Lonely Rock for the Blind.

Nekoyashiki Haru passed Yamada Ryo and reached her cane toward the steps in front of the apartment.

"Thank you for giving me a ride. I wish you sweet dreams tonight."

"... "

Yamada Ryo didn't turn around to look; he just stood there, motionless.

After a long while, he turned around and looked at the apartment door behind him.

There was no one there anymore, and the motion-activated lights were off because no one was passing by.

The darkness seemed to crawl out of the apartment and creep toward the lamp by the roadside.

Yamada Ryo narrowed his eyes slightly.

"...You really are lazy and arrogant, but I don't dislike you."

Chapter Twenty-Three: Weekend

It's the weekend.

Sitting up in bed, Nekoyashiki Haru, as usual, stared blankly for a while.

What to do on the weekend? Just kidding... [Starry Night] is open every day.

However, it's okay to go at night.

Thinking about how she was forced to answer dozens of questions during yesterday's Truth or Dare game by two scoundrels, Nekoyashiki Haru suddenly lost all interest in going to [Starry Sky].

"... "

But what's the point of doing that...? So boring...

Practice the piano for a while?

No… never mind…

Since things have come to this, let's just go get some bread and eat.

With that in mind, Nekoyashiki Haru finished washing up and then headed to the kitchen.

Then I suddenly remembered Ichiki Nijika's instructions.

"…Ugh…"

With a sigh, Nekoyashiki Haru took the bento box out of the refrigerator and casually put it into the microwave.

Ding~

As the heating was finished, Nekoyashiki Haru carefully took out the bento box and walked to the table.

【camera】

Haru Nekoyashiki took a picture of the bento box from her noisy phone and sent it to Nijika Ijichi.

A short while later, a message came from the other end.

With her phone placed beside her, Nekoyashiki Haru ate her bento while listening to the sounds coming from the phone.

[Hongxia sent a message: You ate well, that's good.]

The message from Ijichi Nijika was broadcast, and Nekoyashiki Haru casually replied with an emj emoji.

"Ugh...it doesn't taste good."

Nekoyashiki Haru said softly.

These weren't things that Ichiki Nijika did, which is why he could say it so frankly.

One bite after another, unable to distinguish what the food in front of them was or what its shape was.

I just stuffed it all into my mouth, and it was a little too hot.

Was it heated for too long...?

[Hongxia sent a message: By the way, did you buy it at a convenience store? How about I bring it over to you, or do you have any ingredients and I can cook it there? I'm pretty free today.]

Nekoyashiki Haru took off his sunglasses, revealing cracks in his purple eyes that looked like broken glass. As he listened to Ichiji Nijika's message, his hand reached for his phone.

Then I slowly started typing.

However, before he could finish typing a single sentence, another message arrived.

[Hongxia sent a message: Why aren't you saying anything? Didn't you hear me?]

"... "

After deleting the few words she had painstakingly typed, Nekoyashiki Haru replied with a single word.

【without】

Then continue typing.

[Hongxia sent a message: Are you typing too slowly? Maybe I should just call you.]

"... "

The words she had just typed were deleted again, and Nekoyashiki Haru clicked on the emoticon.

[Open the Emj emojis app and select the OK gesture.]

Then I replied with an "ok" emj.

Soon, Ichiji Nijika called, and Nekoyashiki Haru answered the phone.

Ah, it's connected... Good morning, little cat.

"Good morning…"

Nekoyashiki Haru said weakly.

[You sound so weak. Didn't you sleep well last night?]

No, I've always been like this.

[It wasn't like that before!]

"That was so long ago..."

"Ichiko Haruto said helplessly," Ichiko Nijika continued to ask.

So, do you want me to bring you lunch? For lunchtime?

"No need, I have my own bento box."

Sigh~ Do you prefer convenience store bento boxes to my own?

"Of course yours is better, but I don't want to trouble you too much."

Nekoyashiki Haru replied.

Okay...see you this afternoon, little kitty.

See you this afternoon.

After hanging up the phone, Nekoyashiki Haru sighed.

"Ah... I'm so tired."

I feel tired even though I haven't done anything.

I might as well sleep through the day...

Ding-a-ling!

The phone rang again. Nekoyashiki Haru thought it was Ijichi Nijika calling again, but the voice message that followed made him pause.

Kita called.

"... "

At this time?

After answering the phone, Nekoyashiki Haru waited for the other party to speak.

"Ah, senior, I'm outside your door! Please open it!"

"?"

The cat tilted its head, then quickly put its sunglasses back on from the table, before walking to the door and opening it.

Good morning, senior!

A vibrant voice suddenly rang out, and the sudden increase in volume startled Nekoyashiki Haru, who was prepared but still felt a tremor in her heart.

"...Keep your voice down."

"Oh! I'm sorry."

Kita Ikuyo clasped her hands together in apology.

"So what's wrong? You came to see me this morning..."

Nekoyashiki Haru walked into the house, and Kita Ikuyo quickly followed, closing the door behind her.

"Hehe, just wanted to check out you, senior, since I'm bored."

"...Kita, you must have a lot of friends, right? Your weekends should be packed with activities, so how come you're always free?"

"Ah, you've seen through me... Well... I didn't come here just because I was bored, I came here specifically to see you, senior!"

Kita Ikuyo's voice was filled with laughter as she walked over to the sofa and sat down.

"...Thank you so much..."

Nekoyashiki Haru thanked her, then went to the kitchen, poured a glass of juice, and placed it on the coffee table in front of Kita Ikuyo.

"You seem to be moving around here with ease, senior."

"It's my own home, after all."

"I sat down two seats away from Kita Ikuyo," Nekoyashiki Haru replied.

Kita Ikuyo glanced at the bento box on the dining table next to her, and then turned her gaze to Nekoyashiki Haru.

"Were you eating just now? Senior, you were obediently listening to Senior Ijichi."