Late at night, lying in her quiet and spacious room, Soyo had the strange illusion that everything that had happened during the day was just a dream.
However, the heavy photo album in her arms was a constant reminder that it was not a dream, but a reality that had actually occurred.
She hugged the album tightly, a small smile unconsciously appearing on her face.
Compared to other photo albums she had seen, this one was exceptionally thick and plain, but it was for that very reason that it had more space to store photos.
"I took... so many pictures today."
Soyo took out her phone and opened the photos taken at the celebration party.
She wasn't used to taking pictures, so she had asked others to take many of them...
Well, that said, the one who actually took on the task was Anon.
Putting other things aside, this heavy SNS user was at least far more skilled at taking photos than she was.
But as for the filters and beauty effects she had repeatedly warned her about... she decided to just let it go.
"Which photos should I print out, I wonder..."
Soyo began to struggle with the decision.
"These group photos definitely have to go in, and the ones of [CRYCHIC] and [MyGO!!!!!] too... Huh? Why is there a selfie of Chihaya Anon in here? How ridiculous."
Looking at the selfie, which was clearly meant as a prank, Soyo swiped it aside with some amusement.
Sometimes, she really envied Anon's "thick skin."
If it were her, she could never so easily take a photo that would make people smile.
"...Ah."
Then, when she swiped to the next photo, she let out a small sound.
This was one of the few photos she had taken herself.
Because she hadn't told him, both the composition and his expression were very strange.
But even so, she didn't want to delete this picture.
"The way he eats is so weird."
She snickered to herself, zooming in on the side profile of him intensely battling a slice of pizza.
She didn't know if it was a habit from his time at the orphanage, but when Tetsuya ate, he always liked to stuff his mouth full like a hamster, then chew with single-minded focus.
For Soyo, who was used to seeing the prim and proper manners of young ladies at her prestigious school, this eating habit was extremely rare. And considering his usual calm and composed expression, this photo was all the more precious.
"I should have him try some other foods next time..."
Soyo said to herself as she swiped to the next one.
Unsurprisingly, the next one was also a photo of Tetsuya. This time he wasn't eating, but because the room was a little warm, he was reaching up to unbutton the cuff of his shirt.
Tetsuya's expression was as serious and focused as always. Because of his slim build, the prominent lines of the bones in his wrist were clearly visible. That, combined with the part of his forearm revealed after the button was undone... felt a little... mmm...
For some reason, Soyo could feel her cheeks starting to heat up uncontrollably.
"No, this guy's casual clothing style is just way too sly!"
This kind of slim-fit shirt already accentuated the figure of a slender person, and with the top buttons he had deliberately left undone and the equally slim-fit suit trousers, he wasn't showing much, but it still gave the feeling that you were seeing everything...
"For girls who like this type, this photo could probably be sold for money."
Soyo said with a red face.
"No, I can't put this picture in the photo album."
But... if she just left it on her phone, it felt like a bit of a waste...
Maybe... I should try setting it as my wallpaper?
...
"No way... That's too weird!"
Soyo hugged the album and started rolling all over her bed.
"It's just a normal photo, why does it feel so lewd!"
No, this photo... absolutely must not be seen by anyone else!
For the good of the world, it had to be sealed away.
Then, after silently saving the photo to a separate folder and completing a cloud backup, Soyo finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Mhm, it's safe now."
She decided she would just put the photo of him eating in the album instead.
...
...
"Pffft... what am I doing."
Feeling the thick, substantial weight of the album in her arms, Soyo couldn't help but let out a silly laugh.
"Getting this happy over just a photo album, I'm like an idiot."
Right now, it was still just an empty, new album. It was too early to be this happy.
When the time came that this album was filled to the brim with photos and memories.
When the time came that she needed a second album to hold even more happiness.
That would be the time she should be smiling the most!
"So, Nagasaki-san, this gift... do you like it?"
"...I love it the most."
Soyo once again hugged the album in her arms with a happy smile.
This way, even if she was left alone in this overly spacious house, she wouldn't feel lonely anymore!
Creek—
Just as Soyo was preparing to fall asleep hugging the album, the unexpected sound of a door opening made her sit up instantly.
Then, when she walked out of her room, she wore an expression of utter disbelief.
"Eh?! Didn't you say you had work tonight?"
"I finished it! Haaah... I'm so exhausted..."
Soyo's mother said, ungracefully collapsing face-first onto the sofa.
Soyo habitually went to pour her mother a glass of water, then asked with curiosity.
"Usually at this time, you'd be sleeping at the office, right? Why did you make a special trip back today?"
"..."
Faced with her daughter's question, the expression on her mother's face froze.
Although she knew her daughter was just asking out of curiosity, the fact it reflected made her realize once again how inadequate she was.
But... fortunately, she was at least trying to make up for it in her own way—
"I came to give you this."
She said, opening the briefcase in her arms and taking out a stack of documents.
"Soyo."
"Hm?"
"Starting tomorrow, you belong to little Tetsuya."
"...Wha?"