The next morning, Yuki stood in front of Rai's gate.
Ding-dong.
Ding-dong.
Ding-dong.
"Rai! Hellooo?!" she shouted.
No answer.
Yuki frowned and crossed her arms. "…Seriously?"
She rang the bell a few more times. Still nothing.
After a moment, she pushed the gate lightly.
Click.
It opened. "…You've got to be kidding me," she muttered. The door wasn't even locked.
Yuki stepped inside but stopped when she noticed a framed photograph on the table near the entrance.
It was Rai's grandmother.
Yuki straightened immediately and bowed politely.
"Excuse me, Grandma… I'm coming in," she whispered, then continued walking.
"Rai?" she called.
No response. The house was quiet. She checked the living room, then the kitchen—empty.
"…Where is she?" Yuki muttered.
Then she noticed the music room door slightly ajar. She pushed it gently. Sunlight spilled across the floor.
And there—Rai was lying on the floor, fast asleep.
"…You've got to be kidding me." Yuki stared in disbelief. Rai looked completely at peace, one arm over her eyes.
Yuki walked over and nudged her leg lightly.
"Hey."
No response.
She nudged again. "Wake up!"
Rai groaned, slowly opening her eyes. Her blurry vision focused on Yuki.
"…Oh," she murmured sleepily. "…A monster."
Then she closed her eyes again.
Yuki's vein twitched. "…Excuse me?"
She kicked Rai harder this time.
"WAKE UP!"
Rai groaned again. Yuki grabbed her shoulders and shook her violently.
"Wake up, you lazy idiot! Wake up! Wake up!"
Rai's head wobbled back and forth as she blinked awake.
"Mm…" she murmured. "…Oh… it's… you."
Yuki stared. "…Do you even know what time it is?"
Rai slowly sat up and glanced at the clock.
"…You're really noisy this early in the morning," she muttered.
Yuki's eyebrow twitched. "…Huh?"
A little later…
Rai lounged on the couch, playing on her phone, a small bump forming on her head. Yuki was in the kitchen, cooking breakfast while still annoyed.
A few minutes later, she placed a plate of fresh pancakes on the table, then grabbed Rai's phone.
"Hey—"
"Eat," Yuki said firmly.
Rai sat up slightly and took a pancake. She bit into it. "…Not bad."
She glanced around. "…Where's my milk?"
Yuki froze. Her eye twitched again.
"…Get it yourself. I'm not your maid," she said, pointing to the kitchen.
Rai slowly stood. "…Scary."
"Huh?! Did you just say something?!" Yuki spun around.
Rai walked toward the kitchen without looking back. "…Nothing."
Inside her head, though… Scary… monster.
After grabbing milk from the fridge, Rai returned and drank quietly. She glanced at Yuki.
"So… what are you doing here?"
Yuki raised an eyebrow. "Am I not allowed to visit?" She picked up a manga and started flipping through it.
"Hey… do you have Volume 4 of this?"
Rai shrugged. "Check my room."
Yuki walked into Rai's bedroom. The moment she opened the door—"…What the…?"
The room was a mess. Books, papers, and clothes scattered everywhere.
"…Clean your room already," Yuki muttered, starting to search.
After a moment, she found Volume 4 hidden on the bookshelf.
"Found it."
She stopped mid-step when she saw a sketch on Rai's desk.
It was a serene drawing of a quiet lake, sunlight reflecting off the water, trees surrounding it.
"…Where is this place?" she murmured.
A moment later, Yuki returned to the living room, holding the drawing.
"Hey."
Rai glanced at her.
"Where is this?"
"…Why would I tell you?"
Yuki's eye twitched again.
Without warning—THUD. She threw the manga volume at Rai.
The pancake fell from Rai's hands. She stood up, a strange aura surrounding her. Yuki froze.
Seeing Rai's intensity, she swallowed hard.
"Yabai…" she muttered under her breath, then bolted. Rai chased her.
As Yuki ran, she noticed Suzuki watering plants at the front of their house. She ducked behind a bush.
Suzuki: "Yuki-chan? What's wron—"
"Shhhhhhiiiiii!" Yuki hissed.
Suzuki didn't speak, only nodded.
Rai appeared, scanning the area.
"Did you see Yuki?" she asked.
Suzuki suddenly felt shy, unable to look Rai in the eye. She quickly pointed to where Yuki was hiding.
Rai ran over and grabbed Yuki.
"Thanks," she said.
Yuki struggled, glaring at Suzuki.
"Suzuki! You traitor!" she shouted as Rai pulled her along.
Suzuki quickly bowed and muttered, "Sorry, sorry…"
Rai dragged Yuki all the way back to her house.
The moment they stepped inside, Yuki crossed her arms and puffed her cheeks.
"…Fine! I'm sorry!" she said loudly.
Rai glanced at her. "…You sound angry."
"I AM NOT!" Yuki snapped. Then she looked away and muttered, "…But still… sorry."
Rai didn't respond. Instead, she walked calmly toward the kitchen.
Yuki frowned. "…Hey. Are you ignoring me now?"
Rai opened the refrigerator and grabbed a can of cola. Without warning—she tossed it toward Yuki.
"AHH—!"
Yuki yelped but managed to catch it just in time. She blinked in surprise, staring at the cold can in her hands.
"…Thank you," she said, her tone instantly calmer.
Rai leaned against the counter and opened her own drink. She took a sip, then glanced at Yuki.
