"Is that so... I’m really sorry for the trouble..."
"So, when do you think it’ll be ready?"
"Hmm? Mr. Shirakawa, are you in a hurry?"
"? Not really..."
After a few rounds of conversation, Shirakawa Sawahei was quite dismayed to realize that Tachibana China wasn’t planning to let him leave easily—not that this was strange. Clearly, she should be like her husband, a staunch opponent of unreliable n. So why insist on having him stay here to accompany Little Invisible Study Girl?
Shirakawa Sawahei didn’t exactly mind being with the girl... But it’s New Year’s, and ti is limited... Isn’t a wastrel always short on ti?!
At this rate, won’t I end up spending New Year only with Little Invisible Study Girl?
Fake Fallacy Slayer: Axe End Technique.
Real Fallacy Slayer: Interrupt Ti Managent Skill Cast!
Of course, what Tachibana China and Tachibana Kaisuke wanted to achieve was not to rudely drive Shirakawa Sawahei away from their daughter. Instead, their intentions were more subtle. Ideally, they wanted their daughter to dislike the unreliable guy herself and voluntarily give up. Failing that, they wished for him to leave slowly—without any shocks. Their only daughter, if hurt too deeply and unable to move past it throughout her life, no amount of revenge on Shirakawa Sawahei would nd that damage.
How to make their daughter stop liking this unreliable guy? Tachibana China didn’t know for sure, but she knew that any thod required keeping Shirakawa Sawahei around.
Delay, just keep delaying!
With that strategy, after finishing one al, Shirakawa Sawahei was leisurely kept by Tachibana China to have so wagashi, then afternoon tea, and finally dinner. By nightfall, they simply decided to have him stay over for the night, so they could all go for a New Year shrine visit the next day.
Shirakawa Sawahei: "?"
Are you two sure you’re not helping out here?
Soon, the naïve old wastrel discovered that this couple definitely was not assisting him. Because Shirakawa Sawahei had to stay over, all his belongings were brought to his room by Miss Tachibana Tomoku. However, he found out upon leaving his room that his place was a whole long corridor away from Little Invisible Study Girl’s room. In between were the rooms of Tachibana China and Tachibana Kaisuke, truly embodying the phrase: "Standing to your left, as if separated by a galaxy."
No choice, if it’s a galaxy then so be it... Shirakawa Sawahei sighed, taking his yukata to go bathe and prepare for a soak.
The people of Neon have a particular fondness for baths, sothing he’s sowhat understood during his ti there. Lying in the hot water, thinking of nothing, relaxing body and mind, is undoubtedly the best relief from a day’s exhaustion.
Comfortable as it was, one couldn’t stay imrsed in the water forever. Feeling refreshed from his bath, Shirakawa Sawahei donned his robe and headed back to his room. Midway, he encountered Tachibana Kaisuke and awkwardly averted his gaze to avoid eye contact with this intimidating man.
He thought their eting would inevitably lead to another heated exchange. Unexpectedly, Tachibana Kaisuke rely gave a grunt and bypassed him without a word.
What’s going on? Has my aura beco strong enough to rival Tachibana Kaisuke, the ultimate boss?
A bit puzzled, Shirakawa Sawahei glanced back, only to see Little Invisible Study Girl standing not far behind him, greeting her father. It dawned on him then.
It turns out it wasn’t my aura getting stronger! I have a guardian angel behind ?!
How heartwarming is that.
Inwardly, Shirakawa Sawahei gave Miss Tachibana Tomoku a thumbs-up, then greeted her, too, before heading off to sleep.
"Goodnight, Tachibana."
"Goodnight, Shirakawa."
They each turned, pausing montarily at their doors.
And then nothing happened. Tachibana Tomoku’s eyes were full of hesitation, gently sliding open the wooden lattice, then closing it softly, her movents as tender as the deep night outside.
Shirakawa Sawahei entered the room, unfurled his bedding, and closed his eyes to sleep.
Everything quieted down, all sounds ceased.
After a long while, those gentle little hands reappeared in the gentle night. She seed resolute about sothing, softly sliding open the wooden lattice and with quiet, slow steps, carrying a blanket towards Shirakawa Sawahei’s room.
As she passed by Tachibana Kaisuke’s and Tachibana China’s room, there was no sound. Only after she’d walked past did a soft sigh resonate from the darkness.
"Is it okay?"
"One must try step by step." Tachibana China sighed.
Reaching Shirakawa Sawahei’s room, it seed that all her courage was spent. She hesitated at the door for a long, long ti, even feeling a faint urge to turn away. But finally, recalling sothing, her eyes steadied a bit, gently opening Shirakawa Sawahei’s room’s wooden lattice.
Step by step, her breathing was light. Miss Tachibana Tomoku’s eyes were tender, recalling the ti before when she stayed over at Shirakawa Sawahei’s ho.
Back then, she had also snuck downstairs in the middle of the night, intending to secretly cover the boy she liked with a blanket. Unexpectedly, she’d been caught while secretly watching him sleep, which eventually led to them ending up in the sa room...
Those late-night chats in the room were so morable...
mories slowly unfolded, the boy’s brows and eyes remained unchanged, as if they’d never left each other. Only the ti and place had changed, the people remained, but the mood couldn’t return to how it once was.
No one steps into the sa river twice—perhaps because this feeling is irretrievable, untouchable.
Tachibana Tomoku sighed softly, staring blankly at Shirakawa Sawahei, montarily lost in thought.
Shirakawa Sawahei kept his eyes closed, sensing the girl’s presence not far beside him, feeling her gaze upon his face.
They didn’t speak, after a while, Little Invisible gently placed the blanket and got up, her shadow slightly wavering. She bit her lip, refraining from waking Shirakawa Sawahei like before, trying her best not to make a sound as she quietly exited and closed the wooden lattice.
Shirakawa Sawahei slowly opened his eyes, his expression complex. Whether it was regret or heartache spread within him, gradually filling his heart.
I truly am an incorrigible wastrel. Shirakawa Sawahei quietly told himself, then lightly covered himself with the blanket brought over by Little Invisible.
He promised that no matter what, he wouldn’t hurt this endearing girl... But now, things seed less simple than imagined.
Regardless of choice, he would inevitably hurt this pure and lovely Little Invisible. The difference only lay in what outco she hoped for more.
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