"Finally back~"
After returning to the apartment, Shirai Mio set down her suitcase and threw herself onto the soft sofa without caring how she looked.
Traveling was definitely fun, but this time she had gone through three cities in a row. To be honest, she was a little tired. Next time she went out, she would take things at a slower pace.
"Black."
Hearing Shiina Mashiro's words, Shirai Mio froze for a moment before realizing what Mashiro meant by "black."
She reached down and tugged her skirt lower, then said helplessly, "Mashiro, while you were back home, did Rita teach you something strange again?"
"It wasn't me. I didn't do it. Don't make things up." Rita Ainsworth said guiltily as she carried her suitcase.
As if something had occurred to her, Shirai Mio sat up and asked curiously, "Rita, is it really okay for you to come over here again this time?"
"It's fine. I'm on vacation right now too."
"All right. It's actually nice that you came."
"Why are you suddenly saying that?" Rita Ainsworth had a bad feeling.
Shirai Mio stood up, stretched, and said, "I'm getting ready to do a thorough cleaning. Since you're always freeloading around here, it's time for you to contribute."
"Eh!? Is it too late for me to leave now?"
"Don't even think about it."
Shirai Mio found the cleaning supplies and began assigning tasks. Even Shiina Mashiro was given the job of sweeping the floor.
After all, they had been away for a week. Of course the apartment needed a proper cleaning now that they were back.
If Yukinoshita Haruno had not left almost immediately after returning because something came up, Shirai Mio might even have dragged her over and put her to work too.
Just then, the front door suddenly opened and Sengoku Chihiro walked in. She was just about to say something when she saw everyone holding cleaning tools.
Understanding the situation in an instant, Sengoku Chihiro instinctively tried to back out, but Rita Ainsworth was a little faster and directly pulled her into the apartment.
"Chihiro-onee-san, since you're already here, don't be in such a hurry to leave~" Rita Ainsworth said with a smile.
Since she could no longer escape the fate of doing chores herself, naturally the more people she had suffering alongside her, the better. There was no way she would simply let Sengoku Chihiro leave.
With Sengoku Chihiro joining in, the cleaning took much less time than usual.
Even so, by the time they finished, the sky had already grown dark.
Shirai Mio opened the refrigerator and took a look, then was surprised to find it packed with ingredients. Judging by the dates, they seemed to have been bought that very day.
"I knew you were coming back today, so I bought the ingredients in advance," Sengoku Chihiro said weakly as she sprawled on the sofa.
"Chihiro-sensei really prepared thoroughly. Next time, the best thing to prepare in advance would be food that's already cooked."
"If you people dare to eat my cooking, I don't mind~" At this point, Sengoku Chihiro had completely given up on trying.
Having personally witnessed the other woman's cooking skills, Shirai Mio decisively said, "Then ingredients are fine. Oh, right, we can invite Shizuka-sensei over for dinner too."
"I already sent her a message."
Although Shirai Mio had not stepped into the kitchen for nearly a week, she was still completely at ease there.
The only difference was that Yukinoshita Haruno was not around to help, so making dinner took quite a bit longer than usual.
While they were eating, Rita Ainsworth pretended to ask casually, "Mio, do you have any plans tomorrow?"
"I already made plans with a classmate. I'll probably go meet her tomorrow. Why?"
"I just checked online. It looks like it's cherry-blossom viewing season right now, so I was thinking we could all go out and see the blossoms together sometime."
"Sure. Other than tomorrow, I should be free."
"Then let's go the day after tomorrow!"
Rita Ainsworth subconsciously glanced at Shiina Mashiro. Although they would be going out as a group, as long as she prepared properly beforehand, she still had ways to let Shiina Mashiro spend some time alone with Shirai Mio.
Of course, all of that depended on Yukinoshita Haruno not coming along.
If Yukinoshita Haruno came too, then even with Rita there, she probably would not be able to create an opportunity for Shiina Mashiro.
After dinner, dishwashing duty fell to Rita Ainsworth, while Shirai Mio returned to her room and resumed work for the first time in a while.
Revising Volume 2 of Honkai, along with drawing its illustrations.
Just then, her phone suddenly vibrated. It was a message from Yuigahama Yui.
Only then did Shirai Mio remember that she had not told her friends that she was back yet.
After returning to the apartment, she had been so busy cleaning and cooking that she had completely forgotten about it.
Thinking of that, Shirai Mio got up, walked to the bed, flopped onto the soft mattress, and picked up her phone to start sending messages.
Elsewhere, in Yuigahama Yui's room.
Just like Shirai Mio, Yuigahama Yui was lying on her bed, staring nervously at her phone screen.
Shirai Mio had said before that she would be back today, but Yui had not received any message from her. She was afraid Mio might suddenly say she wanted to keep traveling for a few more days.
Spring Break was already halfway over. If Shirai Mio still did not come back, the whole break would be over before she knew it.
While Yuigahama Yui was letting her thoughts run wild, her phone chimed. Shirai Mio had replied.
"Sorry. I got busy with chores after I came back and completely forgot to tell you."
After quietly reading Shirai Mio's message aloud, a faint smile appeared on Yuigahama Yui's lips. She immediately typed back at top speed, "It's fine. About our date tomorrow, can you still make it?"
"Of course. I promised you, didn't I? I wouldn't forget."
"Then tomorrow morning at ten, shall we meet at the usual place?"
"OK."
After chatting with Shirai Mio for a little longer about what had happened lately, Yuigahama Yui happily rolled across her bed and nearly fell off the edge.
Now that tomorrow's date had been confirmed, it was time to choose what she would wear.
Yuigahama Yui walked over to her wardrobe and began looking for clothes suitable for a date.
"Yui, have some apple." Mrs. Yuigahama pushed open her daughter's bedroom door and saw her rummaging through her wardrobe.
She blinked at the sight, then asked curiously, "Is little Mio back?"
"How did you know?"
"I could tell just from how excited you look choosing clothes. I can see that you're probably going on a date with Shirai Mio tomorrow."
"W-what date? We're just going to see the cherry blossoms together," Yuigahama Yui said shyly.
"Yes, yes. I'll just pretend you're only going to see the blossoms." Mrs. Yuigahama set down the plate of fruit, then turned and left her daughter's room.
Before Yuigahama Yui could even breathe a sigh of relief, the door opened a crack again. Mrs. Yuigahama poked her head inside and said, "Yui, do your best tomorrow~"
"You're so annoying!"
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