This icon, I think. When I tap, a message shows. From Hashimoto the Prime Minister, looks like.
“Rita-chan, want toast? I can at least make that.”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course. Wait a bit.”
They look busy, so I thought just seeing them off would be enough… Did I get in the way. Maybe I should come a little earlier or later. I worry a little.
“What’re you looking at?”
While I’m thinking a little, Chii-chan climbs onto my lap. She tilts her head blankly and looks at me. Super cute.
“Email.”
“Email! Chii gets them from Onee-chan too!”
“Mm. I see.”
I pat the head of Chii-chan going eheh looking happy. Narrowing her eyes like it feels good is a little like a small animal.
Come to think of it, this world has cafes where you can interact with small animals, I think. Maybe I’ll look. No, before that, the email first.
I open Hashimoto’s email and read it. What’s written there is that they found Master’s family home. Only it’s not confirmed, and there are apparently several likely candidates. An inquiry asking if I have any other information.
Additional information. Hmm… If I ask Spirit-sama, maybe she’ll know something?
“Rita-chan, it’s done.”
Mami brings toast grilled a nice delicious-looking brown. For now I’ll prioritize the toast. She went to the trouble of making it.
“Mm. Thanks.”
“Not at all. It’s hot so eat slowly.”
I bite the toast I was handed right away. The crisp texture is really fun. The faint sweetness is just right too.
While I’m eating crunch-crunch, Mami sits across from me.
“Rita-chan, were you looking at your smartphone earlier?”
“Mm. I was. Email from Hashimoto.”
“Hashimoto… The Prime Minister…?”
“Mm.”
When I nod, she starts getting a little flustered. What’s wrong.
“Sh-shouldn’t you check or reply sooner!?”
“Mm? It’s fine. It said to reply when I have time.”
“Is that so…?”
“That’s so.”
Right now I’m very busy. Because I’m eating toast. So the email can wait. When I say that, Mami makes an indescribable face.
When I finish the toast, it’s apparently time for them to leave. Mami and Chii-chan head for the entrance so I see them off.
“Ittekimasu.”
“Ittekimaaas.”
“Mm… Itterasshai.”
The two wave, open the door, and go outside.
Hmm… Itterasshai. Itterasshai, huh. How do I put it, moving, or something… The last time I said it was when Master set out. I never got to say okaeri in the end.
This time, I want to say it properly. If I come back a little after noon I can say it, maybe?
I go back to the living room and think a little, and the living room door opens. Who comes in is a woman of a certain age. She yawns sleepily, notices me, and puts on a gentle smile. It looks a lot like Mami’s smile.
“You were here, Rita-chan.”
“Mm. Mami and Chii-chan already left.”
“Ahh, I see… I wanted to see them off properly…”
This person is Mami and Chii-chan’s mother. When I come in the morning she’s often already up, but sometimes she oversleeps like this. She’s probably tired so Mami doesn’t wake her, apparently.
“What are you doing after this, Rita-chan?”
“Hmm… I think I’ll end up going to see Hashimoto.”
“Heeh. Amazing.”
I greeted this person directly just the other day, but she’s a really easygoing person. Even when I talked about myself, she was only a little surprised and let it go. But she’s easy to get along with so I like her.
“You’re little too, Rita-chan, so be careful going.”
“Mm.”
Or maybe she just doesn’t get it…? A little mysterious person.
