Akira Fujimiya drove his motorcycle toward Sakurasou.
After about half an hour, Akira arrived at Sakurasou.
He parked his motorcycle and looked around.
In the yard, only Kawasaki Saki and Kawasaki Keika were present, with no sign of Shizuka Hiratsuka.
"Where's Sensei?" Akira asked.
"Hiratsuka-sensei left this morning and hasn't returned yet," Saki Kawasaki replied.
Akira glanced at the empty parking space.
It was obvious that Hiratsuka sensei had driven away and would likely return in the evening.
Since Saki had to go to work in the afternoon, and she wasn't sure whether Akira would stay at Sakurasou, she naturally wouldn't leave Keika alone at home.
Akira checked the time. It wasn't lunch yet.
"Do you want to go to the zoo?" he asked, sitting next to Kawasaki Keika.
Keika looked toward Saki Kawasaki for approval. Saki glanced at Akira, then opened her mouth to say something when—
"After visiting the zoo, we can have lunch together and then go see your mother. How does that sound?" Akira said gently, before Saki could say anything.
Keika stretched out her small hand and grabbed the corner of her sister's clothes. She was worried about their mother; she hadn't visited the hospital since moving here.
"Mr. Kawasaki, I also want to find a chance to see your mother," Akira said, looking at Saki Kawasaki.
"I… I'll go change my clothes," Saki said, noticing the expectation in Keika's eyes.
"Me too," Keika said happily.
"Please… wait a moment," Saki Kawasaki said to Akira, then walked into the room with her sister.
They took the train and walked to the zoo.
Keika looked overjoyed, probably because she rarely went out with her sister. When she saw the cute animals, she wanted to take photos of them. She carefully observed some animals and drew them in the sketchbook she always carried.
"I'm sorry to trouble you," Saki whispered to Akira.
"This is my suggestion. You can consider it work," Akira said, his eyes following Keika's excited movements.
"Do you… really want to go to the hospital?" Saki asked, her expression conflicted.
"Will Aunt Kawasaki misunderstand?" Akira asked, glancing at Saki Kawasaki.
Saki nodded.
She was certain her mother would misunderstand if Akira went.
"It doesn't matter if I'm misunderstood. At least your mother will know I can take care of you," Akira said with a smile.
"I… I don't want to trouble you…"
"Are you thinking about leaving me?" Akira asked, his expression serious.
"No… no, I mean…"
"You are my future assistant. I will not let you leave my side," Akira interrupted firmly, his expression serious.
"I… I won't leave," Saki Kawasaki replied, her voice steady.
She lifted her head and met Akira's eyes.
"In my heart, your status is second only to theirs. You are someone I can trust. Whether for work or other reasons, I don't want to let you go easily. That is my truest thought," Akira said slowly.
"I won't leave you," Saki said firmly, taking a deep breath.
...
They wandered around the zoo until lunchtime.
Akira took them to a nearby restaurant.
This time, Saki Kawasaki did not refuse his invitation.
After finishing their meal, Akira also ordered three desserts.
On the way to the hospital, he bought a fruit basket.
When Saki Kawasaki went upstairs with Keika, her face turned slightly red, though she wasn't aware of why.
At the door of the single room, Saki knocked.
"Come in," came a gentle voice.
After hearing the voice, Keika quickly rushed inside first.
Rieko Kawasaki, their mother who was lying on the hospital bed, looked at Keika with a hint of surprise. But when she saw Akira, her expression was slightly confused.
"Mom," Keika said, running into her mother's arms.
Rieko Kawasaki looked at her little daughter with gentle eyes and a touch of guilt.
"Mom, I drew a picture. I also drew a giant panda from the zoo today," Keika said, raising her sketchbook.
Rieko Kawasaki began reading, and when she reached the end, her expression turned slightly surprised as she looked at Akira and Saki Kawasaki.
"Hello, I'm Akira Fujimiya, the landlord of Sakurasou, and also Saki's friend and classmate," he said, placing the fruit basket next to the bed.
"Are you Akira? Thank you. I heard about you from Saki. Without your help, I might have…" Rieko Kawasaki's face was full of gratitude.
"Saki and I are friends," Akira said with a smile.
"Are you really just friends?" Rieko Kawasaki asked, showing him the last page of Keika's sketchbook.
Akira glanced at it and saw Saki holding hands with him in the drawing. Although the picture didn't perfectly reflect reality…
"Mom, that's an imaginary drawing," Keika whispered, slightly afraid to look at Akira.
"An imaginary drawing?" Rieko Kawasaki seemed surprised.
She had misunderstood.
Saki Kawasaki's face turned red as she realized the drawing could be misinterpreted. Akira remained calm.
"I'm sorry, Fujimiya-kun. I misunderstood," Rieko Kawasaki said.
"It's fine. The drawing is very good," Akira replied, glancing at Keika.
"I'm sorry, Akira nee-san," Keika lowered her head.
"Practice more and make it even better," Akira said casually. Keika nodded. She loved drawing.
Saki Kawasaki sat in the chair, looking at her mother and sister, then at Akira.
"Aunt Kawasaki, the main reason I help Saki is because she works hard. She is currently honing her skills in my company, and in the future, she may even become my assistant or secretary," Akira began to talk about business.
"Is this Fujimiya-kun's family company?" Rieko Kawasaki asked curiously.
"It's my own company. My family had an accident, leaving me the only one. Sakurasou was entrusted to me, and the company is something I built myself," Akira explained.
"Fujimiya-kun is amazing," Rieko Kawasaki said, eyes wide.
"Aunt Kawasaki, Saki is very important to me. I want Sakurasou to be like a second home for you," Akira said seriously.
"Do you mean that you want Saki to stay by your side forever?" Rieko Kawasaki asked meaningfully.
Akira nodded without hesitation.
Saki Kawasaki's face flushed as she lowered her head, unable to meet her mother or Akira's gaze.
Keika didn't fully understand the conversation but knew it concerned her sister.
The ward fell silent for a long while.
Rieko Kawasaki finally sighed.
"Fujimiya-kun, you saved me and helped Saki. We can never repay this kindness. I feel sorry for Saki, who cannot make her decisions for her future. So, as long as Saki agrees, I will agree," Rieko Kawasaki said.
"I understand," Akira replied, looking at Saki Kawasaki.
Saki raised her head and met his eyes.
She remembered what she had said at the zoo.
"I won't leave your side," Saki Kawasaki said, her tone serious and eyes gentle.
Rieko Kawasaki did not comment further. She will agreed, as long as her daughter agreed.
.....
After spending two hours in the hospital, Akira, Saki Kawasaki, and Keika left together.
Keika looked slightly reluctant but didn't insist her sister to stay. She knew that only by being obedient would her mother feel at ease.
Saki Kawasaki realized that after this visit, whenever she came to the hospital, her mother would ask about her and Akira's progress.
Akira and Rieko Kawasaki talked a lot about ordinary things: school, work, Sakurasou, and the help from Hiratsuka-sensei.
Rieko Kawasaki was very satisfied with Akira. As they left, she felt she could entrust Saki Kawasaki to him.
Outside the hospital, Akira called a taxi.
As the three sat in the back seat: Saki Kawasaki in the middle, Keika on one side, and Akira on the other.
As the car started, Keika looked back at the hospital.
Akira held Saki Kawasaki's hand gently, feeling a sense of responsibility and reassurance.
...
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