The time goes back to yesterday afternoon, after Hiyori left the room, only Ryuto and Seto Kazukawa were left in the room.

The atmosphere in the room was quite heavy, and Ryuto spoke first.

"Aunt, may I ask you two questions?"

"Hmm? Sure."

Although it was a bit strange, Seto Kazukawa agreed.

"But before I ask, can you promise me something?"

"What is it?"

"That you must tell the truth and not hide anything."

"... That's not a problem."

After a slight pause, Ryuto spoke again.

"So, the first question is, how do you think Seto Sawaki views you?"

"Well..."

Seto Kazukawa hesitated, but still answered. Presumably because of the promise she made earlier.

"Maybe that child is still somewhat troubled..."

Well, although the answer wasn't very clear, the purpose had been achieved, and Ryuto didn't ask any further.

"Now, the second question, what are your thoughts on the school theft incident?"

"Huh? What do you mean? The school said..."

Seto Kazukawa seemed very surprised, perhaps realizing something, but couldn't say the rest of her words.

To this, Ryuto just said calmly.

"Aunt, it might be impolite to say this, but... if even the parents don't believe their own children, then who should they believe?"

"..."

That's right, she had never doubted her child, but simply because the school believed it was her child who did it, she naturally accepted it without any questioning.

Silence once again enveloped the entire room, and Ryuto remained unusually calm.

"Seto Sawaki will probably come tomorrow, I hope Aunt can talk to her properly, after all, she's not very good at expressing herself."

After saying that, Ryuto bowed and opened the door.

**************************************************

"To be honest, as an adult, being enlightened by a child, I do feel a bit ashamed. If I think about it this way, I guess this clear-up of the theft incident is also related to that child."

Seto Kazukawa sighed helplessly.

"That kid... always does unnecessary things."

"Speaking of which, what's that child's name again? Is it Inoue? Or Eguchi?"

"It's Amagi Ryuto."

Seto Sawaki sighed and answered with a helpless expression.

"Oh, right, Amagi Ryuto. Ah, well, Sawaki, you seem to know him quite well! Are you guys friends?"

"Huh... We're not friends!"

Seto Sawaki denied a bit flustered.

"Then, could it be...?"

"Of course, it's not that kind of relationship either!"

Seto Sawaki quickly rejected before the other person could finish speaking.

"I haven't said anything yet, why are you so agitated? It's quite rare... Anyway, if there's no relationship, why is that kid going through so much trouble?"

"Who knows, although Arashikaze-senpai did mention wanting him to answer, but isn't it common for people to just brush it off casually? Who would go to such lengths, probably, um... definitely because that guy is a complete idiot."

Somehow, Seto Saori's muttering under her breath turned into an excited shout.

"Hmm... an idiot, huh? That's right, but I don't dislike that kind of idiot. In fact, quite the opposite, I kind of... no, really like that kind of idiot. Even though the girl next to him is a threat... our Saori isn't lacking either, so Saori, do your best from now on!"

Faced with her mother's encouragement, Seto Saori yelled in a panic.

"What do you mean 'do your best'! Stop saying weird things!"