—————— After knocking on the door, Rin lowered her head again, carefully comparing it with the photo she had taken in her album last night. The angle, the house number, the slightly crooked ornamental tree next to it. Hmm, no problem, this is the place.
"Because it was too late, I was afraid you'd encounter danger on your way home alone, so I followed you quietly for a while." That was how she had explained it to Reina last night. But in fact, that was only part of the reason. More importantly, she wanted to figure out the exact location of Reina's home. This would make future actions much more convenient.
[Sigh, Reina's family atmosphere is truly enviable] [Even if you count all the other four heroines, you couldn't find such a pair of good parents] [Well, let me ask you, let me ask you, what about our Treasure Rin] [It's hard to say if Treasure Rin even has a life raft] [Ugh, my instant noodles aren't even ready yet, why make me watch Reina eat—]
Rin glanced at the comments. Still eating? It seems she came too early. But this couldn't be helped. She hoped that there wouldn't be any accidents during her time alone with Reina today. Moreover, the earlier she arrived, the longer they could spend together, and by extension, the more screen time she could gain.
Raising her wrist, she intended to knock a few more times, but before her hand could fall, "Creak—" The door opened.
"Who is it?" A gentle voice came from the widening gap in the door, and Rin decisively withdrew her hand, which was suspended in mid-air.
"You are..." Reina's mother looked at the strange yet exquisite face before her, a flash of confusion in her eyes....A child she didn't know. A salesperson? How could that be, she was clearly just high school age. The daughter of an acquaintance? She didn't remember anyone she knew having a child with such striking white hair... Moreover, this child was so beautiful, how could she not have any impression of her at all?
"Hello, Auntie, I'm here to see Reina." Rin bowed slightly, her voice flat yet clear.
———So she's Reina's friend. Her mother suddenly realized, a bright smile instantly appearing on her face, a smile that was sincere and warm, like the sunshine of early spring.
"I see, come on in!" She stepped aside to clear the way and tilted her chin toward the inside of the house, "Reina is still eating in the living room."
"Yes, excuse me." Rin nodded politely and stepped into the house past her.
"Slippers are over here..." Her mother bent down, took a pair of disposable slippers from the shoe cabinet, and placed them at Rin's feet. "Have you had breakfast? I happened to make a bit too much this morning..." She stood up, walked slowly to the corner of the hallway, cupped her hands into a trumpet shape, and called softly toward the living room: "Reina~ see who's here~"
"Hm?" Reina, who had just tilted her head and taken a bite of the rolled omelet, looked up in confusion. Those eyes, still hazy with morning drowsiness, widened abruptly the moment they saw the white figure at the entrance.
"Rin...!?" "Mmph... cough, cough, cough..." After swallowing the rolled omelet that had almost gone down her windpipe, Reina finally caught her breath, her voice still carrying the aftereffects of choking: "Why are you here?!"
"Because you asked me to go out with you today." Rin answered matter-of-factly. She took off her leather shoes, placed them neatly, and then walked into the living room in slippers.
"Uh... but isn't it a bit too early..." Reina muttered, a crumb of egg still sticking to the corner of her mouth, "I haven't even finished breakfast yet..." Not long after she finished speaking, she vaguely felt something was wrong. "...Wait, Rin." She looked up, staring at the white figure who had already stood still by the dining table, "You didn't rush over here without even eating, did you?"
"Yes." Rin nodded calmly.
"That's way too rushed?!" Reina's tone rose a bit, "There was no need at all! You could have asked me about my situation on Line first before deciding..."
"I wanted to see you."
"...Uh?" Reina was stunned by this unabashed statement, her mouth slightly agape, forgetting to close it.
"Even, even so... still..."
"I wanted to see you, so I came to find you." Rin calmly dismissed Reina's unvoiced defense, then pulled out a chair at the dining table and sat down naturally beside her.
"It's fine~ little Reina~" Her mother had appeared from the direction of the kitchen at some point, holding a tray, with an even brighter smile on her face than before, as if she had been eavesdropping the whole time. "I happened to make an extra portion today, you two can eat together~" She placed the tray gently on the table; on it was a ceramic bowl containing grilled fish and rolled omelets, with steam curling upward.
"What do you think? Little... Rin?" She turned to Rin, her gaze gentle, "Is it okay if I call you that?"
"That's fine, thank you, Auntie." Rin bowed her head slightly, her voice carrying a touch of politeness and calmness.
"You're welcome~" Her mother rested her face in her hands and smiled happily. Her gaze swept back and forth between the two of them, then she turned around, satisfied, and returned to the kitchen.
"Where are we going later?" Reina poked at the grilled fish in her bowl and asked softly.
"I haven't decided yet."
"...That's too reckless." Reina's mouth twitched, "How about an amusement park?"
"No, it's too much trouble."
"If it's too much trouble, then Rin, you should make some suggestions..." Reina's voice carried a hint of resentment, "Besides, didn't you say yesterday that anywhere was fine?"
Rin did not answer, she simply lowered her eyes and silently picked up a piece of rolled omelet.
"Don't look away!"
She had finally made a good friend. In the kitchen, Reina's mother, in a joyful mood, took a new bowl from the cupboard. Then, she quietly and neatly poured the breakfast portion that originally belonged to her husband into her own bowl.