The rest of the week vanished before I could mentally prepare myself.
Which was impressive, considering Saki found a way to bring up Kyoto every single day.
During lunch. During training. Once while I was literally correcting her stance.
Eri, meanwhile, had decided to prepare for the trip in her own way. For a moment, I thought she was actually being diligent. Then I realised she was just browsing brand-name items.
I had money, sure, but that did not make me a walking ATM.
Hina had already made a group chat, and every day without fail, she reminded us about the shopping trip. At school, Kasumi kept checking prices with the focus of someone preparing for war.
And me?
I was already tired.
My phone buzzed while I was cleaning the house.
Marie.
I set the cloth aside and checked my phone.
[Marie: Good morning, darling.]
I stared at the message for a second before typing back.
[Dylan: Good morning. It's been a while.]
[Marie: Summer break already. Tell me, darling, do you have plans for the holidays?]
[Dylan: Going to Kyoto with my friends. We're shopping for the trip today.]
The reply came almost immediately.
[Marie: How lovely. Where are you shopping?]
[Dylan: The shopping centre in Chiyoda City.]
This time, she took a little longer to reply.
[Marie: I see. Then enjoy yourself.]
A second one followed right after.
[Marie: Maybe I'll see you around.]
I had just started typing a reply, mostly to ask what that was supposed to mean, but then the doorbell rang.
'Eri, they're here!' I called.
'This lord is coming!'
A moment later, Eri rushed out of her room and, surprisingly, looked normal.
No dramatic outfits. No regal accessories. No layers that made her look ready to announce the fall of humanity.
Just simple clothes.
'You look good, Eri.'
'Heh.' She nudged her glasses with one finger. 'This lord always looks good.'
We stepped outside, and the others were already waiting near the gate.
'Good morning, everyone.'
'Good morning.'
'Master, did you bring enough money?' Saki asked the second she saw me.
'Of course.' I pulled out my wallet. 'I've got it right here.'
'Yay!'
She bounced in place like I'd just announced unlimited spending.
'So, is everyone ready?' Hina asked.
As expected, Hina was dressed in practicality, not style. Comfortable shoes. A bag big enough to fit a smaller Eri inside it.
I pointed at it.
'What's with the bag?'
'Oh, this?'
She had barely touched the zipper before Saki cut in.
'She packed spare shopping bags for later.' Saki folded her arms. 'I told her it was too much, but she kept talking about "being prepared."'
'Because I am being prepared. Especially for you. Who knows what nonsense you'll end up buying?'
Saki looked her up and down.
'Did anyone ever tell you that you dress like a guy?'
'So what? It's practical.'
Before that could escalate, Kasumi smiled gently.
'I think it suits you, Hina.'
That should have settled it.
It didn't.
'No wonder you're still single. You dress like you're about to supervise roadwork.'
'SAKI!'
Hina swung her bag.
Saki skipped neatly out of range.
'Too slow. Too weak. Try harder next time.'
It was still morning, and the two of them were already sprinting up and down the street.
'I… don't… have… time for this.' Hina leaned forward with her hands on her knees.
'Then train harder,' Saki said.
'Saki.'
Hina slowly lifted her head.
'Yes?'
'Keep talking and I'll leave you here.'
Saki instantly shut her mouth.
'Good,' Hina said, straightening up and adjusting her bag. 'Now let's go.'
Saki talked about Kyoto the entire way, Eri acted like we were heading off on a royal campaign, and Hina had to remind us twice not to split up before we had even arrived.
By the time we reached Chiyoda City, I was already tired.
Still, the sight of the shopping centre was enough to drag me forward.
The moment we stepped inside, the cold air hit us all at once.
'Ahhh…'
I looked at the others, who had all suddenly come back to life.
The crowd pressed in from every direction, swallowing up whatever personal space we had left.
'Okay, everyone,' Hina said, pulling out her phone. 'I made a list last night of what we should prioritise.'
She turned the screen so we could all see it.
'I hope everyone here can help find these items.'
With all nodding in sync like soldiers.
With that sorted, Hina herded us into a department store.
'No,' I said, taking an absurdly overpriced scarf out of Eri's hands. 'You do not need this.'
Eri narrowed her eyes at me.
'This lord does, in fact, need it.'
'Why?'
'For lordly reasons.'
'It's summer.'
'That changes nothing.'
Nearby, Hina compared travel-sized toiletries with grim concentration, while Kasumi checked the prices with the tense focus of someone trying not to trigger an alarm.
Saki had somehow found a pair of sunglasses and put them on.
'How do I look?' She asked.
'Like a delinquent,' Hina said without glancing up.
'Wrong. I look cool.'
'I-I think it looks nice,' Kasumi said.
Saki pointed at her.
'At least someone here has good taste in fashion.'
Hina reached over to take them off, and Saki twisted away, straight into someone.
'Ah—sorry!'
Saki bowed immediately.
'It's okay.'
The voice made me look up.
Red hair. Soft smile. Familiar eyes.
Marie.
Saki pushed the sunglasses up and blinked.
'Huh. You really do still exist.'
'Saki,' Hina said. 'That's rude.'
Saki folded her arms.
'What? It's been forever since we last saw her.'
Marie looked at our group with the same gentle smile she always wore, though this time it sat a little too neatly on her face.
'… Should I come back later?'
'Too late,' Saki said. 'You've already been spotted.'
Marie stepped a little closer to me.
The step was small, careful enough to pass for nothing, but I noticed anyway.
I stepped back before I even thought about it. Old habits. Too many nobles had moved like that when they wanted something.
Marie's gaze dipped for the briefest moment, then lifted again with that same polished expression.
'Long time no see, darling.'
