Early in the day, a scream was heard in Gin's household upon the ringing of the doorbell.

"Didn't I already message you that I'll be staying here again for a bit, Ringo…?"

Behind the doorway and further from Rin whose brain had shut off from shock, Nagi went down the stairs to check up on the sudden commotion only to see the person at the door.

Contrary to Rin's reaction, he nonchalantly greeted, "Oh, I'll get your bag, Shiro."

"Uh, can you let me in now, Ringo?"

Still flabbergasted, she stepped aside and closed the door then proceed to peek at Shiro in the living room from the semi-wall as if she isn't hidden at all when the two of them are basically staring down each other.

"Is this really that surprising?" Shiro sighed.

"Y-Yeah…"

It was as if Rin let inside a different person in the house.

Nothing waved around at the back of Shiro's head, and all Rin could see was hair that was at a length only extending past the chin and bangs that have been cut, all resembling a bob cut.

Rin couldn't deny the slight disappointed that she felt.

"My ponytail…" teary-eyed, she cried out.

"Excuse me, girl, it's not your ponytail."

"Oh well, you look cute either way," she then gave Shiro a hug.

"Wow, you recovered fast. And let go, it's hot!"

Once again, Shiro has crashed into the house for a while.

"Is there a reason you cut your hair short? I don't even see myself cutting mine that short…"

"Just for a change, I guess? Apart from freelancing I'm also going job hunting so maybe a fresh look wouldn't hurt. And Nagi didn't mind anyway."

"Well, I was with you in the salon and we talked for half an hour about the cut."

"Nagi, can you not?"

"Wait, are you fine staying at this house when you'll be graduating soon?"

"First of all, wipe that smug look on your face, Ms. Already Graduated.

But I'm just waiting for the D-day. I'm happy with how my paper turned out."

"Didn't you say it has something to do with a magazine?"

"Give it a read when it pops up online or physical.

By the way, why was Gin so adamant to tell you when I'm coming? I know he's at work, but isn't Nagi already here?"

Unseen by Shiro, Nagi suddenly looked away.

"What, does it still surprise you that I'm pretty much always here?"

"No, unless you've completely moved in here?"

"If I had, then this house would look a lot less empty, you know. I still live next door~"

If there was a keyboard near Nagi, he would have pressed the X key continuously.

It could be said that Rin has been living in two houses, perhaps for even a few years now, but only became much more apparent recently. At least, that was how Nagi interpreted it.

Nonetheless, it would seem that he has not told his significant other about the recent news about the Gin and Rin, hence the lack of reaction from Shiro.

But in Rin's mind, she is only wondering how long it would take for Shiro to realize when the proof is literally around her left hand all this time.

"Guess I'll be on a meeting for a bit then I'll take a shower. You can chill around for a bit while you wait, Shiro."

"Got it."

"You guys going somewhere?"

"We'll go out for lunch."

"Sounds fuuuunnn…"

"What, you haven't been on dates with Gin?"

"Yeah, but that's just fine. That's the least of our concerns and I pretty much eat with him everyday either with my parents or just me.

This house is probably going to get busy anyway."

"Something going on?"

"Sounds like Gin's family is on their way to a done deal on selling their family house."

"Oh? Then I guess they're moving here."

"Only for a bit. This will remain Gin's place since construction nearby will probably start immediately once everything is rolling."

"Woah, sounds like things are moving fast around here. That also sounds really expensive, though."

"They'll be fiiiine~ I guess the things that happened last year can be a blessing in disguise. They're fed up with the flood here, anyway."

"Uh-huh…"

"On another note, why don't you and Nacchi stop by Claude some time?"

"Your tone suggests it's more of promoting your restaurant rather than a friendly invitation."

"I think that's just you."

"I'm just joking."

"Anyway, I'll see if I can get you a coupon or something.

With that said, let's start a co-op game while we're waiting for Nacchi!"

"Were you always this spontaneous before…?"

▪ ▪ ▪

It only took Shiro a day to get used to Rin's much more apparent presence in the house even with how it has been for many years. In her eyes, it really felt like Rin is living in the abode they are in all the while still going back to her actual house.

