On the drive back, Utaha, sitting in the passenger seat, smiled happily.
"We're ho, Ichin. Once you've dropped off the luggage, let's go next door together. We need to bring the gifts we bought for my parents."
"Of course. I can also tell Uncle about the tea I brought back."
Nodding, Ichin glanced at Utaha beside him, then said after so thought:
"Utaha, how about I talk sothing over with you?"
"Mm? What is it?"
Choosing his words carefully, Ichin said:
"We're sophomores now. In two years we'll graduate. I want to talk with you about settling down and getting married after that."
Hearing this, Utaha imdiately understood.
Though they rarely spoke about marriage, it was sothing both knew they would eventually face, and they both looked forward to that future.
The only complication was that Ichin was studying abroad. After graduation, even with a career here, he'd still need to shift his focus back to Shanghai—he'd ntioned that before.
After marriage, a decision on where to live would have to be made.
Utaha had long since thought about this, though she'd never said it aloud.
Looking at him, she smiled.
"That's simple. Whatever you decide, I'll follow. My career path is novelist and scriptwriter, and that kind of work isn't tied to location. I can write anywhere. As for my parents, it's not like we'd never co to Tokyo again. You'll still have your company here. We can visit whenever we want."
Her answer brought a broad smile to Ichin's face.
It was what he expected, but hearing it from her own mouth made him even happier.
"Then it's decided. Maybe we can arrange to spend part of every year here with your parents. Or once they retire, we could bring them to Shanghai for vacations. As long as the company keeps growing steadily, we won't have to worry about finances. The elders can enjoy life however they like."
Utaha nodded, and they began chatting about future plans.
It was still a few years away, but it was fun to picture the future together.
But as they talked, Utaha glanced at the rear-view mirror and noticed a familiar car.
"Ichin, isn't that Haruno's car behind us?"
"Hm?"
Ichin looked in the mirror and blinked in surprise.
"It is… but this road doesn't lead to Yukino's place. She should've turned two intersections back. No way she took the wrong turn."
"I'll give her a call."
Utaha dialed Yukino.
"Yukino? Didn't you say you were going ho? Why are you on this road? Huh? Haruno said she had so errands? She didn't tell you the details? Okay, I see. We just noticed your car behind us and got curious. Bye."
Putting down her phone, Utaha said:
"That's it. Apparently Haruno has sothing to do."
"Well, if it's Haruno, nothing strange about that."
Ichin shrugged and went back to chatting with Utaha.
But six or seven minutes later, as they neared ho, Haruno's car was still behind them.
Frowning, Ichin muttered:
"What is Haruno doing near our place?"
Utaha shook her head.
"No idea. Maybe we should ask later."
"Yeah. I'm curious now."
Soon they pulled into their apartnt complex.
Haruno's car entered the parking lot right after.
As Ichin and Utaha got out, he looked over and asked,
"Haruno, what's going on? If you were coming here, you could've told us earlier."
Closing her car door, Haruno grinned.
"You'll find out soon enough! Yukino, grab the luggage."
"Huh?"
Yukino, just as confused as Ichin and Utaha, still obediently took the suitcase from the trunk.
"Co on," Haruno said cheerfully, "I'll explain upstairs."
They went up together.
But instead of stopping at Ichin's door, Haruno walked right to the apartnt next door, pulled out a key, and—
Click!
The door opened.
Turning around to their dumbfounded faces, Haruno bead.
"I'm your new neighbor, Yukinoshita Haruno. Please take care of ~~"
Five minutes later, Ichin and Utaha stepped into the apartnt.
Looking at the freshly renovated interior, Ichin suddenly understood.
"So that's it. The place that was for sale before—you bought it, Haruno?"
"Exactly! It's all mine!"
Haruno folded her arms proudly.
"The old place I lived was closer to work, but boring. No friends nearby. I'd been thinking of moving. When I visited here before, I learned this apartnt was up for sale. So I bought it and renovated it."
Yukino frowned.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier? You could've stayed at my place."
"I didn't want to bother you, little Yukino."
Haruno hugged her sister.
"You're always studying so seriously. If I lived with you, I'd just distract you. That's why I stopped coming over much. But now it's perfect. Next door are Ichin and Utaha, downstairs are Aoba and the others—I won't be lonely at all!"
Ichin and Utaha exchanged a glance and shook their heads with a wry smile.
They didn't mind Haruno moving in—in fact, it'd be livelier.
But her secrecy… waiting until she had the key in hand to reveal it? That was just like her.
Glancing at the sparsely decorated living room, Ichin said with a smile:
"Even though it's renovated, it doesn't feel very hoy yet. You'll need to add more personal touches."
"I was thinking the sa!"
Haruno nodded vigorously.
"This will be my permanent ho now. I'll be busy with work this week, but next weekend you two have to co shopping with to decorate!"
---
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