Chapter 4:

Silent Square

The Season When Flowers Bloom

Part I

By the time I got back, the evening sun had already dipped below the horizon.

"I'm home,"

I call out softly to the quiet hallway.

"Mom?"

There is no response.

Instead, a familiar, mouth-watering aroma wafts from the kitchen.

It is the savory, buttery scent of hamburger steaks searing in a rich, creamy mushroom sauce.

"Guuuu~"

My stomach growls.

Following the delicious scent, I slowly walk down the hallway and peek into the kitchen.

A tall, slender figure stands by the stove.

She is gently stirring a bubbling cream sauce, humming a soft tune, entirely unaware that I have just walked into the house.

I blink in utter surprise, my fatigue leaving me in an instant.

"Mayu-nee?!"

I gasp.

Standing by the stove is our beloved household helper, and my lovely big sister.

Mayu Miyaoka, twenty-five years old.

She has served the Konoe family for seven years now.

To me, she is more than that.

She is a true part of our family.

I didn't expect her to be back this soon.

The moment she turns around, her face lights up with that familiar, maternal warmth.

"Hana-Ojousa—"

Before she can even set her wooden spoon down, I lunged forward.

I throw my arms tightly around her waist, burying my face into her torso.

"Mayu-nee I missed you so much!"

"I missed you too, Hana-ojousama."

"Mghhh.. Haven't I told you a million times to stop calling me ojousama?"

I mutter into her shirt, my lips forming a habitual pout while keeping my arms locked around her.

She chuckles softly, her hand rubbing my back in a gentle, soothing rhythm.

"You look absolutely exhausted. Did you and Rhea-chan walk across the entire city today?"

"Almost."

I mumble, finally pulling back with a small, weary smile.

"Sit down,"

She says, gesturing warmly toward a piping hot plate already set on the kitchen counter.

"I just finished making dinner. I made sure to prepare your favorite dish for today."

I slide into the chair, waiting, as I take glances at her.

"Mayu-nee, where's Mom?"

"Madam left earlier to bring some critical documents to your Dad's office,"

Mayu-nee answers, setting down a glass of ice water as she returns with my plate.

"She mentioned she might be back quite late, and your Dad will likely be with her."

I barely hear the end of her sentence,

Captivated entirely by the food.

This is the exact, appetizing smell I have been craving for days.

I really miss her cooking.

The plumpy, thick hamburger steak is smothered in a velvety, golden cream sauce, piled high with glistening and assorted diced mushrooms.

"Thank you for the food,"

When I press my spoon down, the tender meat splits effortlessly.

A hot puff of steam escapes, carrying the sweet scent of caramelized onions and rich butter.

It is cooked to absolute perfection!

Savory juices bursts from the center, pooling beautifully into the bubbling cream sauce.

"It's so good!!"

I noted, as I take a small spoon for my first bite.

"I am so glad you like it, Hana-Ojousama."

She replies.

"Oh right! I almost forgot!"

I reach down, hurriedly unzipping my purse sitting on the chair next to me.

Mayu-nee stands by the counter, tilting her head with curiosity.

"What is that, Hana-ojousama?"

"A peace offering,"

It is the bento box Rhea bought for me right before we parted ways as a thank-you for carrying her bags.

Inside are six large steamed white dumplings, accompanied by a small container of dark dipping sauce.

"Mayu-nee, please try some! You have to."

"Ah, I really shouldn't eat your food—"

Before she even finish, I swap my spoon for a pair of chopsticks, grab one massive dumpling, and shove it directly into her open mouth.

"Hna-ojosam—"

"Just chew, Mayu-nee. Rhea-chan bought it for me near her place, and she swore it was incredibly good, so I wanted you to try it."

She glares at me playfully before finally chewing, swallowing the massive bite with a heavy gulp.

"Hhaaah..."

"How was it Mayu-nee?"

I ask eagerly.

"Mmm, it is incredibly good and flavorful,"

Mayu-nee admits, though she gave a wry look.

"But I also almost choked to death, Hana-ojousama."

"Sorry, Mayu-nee..."

I take a bite as well.

It is indeed as flavorful as she said.

What's more surprising is the dipping sauce. It looks entirely plain, but the taste is operating on a completely different level.

Coating the dumplings, it is the perfect blend of salty, sweet, and deep savory taste.

However, by the time I finish my first dumpling, a sudden wave of fullness hits me.

My stomach is at its absolute limit.

"Ughhh... I can't eat another bite,"

I groan, pushing the container toward her as I leave the table.

