"That's a long time," his father sighed. "But fine. No problem."
"So it's settled?" Tanami glanced at Tachyon. With her sensitive horse-girl ears, she had clearly followed the entire conversation; she gave him a triumphant, sharp-toothed grin and nodded.
"Yeah, it's settled," his father said. "Wait—I'm forgetting something. What was it...? Ah, right. Kosuke is coming home too, so the house is going to be pretty cramped. You sure that's okay? Check with Miss Agnes."
Tanami's face soured at the mention of Kosuke. His younger brother wasn't a bad person, but Tanami had never been able to get along with him. If he was honest, he actively disliked him.
"Wait, Kosuke is actually coming back?"
"Yeah, he emailed me. He'll be there from the 29th until the 3rd. It'll be a full house this year."
His father sounded almost happy. For the past two years, Tanami hadn't gone home for New Year's, knowing he'd be going back later in the spring anyway to light incense for his mother. This trip was a whim—a sudden, inexplicable urge to be in his father's house.
Hearing his father's voice, Tanami felt a pang of guilt. New Year's was a special time for the old man. He must have spent previous years with just Kosuke, or perhaps entirely alone. Having both sons back was clearly something he'd been hoping for. Tanami looked at Tachyon, feeling a new wave of uncertainty. She tilted her head, sensing the shift.
"Wait, Dad... let me ask her." He pulled the phone away. "Tachyon, my brother is going to be there. The house is going to be really crowded. Maybe we should call it off?"
"I don't mind a bit of a crowd," she replied airily. "Though I don't believe you've ever mentioned a brother."
Tanami scowled. "I don't like him, so I don't talk about him. I'm sure his name has come up once or twice, though."
"Is that so? Perhaps I simply wasn't listening. Regardless, tell your father it's fine."
"Right..." Tanami muttered with a wry smile. He put the phone back to his ear. "Dad? Tachyon says it's fine. No issues on our end."
"Okay then. The 29th it is. Anything specific you want to eat?"
Tanami looked at Tachyon. She mouthed the words: Carrot Hamburg.
He gave another pained smile. "She wants carrot hamburg steaks."
"Miss Agnes does? Good grief. Isn't she a high-class lady? I can't cook anything fancy."
Tachyon smirked and gave a thumbs up. No problem, she signaled.
"She says it's fine. Do you have the ingredients?"
"I'll pick some up. Not a problem."
"Don't go buying expensive meat or anything. As long as it can be put through a blender, she'll eat it."
"What?"
"Never mind. Internal joke. So, that's everything?"
"Ah... you're still coming back for the anniversary of her death this year, right?"
"Of course."
"Good. I'll let you go, then. Bye-bye."
"Bye."
The line went dead. Tanami let out a long, exhausted sigh. "Let's get going. Fuji-san will be doing her rounds soon."
Tachyon beamed. "Mission accomplished. Only two days until we depart for your home."
Tanami could only nod, a tired smile tugging at his lips.
On the way back, they ran into the dorm head, Fuji Kiseki. Seeing them, she approached with a knowing, mischievous smile.
"Didn't something very similar happen back in autumn?"
Tachyon's expression soured instantly. "Do you need something?"
"My, how sharp! I was actually looking for you since you hadn't checked in. Coming back from the track?"