184 Living Together (1/2)

”Sei... Seigo...”

”I’m back, Mika.”

”...Welcome back.”

Mika felt a warm feeling in her heart when she saw the boy in front of her, but she could only greet him simply.

”Good morning to you as well, Juumonji-sensei.”

”Good morning. Welcome back, Harano-kun.” Kaede’s eyes flashed with an indescribable light as she smiled.

”You guys must be on your way to school.” Seiji blinked as he said his next sentence: ”Go ahead without me; there's no need to wait. After I change into my school uniform, I have something to discuss with Miss Landlord.”

”Discuss... What are you going to talk about with my mom?” Mika was curious.

”Well... you’ll find out.”

Seiji averted his gaze unnaturally as he began leaving.

”See you at school.”

He waved towards them with his back turned as he walked upstairs towards his apartment.

Mika and Kaede were rendered speechless.

They felt rather disappointed inside.

They were hoping to see him for so long, but when they finally saw him again, that was the attitude he had... Hmph!

The double-pigtailed girl began pouting slightly.

Although this type of behavior... was actually normal for him. But... at the very least, the idiot should talk a little more and act as if he had missed her!

Since he said not to wait, there was no need to wait.

Mika began walking off while bearing a small grudge in her chest.

But she stopped before taking a few steps and looked back.

She saw Kaede standing there quietly without moving.

”Juumonji-sensei...”

”Uehara-san, go ahead and leave first.” Kaede smiled faintly. ”I suddenly feel like the scenery here is quite beautiful, and I want to appreciate it for a little longer.”

'Scenery... what the hell!?'

Mika inwardly thought to herself that this was obviously just an excuse.

Just how was a simple apartment and a normal street considered ”beautiful?” That was impossible!

It was quite obvious what Kaede intended.

After Mika figured this out, she was no longer able to leave. She could only just stand there and wait in silence as well.

Seiji returned to his small apartment, put down his luggage, and changed into his school clothes, before leaving his apartment.

To his surprise, he saw that Mika and Kaede were still there.

”Why haven’t you guys left yet?”

”I’m admiring the scenery.” Kaede placed her hand over her mouth as she chuckled. ”As for Uehara-san, I don’t know.”

”I... I’m just admiring the scenery as well!” countered a haughty voice.

Seiji was rendered speechless by this.

Okay, he would have to hurry up and finish the upcoming discussion with the landlord. While he was happy that both of them were so willing to wait for him, he also felt rather helpless about it.

The landlord Nozomi Uehara answered and opened the door.

”Haru... Harano-kun, you’re back.”

”Yep, I just returned... Miss Landlord, I have something I’d like to discuss with you.”

”What is it?” Nozomi tilted her head slightly in puzzlement.

She noticed that the blonde-haired beautiful tenant and her daughter were both waiting for the boy before her.

”It’s...”

Seiji wanted to tell her in a whisper at first, but he paused before smiling wryly.

'Forget it—there's no meaning in hiding it, so I might as well say it straight out.'

”I’d like to move... to one of the larger apartments!” he said in a loud voice.

”Eh?” Mika gave an exclamation of astonishment.

Kaede merely widened her eyes slightly.

”Oh my...” Nozomi blinked in surprise.

”You have some empty larger apartments, right, Miss Landlord?”

”Yes. But Harano-kun, why...”