That afternoon, Haruto and Rio spent hours at a café, quietly reading the books they'd bought earlier. When evening came, they went out for dinner, and by the time they returned home, it was already close to nine.
Inside, they found Sonoko and Mari freshly bathed, dressed in pajamas, and ready to turn in for the night.
"Oh, welcome back~" Sonoko greeted, waving cheerfully.
"We're back. Heading to bed already?" Haruto asked.
"Mm-hm. Gotta work tomorrow, so I'm calling it a night."
With a smile and a stretch, Sonoko disappeared toward her room.
"Good night."
Haruto and Rio took their shopping bags and books into their room, then returned to the living area to prepare for a quick shower before bed.
To save time, they went into the bathroom together.
By the time they came out, both of their faces were slightly flushed. Rio's hair clung to her cheek, and Haruto looking quietly content followed her back to the bedroom, where they lay down to rest.
_ _ _
Rio didn't really like white stockings, but since Haruto did, she eventually gave in. After spending half an hour debating with herself, she finally slipped on a pair of silky white velvet stockings and walked back to the living room.
The moment she sat down, Haruto lay across her lap.
"...You like them that much?" she asked, half teasing.
"I'm not even sure anymore," Haruto murmured, eyes closed. "I don't know if I like stockings themselves... or what they represent."
Rio rolled her eyes lightly and picked up The Elegant Universe, flipping back to the page she'd bookmarked. She ignored the boy resting his head on her thighs while he sighed in quiet satisfaction, looking utterly at peace.
They stayed that way for nearly an hour.... until Haruto's phone buzzed.
He reluctantly lifted his head, sat up, and pulled the phone from his pocket. The caller ID read Setsuna.
He glanced at Rio. She didn't look particularly interested, still focused on her book.
"Setsuna?"
"Haruto... are you free right now?"
"I'm with a friend. What's wrong?"
"...I need to go to the hospital. Do you... have time to come with me?"
"You're home right now?"
"Umm."
"I understand. Wait for me... I'll be there soon."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Haruto turned to Rio. At some point, she'd closed her book and was looking at him quietly.
"You're going?"
"She said she's not feeling well. I'll take her to the hospital. I might be back this afternoon or maybe tonight. Sorry."
"It's fine," she said evenly. "If she's sick, she should have someone with her. Don't worry about me."
Her calm response made Haruto sigh faintly. He hurried to the bedroom to grab his things and came back to the living room, where Rio still sat waiting.
"What is it? You're leaving, aren't you?" she asked.
Haruto leaned down and kissed her softly on the cheek.
"I'll be back," he said, before heading for the door.
Rio watched his back as he left. Her fingers brushed the spot where his lips had touched. There was a faint warmth there... unexpected and bittersweet.
Haruto took the subway straight to Setsuna's apartment. When he opened the door, she was sitting in the living room, one hand pressed to her cheek.
"What's wrong? Does it hurt?" he asked, stepping closer.
Setsuna looked up at him with teary eyes, her voice small.
"My tooth hurts."
"..."
Haruto pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. He'd been expecting something serious but a toothache? Still, pain was pain.
"Alright," he said, smiling wryly. "Let's get you to the dentist."
"Mm... It started hurting last night," she murmured. "I didn't say anything this morning because Mom had work."
Up close, he could see the dark circles under her eyes. She clearly hadn't slept.
"Let me see," he said softly.
Setsuna hesitated, then closed her eyes and opened her mouth slightly. Her lips parted, revealing a glimpse of neat white teeth and a faintly pink tongue.
Haruto leaned in to check the side she'd been pressing, but there wasn't much to see.
"Alright," he said, straightening. "Do you need to get anything ready? If not, let's head out now."
"Okay."
He nodded and pulled out his phone, searching nearby clinics on the map. After checking the ratings and locations, he chose one that looked reliable, and the two of them set out together.
It took them about half an hour to reach the clinic. Once inside, they were greeted at the reception desk. Unlike the crowded dental offices Haruto had imagined, this one was surprisingly quiet almost serene, with barely any patients around.
"Do we need to wait long?" he asked.
"There are only eight appointments today, all in the afternoon," the receptionist explained. "Morning patients are pretty rare."
"I see," Haruto nodded.
It felt strange, but seeing the pain on Setsuna's face, he didn't dwell on it. The sooner she got treated, the better.
A few minutes later, a young, beautiful female dentist came out to meet them. She spoke gently with Setsuna for a bit, asking questions and taking notes before leading her into the treatment room. Haruto stayed in the waiting area.
"Please have some tea," the receptionist offered.
"Thank you," he said politely, sitting down.
Nearly two hours passed. By the time Setsuna came out, it was almost noon. She looked pale and miserable, holding one side of her cheek as she shuffled toward Haruto.
"Wait a moment, there's still medicine left to be prescribed." the dentist said before returning to the room.
Haruto sighed softly and turned to Setsuna. "So… they pulled it?"
Setsuna couldn't speak; she simply nodded, eyes watery and full of quiet despair.
Wisdom tooth, Haruto thought. That explained everything.
After confirming the medication and precautions with the dentist, the two of them headed home. For the next few days, Setsuna would have to be careful about what she ate.
Haruto called Mai to explain what had happened. She sounded startled at first.
"She had a tooth pulled? I see... Then tonight, she probably can't..."
"Maybe make something soft? Like porridge?"
