my clothes first… then I'll come back."

"How committed for a lap pillow."

"Of course I am…"

Another thing, I'm not as affectionate as I think I am, is another realization of mine. I'm old enough not to get embarrassed over these kinds of things, and I have established a really good relationship with Rin's parents over the years so long as I don't disappoint them, so they really don't how the two of us are in front of them. It's like the childhood friend route but the only difference is that we are not childhood friends.

But… what if we were actually childhood friends? I wonder how the romance would come upon.

Anyway, it's not that I don't want to openly show that I love Rin, but I can't. It's supposed to be something that I can at least do but having an "inhumane" nature since very early really leaves a big dent on me. But be that as it may, I'm still trying my hardest to repay her for all the things she had done. I'm glad that the past three or less years have been quite calm which is why I was able to do things I ought to have done earlier.

"Hahh… I'm so tired… So you always have to endure this kind of tiredness everyday Potato…?"

"Sad to say I can only half relate. I don't really use my mind too much so it's all in the body and a bit of memory."

"I really want to complain how I hate chemistry classes and why I'm taking them but they still made sense in the end…!!"

"I guess that's to be expected from a specialized culinary school. You've survived two years so it will be a bit more. There, there…"

"…

Why does it feel like I'm be treated like a kid here?"

"Just hold still and let yourself be pampered. I'm not a battery bank so I can't transfer my energy to you."

"Just do as he says, Ringo."

"If that's the case… then I'm better off with low energy so I can lie down like this longer. Wake me up when… it's… dinner…"

At the same time, my and Aunt Sumi's eyes met after the girl quickly fell asleep. Then only thing we could do was chuckle to ourselves.

I honestly don't really see Rin's side when she is with her family, so I tried visiting for today and indeed I saw something for the first time. There are some things I just passed by and took for granted all these years. I didn't really know how exactly does Rin interact with her family and it was something that's new to me.

I really don't prefer to compare myself to Rin and really anyone, but there certainly is a contrast between our interactions when put to the table side by side. I'm one that rarely jokes around in front of my family, or at least I show most of my humor with my siblings but I'm fairly serious in general; which was after my head has finally been settled. On the other hand, Rin is much more sociable to hers. They are much more open and spirited which may partially be because of Uncle Shuu. Although all things considered, Sis maybe the most collected of them all.

…

Well, Rin's not really one to wake up when already asleep, so Aunt Sumi brought up some things to talk about.

"It's not really frequent that we see you two like that."

"I really ought to visit here more…"

"We'll appreciate it. But it's normal for young couple to be like that. Even we are like that at your age."

"That really didn't sound very good when we're being seen with this closeness by her parents."

"I hope she's not overworking herself?"

"Oh, not at all. You don't really see it when she visits you, but if anything, she is a lazy bum when she's tired or stressed. She really rarely does her assignments at home or rather she really doesn't have them."

"It's a very active course after all."

"She'll have dinner, work a bit on her tasks and when it hits 8, it's her time to rest unless she wants to use the kitchen. Our daughter is very good at managing herself."

"I see…"

(!)

Apples, I just had a really stupid idea that suddenly surfaced on the top of my head. Should I really do it, is what I thought to ask myself. But there's really no point if what I need to do is to directly land my actual point.

"Firstly, make the unexpected response be expected…"

"Aunt Sumi, I honestly just thought about it literally just now, but will you allow me to live here for a bit?"

"Ohhhh…? That's indeed a proposition but I'm fine with it," straight to the point with no hesitation, Auntie responded.

"Though should I talk about it first with your husband? But I already expect him to agree in the same way…

Like, 'Just live with us forever even when you marry our daughter, musuko!' or something like that."

"You really know Shuu a lot already.

But honestly speaking, I would never say no your suggestion. If anything, we wanted to talk to you and know you more. I know that we have settled our conflicts from back before you became a Child, but it doesn't really sit well with us amidst that.

Shuu and I wanted you to feel like we are also a parent to you, and you living with us would be a very significant opportunity to give light to it."

"…

Hahh… Rin, you have such great parents…

If it's fine with you, I will be bringing some of my things tomorrow."

"We'll lend you Yuna's old room, but it's currently being used for storage so we'll have to bother you on taking care of it."

"I can live like a hobbit there. I'll also try to reorganize the room."

"But enough of those plans, let's wait for my husband to get home then we'll talk about this at dinner."

"Yes'm."

