"If you're paying for it, then don't bother."
"Just consider it a gift from me."
Yoru looked at Nanami and silently thought he hadn't helped the wrong person—at least she knew how to say thank you properly.
"I can't let that happen. It wouldn't be right."
Nanami quickly pulled a small wad of yen from her pocket, took out a 500-yen bill, and handed it to Yoru.
"In that case, I'll take it," Yoru replied without hesitation and accepted it.
Yoru's directness nearly caught Nanami off guard.
She smiled awkwardly and spoke again.
"And also… about that day, I'm really sorry for the look I showed, Kitakami-kun."
"I swear, I didn't do it on purpose. I didn't mean it like that…"
Her voice grew softer and less confident as she apologized while watching Yoru's round face for any change in expression.
'Kitakamo-kun helped me so much, yet I showed him that kind of face and even had those thoughts about him…'
'I was definitely too much…'
She lowered her head slightly, staring at the white towel in her hands, gripping it tightly, overwhelmed by guilt.
She just wanted to sincerely apologize and hoped for Yoru's forgiveness.
But Yoru's expression didn't change—he was frozen in place.
"…It's fine."
Only after a moment did he snap out of it. Somehow, Nanami was starting to look more pleasing to him.
Nanami let out a sigh of relief and gave a soft, natural laugh.
She finally noticed the cat Yoru was holding—San-san.
She had been too focused earlier to see it.
"Meow meow~"
San-san widened her amber eyes warily under the stare of a stranger, glancing around nervously and meowing twice.
"Your cat is so cute, Kitakami-kun," Nanami said, her eyes drawn to San-san.
She completely forgot about rushing to catch the supermarket discounts on vegetables and meat.
"Yeah." Yoru nodded proudly.
He really had good luck—picking up such a cute stray cat and even meeting Megumi because of it.
"Can I pet her?"
Nanami's eyes sparkled as she looked at San-san, who had rounded into a perfect ball.
A cat with such a big frame, round and cute—it was rare.
Objectively speaking, among cats, regardless of breed, Sansan's cuteness was top-tier.
"Sure, but you'll have to ask her first." Yoru crouched down and gently set Sansan on the floor.
"Meow~ Meow."
San-san stared at Nanami, a bit on guard, then glanced back at Yoru.
Nanami slowly reached out, trying to look as non-threatening as possible.
Finally, she managed to touch San-san's round head.
It reminded her of her treasured Tora plushie.
Yoru stood to the side watching silently, then suddenly thought of something.
"Wait here a second. I'll be right back."
He left Nanami and the cat at the door.
Rushing back into his apartment, Yoru opened the fridge and pulled out the two bags of cookies.
He couldn't eat them himself, Gabriel didn't want them either. If not thrown away or sent to his parents, who else would take them?
Definitely not Yukino.
Nanami peered curiously inside as Yoru reappeared.
"These two bags of cookies are unopened. Want them?" Yoru asked as he held them out.
Rather than letting them go to waste, he figured he might as well give them to Nanami—she seemed alright in his eyes.
"Huh?"
"For me?"
Nanami stood up, pointing at herself in surprise.
"Yeah. Someone gave them to me, but I'm on a diet, so I can't eat them."
Yoru answered casually.
"This…"
Nanami hesitated, clearly unsure. Would it be rude to accept?
But Yoru said he didn't need them and was dieting.
Besides, those two bags of cookies could cover her breakfast and lunch tomorrow. That would save some money.
Her obsession with saving was deeply rooted.
"Consider it part of the 500 yen. A towel doesn't cost that much," Yoru added.
"Then thank you, Kitakami-kun."
Her inner conflict was resolved. She reached out and took the cookies, weighing them in her hands.
"See you then."
Yoru watched as San-san walked over to his feet.
"See you, and thank you." Nanami nodded politely.
The next second, the door closed.
Staring at it, Nanami sighed in relief. A smile crept across her face.
'Didn't think Kitakami-kun would be this easy to talk to…'
"…Wait!"
"The supermarket discounts!"
Only then did she remember what she was rushing for and quickly ran off.
Yoru returned to the living room with San-san, then headed for a relaxing bath.
---
Meanwhile—
Eriri still hadn't gone to the art club today.
Her important artbook had gone missing, and she'd had a weird nightmare. She wasn't in the right mood to create anything.
"Eriri, want something to eat?"
A woman who looked almost exactly like Eriri—but more mature—came over with a plate of sweets. It was Sawamura Sayuri.
"No…"
Eriri curled up on a plush luxury sofa, hugging her knees with a cushion over them.
"Have a bite, it'll cheer you up," Sayuri urged. Lately, Eriri had seemed off.
"No thanks, Mom. I'm going to see Sagiri."
Eriri shook her head gloomily, got up, and headed upstairs.
A while later, she came back down with her schoolbag and a change of clothes.
"Be careful," Sayuri reminded her.
"I will."
Eriri stepped outside.
It was late April in Tokyo, and the sun usually set around 7 p.m. It was already about that time.
Sagiri's place was a bit far, and Eriri didn't plan to come home tonight—she'd just sleep over.
She'd been doing this for a long time.
She stopped along the way to buy a big bag of instant meals and snacks, then took the train for an hour and walked a bit further until she arrived at Sagiri's home in Edogawa Ward.
It was already fully dark.
Eriri unlocked the front gate with her key and stepped into the yard.
"Sagiri, I'm here."
She called out into the house, having messaged Sagiri in advance.
"Eriri-nee…"
Sagiri opened the door slightly and peeked out, her pink lips trembling a bit.
She called out Eriri's name, but too softly for her to hear.
"Sagiri… hehe…"
Eriri squeezed in through the door crack, forcing a smile.
Sagiri didn't respond at first. Instead, she quickly locked the door behind them.
Watching her, Eriri couldn't help but feel a twinge of sorrow.
Her precious little sister and best friend really had the worst luck.
She grew up in a single-parent household.
Just when she finally got a stepfather and stepbrother, they were all killed in a car accident just a month later.
Now she was alone, taken care of by her aunt.
But Sagiri's aunt was always away for work, traveling all over the country.
She couldn't be there for her.
As her older sister, Eriri knew she had to take good care of her.
Thinking back to how they met and became close, Eriri finally felt a bit better.