183 – It’s Hard to Make a Little Baby Laugh

The morning of the second day of the trip.

As Rohan opened the door to the third floor, Noah, who was drinking a beverage, widened his eyes.

He pointed at Rohan with a stretched finger. A roar was a bonus.

“The criminal who stole Clara from me!”

“Look at this tiger? You never even had her, who took her away?”

He playfully wrestled with Noah, who was playfully growling.

As he received Noah’s playful paw punches to his forearm, Ichinose approached with a subtle smile.

“…Congratulations.”

“Thanks.”

Rohan had expected that the two of them would know.

Yesterday, immediately after sending Sion and Clara back, the second floor was so noisy that it could be heard even without straining one’s ears.

‘Although all I heard was Noah’s voice.’

Thanks to his booming voice, even late at night, I could hear everything he was talking about.

He’s a friend who helps a lot in many ways, unintentionally.

“Where are Sion and Clara?”

“They went to the convenience store right in front of us. They’ll be back soon.”

“Ah, so that’s why that door was open.”

Rohan’s gaze turned to the private property entrance.

Ichinose closed her eyes, sensing Rohan with her senses alone, and then opened her mouth.

“Rohan.”

“Yeah?”

“How about we end the trip here? Originally, it was supposed to end with swimming, so let’s just exclude the swimming part.”

“Why? Are you not feeling well?”

Rohan, sensing an unnaturalness in Ichinose’s tone and expression, asked.

But the girl shook her head, saying it wasn’t for that reason.

“My parents were wondering if we could all have lunch together if possible. How about you, Rohan?”

“Isn’t your father busy?”

“He’s off today.”

“I guess, considering yesterday’s conflict with Cheongrim… I don’t mind.”

Ichinose’s parents, of course, and Noah’s mother, too, must have stories they want to hear.

The more he thought about it, the better it seemed, and he nodded to himself.

But there was one thing that bothered him.

“Since everyone said they don’t mind, we can get ready right away, right? I’ll tell my family that too.”

“Ah, Ichinose.”

“Yes?”

Rohan was in a position where he had heard Ichinose say that she was looking forward to the trip.

That’s why he asked.

“Ichinose, is there anything more you want to do, or any place you’d like to go?”

“…Me?”

“Yeah.”

Ichinose, who had been keeping her lips tightly sealed, let out a long breath.

Only then did she offer a genuine, unforced smile.

“I’m just happy being together with everyone. Thanks for considering me.”

“You idiot! Why don’t you ask *me*!”

Noah, who had only been listening to the conversation, wagged her tail and launched a series of playful paw strikes.

Rohan, accepting the almost-spoiled attacks, asked,

“Noah, what do you want to eat?”

“Why do you automatically assume I’d want to eat something?”

“Oh, aren’t you…?”

“I am, actually.”

“…”

Lost for words in disbelief, he was interrupted by two girls entering the grounds from the gate.

Sion and Clara, spotting Rohan, approached with quick steps, beaming brighter than ever.

“Rohan, you’re awake?”

“Oppa… Good morning…!”

Barely a few hours into their relationship.

The everyday life visible to everyone hadn’t changed much.

However, the look in their eyes when they looked at each other, the distance between them, had certainly shifted.

Which allowed Ichinose to guess.

That the relationship between Rohan and the two of them would only show its true colors more vividly as time passed.

The group finished a light breakfast and prepared to head back.

Ichinose naturally claimed the passenger seat, under the guise of entering the address into the navigation system.

“Rohan, I’ll find the fastest route.”

“I appreciate it.”

Sion and Clara, united in their confession, remained silent as a matter of course.

The two girls were still floating in the afterglow of realizing the fruition of their confession wasn’t just a dream, slouched and limp in the back seat.

And between them sat Noah, munching on a large bun.

Still making up for her insufficient breakfast, her mouth moved busily.

“Let’s buy some fruit on the way. And fill up the gas tank too.”

“There’s really no need to…”

“I can’t allow us to go empty-handed. They lent us the beach and the car, we should at least show some gratitude.”

Rohan began to seriously consider what fruits would be good to buy.

He started searching for places to buy fruit on the way to their destination.

*‘Really… I like seeing Rohan like this.’*

Ichinose felt the muddled, gloomy feeling that had lingered within her recede once again.

Smiling gently, she offered a hint.

“My mother likes peaches best of all fruits.”

“Something firm? Or something soft?”

“She likes both. She doesn’t discriminate when it comes to peaches. Ah! She especially favors varieties with a hint of pink.”

“And your father?”

“He likes whatever Mother likes.”

“Oh… that’s admirable.”

Rohan, genuinely impressed, pressed down on the accelerator.

…

…

Arriving at the mansion, Rohan grabbed the peaches he’d bought on the way and followed Ichinose and Noah, who were leading the way.

