The doorbell echoed through the lively chatter of the kitchen, its sharp chime momentarily cutting through Suzune's laughter and the sound of Rindou's rhythmic chopping.
Since the girls was elbow-deep in stew prep and the boys were busy helping them out, Seijirou wiped his hands on a towel and headed to the foyer.
He pulled open the heavy oak door, expecting perhaps a delivery or a late arrival.
Instead, he found Shou standing there, looking as perpetually exhausted as ever, nothing out of ordinary, but it was the person standing beside him that made Seijirou pause.
It was a woman who looked like a gender-swapped, slightly older reflection of Shou.
She had long, raven-black hair tied into a loose side ponytail that draped over her shoulder.
Her gray eyes were half-lidded, framed by heavy, dark eyebags that made her look like she hadn't slept since the previous decade.
She stood with a slumped, lazy posture that radiated a profound lack of energy.