"…Do you want to come with me later?"
Yuki tilted her head. "Where?"
"To visit Grandma."
Yuki blinked, then nodded quickly.
"Of course I'm coming."
Rai took another sip of her cola.
"…Then clean the dishes first."
Yuki's eye twitched.
"Huh?! I already cooked for you, and now I have to clean the dishes too?"
Rai calmly pointed at the pancake that had fallen earlier.
"You threw a book at me."
Yuki tightened her grip on the cola can. "…What does that have to do with anything?"
Rai quietly murmured, "…Monster."
"What was that?!" Yuki snapped.
"…Nothing."
A little while later, Rai was already dressed and ready to go.
Meanwhile, Yuki was still lying on the couch, reading a manga.
Rai glanced at her.
"…I'm leaving you behind."
She started walking toward the door.
Yuki's eyes widened. She jumped up immediately.
"HEY! Wait for me!"
Rai didn't stop walking.
Yuki hurried after her, still holding the manga.
"Seriously! You're so mean!"
Rai opened the door calmly.
"…You were the one lying around."
Yuki puffed her cheeks.
"…You're impossible."
Rai smirked faintly.
On the way, they stopped by a small flower shop near the road.
Rows of colorful flowers filled the front of the store, their scent drifting gently in the morning air.
Rai picked up a bouquet of white flowers and looked at it quietly.
"…Is this okay?" she asked.
Yuki leaned closer and examined it.
"Yeah," she said with a small nod. "That's perfect."
Rai paid for the flowers, then the two of them continued walking.
Not long after, they arrived at the cemetery.
The place was quiet, with only the sound of the wind moving through the trees.
Rai walked ahead calmly, holding the bouquet. Yuki followed behind her, unusually quiet.
After a short walk, Rai stopped in front of a grave.
The name on the stone was familiar. It was her grandmother.
Rai knelt down slowly and placed the flowers in front of the grave.
"…I'm back, Grandma," she said softly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The wind rustled through the trees above them.
Yuki stood quietly beside her. Then she bowed her head politely.
"…Hello, Grandma," she said gently.
After they finished praying and placed the flowers, Rai remained kneeling quietly for a moment.
The wind brushed softly through the cemetery trees.
Then Rai suddenly spoke.
"…Hey, Yuki."
Yuki looked at her. "Hm?"
Rai kept her eyes on the gravestone.
"…If I disappear someday… will you still visit Grandma?"
Yuki blinked in confusion.
"Eh?! Why? Did you dream that you're going to die or something?" she joked.
Rai slowly turned to her.
"…You know…"
Her voice sounded slightly annoyed.
Yuki quickly raised her hands.
"Okay, okay! I was joking!" she said with a small laugh.
"But of course I'll visit her. I promise."
She tilted her head.
"…Why did you ask that?"
Rai stood up and brushed the dust from her pants.
"…Nothing. It just came to mind."
Yuki narrowed her eyes slightly.
"…Hmm."
For some reason, she felt like Rai was hiding something.
As they left the cemetery, Rai suddenly stopped walking.
"…Let's go to the burger place."
Yuki blinked. "Huh?"
"…My treat."
A few minutes later, they were sitting inside a small burger shop. The smell of fries filled the air as they ate quietly.
Yuki waved her hand dismissively.
"You don't have to thank me. I just came along."
Rai took a bite of her burger.
"But I asked if you wanted to come."
Yuki shrugged.
"…Still. It's fine."
After a moment of silence, Yuki suddenly spoke again.
"…You were playing the piano again last night, weren't you?"
Rai glanced at her.
"…Is that not allowed?"
Yuki shook her head.
"No, it's just surprising."
She leaned her chin on her hand.
"Usually when you try something new, once you master it—or get bored—you stop doing it."
She stared at Rai curiously.
"So why continue now?"
Rai looked down at her drink.
"…That was the last request I asked Grandma."
Yuki blinked.
"…So I decided to keep playing."
She took a quiet sip of her drink.
"…And keep playing."
Yuki didn't say anything.
"…Hmm."
After they finished eating, Rai walked with Yuki toward the road leading to their neighborhood.
The evening sun was starting to set.
Just then, two girls stepped out of a nearby convenience store. It was Kousaki, along with her friend Miyo.
Kousaki suddenly stopped walking. Her eyes were fixed on Rai… standing beside Yuki.
"…."
Miyo noticed.
"What's wrong?" she asked. She followed Kousaki's gaze.
But the first thing she saw was an ice cream stand nearby. Her eyes lit up.
"Ohhh! You want ice cream, huh?" she said excitedly. "Wait here!" She ran toward the stand.
Kousaki blinked. "…Eh? Miyo?"
She slowly looked back toward Rai and Yuki again. Rai seemed calm as usual.
Yuki was loudly complaining about something.
"…You made me run earlier! My legs still hurt!"
"…You were the one who threw the book."
"…That's not the point!"
Kousaki watched them quietly. For some reason… her chest felt strangely tight.
"…Why…" she murmured softly. "…does that bother me?"
Behind her, Miyo returned happily holding two ice creams.
"Look! I got strawberry and vanilla—"
She paused. "…Huh?"
Kousaki was still staring in the same direction. Miyo followed her gaze.
By the time she looked… Rai and Yuki were already walking away.
Miyo tilted her head. "…Do you know them?"
Kousaki looked away. "…No."
But even as she said that… her eyes followed Rai's figure disappearing down the street.