Shion and Clara trailed behind Rohan like shadows.

*Beep! Beep! Beep!*

Passing through the front door Ichinose had opened, they stepped onto the courtyard.

In the center of the expansive yard, visible in their sight,

Three people were seated around a wooden table.

Ichinose’s parents and Noah’s mother, Jane Frozenheart.

“My darlings~ Did you have fun?”

Jane, who had been sitting with her chin resting on her hand, was the first to wave vigorously.

Rohan’s group lowered their heads and quickened their pace.

“We’re back.”

“My pretty daughter is back!”

“We apologize for the intrusion!”

“W-we apologize…”

Taking large, deliberate steps, Rohan offered another greeting and showed the fruit to Momo.

“Mother. It’s nothing much, but I thought it would be nice to share after the meal.”

“Oh my, you shouldn’t have gone to the trouble.”

Momo covered her mouth with her sleeve and smiled softly.

A mellow atmosphere, as if things were unfolding nicely.

Rohan then took the car keys from his pocket.

“Father. Thank you! I was able to get around comfortably, thanks to you!”

Ichinose Jun didn’t take the keys Rohan was offering so respectfully, instead staring fixedly at him.

Without a change in expression, he asked Rohan.

“What do you intend to do when you return to the Academy City?”

“I plan to rent a new vehicle. If that’s not possible, I’ll use other means of transport.”

“Then return this car from the Academy City. If you leave it at the repair shop, an employee will pick it up.”

“…Would that be alright?”

Ichinose Jun nodded decisively, even adding the pretext of vehicle maintenance.

“It hasn’t been driven in a long time, sitting idle. It needs to stretch its legs.”

“Thank you!”

At this point, refusing would be impolite.

Rohan thanked him, saying he would use it carefully, before taking the keys back.

“Shall we eat first before hearing what happened? I imagine everyone’s hungry.”

“Hmm, proceeding as Momo suggests makes sense.”

Ichinose Jun maintained his silence, so Jane echoed her assent instead.

Momo rose from her seat and moved towards the kitchen. “I prepared lunch myself. I hope it suits your tastes.”

As they all followed, Noah, radiating excitement, wagged her tail as if guaranteeing the taste. “Auntie’s cooking is super delicious! Unlike my mom’s!”

“Now, now! If someone as beautiful as me also cooks well, the world’s balance will be disrupted. Remember that, daughter.”

“Mom always resorts to that when she’s losing… Ack! Ack! Stop it! I’m telling Dad everything!”

Jane grabbed Noah and poked her ribs relentlessly.

Even as Noah thrashed with her innate superhuman strength, she couldn’t escape Jane’s grasp.

“Our daughter doesn’t know. Daddy’s on Mommy’s side.”

“Daddy does everything I ask when I use my charm!”

“Hahaha!!! Daughter, think about who you inherited that charm from.”

Rohan and his companions entered the Ichinose family’s mansion, listening to the mother-daughter banter.

At Momo’s suggestion to wait comfortably, they tentatively plopped down on a large sofa.

“Yui. Could you help me prepare the meal?”

“…Yes!”

Momo and Yui settled into the kitchen.

While taking out plates, Momo gently asked, “Yui. How was the trip?”

“…It was fun.”

“If that’s the case, I’m relieved, but why does my pretty daughter seem so listless?”

Momo suspected the reason. Perhaps Ichinose Jun, and even Jane, had also discerned the situation.

The emotions emanating from the two girls clinging to Rohan’s back were far too blatant.

“That’s…”

Ichinose froze, holding a plate in her hands.

She couldn’t deny Momo’s words.

“Yui.”

“Yes?”

“Your Mom and Dad will always be on your side, no matter what.”

Gazing at Momo’s gentle smile, Ichinose swallowed hard.

She felt certain that now was the perfect time to resolve the question that had been plaguing her.

“…Mother.”

“Speak your mind.”

“I’m terribly sorry to ask before the meal… but I have something I want to ask you and Father…”

A single problem had kept her up late at night lately. As her feelings for Rohan deepened and she began to imagine their future, the girl had confronted a great worry.

This issue had to be resolved before she could freely reach out to Rohan.

If it remained unresolved, she feared she’d make a mistake or be unable to eat properly, even at the dinner table.

“Then, shall we ask our guests for a moment of indulgence?”

“Please… I’m asking you…”

Momo was simply overjoyed by her daughter’s request, a rare thing indeed.

She removed her apron and hung it back up.

Then, she headed toward the living room where Jane and Noah’s voices were rising in a cheerful din.

“Honey.”

“Hmm?”

“Could you come here for a moment?”

Momo called out to Ichinose Jun, who was quietly in his usual spot.

Soon, the entire Ichinose family gathered in the quiet room.