"Mayu-nee, please eat the rest."

"W-Wait, Hana-Ojousama!"

She calls out in a troubled, difficult expression.

"Goodnight Mayu-nee, see you tomorrow!"

I call back over my shoulder, escaping up the stairs before she can protest further.

The moment I enter my bedroom, I lean back on the frame of my bed.

This spot is always comfy.

With a pillow on my lap, I let out a long exhausted sigh.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, the screen lights up instantly, hitting me with a fresh notification from Rhea.

She already uploaded our photos together on her social media.

Visited a trendy cafe today with @hana-chan! 🥰✨☕️ Look at this massive crepe and its gorgeous design! Isn't it just the cutest thing ever? 😻🥞🍵

#cafe #trendingcafe #matchalovers #crepetime #besties #sweettooth #weekendvibes...

Gughhh... way too many hashtags,

But as I tap on the image to view the full gallery, my fingers freeze, and my jaw drops.

"Awwaahh... what is this?!"

Right there, in the second slide, is a candid photo.

While I was completely oblivious, focused entirely on cutting into my crepe, Rhea had snapped a selfie with me in the background.

My mouth is wide open, eyes are slightly crossed in intense concentration, and my expression is completely ridiculous.

A wave of intense embarrassment takes over.

"At least check the pictures before posting them, Rhea-chan!!"

I scream into my pillow.

Immediately I pull up our chat app, firing off a barrage of complaining texts to Rhea.

"What? Pfff, I didn't even notice lol!"

She responds with a string of laughing emojis.

We end up bantering back and forth, losing track of time, chatting about our day until my eyelids grow heavy.

Eventually, darkness takes over.

Late that night, long after the house has gone completely quiet, the click of the front door echo through the foyer.

My parents step into the house.

Their posture heavy, and shoulders slumped with an overwhelming exhaustion.

[Afternoon Flashback]

"Now then, since Hana-chan is out enjoying her day, I guess it is time for me to get to work as well."

My Mother hummed to herself, tying her apron securely around her waist.

But just as she picked up the broom from the utility closet, the sharp ring of the doorbell echoed through the house.

"Hmmm? Yes! Coming!"

She hurried to the front door, pulling it open.

The moment her eyes fell upon the young woman standing on the porch, her smile widened instantly.

"Mayu-chan! Your here, welcome back!"

"Yes, M-Madam,"

Mayu-nee replied, slightly overwhelmed by the sudden burst of high energy from her employer.

"Uhhm—"

"Let's go inside first,"

Mother interrupted, grabbing Mayu's suitcase and pulling her inside.

"The front porch is definitely not a good place for catching up."

Sitting at the kitchen island, my mother poured a fresh cup of green tea.

"So, how was your vacation? Did you get some proper rest?"

Mayu-nee smiled warmly, recalling the details of her week-long trip to her hometown.

She explained how, the moment she arrived, her family and neighbors had surprised her with a massive homecoming banquet.

She spoke fondly of meeting her young nieces for the first time in months, playing with them in the yard, and spending quiet, overdue evenings with her parents.

"I see,"

My Mother murmured, taking a slow sip of her tea, her expression softening.

"It sounds like you had a truly wonderful rest. I'm glad."

Suddenly, the loud, jarring ring of the landline cut through their peaceful conversation.

Mayu-nee stood up instantly.

"Hello, this is the Konoe residence,"

She spoke into the receiver, listening quietly for a brief moment before her expression turned entirely serious.

"Y-Yes... clear. Madam... Master is on the line, and he needs to speak with you urgently."

Mayu handed the phone over, her brow furrowing.

"Hello, dear...?"

As my father spoke on the other end, her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Eh?! Right now? Are you certain?"

A critical set of legal financial documents regarding the company's international expansion had been mistakenly left behind.

They required my father's immediate physical signature, as the massive deadline was looming over the board of directors.

After hanging up the phone, my Mother turned to Mayu, her face pale with stress.

"I am incredibly sorry, Mayu-chan... I need to run to the corporate office right this second. Can you manage the house while I'm gone?"

"Y-Yes, please don't worry. Leave everything up to me,"

Mayu replied firmly.

"Thank you. Also, Hana-chan should be home around sunset. She is out with Rhea-chan today."

Grabbing her coat and her purse, she rushes toward the front door.

"I'll leave the dinner and Hana-chan in your hands. See you later, Mayu-chan!"

[End of Flashback]

"Welcome home, Master, Madam."

