Mutsumi Wakaba and Sakiko Togawa

Phew... That's all for today. Good work.

Good work...

Saki, you're not going home yet?

Yeah, I'll go home after getting these materials done.

...

...? Is something wrong?

Everyone was worried about you.

Huh...?

The girls in class were asking about you.

I see...

Could you please tell them that I'm fine?

Got it... I'll tell them.

...

Mutsumi...

?

Umm... How are you doing at school?

As usual. Everyone's cheering for Ave Mujica.

And your studies? Are you keeping up?

No problem. I go to class, and everyone shares notes with me.

How about the vegetable garden? What about during breaks?

Nothing changes. I'm the same as always.

Okay... The same as always.

...

How about you, Saki? Are you fine?

...

Yes... I'm doing well too.

That's good to hear.

I'll just keep going as usual. It's all for Ave Mujica.

Time to eat.

...

(The rolled omelet today is excellent.)

(If I do say so myself, I'm quite used to making bento boxes now.)

Good work today.

Mutsumi, greetings. I hope you'll forgive me for speaking while eating.

A bento box.

Did you make it?

Yes, it has some leftovers from last night's dinner though...

Saki, are you eating properly?

Huh?

You don't have a housekeeper now, do you?

No, I don't.

...

(Is Mutsumi worried about me...?)

I'm fine. Unlike those days, my life is stable now...

It's a way to save money, but I also enjoy improving my cooking skills by making bento boxes.

I see... That's good.

Since you're here, want to try some?

Huh...

I mean, I think it's quite tasty myself... But only if you don't mind...

...

I want some.

Well then, help yourself.

Mhm. Thanks.

...

How is it?

This is Saki's flavor.

Yeah. Umm... Do you like it?

...

Yes. Delicious.

Thank goodness...

Saki...

Mutsumi?

The time.

Ah... It's already this dark...

I'm sorry. I can't play the piano freely at school, so I get carried away...

I'm so grateful I can practice freely here. Thank you as always.

Mhm.

Well then, I should be taking my leave now.

That piece... I've heard it before.

It's a famous piece. It's often played in the streets and used in TV programs.

I've also played it a lot since I was younger...

I know.

I've heard you playing it before.

!

(Could it be... She remembers those days...?)

That was back when mother was still healthy...

Phew...

What do you think, Mutsumi? It's a piece I've just learned.

...Mhm. You did well.

! That's a relief. It was worth all the hard work I put into practicing.

...

Mutsumi smiled gently.

As I remember, after that...

It was like the sea.

Huh...?

A gentle piece, like the sea in a peaceful night. That's how it sounded.

......

(The same words...)

(The same words as that time, after Mutsumi heard my piano...)

Saki?

(No... That's nothing more than my own wishful thinking.)

(Besides, I've decided to accept Mutsumi as she is now.)

(Because Mutsumi is just Mutsumi, no matter in the past or present.)

No, it's nothing.

?

(But...)

(Maybe not everything has changed, after all.)

Mutsumi.

?

If you don't mind... May I play the piano one more time?

I want to play that piece from the beginning. I want you to hear it.

Yeah.

Thank you. Well then...