'Indeed.' I nodded. 'How have you been?'
'I've been well. Summer break has given me a lot more free time.'
A small tap landed on my shoulder.
'Eri?'
She was staring straight at Marie.
'Who is she?'
'Oh. Right.' I gestured lightly. 'Sorry. She's an old friend.'
Marie stepped forward and bowed.
'Hello, everyone.'
Her gaze moved to Kasumi first.
'It's nice to see you again.'
Kasumi's fingers tightened slightly around the hem of her shirt.
'Y-yes. You too.'
Then Marie looked at Saki.
'You're still energetic.'
Saki puffed out her chest.
'That's one of my best qualities.'
'And you two…?'
Hina bowed politely.
'Tachibana Hina. Nice to meet you.'
Marie returned it with smooth ease.
'A pleasure.'
I glanced at Eri.
'Eri?'
Eri clung to my arm without taking her eyes off Marie.
'This lord doesn't like her.'
'But it's rude not to—'
Eri was already glaring at Marie.
I sighed. 'Sorry, Marie.'
'It's fine.' She waved.
I let it pass. Not everyone warmed to each other on a first meeting.
After the brief introduction, I asked Marie.
'So what are you doing here?'
She touched a finger lightly to her chin, as if she had to think about it.
'I'm shopping for a few things. I'll be going to Kyoto soon.'
'You're going too?'
'Yeah. I have some family matters to deal with there.'
'I see.'
Nothing in her answer sounded strange enough to push on.
Marie took a small step back.
'Well, it was nice seeing everyone again, but I should get back to shopping.'
Just as she was about to leave, Hina spoke up.
'We're still shopping too. If you're not busy, you can join us for a while.'
Marie paused with a faint hesitation that felt carefully placed. I noticed it, but only because I was looking.
'Are you sure? I don't want to intrude.'
'It's fine,' Hina said.
Saki immediately leaned toward Hina and whispered with all the subtlety of a car crash.
'Are you sure we should invite her? Only Master really knows her.'
Hina patted her shoulder.
'Don't worry. I trust my instincts.'
Marie smiled.
'Then… if you don't mind, I'd like that.'
'I recommend this one,' Marie said, picking up a bottle of sunscreen. 'I've used it before. It doesn't have that sticky feeling like other sunscreens.'
'Hmm…' Hina took it from her and checked the label. 'This does look good.'
Meanwhile, I was deciding between two shirts. Eventually, I reached for the plainer one.
'You still do that?'
I turned and saw Marie standing beside me.
'Do what?'
'Choose the plainest option every time.'
I looked down at the shirt in my hand.
Before I could answer, Saki appeared out of nowhere and looked between us.
'How do you know what Master likes?'
'Master?' Marie tilted her head.
'Yeah. He's my master.' Saki narrowed her eyes. 'Stop changing the subject. How do you know?'
Marie thought for a moment before smiling.
'I thought darling already told you. I'm his childhood friend, so it's only natural for me to know.'
It was a normal answer. Still, moments like this made the gap in my memories more annoying than usual.
Then I noticed Kasumi glancing over from the next rack. Not at me, but Marie.
When our eyes nearly met, Kasumi looked away almost instantly.
After we finished shopping, Hina suggested we eat lunch there and everyone agreed.
By the time we stepped into the food court, it was already packed. Filled people sitting around.
Kasumi went to find us a table while the rest of us split up to get food.
Saki dragged Hina off with her, while Marie and Eri followed me.
'My servant,' Eri said, pointing dramatically at one of the lunch specials. 'This lord desires that one.'
'Sure.'
We waited in line. Eri stood next to me, closer than usual as she kept glancing at Marie.
'Are you ordering from here too?' I asked.
'Yeah. I saw something I liked.' She smiled.
Once we got our order, we brought it back to the table, and Kasumi went to get hers.
'Oooh, what did you get?' Saki asked, setting her tray down.
'Okonomiyaki.' I replied.
When Kasumi returned, we all started eating.
Of course, lunch wasn't quiet with Saki around. Not that I minded. By then, I was used to it.
At one point, Saki started trying to balance her chopsticks on top of her lips.
'Stop that, Saki,' Hina said. 'That's disrespectful.'
'Hey. I could've beaten my record.'
A small laugh escaped from beside me.
The moment I turned, Marie was already looking back down at her food.
'Did you just laugh?' I asked.
She slurped her noodle, then lifted her eyes toward me.
'No, just something else.'
'Right…'
But for a second, before she smoothed it over, her expression had changed.
It was smaller. Softer.
That caught my attention more than anything else she'd done all day. For the first time, I found myself wondering which version of her was closer to the truth.
I looked away first and went back to my food.
Lunch wound down not long after that. Marie set her chopsticks down and gave a small bow.
'I should go,' she said. 'I didn't mean to interrupt your shopping trip.'
'You didn't,' I said.
A few steps away, Hina was already stopping Saki from wandering off again.
'Saki. Stop trying to run away.'
'But I just want to look at that. Please, Hina.'
Marie smiled, and this time it looked less practical.
'I'm glad I ran into you, darling.'
She said goodbye to the others, then disappeared into the crowd.
The second she was gone, Saki said what she had obviously been holding in.
'She's weird.'
'This lord agrees with the knight.'
Kasumi lowered her gaze.
'Let's not talk behind people's backs. I thought she felt more… natural than the last time.'
Natural. That was a strange word to use.
Before I could think too much about it, my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out.
[Marie: It was nice seeing you again today.]
I looked at the message for a second. Then another one came through.
[Marie: Just like old times.]
I stared at those words a little longer than I meant to.
They should have felt warm. Instead, they felt like someone reaching carefully for something that might not still be there.