Harumi woke up looking like an inflated pufferfish.
Puffy eyes. Red nose. Hair inventing a brand-new botanical species.
But excited.
Very excited.
— Gooood morning, new life! — she declared, sitting up in bed as if she hadn't sneezed forty times during the night.
Izumi opened one eye.
— You look… spherical.
— It's just environmental adaptation.
— You're having an allergic reaction to your own decision.
Harumi got up, already tying her hair back.
— Technical details do not stop great dreams.
Five minutes later, they were outside.
And that's when — under honest morning light, without the dramatic sunset filter — the house revealed its true form.
It wasn't just big.
It was ridiculous.
The wall around it was low, with two entrances — one in front and one on the side. Since it sat on a corner lot, it practically occupied two properties. The side of the house stretched out like it had no intention of ending.
Izumi went silent.
Harumi did too.
A bird landed on the roof.
— …It keeps going, — Izumi muttered.
— That's good! — Harumi replied way too fast. — It means cross ventilation.
— It means you bought a small inn in disguise.
Harumi placed her hands on her hips, analyzing it like this had absolutely been the plan all along.
— Space is opportunity.
— Space is infinite cleaning.
Izumi grabbed a broom and started sweeping the sidewalk. Still in pajamas. With zero dignity.
Harumi, on the other hand, was already at the gate.
— GOOOOD MORNING!
An elderly man in a hat raised his hand.
— Morning, Harumi-chan!
She beamed.
— You're still walking at exactly nine! Discipline is everything, huh?
Izumi froze mid-sweep.
— Do you know him?
— Not at all. But he looks disciplined.
Another woman passed by carrying grocery bags.
— Harumi-chan! You finally came back!
Harumi short-circuited for two full seconds.
"…Came back? Came back from where? Do I have a secret twin? Was I in a coma and forgot my entire childhood in this town while living abroad?…"
She nearly had a complete meltdown.
But recovered.
— I did come back! The house is still standing, so that's already a victory! — she replied smoothly, seamlessly turning it into conversation. — Have you lived here long?
— Since you were little!
Harumi's eyes widened, fascinated.
— So you have stories about me that I don't remember? That's dangerous.
The woman laughed.
From the sidewalk, Izumi muttered:
— You're gathering personal lore about yourself from strangers.
— Historical networking.
A man in his seventies appeared holding a watering can.
— The plant on the corner almost died while you were gone.
Harumi gasped like she'd just been handed a sacred quest.
— WHAT? That is unacceptable.
Five minutes later, she was watering the plant with him, chatting like they'd been gardening partners for decades.
— You have to talk to them, — the man said.
— Of course! Plants respond to positive reinforcement, — Harumi agreed seriously. — You are strong. You are hydrated. You can do this.
Izumi continued sweeping, staring at the scene.
— It's nine in the morning… — she muttered to herself.
That's when a soft voice appeared behind her.
— You must be the younger sister.
Izumi jumped at least three centimeters.
A small elderly woman stood there, wearing a floral kimono, smiling gently.
— Oh! Hi! Yes! If you're looking for the homeowner, she's right over—
At that exact moment, from across the yard:
— If you're looking for me, I'm right here!
They both spoke at the same time.
Silence.
The woman began to laugh.
— You can tell you're sisters.
Izumi discreetly pointed.
— The homeowner is currently watering someone else's plant.
The woman walked to the gate. Harumi finished watering, thanked the man, and turned around brightly.
— Good morning!
— I'm Sakura. I live across from you.
— Sakura-san! What an honor! — Harumi bowed slightly, far too enthusiastically for 9 a.m.
Sakura studied the house. Then studied Harumi.
— Are you already used to it?
Harumi answered naturally:
— Somehow… yes.
Izumi appeared behind her, still holding the broom.
— Harumi. It's nine in the morning. You've been here less than a day.
Harumi slowly turned.
Blink.
— …Right.
Sakura laughed — the warm, grandmotherly kind of laugh that had seen everything already.
— I like your energy.
Harumi flashed a confident smile.
— Energy is what keeps the house standing.
At that exact moment, something inside the house creaked loudly.
Izumi pointed with the broom.
— It disagrees.
Sakura simply smiled.
— I'm preparing lunch. After that, I'll take you around the town properly.
Harumi's eyes sparkled.
— An official tour guide? I accept immediately!
Izumi rested the broom on her shoulder.
— She accepts everything immediately.
Sakura started walking away.
— You arrived yesterday, but the town already knew you'd return.
Harumi watched that sentence linger in the air.
Then she turned to Izumi.
— See? Influence.
— You're just very loud.
Harumi took a deep breath, looking at the enormous house, the open corner lot, the low wall, the clear sky.
It was big.
It was work.
It was unpredictable.
But for the first time, it didn't feel scary.
It felt… alive.
— See? — she said. — We already have connections, a plant-related mission, and guaranteed lunch.
Izumi crossed her arms.
— You turn everything into a plan.
Harumi smiled — half lost, half determined.
— Because if I stop to think too much… I might get scared.
A short silence.
Izumi went back to sweeping.
— Then keep talking to strangers.
Harumi opened the gate again.
— GOOOOD MORNING!
And this time, the town answered.