Heiji arrived back home just in time for dinner.
"How many days has it been since you last came home? Tell me."
Seeing her husband walk in with Heiji, a smile surfaced on Shizuka's face.
"You could say I'm finally done being busy."
Heizo smiled at her and handed her his coat.
"Mom, is the food ready?" Heiji asked, completely ignoring the two of them.
"Not yet. Kazuha and Sonoko are in the kitchen right now."
Heiji froze. "They're cooking?"
"What, you didn't know your girlfriends could cook?" Shizuka shot him a sharp look.
Heiji laughed awkwardly. "Don't they only know how to make porridge?"
"They learned a few normal dishes this afternoon." Shizuka lowered her voice. "Heiji, how do you keep them from fighting each other?"
Even she had to admit she was impressed.
"Mom, why are you even asking that?" Heiji looked at her like she was being weird.
"I'm curious," Shizuka said, completely serious.
"I don't know either."
Heiji shrugged and walked inside.
"This kid," Shizuka murmured, smiling with pride.
Since dinner was handled by Kazuha and Sonoko, it wasn't anything fancy.
But it tasted surprisingly good, much better than Eri's cooking.
"Heiji, go shower already," Sonoko said after she finished cleaning up.
"What's the rush?" Heiji looked at the two girls, helpless.
"After you're done, we're going next door to see Eri and Yukiko," Kazuha explained.
"See them?" Heiji blinked.
"We're going out tomorrow, and this time you're coming," Sonoko said, puffing out her cheeks.
"Tomorrow, huh."
"No refusing," Kazuha said, giving him a side-eye.
With no way out, Heiji nodded.
He didn't have anything urgent to deal with anyway. Might as well go have fun with them.
Next door.
"You're going back tomorrow?" Yukiko looked at Eri in surprise.
"Do you think I'm like you?" Eri gave her a look. "These past few days already counted as a break, and my assistant has been rushing me nonstop."
"But you're not joining tomorrow's outing?"
Eri's heart tightened for a second, but she shook her head hard, forcing that feeling down.
"I'm not going. I'll just take the train out with you tomorrow."
She didn't dare stay here any longer.
Her emotions were a mess.
"Alright," Yukiko said quietly, hugging her legs and staring at the floor.
"What about you?" Eri asked softly. "Are you not going back to Los Angeles with Yusaku?"
A flicker of confusion flashed in Yukiko's eyes.
"You didn't know?" Eri froze.
Yukiko hugged her legs tighter, her brown curls falling forward to hide her face, and nodded in silence.
"Is it because of Yusaku, because of you, or something else?"
Yukiko shook her head again.
Eri sighed and stopped pressing. Truthfully, her own feelings were tangled too.
And she really couldn't stay here any longer.
Kazuha and Sonoko walked in from outside with Heiji between them, each of them clinging to one of his arms.
The moment Eri and Yukiko saw them, both women smoothed their expressions and put on small smiles.
"What? Eri, you're not going with us?" Kazuha asked, shocked.
Eri smiled gently. "Kuriyama has pushed me a dozen times already. The work is piled up."
"But if you're not there, it won't be as fun," Kazuha said, looking down.
Eri's smile softened. To Kazuha, she was already like family.
"Don't worry. We'll have another chance to go together."
Kazuha pouted and turned to Heiji. "Heiji, aren't you going to try to convince her?"
Eri looked at Heiji, her lips curving slightly.
"Since Lawyer Kisaki has work, let's not force it," Heiji said, backing Eri up.
"Yes," Eri said, nodding. "There'll be another time."
Eri kept smiling, but the curve at the corner of her mouth slowly faded. A faint sense of loss crept in.
Yukiko sat to the side, still remembering what had happened that afternoon.
"You can't skip it," Sonoko said, hugging Yukiko's arm.
Yukiko looked up, glanced at Sonoko, then looked at Heiji.
"I'm not going either. You all have fun."
The two girls fell silent.
Heiji glanced at Yukiko. "Yukiko, if you don't have anything to do, come with us. Sitting in here all day isn't helping."
He felt a bit guilty toward her. That kidnapping incident had genuinely terrified her.
Yukiko looked at him, eyes trembling slightly. After a long pause, a smile slowly spread across her lips.
"Oh, I was just waiting for you to say that."
Her voice turned light and playful again, like her usual self.
Heiji stared at her.
Yeah. She was totally acting.
"Yukiko…" Eri's brows drew together. She glanced at Heiji and sighed.
The next morning.
"Heiji, drive me to the station first," Eri said. "We still need to pack."
The trip would last at least three or four days, so they needed essentials ready.
Eri stood by the door in a dark business suit and black stockings, looking sharp and capable.
"Morning," Heiji said, smiling as he looked her over.
Eri blinked. "Is there something on my clothes?"
Heiji shook his head. "I just think you look better in casual clothes than in workwear."
Eri froze for a beat, then smiled gracefully. "Is that so? Thank you, Heiji."
Her whole face brightened.
Heiji shrugged, got in the car, and drove.
At the station, he waited until Eri's train pulled out before leaving.
Watching the car disappear, Eri leaned back in her seat, her expression complicated.
Her heart felt even more unsettled.
A black Mercedes sped along the road.
The coastline got closer and closer, and soon the endless sea came into view, along with a long line of luxury yachts.
"Sonoko, which one is your family's yacht?" Heiji asked, driving slowly along the coast, looking at the row of boats with a tired expression.
"What do you mean, my family's?" Sonoko shot him a glare, lips puffed in annoyance. "If Heiji likes it, then it's Heiji's."
Heiji paused, then chuckled.
"Careful," Yukiko said from the back seat, rolling her eyes. "If you keep spoiling him like that, you'll be the one who loses."
"Hehe. Are you jealous, Yukiko?" Sonoko blinked mischievously.
"Don't be ridiculous," Yukiko shot back. "Do you really think I'd steal him? Don't start crying later."
"Hmph. I won't," Sonoko said, looking completely unimpressed.
Kazuha glanced at Sonoko. "So where exactly are we going?"
They kept saying it was an island vacation, but no one had said which island.
"Let's get on the boat first," Sonoko said. "I'm not totally sure either."
Everyone went quiet.