Yukino Yukinoshita stared intently at Iroha Isshiki. Any single one of the things Iroha had just said would have been enough to make Yukino's imagination run wild regarding Kotomi and Iroha's relationship.
Iroha Isshiki addressed Kotomi Izumi as "Senpai," yet her tone did nothing to conceal how close she was to Kotomi.
In fact, that intimacy was only growing more intense!
"Heh..."
A cold smile tugged at the corners of Yukino Yukinoshita's lips. Ever since confessing to Kotomi, Yukino's powers of observation seemed to have become exceptionally sensitive, as though she had inadvertently awakened a tiny radar designed specifically to detect romantic rivals.
After that brief, indifferent sneer, Yukino Yukinoshita put on a grateful smile.
"Thank you for answering. I'm sorry for questioning you the moment we met, but that's simply the kind of person I am. Whenever I have a question, I like to learn the answer as quickly as possible, and I insist on getting to the bottom of things. Kotomi understands that better than anyone."
When romantic rivals met, sparks naturally flew. Girls were exceptionally perceptive at moments like this.
Iroha Isshiki knew that the final sentence in Yukino Yukinoshita's speech had not been said casually.
Although she didn't know Yukino Yukinoshita particularly well, from their brief encounters and conversations both now and during Sobu High School's cultural festival, Iroha Isshiki had already gained a general understanding of her personality. Yukino was aloof and indifferent, calm and cautious, yet her possessiveness toward Kotomi could also make her impulsive and domineering.
Yukinoshita-senpai is warning me! Could she be Senpai's girlfriend?
Iroha Isshiki thought to herself, but she had no intention of backing down.
A little devil was not someone to be trifled with!
Iroha Isshiki leaned even closer against Kotomi. Her light laughter rang like pleasant silver bells as she said with a smile:
"It's fine. I only answered a simple question, so you're being far too polite, Yukinoshita-senpai. Besides, it's perfectly normal for Senpai to understand your personality so well. Senpai is gentle, though she can be a little wicked sometimes. Whenever something is making you unhappy, simply staying beside Senpai makes that unhappiness gradually dissolve like an effervescent tablet dropped into water, even without saying a single word."
"I-Is that so?"
Yukino Yukinoshita had confidently believed that her previous words would leave Iroha Isshiki speechless. She hadn't expected Iroha to launch such a fierce counterattack, which was completely beyond her expectations.
Whoosh—
A cold wind swept past.
For some reason, the wind blowing past them now seemed especially frigid.
Kotomi Izumi looked at Iroha Isshiki, then at Yukino Yukinoshita, and finally at Yui Yuigahama...
The conversation between Iroha Isshiki and Yukino Yukinoshita was gradually becoming charged with hostility. Unless Kotomi quickly found a way to change the subject, their probing remarks were very likely to turn into an open confrontation.
Meanwhile, the innocent Yui Yuigahama clearly hadn't noticed the tension rising between Iroha Isshiki and Yukino Yukinoshita. She still naively believed they were merely chatting and obediently stood beside Kotomi as she waited.
It would be wonderful if all my girlfriends could be as innocent as Yui. At least then, even if a romantic battlefield erupted, they would be easy to placate... Kotomi Izumi thought helplessly. While Yukino and Iroha were probing each other and preparing to clash, she secretly reached out and stroked Yui's hair.
"Hehehe~"
After feeling Kotomi stroke her hair, Yui Yuigahama giggled happily and tilted her little head upward, wanting Kotomi to pet her some more.
Unfortunately, even though Yui Yuigahama wanted Kotomi Izumi to continue, Kotomi withdrew her small hand after only briefly stroking her hair.
The reason was simple. Yukino or Iroha might glance over at any moment.
Even though neither of them knew that she and Yui were dating, if they happened to look over while she was stroking Yui's hair, this romantic battlefield would instantly explode.
Kotomi Izumi still had no idea how to avoid the romantic battlefield in the first place, so naturally, she wasn't foolish enough to ignite it herself.
After all, if a romantic battlefield was handled poorly, it could easily become a speedrun straight to the crematorium.
Just as Kotomi Izumi's mind raced as she tried to think of a way to change the subject, Iroha Isshiki suddenly said:
"By the way, Senpai, you originally planned to take the train back to Chiba, right?"
"That's right," Kotomi Izumi replied. Now that an opportunity had appeared to change the subject and avert the romantic battlefield, she naturally wouldn't let it slip away.
"After learning last night that you would return this morning, I asked Mom whether she could drive me to Tokyo today. Mom happens to have the next few days off and doesn't need to go to the hospital, so she agreed to drive me here to pick you up. Senpai, you can simply ride home in our car."
