"You have ten days off?! Is your school insane? Who gives a ten-day break for no reason?"
In Alistair's room, Chloe watched him pack his bags, her frustration mounting.
The holiday schedule at St. Lux Academy was notoriously erratic. Unlike other schools, they often held makeup classes on Saturdays, marching to the beat of their own drum.
The "Hour of the Dark Carving" holiday was a recent addition, implemented within the last two years. Chloe had heard it was meant to accommodate some internal religious observance, but a ten-day break was unheard of. Since Sakura Public Academy followed a standard schedule, she couldn't join Alistair on his trip to the countryside.
However, her father happened to have business with an agricultural firm in the same rural area, so the timing worked out perfectly for him to drop Alistair off.
"By the way, Alistair," Chloe said, her expression softening into a pensive frown. "I heard Ms. Asakawa resigned from her teaching post. You should stop by and see her. You were one of her favorite students, yet you haven't visited in years. She's probably quite disappointed."
"Ms. Asakawa?" Alistair searched his mind. The name rang a bell, but he had no clear mental image of her face.
"You don't remember? The Asakawa family! You used to play with her two daughters all the time when we were kids. Let's see... the older one, Lotus, should be in university by now. The younger one, Aoi, must be a high school senior. It's been so long, even my memory is a bit hazy."
Chloe leaned against the edge of his bed, drifting into nostalgia.
"Now that you mention it, it's coming back to me," Alistair said. "The older sister was Lotus, the younger was Aoi... and the teacher's name was... Summer?"
"Yes, Summer Asakawa. Just a warning, though: if you visit, whatever you do, do not mention her husband. You'll get kicked out on the spot."
"Wait, why? Is he dead?" Alistair asked, confused by the taboo.
"If he were dead, it would be a blessing," Chloe remarked bitterly. "Actually, people would probably celebrate."
"Deadbeat dad? Abandoned them?" Alistair guessed, given the all-female household.
"Sort of, but it's complicated. They aren't actually divorced." Chloe's expression tightened. She didn't know the full story—it was family business, after all—but from what Lotus had told her, the man was a husband in name only.
"Not divorced? Then it can't be that bad," Alistair remarked. He figured if they were still legally married, the drama couldn't be insurmountable. It was a bit of a shame, though; he remembered Summer and her daughters being exceptionally beautiful. He wasn't exactly a saint, but he had lines he wouldn't cross—sleeping with a teacher who was happily married was one of them.
"It's not what you think. Summer only stayed for the sake of the girls, and apparently, the husband needs the marriage for some reason of his own. I asked Lotus about it recently since you were heading back to the old village."
Chloe showed him her phone. A contact labeled 'Lotus' was at the top of her recent chats.
"Alright, I'll be careful. So, what should I bring? Just well-wishes?"
"Of course not. They took care of us when we were little. Bring something high-end but not awkwardly expensive. Maybe some fruit?"
"Fruit? That works." Alistair nodded. In Japan, high-quality fruit was a luxury gift, often very expensive, signaling deep respect and close ties.
"It's settled then. We'll go fruit shopping tomorrow before I head to school," Chloe decided with a clap of her hands. She looked at his suitcase. "Need help finishing that?"
"Nah, just packing some basics," Alistair waved her off. He'd only be gone a week, and the countryside wasn't the dark ages; he could buy anything he forgot.
"Oh, one more thing," Chloe said as she walked toward the door. "About the old house... you might have to squeeze in with some relatives."
"What? That house is massive. It's practically a manor. Why am I squeezing?"
"Because," Chloe said with a helpless shrug, "it's being used as a hotel now."