Chapter 64: Surprise

No one yet knew what was happening in Nishizaki Yuki’s office.

On the other side, Ephnel, Yukina, and Hanasou Kotone had already arrived outside the hospital lobby…

“Wait here for a moment.”

“I’ll get the car and come over.”

“Yukina, take good care of Hanasou-san, okay?”

Ephnel said.

“Okay, Onee-chan.”

“Hanasou-san and I will be right here.”

“Mm, I’ll be back soon then.”

Ephnel was currently playing the role of Yukina’s older sister, not her brother.

It would be troublesome if her parents called in front of Hanasou Kotone.

To prevent her and Yukina’s sisterly relationship from being exposed in front of Hanasou Kotone, Ephnel had specifically asked Yukina and Hanasou Kotone to wait outside the lobby while she retrieved the car from the underground parking garage.

She started the car slowly and took out her phone to call her parents.

She had to seize the initiative with her parents beforehand.

“Mom, are you and Dad still at the airport?”

Ephnel lowered her voice, the soft, feminine tone disappearing, replaced by a more neutral one.

“Your dad and I just got off the plane.”

“What’s up?”

Her mother’s tone shifted.

“Anxious to see us?”

“Is that not allowed?”

Ephnel turned the steering wheel, glancing at the time.

“I just picked Yukina up from school.”

“I was thinking of coming to pick you guys up and take you home later.”

“The old place is empty now, we’ve moved to the West District.”

“I’m afraid you won’t be able to find the way.”

“Your dad and I aren’t so old that we can’t use a map,” her mother said, not yielding verbally, but her tone was undisguisedly joyful.

“By the way, is Yukina okay?”

“You haven’t been bullying her while we’re away, have you?”

“I would never do something like that,” Ephnel pouted, then gave a teasing smile.

“She’s fine.”

“I’ve been sending you pictures.”

“She’s gotten taller and slimmer now.”

“You probably wouldn’t even recognize her in person.”

“Is that so… I guess so.”

“After all, her big brother has already picked up his little sister from school~” her mother chuckled.

“I was thinking she’d still be in class, so I didn’t call her.”

“I wanted to surprise her, but you beat me to it…”

“That doesn’t matter, does it…”

A dark line appeared on Ephnel’s brow.

“Of course it matters.”

“It’s not easy to prepare a ‘surprise,’ and you took all the credit.”

“What are your father and I supposed to do?”

“…”

A burst of carefree laughter came from the other end of the line.

Ephnel could almost picture her mother covering her mouth, unable to hide the crinkles at the corners of her eyes.

Although she, her mother, and her father hadn’t lived together for a long time, the close bond between her parents, herself, and Yukina had never faded or been forgotten.

“Well, it’s been a long time…”

The laughter subsided, and a sudden sigh of emotion came from the other side.

“Watching Yukina grow up in the photos, it really feels like a dream, so unreal.”

“Naoto, it’s been hard on you all this time.”

“Both your father and I owe you and your sister.”

“Alright, don’t say things like that,” Ephnel turned the steering wheel as the car emerged from the underground garage, the view outside brightening.

“Yukina and I have been doing great, and that’s because of your care, so don’t say those things.”

The other side just laughed and didn’t linger on the topic.

“But speaking of which, I still have some procedures to handle here, which is quite troublesome.”

“I don’t know how long it will take.”

“You don’t have to rush over.”

“That’s perfect.”

“I’m at the United Hospital right now for something,” Ephnel said, a hint of anxiety in her heart as she quickly calculated.

“It’ll probably take about thirty minutes to get there.”

“I might not be able to answer the phone while I’m driving later…”

She had to take Hanasou Kotone home first, and then change her appearance back to “Yanase Naoto.”

This would take at least twenty minutes.

Fortunately, Hanasou Kotone’s house seemed to be not far from the school.

From the hospital to the school and then to the airport was still on the way.

“…What are you doing at the hospital?” a somewhat worried voice came from the other end of the line.