"Right. I'll prepare some when I get home. Haruto, could you start the rice for me?"
"Got it. See you later, then?"
"Mm."
When he hung up, he glanced toward the sofa. Setsuna was sitting there, staring blankly at the TV, still holding her cheek. Haruto had never seen her look so drained before.
He sat down beside her. "Does it hurt?"
"Mm."
"Hurts a lot?"
"Mm."
"Try to bear with it for now," he said with a helpless smile. "There's not much I can do."
"..."
The two of them sat together in silence, watching whatever was on TV. For now, there was no way Haruto could return to the Café House to see Rio. Leaving Setsuna alone in this condition would've been heartless and even he wasn't capable of that level of cruelty.
After all, what kind of person would abandon a girl suffering from pain... just to meet another girlfriend? That kind of thing wasn't something you could justify as human behavior.
On the screen, a low, tense voice spoke:
"I told you already... don't think you can get away with it so easily. Your girlfriend is probably screaming your name right now... while going through something awful."
"Kyoko? Kyoko?! What did you do to her?!"
Smack!
"You leaked information and cost me money. Did you think your girlfriend would be the only one to pay? Hold him down!"
The sharp snap of a belt filled the room as the scene cut away.
Haruto blinked, momentarily dazed by the jarring shift in tone. He glanced sideways Setsuna's empty gaze was still fixed on the screen, unfocused, her mind clearly elsewhere. The pain must have been intense.
He stayed beside her quietly, keeping her company.
The dentist had said she shouldn't eat or drink for at least two hours. Haruto glanced at the clock. It was about time.
"It's almost been two hours," he said softly. "Want some water?"
Setsuna's hollow eyes flickered faintly with light as she glanced toward Haruto but then she silently shook her head.
The two of them stayed like that for another three hours. By the time Mai came home from work, she found Haruto and Setsuna sitting quietly in the living room. The sight of her daughter's once-slender, almond-shaped face now swollen on both sides made her expression twist into something complicated.
"How is she?"
"It's been about five hours now," Haruto replied. "She can drink and eat again, but nothing that needs chewing. It looks like she'll be on liquids for the day. Maybe tomorrow she can chew a little, but not on the side with the wound."
"So that means…"
"About a week of liquid food, most likely. That's the safest plan."
Mother and daughter exchanged a look Setsuna's cheeks puffed out like a chipmunk's and Mai couldn't help feeling a bit conflicted. It seemed she might have to join her daughter on a week-long liquid diet.
Dinner was Mai's responsibility that night. When Haruto saw the steaming bowl of rice porridge on the table, he felt a strange mix of sympathy and amusement.
"…"
Their eyes met briefly, wordlessly sharing the same resigned thought. Still, since it was the first meal of the recovery period, neither complained. After quietly finishing dinner, Haruto passed along the doctor's remaining instructions, then said his goodbyes and left the Kiyoura home.
Instead of heading straight back, he turned toward the subway station.
He stopped by a small restaurant that was still open, ordered some grilled meat, and added, "Just juice for the drink."
After eating alone and filling his stomach, he caught the next train and made his way to the Café House.
He could see the light still on upstairs. Unlocking the door, Haruto stepped inside, locked it behind him, and walked to the living room.... where three women sat together, chatting.
"Oh, you're back," said Sonoko, the first to notice him. Seeing the exhaustion on his face and the dullness in his eyes, she raised an eyebrow.
"What happened to you? That dead-fish stare looks like someone drained your soul a thousand times."
"Nothing much," Haruto said tiredly. "I just accompanied a friend to get her wisdom teeth pulled."
"Oh?" Sonoko's curiosity immediately lit up, but before she could pry further, Mari reached out and gently pinched her cheek, pulling her attention away.
"I'll be in my room," Haruto murmured, heading for his bedroom.
Once inside, he stopped short. A pair of white stockings lay neatly on the bed.
…Had Rio not been wearing socks in the living room earlier?
Apparently not.
He picked them up, absently rubbed the soft fabric between his fingers, then set them aside. Just as he was about to change clothes, footsteps sounded outside the door.
He turned around.
The door opened, and Rio stepped in. Her eyes flicked immediately to the bed.
"Ah, there they are."
"You came here just for your socks?"
"I need to wash them. What, did you think I came for something else?"
"I was with her while she had two wisdom teeth pulled," Haruto said. "I'll have to check on her again tomorrow."
"Why are you telling me this?"
Her calm, almost indifferent tone made Haruto exhale quietly. He stepped forward, wrapped his arms around her, and drew her onto the bed.
"Don't you feel even a little curious?" he murmured.
Out in the living room, Sonoko shot a sidelong glance toward Haruto's room, then turned to Mari.
"I've already seen you before, so I'm not interested," Mari said evenly.
"And I've seen you before," Sonoko replied with a teasing grin. "That just makes me even more curious~."
Mari sighed helplessly, stood up, and walked off toward her own room. Sonoko lingered for a moment, then also got to her feet and quietly followed.
In the bedroom, Rio bit her lip, her expression different from usual... something about it excited Haruto even more.
It was around ten o'clock when the two of them finally emerged and went to the bathroom to freshen up. When they were done, Haruto returned to his room, picked up his phone, and sent a message to Sekai.
He told her to stay with Setsuna for a while longer, he might be late getting back to Koishikawa tonight.