I'd be lying if I denied that I was excited. It's not like I was looking forward to finally get to converse more with the family of the significant other, but more like I did not think of doing it which is bad of me. That said, I think this goes to hit the nail how my whims can go. I guess one would call it being free-spirited if I'm right with defining it.

Anyway, it appeared that Rin really did not wake up from all the talks I had with Aunt Sumi so the reaction on the dinner table along with Uncle Shuu was quite genuine. Free-spirited I apparently might be, they just said yes so easily to my suggestion and I got the go signal to move. The problem I have although is I don't really know how long I will stay here. I am pretty confident that we do not think of each other as nuisances but rather the opposite. I feel very welcome, in which I am very glad.

"Oh, right. You're coming with me, Haku."

"Meow? (What?)"

But even I do know how rude it would be of me to begin in the middle of this night and I really can't do it after the cleanup in the restaurant. Alternatively, I just waited in front of my desk with my window open while notifying the family that my house is going to be free again for a bit starting tomorrow. They like to use my house to their liking even if I'm here.

"Oh? So someone's waiting for me here?"

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"Not really. I'm just wondering if you're going to come out."

"So you were waiting. But we won't be able to do this for a while, huh?"

"Oh… I didn't realize that. That'll make me feel lonely."

"As if, stupid. There are only nuances between that and you living with us."

"You really call that subtle?"

"And you've just realized that thought when I have literally lived at your place for a while?"

"…

Th-That's different situation-wise…"

Yes, I am making excuses.

"Ah, wait. Are you going to sleep soon? You looked really tired earlier."

"I plan to. It's just so busy in the institute these days that I just want to rest all night…"

"Any festivals inside soon?"

"Nothing planned yet you glutton…"

"Well, please go to sleep now. I'll check emails and do a bit of reading."

"Okay… Good night…"

"Yeah. See you tomorrow."

▪ ▪ ▪

Operation: Pamper Rin as much as I can.

What in the world am I even saying.

The moment I clocked out of the restaurant, I immediately took off to see what will go and what will remain of my belongings in the house in an optimized way. Really, I could just come and go of my house whenever I need to, but this is a matter of principle and genuineness for me. I would feel like I'm not even serious about the proposition that I made if I did that so as much as possible I at least wanted to bring the essentials.

But on that note, I honestly only have two hours or even less than that to settle in the Akanami household. Rin offered for help but I'd rather tire myself than tire her more. She's already doing her best.

So with a completely packed backpack, a huge storage box on my hand and a cat on my head, I walked towards next door, knocked, and was welcomed by the mother and daughter with of course a "welcome home."

"Hahh… I'm home, I guess?"

The same as my house, this household also has three rooms with one being here at the first floor that was of Sis' use before she moved in in my place and then got married to Hiro. It is being used as a storage room they said, but it still looks a lot like a bedroom, granted there isn't that much space to move around. And so I took the inner half of the room while I carefully reorganized the things lying around.

I am one to make an efficient space, if not yet obvious in the somewhat minimalistic style of my home, and there was truly a potential to open up space in the room if I do it well. While, I was at it, I took the liberty of using Uncle Shuu's power tools to drill holes on the wall which can of course be sealed off again if need be. But I opted to use shelves to make an array that will be able to withstand earthquakes in the midst of having aesthetic urges. In the end, things worked quite well because of the rather high ceiling they have. I am literally living in this house so an addition of a stepladder out of my whims will never hurt, I suppose.

That was storage solutions, but I haven't even taken care of my personal space. I don't really mind that this is my room while also being the storage room so I will expect the family to just come and go freely. I don't really need a divider for that as I'm totally fine with it.

As for my PC, I can easily live with my laptop alone, and I only rarely use an actual display tablet that I got from a sponsored post. It has enough space for the desk while the bed and the closet take up most of the remaining space. Yet, it still does not feel very cramped and claustrophobic.

Speaking of the closet while I was taking out my clothes from the box…

"…"

I opened it with some clothes in it, most probably owned by Sis, that are still in there.

"…

Now I know where I'll put a divider."

I went out just to wash my hands but I coincidentally met with Uncle Shuu, who literally just got home, in the hall.

"Welcome back, Uncle."

Greeting with a straight and normal tone does not mean that it was just natural for me to just up and say that. "Ah, I should greet him. How should I though? In Japanese or something?" was my thought process that unsuccessfully led to an ordinary greeting.

"Ohhhh, musuko!" as usual he is as loud as ever. "Have you finished moving already?"

"Not yet. But I'll try to wrap up by dinner."