Iroha Isshiki spoke with a bright smile. After finishing, she didn't forget to add:
"Yukinoshita-senpai and Yuigahama-senpai, please come with us as well. Our car has three rows of seats, so there is just enough room for everyone."
"Huh? Then we'll be imposing on you. Thank you, Iroha," Yui Yuigahama said gratefully.
"Thank you. Sorry for the trouble."
Although Yukino Yukinoshita knew that Iroha Isshiki was changing the subject, one did not strike a smiling person. For now, she could only extinguish the hostility, express her gratitude, and coexist peacefully for a while.
"The car is in the parking lot outside the station. I'll take you there."
Iroha Isshiki spoke with a smile.
Only then did Kotomi Izumi breathe a slight sigh of relief. The four of them left the station entrance together and headed toward the parking lot.
As they walked, Kotomi Izumi curiously asked Iroha Isshiki in a quiet voice:
"Judging from how you addressed Aunt Motokawa just now, have you already started calling her Mom?"
"That's right. A few days ago, Dad and Aunt Kumi went to city hall and submitted their marriage registration. When they came home, I tried calling Aunt Kumi 'Mom.'
"Mom didn't react at first when she heard it. Once she realized what I'd called her, she burst into happy tears. So even though Dad and Mom haven't held their wedding yet, I've already started calling Aunt Kumi 'Mom.'"
"I see. In that case, I'll have to change how I address her when we meet later too."
Kotomi Izumi nodded in understanding.
After hearing Kotomi Izumi's words, Iroha Isshiki smiled wickedly and asked with a meaningful look:
"Oh? Senpai has decided to change how she addresses her? Then when you see my mother later, what exactly do you plan to change 'Aunt Motokawa' to?"
"Huh...?"
Kotomi Izumi froze. At first, she didn't understand. Only after seeing the wicked smile on Iroha Isshiki's pretty face did she finally realize what kind of "trap" the little devil had buried in those words.
"W-What else would I call her? Of course I'll start calling her Aunt Isshiki!"
Kotomi Izumi hurriedly replied. Once she realized what was happening, she understood exactly what kind of trap the little devil Iroha Isshiki had hidden in her words. Had Kotomi failed to notice it, she might have instinctively blurted out what she was truly thinking: Mother-in-law.
Had she actually answered that way, Kotomi was certain the little devil Iroha would seize upon it and mercilessly tease her!
Kotomi Izumi was extremely competitive and had no desire to let that little devil tease her yet again.
That was close. I really can never let down my guard around that little devil Iroha Isshiki. The slightest lapse in attention, and I'll probably fall straight into one of her traps... Kotomi Izumi thought secretly.
Iroha Isshiki gave Kotomi Izumi a long, brooding look. She was clearly dissatisfied with Kotomi's answer and muttered quietly:
"Is that really the answer you were thinking of, Senpai?"
Under Iroha Isshiki's stare, Kotomi Izumi inexplicably felt somewhat guilty. She could only deliberately avoid Iroha's gaze and declare self-righteously:
"Of course it is. What else would I call her besides Aunt Isshiki?"
After hearing Kotomi's righteous declaration, Iroha Isshiki first gave her a meaningful look for a while, then giggled and said:
"Hehehe. Good children shouldn't lie."
"I'm not lying!" Kotomi Izumi could only continue shouting with feigned conviction, even though she knew perfectly well that what she had just said was indeed a lie.
When the idea of changing how she addressed Aunt Motokawa came up, the first title that occurred to Kotomi Izumi was "Mother-in-law," not "Aunt Isshiki."
Kotomi Izumi didn't know what kind of mood had prompted her to stubbornly lie at that moment and refuse to admit the truth no matter what. Perhaps it was to avoid a romantic battlefield. Or perhaps it was the competitiveness in her heart, which made her unwilling to let that little devil seize upon one of her weaknesses.
Before long, they arrived at Kumi Motokawa's car.
Strictly speaking, the car belonged to Tetsunosuke Isshiki, not Kumi Motokawa. However, because Tetsunosuke felt taking the train to work was more convenient, the car usually remained parked in the small parking space in their yard, while the keys were kept inside a cabinet in the living room.
A small parking space beside the front door with enough room for a single car was practically standard for detached homes in Japan.
Kumi Motokawa was also accustomed to walking to work. She only drove to the hospital when she had to return there in a hurry.