Shiro had noticed that perhaps something had changed right after her friend graduated, and that she surmised that Rin and Gin are finally taking their future seriously… and yet she still hasn't noticed what is on Rin's left hand.

One time, Shiro caught Rin running around the house in a panic wearing a mismatched outfit of a shirt clearly used as house clothes and a nice pleated shorts for what looks like a day out.

"Shiroooooo… have you seen a blouse lying around somewhere?"

"Wait, that was yours?! That got me anxious seeing that in the laundry… I thought Gin was bringing home another girl."

"You know, you didn't need to jump on those hoops when I'm literally here everyday.

Phew, I thought I'd lost it!"

"Also, I think these keys in the coffee table are yours."

"So that's where I left them!"

"Those are the keys of your car! Take care of it better, will you?!

Hahh… Going somewhere?"

"Mhm. Actually, you can join me if you're not busy. I'm just going out for some excursion."

"That'd be nice. I'll get changed and grab my camera."

"Okay~ I'll be next door for a bit."

Seeming that Rin was in a bit of a hurry, Shiro quickly got changed and opted to wear a slightly adjusted glasses prescribed for her vision as wearing makeup would take time.

Walking to the bathroom of the first floor, she suddenly saw a woman that is the same age, or at least a bit older, peeking from the glass of the house's porch door. As if the timings aligned, Rin descended the stairs entering a domain of awkwardness.

"S-See what I told you earlier, Ringo?! Gin is absolutely cheating on you!" with great concern, Shiro voiced out only to be met with a burst of laughter as a response.

"Pfft…! No way, no way… that's too funny…! Ahahaha…!"

Wiping her teary eyes, Rin unlocked the door and let the woman in.

"So let me introduce her to you, Shiro—she's Yukihime Kurogane."

"Isn't that Gin's middle name? So…"

"You can call me Yuki. I'm Gin's cousin."

"I-I'm Shiro Kirishima. I'm friends with her and Gin… Sorry for jumping the gun earlier…"

"By the way, Yuki is an Exile."

"…!"

Understandably, Yukihime panicked at how sudden and nonchalant Rin revealed her identity, but everything just seemed like there is a cute filter on Rin's eyes as she just hugged out with a satisfied look any attempts of Yukihime to stop her.

"There, there… Don't worry about it since she's entered the base in the past."

"Oh, so she's an associate. I probably didn't meet her that time, then…

But stop scaring me like that, Ringo~!"

"You also almost gave me a heart attack earlier…" Shiro seconded.

"It's fine with you if Shiro joins us, right?"

"Sure, why not?"

"Also, why were you at the yard instead of the front door?"

Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.

"Ah… I was just checking something around Gin's porch for a bit."

"Well… I've been here for 25 minutes or something but I'm on the solar roof of the porch…"

"Wait, if she's Gin's cousin and is an Exile… does that mean she's Eijiro's…" Shiro exclaimed leading Yukihime to look at Rin.

"So they knew about it too?"

"Gin felt our friends wouldn't trust him if he didn't tell them."

"I feel like my dad would say something like that, or at least that's what I got from what I heard from Mom."

"You really have a way with your words, Yuki… Gin's not your dad, okay?!"

"I know, I know," Yukihime chuckled, "I was just joking."

"Alright, then. After you take a break, let's head out."

Yukihime then briefly met Nagi who just woke up from a nap and is living on a different time zone despite being in the same roof. After talking for a little bit, Rin then left the house in Haku's paws and Nagi's hands.

Two sectors away from home, the three of them arrived at a farm at which they learned how to make butter by hand, which was also most convenient for Rin following on Gin's principle of making ingredients on your own if you can.

Subsequently, they stumbled upon a creative district where its centerpiece revolves around a road called Installation Street where bicycles are only allowed as various installation artworks gathered at the roadside seemingly taking visual cues on how northern Orio's "Array" of statues is laid out.

In addition to that, there was a small fee of 30 Laxes (0.90 USD) per person to do chalk art on the road for two hours which Rin and Shiro immediately took advantage of, and also encouraged Yukihime to join.

In retrospect, Yukihime felt fine outside even when she has only gone out of the underground base for very few times. The Resurfaced Exiles have always descended the base bearing information whether major or minor. Those people are important in learning the affairs of the outside world, as even if they have become independent from the society, the Exiles still have to know what is going on around them to ensure that their safety would be assured.

