It turns out that Mason, who is helping me find a new house, is the mother of Kana-chan, a friend of Amana's.
　So I had a sense of deja vu when I first met her on the street.

　As for how I got to know Ms. Mason, I let slip in front of the kids that I knew her from a delivery list.
　It's times like these that I'm glad I worked in the delivery business.
　If someone asked me what the best thing was, I would definitely say that I got to meet Amana and Amari.

　Anyway, Hasumi and the others returned home before it got dark.
　As we were leaving, Chiyuri told me, 'Onii-san has Amana-chan's mother, so you can't do any Uwaaki! I got a really hard time reacting to this, though.

　Where did you get the concept of cheating and all that?
　No, in this information society, there are plenty of ways to do it nowadays.
　But that doesn't make me feel an ounce of smiles, because people will misunderstand my relationship with Amari, or suspect me of having an affair with Mason-san.

　While nostalgic for those impressions, I proceeded to eat the dinner Tenri had made when she came back.
　The fish meat hamburger steak mixed with sama and tofu and a salad of Chinese cabbage were the healthier choices today.

　Even so, it's so delicious that you can't stop chopsticks, her cooking skills are unbelievable.

I'm sorry. It was delicious again today.
Thank you.
If you're this good, you could open up a bento shop or a diner.
'I appreciate the compliment, but I'm not going to go that far.

　While he takes my opening statement as a compliment, he tells me that he has no intention of doing so.
　

''I'm more happy to be told it's good by people around the same table than by people I don't know by name.
Okay.

　He smiled a smile that included happiness, and I fawned over him for a moment, but returned it in the end.

　Really, he's become more rounded, like the thorns he was when I met him were a lie.
　To say that she has changed is an understatement, but the original Tenashi must have had this kind of calm temperament.
　Her harsh attitude in the beginning was like she was so determined not to let anyone know about Yuna-san that she didn't want Amana-chan to get in her pocket.

　Perhaps it was because that was gone that her true personality became visible.

''Thank you for the feast!　Amana, I'm going in the bath!
Yes, have a good day.

　While I was reminiscing about how she changed, Amana, who had finished her dinner, hurriedly headed for the bath.
　Then, inevitably, it would be just the two of us in the living room, me and Amanashi.

　But it doesn't make for a special atmosphere; we just stand side by side and clean up the dishes.
　At first she refused, but I'm sorry to say that she's undertaking not only the sleeping area, but also the food and laundry.
　As a result of that persistence, this is how I'm able to help with the housework.

　Cooking is out of the question, but as far as cleaning up is concerned, there's no problem.

Speaking of which, I heard from Tenna, right?　I understand you are acquainted with Higashino-san's wife.
'What?　Yeah. I was put in charge of a real estate agency I go to to look for a new house. I realized how small the world really is.
I see, so that was the connection...

　Suddenly, the topic of Mason-san was raised by Amari.
　When I told Amari, who knows the circumstances of the search for a new house, she nodded her head in agreement.

''I've met her a few times, but no matter how beautiful she is, you shouldn't interrupt her with your husband, right?
What do you think I am, Chiuri-chan?

　Do you seem to be that inconsiderate of women?
　If that's the case, it's a terrible rumor.
　In fact, I'd rather not have anything to do with it at all.　

I'm grateful to Mr. Mason, but I wouldn't be so dishonest. Do you really think I'm that untrustworthy?
'No, no. I was just wondering....

　What the hell kind of question is that........
　I thought so, but Tenashi didn't seem to want me to pursue it too much, so I decided to refrain from going into it.

''........''
....

　I finish cleaning up the dishes while I'm silent for a while.
　I don't complain about the silence.

　If anything, it feels oddly comforting.
　Not that I don't get nervous, but it seems natural to be next to you, like the pieces of the puzzle fit together perfectly, such a natural presence.

　It's strange to think of it this way....
　It was at that time that I was thinking about this.　

"──Ha-san is........
Hmm?
'If I was really a widow, would you still be standing next to me like you are now...?

　I was thrown such a question by a serious-looking Amanashi.

　Before thinking what the hell it was all of a sudden, I explored the intent of the question.

　If Amari was a real widow.......that means if she was married.　
　I seriously believed that until I learned of Amana's birth, but the actual Amari was not married to anyone.
　Since she said earlier that she wouldn't maneuver to break into a married couple, did she feel uneasy if she was a married woman?

　If Amani had a husband and was still alive today, then surely her relationship with me could be seen as an affair.
　But what if he was dead?
　At least, I don't think it's much different than it was before I knew the truth.

　However, those are just fictional stories.
　Then the answer I'll give is.....

"─ ─ From my point of view, I'm much more comfortable with this now than with that nonsense.

　It's better to bite down on the time when Amari is next to you like this now than on the events that could have been.
　It's perfect if Amana-chan is there too.

　The answer I gave with that thought........

''──........then it's fine.......''

　Tenri's eyes widened slightly and a surprised expression appeared on her face, she broke her face and let out a very loving smile.
　Although it was a short period of time, less than 5 seconds, the expression that has been firmly burned into my mind is.......


　It's beautiful.

　A pure impression, which cannot be deceived at all, passed through my mind.