After learning the previous night that Iroha Isshiki wanted to travel to Tokyo's Shinkansen station to pick up Kotomi Izumi, Kumi Motokawa had naturally agreed without the slightest hesitation. She had long since begun treating Iroha Isshiki as her own daughter, which meant that in her heart, Kotomi was her daughter's lifesaving benefactor.
They had already expressed their gratitude countless times, but gratitude had to be conveyed not only through words, but through actions as well. Both Tetsunosuke Isshiki and Kumi Motokawa understood that clearly. Therefore, whenever Iroha Isshiki mentioned anything involving Kotomi, the two of them took it very seriously.
After opening the car door, Iroha Isshiki smiled at Kumi Motokawa, who was sitting in the driver's seat, and said:
"Mom, I found Senpai. These two are Senpai's friends, Yukinoshita-senpai and Yuigahama-senpai."
Yukino Yukinoshita said, "Hello, Auntie. I'm sorry for imposing on you by asking to ride back to Chiba with you."
Yui Yuigahama said, "Hello, Auntie. It's nice to meet you."
"Hello, both of you. It's no trouble at all, so please don't worry about it. Iroha plans to apply to Sobu High School, so I'll be counting on you to look after her when the time comes. Besides, the weather is so cold today. Since I've already driven all the way here, I wouldn't feel at ease unless I made sure all of you got home safely. Come on, hurry and get in. There's no need to be polite."
Kumi Motokawa nodded and spoke with a smile.
"Aunt Isshiki, it's been a long time. How have things been at the hospital lately?" Kotomi Izumi greeted Kumi Motokawa after getting into the car.
"Things at the hospital have been fairly good lately. Especially for surgeons like me, there are always a few exceptionally busy days every month, almost as though they're fixed in advance. This month's busy period seems to have passed smoothly, so I'll have two days off next. What about you, Kotomi? Did you gain anything from this hot-spring trip?"
When Kumi Motokawa heard Kotomi Izumi call her Aunt Isshiki, she was initially somewhat surprised. She soon realized that Iroha must have told Kotomi about the situation moments earlier, and Kotomi's decision to change the way she addressed her was also an expression of approval. A deeply moved smile appeared on her face.
"It was wonderful. The hot springs were incredibly comfortable. Soaking in a hot spring really is one of the best ways to spend winter in Japan! Still, I feel a little embarrassed that you came all this way to pick us up, Aunt Isshiki. It feels as though we're taking up your day off."
Kotomi Izumi smiled faintly. Her true purpose in saying these things was to change the way she addressed Kumi without drawing attention to it. On the way there, Kotomi had already considered the matter and decided that rather than solemnly announcing the change, it would be better to do it as casually as this.
Now that she had naturally gone along with the situation and completed the change, she certainly wouldn't allow the conversation to remain focused on it. Instead, she unobtrusively began steering the topic elsewhere.
"Not at all. I may have two days off, but honestly, as long as I go to bed early the night before and sleep peacefully until I wake up naturally, more than half the exhaustion caused by all my recent overtime will have disappeared by the next morning. After all, I'm a surgeon. During the periods when work becomes hectic, going to bed on time and sleeping until I wake naturally are luxuries I wouldn't even dare dream of.
"If a single night's sleep can solve the problem, there is no need to spend two days off recovering. Still, there is no reason to let a vacation go to waste when I have the chance to enjoy it.
"The problem is that once I have free time, I realize there isn't much for me to do. So when Iroha asked me last night whether I could drive to Tokyo this morning to pick you up, I thought a drive to Tokyo sounded pleasant. It would help me relax and pass the time, so I agreed.
"Of course, the most important reason is that I wanted to do whatever I could to thank you for helping Iroha before.
"I'm not the only one who feels that way. Tetsunosuke feels the same. Kotomi, thank you so much for what you did."
Kumi Motokawa spoke with complete seriousness. Even the thick-skinned Kotomi felt somewhat embarrassed after being thanked yet again.
After asking for Yukino and Yui's home addresses, Kumi Motokawa started the car and drove toward Chiba.
Yukino Yukinoshita and Yui Yuigahama sat in the second row, while Kotomi Izumi and Iroha Isshiki sat in the third row.
The atmosphere inside the car was finally relatively peaceful. Iroha Isshiki chatted and laughed with Kotomi and Yui, while Yukino occasionally joined their conversation.
After dropping both Yukino and Yui off at home, Kotomi should naturally have been the next person they took home.
However, just as Kumi Motokawa was about to turn the steering wheel, she glanced through the rearview mirror at Kotomi Izumi and Iroha Isshiki sitting in the third row. She suddenly seemed to notice something, then pressed down on the accelerator and drove off in another direction.
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