This effort has led to education of the younger ones to blend in with the outside world, but experiences vary ultimately and it just so happened that Yukihime was able to adapt to the drastic changes around her, outside her comfort zone.

Still, there are some things that she couldn't help but be curious about. For a while now, she had stopped drawing and has been eyeing something in the sky.

Then a click sounded near her.

"First time seeing a drone?" Shiro asked after putting down her camera.

"Yeah… we can't really fly them inside the base, so it's cool seeing it flying in the sky."

"There are really small ones, though. And I think those can fly just good enough since the floors in your base have high ceilings, I recall."

"I'll have to ask someone about that.

Also… are those tourists drawing there?"

"Oh, now that you point it out, this looks like a tourist spot from people overseas. Guess I'll take note of this place for my gigs."

"What are you guys talking about?" asked Rin as she stood up from a squat. "Ohhh… my knee just popped."

"That was loud."

"A-Are you okay, Ringo?"

"Don't worry about it, Yuki~ My left leg's completely fine now, okay?

Heave-ho…! See?"

"R-Ringo?!"

To Yukihime's surprise, her foot was suddenly off the ground as she was lifted for a few seconds.

"You two suddenly remind me that I'm an only child," Shiro grumbled. "You two look like sisters, if anything…"

"Really? If lifting someone is a criterion then maybe Sis is not actually my sister…"

"Please don't carry a pregnant woman.

Anyway, why don't you two stand side by side? I'll take a picture of you."

"Oh, that's nice! I wish I could bridal carry you, Yuki."

"If you want me to, I could carry you like that."

"Wait, can you actu- Waahh?!"

"Don't mind if I do?"

In the camera viewfinder, Shiro had somehow found Rin effortlessly carried by another girl, and a frame of her shocked face was captured perfectly.

"Geez… the way you carried me reminded me of Gin. I didn't know you're that strong!"

"Well… I'm used to lifting stuff in the base… I didn't enter the Room, though."

"That's kinda amazing… Ah, let me see the picture, Shiro."

Out of the blue, Shiro came to a realization upon reviewing the pictures she took.

"W-Wait, I took pictures of Yuki without her permission! I probably shouldn't have done that, should I?! I'll go delete them…!"

"N-No, it's fine! As long as you keep it to yourself, it will be okay.

If anything… can we exchange contact info so you can send me the pictures? I'd like my mom to see them."

"But wouldn't that leave a digital footprint or something like that…?"

At this point, Shiro's anxiety had gone through the roof.

"You know, Shiro, they've been around for 80 years. There's no way they don't have a countermeasure for that," Rin whispered. "Marco's just too OP, don't you agree, Yuki?"

"I wouldn't say that. His systems had its fair share of problems but he's just quick to fix them."

"Hahh… Is that so… I've been worried with way too many things today."

"Sorry for the inconvenience," Yukihime sheepishly chuckled.

"No, no, I had fun today more than anything. But I guess I got kinda hungry after the stuff we did today."

"Then let's look for a place to eat! I'll blast the AC of the car since it's still really hot!"

At five in the afternoon, the road closed and the chalk drawings get cleaned out for the next day as agreed upon the terms before paying the fee.

Thus, Rin went through shops and restaurants that are near their location and the three of them decided for an early dinner at a Mexican place.

While it is evident that Yukihime has a good grasp of Orio's culture and society outside of the Exiles' perspective, it was as far as her knowledge went. Rin and Shiro therefore had a fun time just watching her be amazed of the food that was on their table, but the same could be said for all of them as Mexican cuisine in Orio was hard to come by, and it just so happened that they came to a good restaurant.

"I'm so stuffed… I'll try to learn how to make this kind of food when I go back to the base…"

"Same… I wish I could go to Mexico to experience the authentic cuisine but I can only save up for trips to Japan…"

"You'll probably have to borrow AMM from Yuki, then."

"I wonder if it's really like that there or it's just that there are just really unsafe places."

"Say, Yuki… do 'glassmakers' drink?" asked Shiro.

"That surprised me. So you also know our code. But some of us do drink. We even make our own so that we don't have to go outside."

"Then… do you personally drink?"