“Are you sick?”

“Or is it Yukina…”

“No, no,” Ephnel gave a guilty smile.

“A colleague got a little injured.”

“I just came with her.”

“I’m about to take her back now, so…”

Ephnel didn’t tell the truth, but casually made up a “colleague.”

Ephnel didn’t plan to tell her parents about what happened at school.

Injuring a classmate, no matter how you put it, wasn’t something to be proud of.

As for the changes in Yukina’s body, Ephnel planned to find a separate time to tell her parents, along with her own matters, and confess everything at once.

Of course, now was not the time to talk about this.

“A colleague?”

“Male or female?” her mother asked again.

“A female colleague.” Ephnel’s tone was sincere.

“A female colleague!?” the voice on the other end was clearly an octave higher.

“Quick, do you have a picture!”

“What’s her name!”

“Just a regular colleague.”

“Don’t let your imagination run wild.” Ephnel’s lips twitched in annoyance.

It was a fact that she had never been willing to find a girlfriend, which had once worried her mother and father.

Ephnel also knew that when she was still in high school, the two of them had secretly consulted a psychologist about this matter.

But Ephnel simply didn’t want to find a girlfriend.

Her parents’ later years, her sister’s future—she still had many things to do.

She didn’t have time to worry about her own love life and marriage.

Ephnel had set her own goals long ago, and had been studying diligently and earnestly since then.

Although she had dropped out of school later for various reasons, the current Ephnel was still living life her own way.

“Alright, alright, I’m driving.”

“I’ll come pick you guys up soon,” Ephnel didn’t want to drag on this topic and said directly.

“I’m hanging up now.”

“Ehh? You bought a car?”

“Got your license?” the other side’s focus was clearly different from Ephnel’s.

“When did this happen?”

“How come Mom and Dad didn’t know…”

“How long has it been since you’ve been home?”

“There’s a lot you don’t know!”

“I’ll tell you all about it when you get back.”

Ephnel glanced in the rearview mirror and said enigmatically.

…

Seikyo City had recently experienced two major Erosion disasters, the most severe in recent years.

This had directly or indirectly led to a host of problems.

The post-disaster recovery work was hindered, people were unsettled, and the level of public security had also declined considerably.

Vicious man-made incidents had occurred in various districts.

Hanasou Kotone was already injured.

Of course, Ephnel wasn’t comfortable with her going home alone, which was why she had offered to take her back.

The car stopped in front of a residential complex.

It was the time when people were getting off school and work.

There were occasional cars and pedestrians coming and going, and some people cast glances this way.

This was an ordinary residential complex, not far from the school, right next to a crossroads.

There was a large shopping supermarket within sight, and a shelter facility less than three hundred meters north of the entrance.

Without a doubt, this was a good location.

To be able to afford a place here, Hanasou Kotone’s family must have been relatively well-off.

If those things hadn’t happened…

Ephnel sighed, didn’t dwell on it, and opened the electronically controlled door of the back seat.

Hanasou Kotone got out of the car.

“Is it okay to stop here?”

“I can manage on my own from here!”

“Are you sure you’ll be okay by yourself?”

“Why don’t I take you upstairs…” Ephnel turned her head to look at Hanasou Kotone and asked.

“No, no, it’s really okay!” Hanasou Kotone quickly shook her head.

“Yanase-san, you have things to do, right!”

“I feel really bad for taking up so much of your time…”

“Okay, then…” Ephnel didn’t press the issue.

“Well then, Hanasou-san, goodbye.”

“Goodbye, Yanase-san, and Shiomi-san!”

Hanasou Kotone waved at Ephnel and then left.

“Phew…”

Ephnel breathed a sigh of relief.

She watched Hanasou Kotone’s retreating back and suddenly said to Yukina in the back seat, “Um, Yukina, can you do me a favor?”

Before heading to the airport, Ephnel had to change into “Yanase Naoto.”

…