When I came home with Alice, there was a car parked in the parking lot.
“It’s a cute car.”
Alice muttered as she approached the car, her cheeks coloring.
It looked like a passenger car, but it was small like a mini-car.
And it looks new, but it’s retro.
I don’t know much about cars, but it’s a small foreign-made passenger car that even I know.
As Alice said, it’s cute. And the body is yellow.
I liked it.
“Do you think it’s mother guest?”
“Probably so.”
When asked by Alice, I nodded and answered.
◆
I opened the door to the living room and froze at the sight that met my vision.
A beautiful woman with silver hair was sitting on the sofa.
The silver-haired beauty was more mature than Yurizono-san.
“Ah, sorry to bother you.”
Iris-san, who noticed me, smiled and greeted me.
“Hi.”
I paused and return the greeting.
What brings you to my house, Iris-san?
“That cute car in the parking lot was Iris-san.”
Alice appeared from behind me and spoke to Iris-san.
“Oh, yes. I usually use that car. It’s small, so it’s convenient to drive around.”
Iris-san replied to Alice’s question with a smile.
“I want you to give me a ride sometime. That car is so cute.”
Alice, who was trotting along, raising her voice, sat down next to Iris-san.
Why are you not surprised, Alice?
“I’d be happy to drive with you, Alice-chan. Let’s go for a drive.”
“Yay! I want to eat soft ice cream!”
Alice was overjoyed when she heard Iris-san answer.
Alice had a crush on Iris-san before she knew it.
“Ah, you’re back.”
My mother appeared from the kitchen and raised her voice when she saw me.
“Oh, yes, I’m home.”
I was standing in the doorway of the living room, dumbfounded when I turned to my mom and answered.
“I heard you’re going to stay at Yurizono-san house. It’s for a school event, right? Are you going to join the student council? It’s unusual for Amane to try to go out in public.”
Mom, who was carrying a tray with tea on it, said and walked towards the sofa where Iris was sitting.
Overnight stay. School events. Student council.
I haven’t told my mom about any of this yet, but she knows, and Iris is here.
Which means――.
Yurizono-san, you…
We just talked about staying over at Yurizono-san’s house this morning, and now she’s moving right into it.
I need my mother’s permission to stay at her house.
That’s why she sent Iris-san to get permission.
It would be more effective if Iris-san, a college student, persuade mother than Yurizono-san, a high school student.
“Are you sure you’re okay? It’s not only Amane but also Alice who needs to take care of.”
“We have a large space, so it’s fine. And the security is also perfect, so don’t worry.”
My mother talks to Iris-san while serving her tea, and Iris-san answers her question with a smile.
It was a conversation that made me feel as if I had almost decided to stay there, rather than persuade her.
“Oh, speaking of security, we also have a dog.”
“What? You have a dog? What’s his name?”
“His name is Chibisuke. He’s very quiet and cute. He’s very scary to bad people, though.”
“Wow! I want to see it!”
Alice was very excited to hear that there was a dog in the house.
We’ve never owned a dog or a cat before.
“Sit down too, Amane.”
I sat down next to my mom.
“This is just a trivial thing, by the way.”
She took out a wrapped box and placed it on the table.
There it is, the boring stuff.
I think it’s okay because it’s Iris-san, but she’s kind of like Yurizono-san in some ways.
“Oh, thank you for your concern.”
Mom smiles and raises her voice.
What if boring things are boring things?
Well, I think Mom would laugh.
“I’m really happy to hear that Amane-chan and the others are coming to stay with us.”
After speaking with a big smile on her face, Iris-san lifted her right hand and held her mouth with it.
“I’ve got nothing to do, so I’m home alone, looking at the pictures I took with Amane-chan and the others and just making pressed flowers every day…”
Iris-san’s voice trembled as she held her mouth, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes as she sobbed.
Iris-san, while we were at school, she’s making pressed flowers every day.
I feel bad for Iris-san who is crying, but she is kind of cute.
“Alright, alright, I’ll go play with you.”
As Alice gently pats the crying Iris-san’s head, she talks to her as if she were onee-chan.
“I love you, Alice-chan. I love you.”
Iris-san thanks Alice, who is patting her head, in a trembling voice.
I thought that Alice seemed to miss Iris-san a lot, but maybe Alice is looking forward to staying at Yurizono-san’s house.
And maybe she’s so happy that Iris-san came to persuade mother that her tension is a little out of control.
“Iris-san, you’re a stunningly beautiful woman and you’re home alone?”
“Yes. The only friends I have are Amane and her friends…”
“Oh? I wonder if she’s too beautiful for people to notice.”
After listening to Iris-san’s story, my mom started patting her head along with Alice.
“Amane, you should go stay at Iris-san’s house.”
While stroking Iris-san’s head, my mother looked at me and raised her voice.
Thus it was decided that I would stay at the Yurizono-san house.
By the way, the baubles that Iris brought were expensive and delicious-looking sweets. There were also several sheets of beautiful Japanese paper with pressed flowers on them.
They have probably pressed flowers that Iris had painstakingly made all by herself.