Baby Yui Can't Smile Easily
Rohan stepped out of the third-floor room on the second morning of the trip.
Noah, who had been sipping a drink, widened her eyes dramatically.
She pointed straight at him with her finger, letting out a roar for good measure.
"The culprit who stole Clara from me!"
"Look at this tiger. As if I ever had her to steal in the first place."
He played along with Noah's mock growl, tussling playfully.
As he caught her kitten punches on his forearm, Ichinose approached with a subtle, enigmatic smile.
"...Congratulations."
"Thanks."
Rohan had figured the two would know.
Right after sending Sion and Clara back yesterday, the second floor had been so noisy he didn't even need to strain his ears to hear it.
'Though it was just Noah's voice that carried.'
Her booming voice even at night had made the topic of conversation crystal clear.
She was a friend who helped out in so many ways without even trying.
"Where are Sion and Clara?"
"They went to the convenience store right outside. They'll be back soon."
"Ah, that's why the gate was open over there."
Rohan's gaze shifted to the estate entrance.
Ichinose, eyes closed, sensed him purely through her other senses before speaking.
"Rohan."
"Yeah?"
"How about we end the trip here? We were supposed to wrap up with swimming anyway, so we can just skip that."
"Why? You feeling unwell?"
Rohan picked up on the unnatural tone in her voice and expression.
But the girl shook her head, denying it was anything like that.
"My parents suggested we all have lunch together if possible. What do you think, Rohan?"
"Isn't your dad busy?"
"He's off today."
"True, there was that clash with Cheongnim yesterday... I'm fine with it."
Ichinose's parents, not to mention Noah's mother, probably had stories they wanted to hear.
The more he thought about it, the better it seemed, and he nodded firmly.
But one thing nagged at him.
"Everyone's okay with it, so we can start packing right away. I'll let the house know too."
"Ah, Ichinose."
"Yes?"
Rohan was in the position of having heard that she'd been looking forward to the trip.
That's why he had to ask.
"Don't you have anything else you want to do, or any place you want to go?"
"...Me?"
"Yeah."
Ichinose, who had been keeping her lips tightly shut, let out a long breath.
Only then did she draw a natural, unforced smile.
"I'm just happy being with everyone. Thanks for asking."
"You idiot! Why didn't you ask me?"
Noah, who had been listening in, swung her tail and resumed her kitten punches.
Rohan took the almost spoiled attacks and asked,
"What do you want to eat, Noah?"
"Why do you assume I'll want food, like it's a given?"
"Uh, aren't you?"
"You got me."
"..."
Stunned into silence, Rohan watched as two girls entered through the estate gate.
Sion and Clara spotted him and hurried over with beaming smiles.
"Rohan. You're up?"
"O-oppa... good morning...!"
It had only been a few hours since they started dating.
In everyday life visible to others, nothing had changed much.
But the way they looked at each other, the distance between them—it had definitely shifted.
So Ichinose could guess.
The bond between Rohan and the two would grow ever more vividly colored with time.
The group finished a light breakfast and prepared to head back.
Ichinose naturally claimed the front passenger seat under the pretext of inputting the address into the navigation.
"Rohan. I'll set the fastest route."
"Thanks."
Sion and Clara, having sealed their resolve, said nothing—of course.
The two girls were still basking in the afterglow that their confessions hadn't been a dream, sprawled limply in the back seat.
And sandwiched between them was Noah, chomping on a huge loaf of bread.
Apparently breakfast hadn't been enough; her mouth was working overtime.
"Let's grab some fruit on the way. And fill up the gas too."
"We don't have to—"
"Going empty-handed? No way I can allow that. They lent us the sea and the car; we owe them at least some sincerity."
Rohan seriously pondered what fruit to buy.
He fiddled around checking for fruit stands en route to the destination.
'Really... I like seeing Rohan like this.'
Ichinose felt the lingering murkiness in her heart clear up once more.
She smiled and casually offered an answer.
"Mom loves peaches the most out of all fruits."
"The firm ones? Or the soft ones?"
"Both. She doesn't discriminate with peaches. Oh! She likes varieties with a pinkish hue."
"And your dad?"
"He likes what Mom likes."
"Whoa... that's cool."
