Haruji’s attention was still held by Yuuto’s curious trousers, despite his cousin’s response, only barely registering the question Yuuto had asked him.
”Work? Oh, yeah, it, uh, it was great!”
Haruji gave a small smile and a laugh, not quite used to someone asking how his work day went. He didn’t really see it as interesting, only bringing work up if he brought some food home… to which, he eventually forgot, in his flight from Bachigo. A twinge of regret was felt in his gut, however; the soft melancholy of forgetting to take cakes and sweets home. The only thing that would cheer him up would be poking Yuuto’s leg, in inspection of the trouser’s material.
”Oh, it’s of good quality!” Haruji noted, the sight of fur reminding him of his first-year cultural festival in high-school, where he had the unfortunate task of sewing cheap clumps of manufactured fur to create some sort of creature costume for a horror house… It kind of reminded him of being a high-school kid, even right down to a doting mother, as Haruji watched Hiiro collect his things from the hall in and put it in the kitchen.
He wondered if Yuuto minded if the duo were raiding his house, however he looked quite comfortable on the sofa, which warranted an extra poke to the leg from Haruji in a jesting manner. Haruji was quite startled, thus, when his poke was returned from Hiiro, who informed him of the rice.
”What, I’m even being fed?” Haruji asked, quite touched, his face distorting into quite a dorky smile of glee. It was rare that he got the chance to sample other’s food, especially Hiiro’s, which were quite good in their own respect, even if it was just rice.
Haruji followed her into the kitchen, quite the happy bunny, catching Hiiro’s last comment, referring to her child. Well, child in the womb; it was still hers, regardless. Being reminded of Hiiro’s situation, Haruji was also reminded of the family met that was to be had that day; he wondered if Hiiro was planning to tell the Family Head about her pregnancy… however, she did seem to enjoy simply getting them rice, Haruji did not want to spoil the atmosphere with complicated topics. It was enough for everyone to be happy, in his opinion anyway.
Upon Hiiro’s request, Haruji grabbed the chopsticks from a kitchen cupboard, setting them absently on the kitchen table before returning back into the living room to Yuuto.
”Yuudyr, if you are planning to go back to sleep, I’m going to eat your share!” Haruji called from the living room door, returning back into the kitchen in fear that his own share would grow cold…
Miuru carried along walking, whether or not she was surprised that Keiko was unknown. However the younger girl looked up, upon Keiko walking beside her and talking, despite the lack of conversation on the other end. Miuru remained looking disinterested, although her eyes settled on the talking Keiko, absorbing what was being said.
Keiko smiled a lot whilst talking, despite the lack of response from her cousin, something Miuru had picked up about Keiko. She came across as polite and nice, willing to talk to Miuru, something the dog zodiac appreciated, in some manner of form. Said appreciation was never said or expressed, however, as Miuru remained silent as Keiko carried on talking to her, until they had to part, her cousin noting her visit to the current Family Head, Aiko, before leaving Miuru’s company.
”... Good luck Keiko.” Miuru said, despite the fact that by the time she had said it Keiko was already out of hearing range for Miuru’s soft tone of voice. She couldn’t help but wonder what was occurring; there was always a bit of curiosity from everyone, upon hearing a cursed family member is about to visit Aiko. Maybe it was something to keep the gossipers busy, but Miuru found it was worthy to note; not many visited Aiko simply for a visit.
Alas, suspicion would not carry her home and Keiko, already left towards the Family Head house. Miuru did not have to walk farther, living quite close-by due to her father’s responsibilities. The house she resided in was not quite grand, however it was a well-kept home, with delicately tidied front gardens of bright tulips and rose bushes, all handled with care. It looked like a normal household from outside; a bit modern, if there was any complaints. But it was home nonetheless, and Miuru’s destination, as she walked down the small garden path to the door, producing a pair of keys from her coat pocket and entering the house.
Inside it was quiet, besides the hum of a dishwasher and a chirp or two from a bird outside, audible inside due to an open window somewhere. The silence was almost immediately broken, as a slow sound of feet could be heard from upstairs, as if they were uncertain whether or not someone had entered their domain.
