It was dusk in Kyoto, with lights shining brightly in every house. The orange-colored lights were scattered all over the city, adding a festive atmosphere to the night, erasing any trace of cold loneliness.

Just like any other evening, the Uesugi family was winding down their dinner.

It had been a month since the last turmoil.

In this world, everything would eventually pass, but the marks it left behind, no matter how much time polished them, could never erase the fact that they had happened.

Although the decorations in the house remained unchanged, and all family members were present and accounted for, an indescribable sadness still enveloped the entire Uesugi family.

Uesugi Tano had made a full recovery and found a stable new job from nine to five. Yukino had taken a part-time job at a flower shop, and even though the income was not much, it helped with the household expenses and alleviated the financial strain they used to feel. Yuki and Mizuo had only suffered minor injuries, but...

They could never go back to the way things were.

"Ziongzong, Mizuo's dinner is packed. Take it to her while it's still hot."

"Alright."

Ziongzong tidied up his utensils in the kitchen and then collected Mizuo's lunchbox from Yukino.

"Wait, Ziongzong, I'll go with you."

As Ziongzong was about to leave, Uesugi Yui caught up with him from inside the house.

Ziongzong hesitated for a moment when Uesugi Yui made the suggestion because he knew Mizuo's current condition was not suitable for Yui to accompany him. However, seeing that Uesugi Yui seemed to have other considerations, he didn't refuse and went out with her.

Spring was coming to an end, and the night air had become sticky and humid.

This made Ziongzong unable to feel refreshed.

"Mom's cooking skills have improved lately."

Walking alongside Ziongzong, Uesugi Yui casually initiated a topic.

"Yeah, maybe after going through the economic crisis, she realized the value of ingredients and learned to appreciate them."

Ziongzong's humorous response made Uesugi Yui smile, but after the laughter, she returned to the initial purpose of the conversation.

"Perhaps the disappearance of her competitors made her feel the need to strive harder."

The atmosphere, which had slightly lightened up, was brought back to reality by Uesugi Yui's words.

Previously, the relationship between the Uesugi and Koga families had reached an intimate level.

Koga Shi'i and Yukino would cook together and compete with each other in learning, becoming a common sight.

At that time, everyone thought that the daily routines of playful, teasing moments that seemed silly but brought happiness would continue endlessly, until they grew old.

However, those days had now become an irretrievable past.

The news of Koga Shi'i's passing not only cast a shadow over the Uesugi family but also directly destroyed Koga Mizuo's life.

For Koga Mizuo, Koga Shi'i was the mother she had lost and regained, the only family she had in this world, apart from Yui.

After going through hardships and finally finding her family again, experiencing the warmth of a home for a while, she lost it once more.

And this time, it was a permanent loss.

And this time, she believed it was her fault.

If it wasn't for her stubborn insistence on investigating that incident, her mother wouldn't have died.

Caught in a swamp of self-blame, Koga Mizuo shut herself in her room and stopped going out, not even stepping outside the front door of her own house, let alone going to school.

Everyone's visits were refused, except for Yuki and Zongzong, who were special.

In the past month, Zongzong and Yuki took turns taking care of Mizuo. They didn't force Mizuo to come out of the shadows; instead, they gently cared for her, allowing her to slowly heal her wounds.

They knew very well that Mizuo was not a weak person; giving her some more time to come out was much better than forcing her.

Even though she was now in the most important period of transitioning from elementary school to middle school.

Perhaps in another country, another culture, or another set of values, Mizuo would be forced to go to school and prepare for the middle school entrance exams. But here, no one would compel her.

"So, I'll go up first. Are you going to wait here?" Unconsciously, Zongzong and Uesugi Yui walked to Mizuo's house in silence.

"I'll go to the convenience store nearby to buy some things. Let's meet here in a little while." Uesugi Yui waved her wallet in her hand and bid farewell to Zongzong, taking her leave first.

Zongzong stayed behind and pondered for a moment, thinking that Uesugi Yui's "other plans" might be related to Mizuo.

But the healing of a wounded soul cannot be rushed.