Rohan stepped on the accelerator, genuinely impressed.
..
..
Upon arriving at the mansion, Rohan grabbed the peaches bought on the way and followed Ichinose and Noah inside.
Trailing Rohan like shadows were Sion and Clara.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
They passed through the front door Ichinose opened and entered the courtyard.
In the center of the expansive yard came into view.
Three people sat at a wooden table.
Ichinose's parents, and Noah's mother, Jane Prozenheart.
"My girls~ Did you have fun?"
Jane, who had been resting her chin on her hand, was the first to wave enthusiastically.
The group bowed their heads and stepped forward.
"We're back."
"Your pretty daughter is back!"
"Pardon the intrusion!"
"P-pardon the intrusion...!"
Rohan strode forward boldly and once more offered greetings, showing Momo the fruit.
"Madam. It's nothing special, but I thought it might be nice to have together after the meal."
"Oh my, you didn't have to bring anything."
Momo covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled softly.
The atmosphere felt warmly receptive so far.
Rohan then pulled the car key from his pocket.
"Sir. Thank you! It made things so much easier."
Ichinose Jun stared blankly at the key Rohan politely extended, without taking it.
His expression unchanging, he asked Rohan,
"How do you plan to get back to Academy City?"
"I'll rent another vehicle. If not, we'll use other transport."
"Then return this car from Academy City. Leave it at a service center, and our staff will pick it up."
"...Is that really okay?"
Ichinose Jun nodded decisively, even adding a rationale about vehicle maintenance.
"It needs to be driven since it'll be sitting unused for a while anyway."
"Thank you!"
At this point, refusing would be rude.
Rohan expressed his gratitude, promising to take good care of it, and pocketed the key again.
"Shall we hear about what happened over lunch first? You must all be hungry."
"Yes, let's do as Momo says."
With Ichinose Jun falling silent, Jane chimed in agreement.
Momo rose from her seat and headed off.
"I prepared lunch myself, but I hope it suits your tastes."
As the group followed, Noah wagged her tail excitedly, vouching for the taste.
"Auntie's cooking is super delicious! Totally different from my mom's!"
"Hey now! If a beauty like me could cook too, the world's balance would collapse. Remember that, daughter."
"Mom always burns things... Ow! Ow! Stop! I'll tell Dad!"
Jane grabbed Noah and poked her sides relentlessly.
Even as Noah thrashed with her innate superhuman strength, she couldn't escape Jane's grip.
"My girl doesn't know. Dad's always on Mom's side."
"Dad does whatever I want when I act cute!"
"Ahaha!!! Think about who you got that cuteness from, sweetie."
The group entered the Ichinose family mansion, listening to the mother-daughter banter.
At Momo's request to sit and relax, they settled haphazardly onto the spacious sofa.
"Yui. Can you help me prepare the meal?"
"...Yes!"
Momo and Eungae Nose headed to the kitchen.
As she pulled out plates, Momo gently asked,
"Yui. How was the trip?"
"...It was fun."
"That's a relief, but why does my pretty girl seem so down?"
Momo had her suspicions. Ichinose Jun probably did too, and likely Jane as well.
The emotions radiating from the two girls shadowing Rohan were all too obvious.
"That's..."
Eungae Nose froze, plate in hand.
No denial came at Momo's words.
"Yui."
"Yes?"
"No matter what, Mom and Dad are on your side."
Staring at Momo's kind smile, Eungae Nose swallowed hard.
This felt like the perfect moment to resolve the doubt weighing on her.
"...Mother."
"Yes, dear?"
"I'm really sorry before the meal, but... there's something I want to ask you and Father..."
One nagging issue had kept her tossing and turning lately. As her feelings for Rohan deepened and she began imagining a future, the girl faced a major worry.
She needed this resolved to fully open her heart to Rohan.
If not, she'd likely slip up at the table or not eat properly.
"Shall I ask the guests to excuse us for a bit?"
"Please..."
Momo was simply delighted at her daughter's rare request.
She untied her apron and hung it back up.
Then she headed to the living room, where Jane and Noah's voices rang out noisily.
"Dear."
"Hm?"
"Could you come here a moment?"
Momo called to Ichinose Jun, who sat quietly.
The Ichinose family gathered in a quiet room.