”I am home.” Miuru declared as loud as she could manage, taking off her shoes and her coat before ending the hall. Upon hearing her voice the slow steps broke into a fast pace, someone racing down the stairs upon hearing Miuru’s return.
“Miuru!” the older gentlemen announced with a warm smile, almost as though he was happy to see her face. He seemed a bit sweaty, after running around to get down the stairs to her, however the middle-age man seemed quite friendly. There was no reason for him not to be; after all, it was her father, Meitarou, the same father who requested her to return home early that day.
”Father!” Miuru mimicked her father, however with less enthusiasm and no warm smile returned, stepping further into the hall to enter further into the house.
However her father reached out to stop her, his hand hesitating over her shoulder at the last second. Miuru stopped in her tracks and looked her father in the face; it was evident that he was need of some sort of assistance, as hastily as said aid could be provided.
“Miuru, have you seen my… my note anywhere?” Meitarou asked kindly, despite the fact that he was getting stressed out by their absence. It was indeed a rare occurrence that he would leave his notes to be lost somewhere, especially these days, however he could have meant any notes; notes about patients, notes about an interesting documentary he watched on television, a note he wrote for the weekly grocery… Miuru shook her head, suspecting, whatever her father was referring to, she, most likely, did not see them around.
Meitarou let out an anxious sigh, rubbing his head in though, his daughter his last resort of sorting out the clue. His wife was little help,as he resigned to the garden for the day and would bitterly reject ever seeing any note lying around. His last hope was Miuru, which was quickly dashed…
”... Have you retraced your steps, father?... Where have you been last?”
It was a simple question but an efficient one; enough to oil the cogs of Meitarou’s memory. He sat himself down on the bottom step, rubbing his chin in thought, mentally going through his day once more.
“Well… I woke up? Got breakfast, yada yada, did some paperwork… I went out for a bit, checked up on some patients… Then, later, I texted you to come home?”
It was obvious the man was missing a chunk of the day, but Miuru discarded this oversight and focused on the information her father provided.
”... your last patient…”
“Hm?”
Meitarou did not quite get what his daughter was getting at, at first, however it eventually made sense what she was referring to.
“Maybe I left it with the last patient… ?”
Meitarou got to his feet, a wide grin crossing his mouth.
“I left it with the last patient!”
There was no confirmation to that, however it was a start. Miuru, satisfied with the work she had done so far, began once more to attempt a retreat to the kitchen. Once more, however, her father stopped her, pulling gently on the collar of her shirt.
“Wait! Miuru! Could you do me a big favour?”
It was quite obvious at this point what he was referring to. He was likely too busy, once more, in paperwork to go out once more to retrieve these notes. Without any further questions, Miuru returned to the door, putting her shoes on once more.
”Who… was it?” Miuru asked, getting up onto her feet once her shoes were on, and grabbing her coat off the hook.
“Hm, it… it was Aiko-san, yes.” Meitarou mused, his voice tinged with a uncertainty, however his eyes gleaming, remembering the amount of work he had left on his desk upstairs. It was quite obviously Aiko, anyway; the rest of Meitarou’s patients were senile elderly people who he visits simply to check if they are doing already out of a bit of charity on his part.
However Miuru didn't seem at all phased at the proposition, putting her coat on and opening the door, leaving the house only minutes after she returned. As she began to walk down the garden path once more, Meitarou went to the door, calling after her.
“Don’t look in it!” he hissed, not wanting to shout after her outside “It is all confidential! Just come straight back home with it!”
Whether or not Miuru quite registered her father’s order was uncertain; it was unlikely she would ever look into a possession of her father’s, however; it held little interest to her, besides doing an errand for her father.
Thus Miuru retraced her own steps, returning back to the residential street but instead turning towards the path Keiko took, towards the Family Head’s house. She was unsure what she would find there; if one member was visiting, it was likely someone else would join them. Miuru wasn't planning to start long, regardless, as she made way to the house.