"I-I do?"

…

Their dinner was immediately followed by a trip to a bar in which Shiro had decided to go all out, while Yukihime was showing no signs of caving in from Shiro egging her to also get a strong drink.

Meanwhile, Rin is still wondering how Shiro became such a drinker while sipping on her non-alcoholic cider as she would be behind the wheel.

"So, how was today?" conclusively, Rin asked Yukihime.

"It was definitely a new experience for me. While there are a lot of things to do in the base, the things we did today are very different.

I had a lot of fun."

"Good to know I invited you today, then~"

"Then does this mean… you're a Resurfaced now?" while still sober, Shiro curiously asked.

"Ah, no. Going outside doesn't really mean I'm one, and we have to declare if we will be, which I haven't and probably never. I'm content with the things I do in our place."

"I see… what's life like there, anyway, if that's okay to ask?"

"I… don't think a lot of things are different from the outside. We don't really have the concept of money, but we still have to learn about it nonetheless.

Probably the biggest thing we have done over the years is managing our food. We're self-sufficient for the most part."

"They even have livestock there, Shiro."

"Wait, seriously?!"

"As much as possible we try to replicate a farm, so we have artificial sunlight and developed good soil… although there are talks of also wanting to use the land outside the greenhouse, but we need a Resurfaced to claim it since unoccupied land is technically a government property. If that happens, we'll have to make it just like any other farm without revealing ourselves."

"You say you don't use money, but what you said just now sounded really expensive…"

Yukihime then leaned and whispered to Shiro, "Unbeknownst to the outside world, we actually lead the development of solar energy in the country."

"Now I know you guys are freaking amazing.

But you sound like you know a lot of the ins and outs of your base… what exactly do you do there?"

"Well, we're kind of all-around, jack of all trades for the most part and since we are only few, the majority of us have to learn these things if we want to survive in the future.

But more than anything, I'm more of an engineer and in construction."

"Huh?!"

To Yukihime's surprise, Rin joined in on the choir of exclamation.

"W-Wait, you didn't know, Ringo…?"

"Not at all! Wait, are you the engineer that Gin was talking about for their new house?!"

"Ahh… that would be a different person. I'm usually on the labor side so I'll probably be around a lot whenever construction begins."

While the two of them still couldn't completely wrap their head around it, Rin suddenly noticed Yukihime's hands and touched it.

Despite the slender fingers she had, Rin felt like her hands somehow resembled that of a man. It was rough, and it had scars and calluses signifying they have been put to work.

"Maybe I should give you a moisturizer as a present the next time we meet."

"I do wear protective gloves while I work, but they still ended up like that. Ahaha…

But Gin never told you anything about me?"

"Not that I recall…"

"Not even the times he was working with metals?"

"That he did."

"Then I was actually the one that taught him. I see that you're wearing the first proper version of the ring that Gin made.

Congratulations on the engagement, I guess?"

"Ehehe… thank you."

"Excuse me, WHAT?!"

Shiro was struck dumbfounded. Now that she looked at it, there was indeed a ring on Rin's left ring finger, and so she snatched the hand, looked at it closely, and then at Rin's face. Shiro's face turned red, unclear if it was from her surging feelings, or from the alcohol.

"No way… Is this real, Ringo?!"

"You never noticed when I was wearing that all this time, you know.

But yeah, Gin and I finally decided to get married, like for real."

With Shiro still having Rin's hand on her grasp, she pulled her closer and gave her a tight embrace.

"Congratulations… So happy for you…"

"Aww… thank you… Sorry we haven't told anyone yet.

How about you and Nacchi, then?"

"Girl, way to ruin a nice mood. We haven't even thought about any of that at all.

But since when…?"

"The day I graduated."

"Wow, Gin didn't even wait any longer."

"But it's not like we'll get married eventually, you know? We'll keep you posted since you'll probably be the one that will do our prenup photos and what comes after."

"Oh, I am so down for that.

Then, are you and Gin going to live together after their new house is done, or when Nagi leaves the house?"

"Nope."

"Eh?"

"Call us old-fashioned in our ways, I guess…? We decided not to live together completely until we're actually married. I suppose I agree with Gin that I should still live with my family since I live just next door.

