A promise to my little sister. (POV Mio)

I was about to speak.

I had already opened my mouth, taken a deep breath…

— I REMEMBERED!!! — Aoi shouted very loudly.

The scream made me shudder.

Aoi pointed directly at Himari , her eyes gleaming as if she had solved a national mystery.

"She's the maid at the Aoyama 's house !!!" Aoi shouted again, surprising everyone.

My heart stopped.

— Aoi . — said my mother, in a firm tone.

"Stop yelling. Besides, it's impossible for anyone related to that family to come here," Yukari complained to her daughter in a firm tone.

Before I could seize the opportunity…

Himari smiled.

"Yes, little girl," she said , too calmly.

— You're right. I am a maid at the Aoyama household . My name is Himari. Yukino continued . Himari speaking calmly.

Aoi 's smile immediately widened.

"I knew it!" Aoi gave a small cry.

My mother, however, did not smile.

She looked at me.

And that look... it wasn't anger.

It was a confusing time.

— Mio… — Yukari called slowly.

"Could you explain to me what's going on here?" he asked. Yukari .

(Breathe. Think. Mind.) — I was trying to think of what to say.

I sighed.

"I met Himari tonight," I began .

"I was at the market and I noticed she'd forgotten her money. So I lent her some to do her shopping," I continued .

My mother frowned.

"Are you telling me that a maid from the Aoyama family was in a regular market?" my mother asked .

Before I sank completely…

— Miss Kanzaki . — he said Himari , with education.

"I can work in the home of a wealthy family, but I come from a humble background," she continued , speaking with remarkable politeness.

My mother blinked, surprised.

"Excuse me..." Yukari said quickly.

"No problem," Himari replied casually.

My mother turned her gaze to me.

"But there's something I still don't understand..." she said.

"Even after helping Himari at the market, you took quite a while to get home. Did something happen, Mio?" Yukari asked.

(Now things have gone wrong. I'm going to be exposed.) — I thought fearfully.

My chest tightened.

That's when Himari sighed.

"That was my fault too. As a way of thanking her, I invited Mio to dinner at the Aoyama 's house ," she said .

I felt my body go cold.

"My bosses scolded me for bringing a stranger, but they accepted it anyway," Himari continued .

(Nobody's going to fall for that. It's impossible.) — I thought, already expecting the worst.

But…

— Seriously?! So you met young Aoyama ?! And Miss Aoyama ?! And Mr. Aoyama ?! — Aoi's eyes widened.

My mother put her hand to her mouth, surprised.

"I never imagined..." Yukari said softly.

"Seeing my daughter in this world..." she continued in a low voice.

I stood motionless.

Observing.

Waiting for the collapse.

But he didn't come.

The lie... had worked.

(They believed it.) — I thought, relieved.

The atmosphere in the room had changed.

The tension had eased, but something still lingered in the air—like when a storm passes, but the ground remains wet.

Aoi was the first to break the silence.

She approached me with quick steps and shining eyes.

" Onee-chan …" he said, gently tugging at the sleeve of my shirt.

"Can I make a request?" she asked me.

I swallowed hard.

"What request?" I asked.

"Can you let me meet Riku ?! Young Aoyama ! He seems nice! Besides, I love the plays he's been in!" she asked excitedly.

My heart skipped a beat.

I looked at the floor.

I couldn't reply.

(How would I explain...? How would I explain all this to a child?) — I thought, not knowing what to do.

Before the silence became too awkward, a cheerful voice intervened.

"Of course it will," said Himari , smiling.

I immediately raised my face.

— Yukino-chan … — I murmured.

She winked at me.

"One of these days Mio will fulfill that request. Won't she, Mio?" he continued .

I felt my face getting hot.

— …One day — I replied in a low voice.

Aoi celebrated.

— Yay ! — Aoi gave a small celebratory shout.

My mother watched everything in silence, with a slight, tired smile.

After a few minutes, Himari took a step back and lightly clapped her hands together.

— Well… I'm going now. — he said . Himari .

My mother 's eyes widened slightly.

"Already? Stay a little longer, at least to have some tea," he asked . Yukari .

"Thank you, but I really need to go," she replied . Himari , polite.

Aoi pouted.

"It's dangerous to go out alone at night..." Aoi said .

Himari laughed.

"Don't worry about me," he said confidently.

"I know martial arts," Himari said with a smile and in an encouraging tone.

My mother seemed relieved, although a little surprised.

"In that case, be careful," he said . Yukari .

Before leaving, Himari grabbed her cell phone.

" Kanzaki , let's exchange contact information," she said .

I nodded quickly.

We switched lines right there in the living room.

When I finished saving the contact, I felt something strange.

(Another person has crossed that line between my two worlds.) — I thought.

Himari bowed slightly in a casual curtsy.

"Thank you for today," she said.

"Thank you," I replied.

Aoi waved with both hands.

" Goodbye , Himari -san!" she said. Aoi .

"Bye, little policewoman ," she replied, laughing.

The door closed.

Silence returned.

This time, a familiar silence.

I went to my room and sat on the bed, still dressed.

My body was tired.

My mind... even more so.

(Today was an extremely busy day.) — I thought, completely exhausted.

But none of that erased the question that kept coming back.

(And tomorrow? And the day after?) — that The doubt still lingered in my mind.

Sakura would be at university.

Riku would be there.

My secret, too.

I closed my eyes.

Perhaps the next few days will be even more difficult.