Early morning, the next day.
Haruka Yuzan completed the discharge procedures with Oto Mizuko.
The young lady's wound was not deep, and after being treated last night, she could be discharged today.
After yesterday's upheaval, Oto Mizuko beca sowhat silent, following behind Haruka without speaking.
Her forr flamboyance and confidence were gone, her pupils appeared sowhat grey.
Seeing this, Haruka Yuzan had no choice.
It was very troubling.
He opened his mouth, but didn't know how to comfort her.
"Yuko, do you want so milk?"
"Hmm."
"Yuko, do you want so bread?"
"Hmm."
"Yuko, shall we go ho?"
"Hmm."
That was their entire conversation this morning.
The morning tram had just passed on the streets of Tokyo, the morning mist had yet to clear, and sunlight stread through the cracks in the glass, casting elongated patches of light on the ground.
Haruka Yuzan brought Oto Mizuko to the café downstairs.
He hesitated, pondering how to settle the young lady.
Should he take her back to the villa?
"..."
Now Oto's condition was very unstable, and he wasn't reassured if he didn't care for her personally.
But keeping her near...
Sister Reiko and Shimizu...
He lifted his gaze; the girl before him was leaning on the velvet armchair like a withered leaf left behind after the tide receded.
The hem of her silver white lace-hemd dress hung by her calves, the tips of her custom-made white sandals smudged with so unknown ink stain; in the past, the young lady would never allow a speck of dirt on herself.
But now, she seed to have lost all her strength.
Her long hair had been carefully styled in soft curls, yet it lacked luster; a few stray strands clung to her pale, almost translucent cheeks.
Her exposed irises were an extrely pale glassy color, like a mist that wouldn't clear, her pupils unfocused, not fixating on anything—
Neither on the teacup long since cooled on the carved tea table before her, nor on the breeze carrying the scent of gardenias wafting in from outside the window. Her eyes were naturally droopy, missing the arrogance she'd often feigned, leaving only a deep weariness.
Yuko had been like this since she woke up this morning.
Only when Haruka spoke to her did her pupils slightly gather focus.
This kind of Yuko... was truly heart-wrenching.
As a man, he had to shoulder responsibility.
Since he had done wrong in the past, he could not evade responsibility again, no matter what!
Whether it was to make ands or humbly apologize, as long as he could gain Sister Reiko and the others' forgiveness, he would do it.
After the scandal of having multiple relationships ca to light, he definitely couldn't run away!
"Yuko, don't worry, we're going ho now."
Haruka Yuzan held Oto Mizuko's little hand, his expression earnest.
Oto Mizuko showed no reaction, as if her whole life had fallen silent.
Haruka Yuzan took the girl out of the café, and when they returned to the villa, they found everyone was in the living room.
"Haruka, you... you're back." Reiko Onodera's face was worried, and upon seeing the young lady behind him, the guilt in her eyes deepened.
In her view, it was her inability to resist temptation that resulted in this outco.
It's all my fault...
"Yes, Sister Reiko."
Haruka Yuzan didn't notice the lady's emotions.
He stood at the entrance, looking at the other won in the living room.
Misaki Saki, Arisugawa Hoshina, Reiko Onodera, and... Chiba Shimizu.
He sighed and slowly spoke: "For the upcoming period, Yuko will be living with us, and during this ti, thank you all for putting in extra effort. I've decided that we'll all go on a trip abroad."
"Huh?"
Reiko Onodera, who had been about to speak, was stunned.
It was clear she hadn't caught up with the developnt of events; how did it go from a bloody incident last night to suddenly going abroad today?
"Going abroad?! Great!"
Misaki Saki was thrilled, but when she noticed the atmosphere was a little off, she quickly quieted down.
"Well, I think getting out a bit could be refreshing."
She awkwardly poked her fingers.
Among them, perhaps she had the simplest mind, just recently turning a new leaf as a doujinshi artist.
As long as it didn't concern romance, her mind was blank.
She didn't care about her current situation; if Haruka abandoned her, she would just pack her bags and miserably head off to a poetic and faraway place.
Haruka Yuzan glanced at her, then at the others, finally sighing: "Alright, I'm taking Yuko upstairs first."
With that, he led Oto Mizuko upstairs.
The young lady hadn't spoken the entire ti, while Chiba Shimizu's cold gaze rested on the two, lost in thought.
"It seems as if everything is going smoothly, no big deals here."
Misaki Saki collapsed onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling, in a carefree manner: "A happy ending, absolutely wonderful!"
She swung her pale little legs, humming carefreely.
A happy ending?
Chiba Shimizu glanced at her before moving to head upstairs to find Haruka Yuzan.
But Reiko Onodera was already one step ahead.
The usually graceful and gentle lady was now walking a bit urgently.
...
"Yuko, sit here for a mont; once I pack, we'll get away overseas for a break."
While packing their luggage, Haruka Yuzan spoke to Oto Mizuko seated on the bed.
The young lady watched his busy figure, her eyes still an endless void of grey, yet her gaze never left Haruka.
"Didn't you previously want to go to the southern beaches of France? This ti we can go see it."
"Everyone will go together, it'll be a relaxing trip."
"Speaking of which, from childhood until now, I've only traveled abroad once... (crossed to the Island Country), never really experiencing the splendor of other nations."
"I don't know what might happen on this trip, but I imagine it will be exciting."
He rambled on, while Oto Mizuko did not utter a single word.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Mr. Haruka, are you inside?"
From outside ca Reiko Onodera's gentle voice.
Haruka Yuzan glanced at the young lady on the bed: "Yuko, wait here for a mont; I'll go see what's going on."
The young lady did not respond.
Haruka looked at her before stepping out.
Outside, in the hallway.
Even though only a night had passed, there was a visible new sorrow between the lady's brows.
"Sister Reiko, is sothing the matter?"
Reiko Onodera peeked inside the room, expressing concern: "Is Yuko alright?"
Haruka Yuzan shook his head: "She's fine now."
"It's all my fault."
The lady's shimring eyes were filled with self-bla: "If it weren't for back then, things wouldn't have co to this."
"It's not your fault, Sister Reiko, it's mine."
Haruka Yuzan shook his head.
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