But you've seen how I live now anyway, right?"

"Yeah, it's like you basically have two houses at this point."

"How about you, then? What's your opinion, Shiro?"

"I don't really think it's my place to say something about what you two decide? But in my case, I've been talking with Nagi about it, and it looks like my dad is warming up about it, finally."

"We're slowly transitioning to thinking about a shared life, though, like budgeting and stuff."

"I hope I don't get into fights with Nagi about that when the time comes…

But now that we're on the topic, anyone you're seeing right now, Yuki?"

"Me…? I don't particularly have anyone. But if I were to find a partner, it would definitely be of our people."

"I see…

Well then, let's celebrate Ringo's engagement right now! Excuse me! Can we get refills?"

"H-Hey, Shiro…! Don't order me anything else. I'm still going to drive!"

~ ~ ~

By the time it was around 8pm where Gin and Nagi just finished dinner, they heard Rin's car pull up in the house. From the windows of the porch door, the two of them could see Rin and Shiro lending Yukihime a shoulder.

"Now what in the world did those two do to my cousin?"

While Shiro immediately head straight to bed, Yukihime in the living room fell asleep on Rin's lap after she drank a glass of water.

In Gin's case, it was his first time seeing his cousin sleeping, yet it also felt like he had seen it. Many memories of Eijiro suddenly overlapped with the present, where with his wife Rion, they watched the then infant Yukihime falling asleep.

"Sorry, but I don't think I can bring back Yuki to the base."

"Yeah, it's already late."

"And it would be suspicious if someone sees me stop by an abandoned greenhouse at night when I'm using a company car."

"Y-Yeah…" Gin's voice choked, and a sniffle followed while he wiped away his tears.

"I don't even know if these tears are mine or my uncle's… On one hand, I'm sad that he's not here to see her daughter grow. On the other… I keep thinking about how he had accepted that he didn't have much time in his life, but it's like his regrets is mixing with my consciousness.

Dammit… I wish that guy is still alive today…"

"What we can do now is wish for her and Rion's happiness, I guess? That way, maybe Eijiro's regrets can be appeased."

"I hope… But imagine if I bawl my eyes out if she finds her partner someday.

What happened with the three of you anyway?"

"Well… Shiro got a little carried away, and then we found out Yuki's a bit weak to liquor."

"Huh, I didn't know that."

"Once she wakes up, I'll ask her if she's fine sleeping at our house."

"Do you need a futon?"

"Nah. I have her as a hugging pillow tonight.

"My condolences to her."

"HEY.

Also, you never told me that she helped you out on making the rings. And she's also a builder?"

"I guess that went over my head."

"If she's going to work at construction for your house, then maybe I could offer to let her stay at our house so she won't go to and from the base?"

"If Yukihime and your parents agree to it. Oh, right, I need to call her mom about this."

"Do that first, then. She might be worried right now."

In the middle of Gin's call, Rin continued to watch over Yukihime. In contrast to her rough hands, her hair was silky smooth which Rin had enjoyed giving a stroke.

But then, she heard very weak mumbles.

"Ehehehe… That tickles, Mom… and who is Dad talking to…"

It was not likely that Gin heard it as it was more of a whisper, but Rin's face hardened as she didn't know exactly what to feel. It was as though there was still a child within Yukihime's heart and that it was charming, but what Rin can't distinguish was if those words were but a mere dream or her somehow still yearning for a father… or a complete family.

With her eyes damped, she went along Yukihime's dream, caressing her head once more.

"Your dad is just talking with someone on the phone. Now, now, you should go back to sleep."

"I see… then goodnight… Mom…"

"…understood. I'll tell her to call you tomorrow if she doesn't wake up. Alright, you have a good night too."

"What did Rion say?"

"She's fine with it.

…

What's wrong, Rin?"

"Nothing? I just had a sudden urge of wanting to adopt Yuki."

"But she's older than you."

"Doesn't matter. I love her, and she's so cute."

"H-Huh… sure… But that still wouldn't make me her dad, just saying."

"She might just cry if she heard that."

"Then the mother should comfort her."

"Wow, that sounds like a bad father would say."

"H-Hey… that's a scary thing to say. I don't want to be a bad dad, okay?"

"I'll keep that in mind~"