Mayu steps forward, greeting them, and taking my Father's heavy coat and briefcase.

"Thank you, Mayu-chan."

My Mother replies.

"You might still be tired from the trip, so please get some rest now."

"No, Madam, I—"

Mayu holds her words.

"I understand. Then, if you will excuse me."

Seeing my Mother's tense expression, she chooses to refrain from speaking further, and complies before slowly retreating in to her room.

It is now 11:30 PM.

My parents standing in the dim, quiet kitchen.

The single counter light casting long, harsh shadows across their worried faces.

"We don't have a choice,"

My Father murmurs, his voice strained as he rubs his temples.

A headache forming.

"The expansion into the Asian market is moving far too fast. The board is losing control, and I have to personally supervise the launch of the new flagship branch myself."

"And the second reason?"

My Mother asks, her voice tight with a deep, lingering anxiety.

She steps closer, her eyes searching his face.

"Are we really not going to tell her the truth?"

"No. We absolutely cannot let Hana know about that yet,"

He firmly replies, his gaze hardening as his eyes grow dark with protective worry.

"It is entirely for her own protection. But we still have to give her the baseline news. There is no avoiding it. Starting next week, we are moving abroad again."

My Mother lets out a long, heavy sigh, her eyes drifting toward the darkened staircase leading to my bedroom.

"Where exactly will you be basing the main operations?"

"The Philippines,"

He says, his voice echoing softly in the quiet room.

"It is for the best, Since your family is already established there. As for the rest of the international sub-branches, I will leave those to my senior subordinates."

Soon, the sun started to rise, leaving behind the heavy conversation from yesterday.

Part II

When I wake up, my entire body aches.

My arms and legs feeling incredibly sore, as I try to get out of bed.

A brutal reminder of yesterday's chaotic shopping spree with Rhea.

"Ugh, I'm never letting her drag me around like that again,"

I complain to myself, wincing as I stretch my limbs.

Heading downstairs, I enter the bathroom to begin my morning facial routine.

The muffled sound of a lively argument drifts through the door from the kitchen, as I splash cold water on my face.

"Madam, please step away from the stove!"

Mayu-nee's voice pleads, frantic and stressed.

"Cooking is my job! It will not be good if master or anyone finds out you are doing this again!"

"Nonsense,"

My Mom's cheerful, stubborn voice shot back.

"You just got back from a long trip. Sit down and rest. Besides, I wanted to cook for my family today."

I walked into the dining room just in time to see my mother's relentless attitude win yet again.

With a triumphant smile, she serves a massive breakfast spread, setting down plates and forcing Mayu-nee to sit and eat with us as well.

Mayu-nee's figure looks like she is about to have a panic attack, her eyes darting around the room.

"Give it up, Mayu-nee. You can't change Mom's mind once she decides on something."

I can't help but giggle, the heavy nightmares from my previous days fading into the background of our chaotic, warm morning.

I really love my life here.

After finishing my food, I retreated back to the safety of my bedroom.

Looking past Mayu-nee, who is still in distress, trying to stop my mom from washing the dishes this time.

I don't have any plans for today, so I contentedly pass time in my room, scrolling through my phone while listening to music.

"It's soo boring~"

I wonder what Rhea is doing right now.

Hours slip by, and it's now mid-afternoon. Getting a bit restless, I do a quick stretch to shake off the stiffness in my body.

Suddenly, a murmur of unfamiliar voices draws me to the window.

Taking a peek, a group of men in sharp, casual suits are standing by the porch.

They don't look like my dad's usual business partners.

"Are they from other agencies?"

I brush it off and turn back to my phone.

But a strange, unsettling feeling gnaws my stomach.

Curiosity wins.

A wave of anxiety hits me as I slip out of my room and creep down the stairs

For the very first time, I hear my Mother raise her voice.

She is in a heated, defensive argument with the men at the door.

Her posture is rigid, terrified.

"Mom?"

I call out, my voice trembling slightly as I hit the bottom of the stairs.

"Hana-ojousama..."

Mayu-nee, who is next to her, grows even more agitated after seeing me.

The moment the men catch sight of my face, they stop instantly.

"This discussion is over."

My Mom says, her voice cutting through the silence.

They exchange a cold, surprised look.

After that, they abruptly turn around, leaving without another word.

"Mom, what's wrong? Who were they?"

I ask, rushing to her side.

My heart hammers against my ribs.

Forcing a fragile, brittle smile, My Mom quickly smooths down her blouse.