"Just give up and wait for dinner to pass by."

"Ehhhh…"

Then Haku suddenly crept up behind me, "Meow. (I unpacked your stuff on the bed, Aruji.)"

"Oh, thanks."

"Where's our daughter by the way?"

"She's on her room I guess."

"I see. There's some beer on the fridge so let's celebrate a bit later."

"It's weekdays, Uncle."

"…

We don't talk about that."

▪ ▪ ▪

朝。

As I had expected, Aunt Sumi was already up early.

"Good morning, Auntie…"

"Good morning. Do you usually wake up at this time?"

"Yes."

I know to myself that washing my face does not really help me wake up much but it was part of the routine. My daily crappy mornings aside, I silently went to the kitchen and gave a hand on preparing breakfast after letting the coffee drip in the pour over glass I brought with me.

"Oh my… You already know what I'm making? So this is a chef's ability."

"You flatter me…"

"Oh, right. You don't eat rice in the morning."

"I can make toast for myself… yawn~"

"Then you can use the pan first."

"Thank you…

Ahh… feel free to rummage my fridge later. I was marinating a roast but it's ready to use."

"It sounds like you have a lively fridge."

"But nothing is dated there."

"So you're the type to drink coffee first thing in the morning?"

"With breakfast most of the time. But the coffee in my house has milder acidity. I have gastritis but it is nothing bad."

"Hm, our daughter might know most of those things now, but it's different when we get to know you now. You'll also be our son after all."

"I suppose it's a good thing to do that now. I'm starting to think that moving here was better than a good idea."

"I'm glad to know that."

~ ~ ~

The first one to leave the house was Uncle Shuu while there was still a few minutes for Rin and I to be off on our own things.

But I really couldn't care less about work as I definitely got curious of how exactly does the Akanami household look like, especially on a Saturday in which both Rin and Uncle are outside. I say that, but in other words it's a time where Aunt Sumi is the only one in the house if not for my presence.

What's a sound effect for a vacuum?

"I was wondering why the vacuum was on. You really don't need to do this, Gin."

"I've been living alone for years now and I'm one to take care of my house. I'm good friends with the housewives in the neighborhood," I jested.

"So you will become a househusband?"

"I shall be the provider. It's just that maintaining a house of that size is a pain.

Oh, where there any damage here after the earthquake?"

"Thankfully, there's none. We had it looked by an engineer."

"That's good to know…

…

Is it usual that you're alone in the house?"

"Ringo doesn't really leave the house when she has a free schedule, but usually I watch movies or clean the house when the two are out. Then how is it for someone living by himself?"

"Uhh… I guess people my age are different. We really move depending on our mood. My days are very contrasting when I'm outside of work. I move a lot at those times while I'm usually on my desk or lazing in bed all day."

"That will be a problem an inch later in the future…"

"Please don't scare me like that…"

I guess I've really been accepted to this home. There was really just a moment of timidity in me at first but it ultimately disappeared after I warmed up to this place. I feel very indifferent. I really moved in to this house. I have completely blended in so much that it felt like I have been living here for a few years.

When has it happened, I wondered yet never expected an answer. There could be many reasons, but they cannot be it, they can be it.

If there really is a use of the product my body had become, it would probably be to maintain the relationship I have founded and never let anyone destroy it. In the same way… I ought to prepare myself and face it head on if ever I'll be the cause of that destruction.

"Aunt Sumi, do you still have photo albums with you?"

"Oh…? Are you satisfied with just that? You know we have videos of Ringo when she was still a baby."

"I'd also want to see that please!"

▪ ▪ ▪

August 13.

"We're home."

"Welcome back. Have you two had dinner already?"

"Yes…"

"Hahh… That was tiring… You didn't have to wait for us this late…"

"Late? It is just 8 though?"

We snapped into a halt, and our heads turned towards the wall clock which factually says the mentioned time.

"What?! I thought it was already midnight!"

"The reception felt really long huh…"

Suits off, ties untied. It was another good day.

Happy wedding to the Yugare couple.

Well, finally they got married after a handful of postponements that I won't try to learn about. I have my own speculations but it appears that the entire event went on very smoothly so I don't really know if it was because of management. But it went so smoothly that I straight up just had a good time, and especially Rin who finally gets some down time after a lot of stressful days in the institute. It was a deserved break for her.

While the other people are still enjoying themselves in the after party, we decided to bail out early even if the next day was a Sunday in consideration that my significant other would probably prefer to rest and easily retire for the night.

That being said, I came out of my room and stuck around in the living room while Aunt and Uncle are playing Cl*bhouse 51. It was needless to say amusing to watch.

Then Rin came down with a blanket on her arm, asked me to scoot a bit even when I am sitting on the floor with my back leaning on the couch. She then sat shoulder to shoulder and wrapped the blanket over us looking like two Digl*tts. But was it comfortable? Yes.

[https://i.imgur.com/q8Bgttg.png]

"It's starting to get cold, huh…"

"Well it's supposed to be fall already."

"I guess."

You know, even though we've been together for quite a bit, not quite long, we never really had many times of physically being close to each other. I think it was something that we mutually agreed upon although not even discussing about it with each other. In my case, I frankly wanted to avoid it as I was ignorant, not knowing a human thing in this world. It was however in the past, and I don't really mind it anymore, especially when Rin probably needs comfort the most in her continuing challenges that I don't really experience with her.

"Is your right leg still hurting?"

"A bit. We probably stood for a little too long in the reception. This happens quite a while in CCI's kitchen but it goes away after a short rest."

"That's good then… But always take it… easy when you can…"

I slowly felt my head bobbing down with my eyes closing. The moment Rin leaned her head on my shoulder, still awake, I slowly lost consciousness with my head leaning on hers the same, and falling asleep together unbeknownst to the gentle glances the parents gave us.

…

On the cooling night, the mother had placed another layer of blanket over the couple, and proceeded to make cups of tea for her and her other half.

"Look at how much they have grown…"

"As our children, or as how they are together?"

"I guess both? While the way they see each other has not changed much, they really have matured and considered things they would not have in the past.

I just realized that we really haven't talked about this seriously, but Shuu, what is your honest opinion about the strides that Gin is taking?"

"If you are asking about the future that he wishes to see with our daughter… Gin is not a fool. I'm letting him do want he wish because I know that he knows what he is doing, at least on that scenario while he still has a conflicted mind on others.

Musuko is a strong weak person, and that is why I wouldn't really want Ringo to find others apart from him. They always talk about the analogy of chopsticks that embody them, which I firmly agree on. In another sense, they climb a mountain without leaving each other behind… no, that was hard to explain. Let's just say that they are a leg each! For them to stand still and firm, they need to be together. Because if not, they will both fall.

Musuko once confessed to me… that when he realized it, there was a time when his relationship with our daughter was because of… dependency. I was horrified, and quite mad at him for that, but it was all in the past. Even I can observe them now to have a clear relationship that probably brought about when they separated. For that, I was thankful that he broke out of it quickly.

As a strong weak person, his life has been molded with his past for better or for worse, but he has started to move on, don't you think?"

"I agree."

"But the fact that the little things… and even the dependency may even have rooted to our mistake. And if so, I really should have been horrified and mad of myself instead of directing it towards him.

We have nearly killed him… but we may never be able to understand the feeling of stained hands. While I'm a parent, I'm still also a human with regrets. We've given them so many bad things, that is why I now only wish for the best to them."

▪ ▪ ▪

«No frills, the couple was not pretending to be asleep.»

August 27.

Coincidentally meeting in the hallway as we just exited our rooms, Rin saw on the right timing with a really huge yawn on my dork face.

"9am… Rare for you to sleep in?" she asked with an appearance that has already long woken up.

"Oversleeping always has a really good feeling…"

"Any plans today?"

"Hmm… nope. I'll rest the entire day. I say that but I have pending illustrations."

"Huh?"

"Hm? Something wrong?"

"Nothing really."

"Okay. Had breakfast?"

"Yeah. You have yours on the table."

"Thanks…"

"Mrow, (I'll be taking a walk, Aruji.)" said Haku while coming out of the room with a cap on his mouth.

"Oh, take care then.

He said he'll be going for a stroll."

"I'm sorry to keep it a secret from you, Potato, but I can hear him already."

"S-So uhm… You're not heading out today?" our conversation continued as we went to the living room where Uncle and Aunt is present.

"No? I want to finish my backlog today."

"So you're really not going to Queen Street today…?"

"I don't need to. I think it's good enough that I remember this day vividly. But if you want to, I'll go with you."

"No, no. If that's your choice then it's fine.

You then? Doing something today."

"Noooope. Chose not to do anything this weekend!

I'll probably draw a fanart and post in TAC though?"

"I look forward to that."

Really, I don't need to go.

Because if I were to pick between reliving the restart of my agony and spending time that is so far from my solitude, I think you already know my answer.