"Everything's fine, Hana-chan! It was just a... a minor misunderstanding about some corporate deliveries. You don't need to worry about it at all, okay?"

I don't believe her for a second.

So I turn to Mayu-nee, but the absolute terror painted across her face tells me everything I need to know.

Deciding that pressing further will only make things worse, I swallow my questions and silently go back upstairs.

Just who were those men...

Before long, nightfall arrives.

The atmosphere still feels odd, but my Mom's behavior quickly returns to its usual cheerful self.

Mayu-nee is the same.

Her terrified expression from before is now nowhere to be seen, and she acts like nothing has happened.

"Hana-ojousama, dinner will be ready soon."

Mayu-nee's voice breaks my train of thought as she approaches my side.

She hands me the bag of barbecued chips I requested earlier, her smile tight and unconvincing.

"Thanks, Mayu-nee."

She nods gently, and quietly turns back to the kitchen.

I am currently lounging on the sofa, watching evening shows on the television to distract myself from the unsettling events of the afternoon.

My mind keeps looping back to those strange men in suits and the look of sheer terror on Mayu-nee's face.

"I'm home,"

a weary voice calls out.

I spring up from the sofa and rush to greet him the moment he enters the house.

He looks completely drained, his tie slightly loosened and his shoulders weighing him down.

"Welcome home, Dad!"

"Thank you, Hana-chan..."

He offers an awkward, apologetic smile as he sets his briefcase down.

"Sorry about the other day. Our weekend plans got canceled because of me."

"It's fine, Dad! I'm thirteen now, it's not like I need a weekly trip to the amusement park just to complete my day.

I reply, flashing a reassuring smile.

"More importantly, Dad... have you been getting enough sleep lately? The dark circles under your eyes are really deep."

Dad gives a warm, wistful smile.

He reaches out and gently caresses my head.

"Yes. I guess you really are a big girl now, Hana-chan."

"Dad, stop! You're messing up my hair,"

I bat his hand away, though a small giggle escapes my lips.

"Welcome home, dear,"

Following from behind is my Mothers voice.

"Dinner is ready, let's all eat together before the food gets cold."

Mom says softly, patting his arm.

"Yeah..."

At the dinner table, my father sits at the head, staring blankly at his plate without picking up his utensils.

My mom remains completely quiet beside him, mindlessly stirring her soup.

I turn to Mayu-nee beside me, but her face looks tense as well.

The usual warmth of our family dinners is gone.

Finally, my Mom looks across my Dad, giving him a sharp, heavy nod.

Setting his chopsticks down. He takes a deep, ragged breath.

"Hana,"

he blurted out, his tone serious.

"There is something important we need to discuss."

I stop, halfway through my plate.

Fixing my eyes on him, a cold knot forming in my stomach.

"We are moving."

"What?"

"I am so sorry,"

He says, looking at me with eyes full of immense guilt.

"Something urgent has come up with the business. We need to relocate immediately. Your school studies... you will have to resume them abroad."

My jaw drops.

"Abroad? But we just settled down here! The departure... when is it?"

"The end of this month,"

my father whispers, unable to meet my gaze.

"Exactly one and a half weeks from now."

The entire room seems to spin.

Ten days? How am I suppose to say goodbye to my entire life in just ten days?

"Where..."

My voice barely a whisper, trembling with a sudden wave of panic.

"Where are we going?"

"The Philippines,"

The moment the words leave his mouth, a violent flash of memory crashes through my mind.

Blurred images from seven years ago rush to the surface in a chaotic flood.

My painful first day at school.

The relentless, heavy rainy season.

The cold winds under the giant, sparkly Christmas tree.

My first friend.

My first love... and that heartbreaking, silent rejection.

Everything flashes at once.

"Why?!"

I shout.

Slamming both of my hands onto the table.

"Why do we have to go back there?! I already made a life here! I have a best friend, good neighbors, a great school, and classmates who actually talk to me!"

Why am I acting like this?

Tears begin to blur my vision.

Emotions have already taken over, my voice just keeps rising, completely overwhelmed.

"After everything I went through to build a life from scratch... you're just throwing it all away and forcing me to start over!?"

"Hana, please understand-"

My father reaches out, his hand visibly trembling across the table.

"I hate this!"

I yell, turn on my heel, and rush up the stairs.

My frantic, heavy footsteps echo through every corner of the house.

I throw myself into my bedroom and slam the door shut.

Sinking against the hard wood, I bury my face in my knees as hot, bitter tears finally spill over.

Downstairs, a thick, stifling silence returns.