Yamano found himself being summoned by Lumina, the caring and warm-hearted Holstaur caretaker of the orphanage while been escorted by his foster sister, Hikari the Succubus. As he arrived at the main hall with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. Lumina greeted him with a warm smile, her eyes filled with a mixture of gratitude and concern.
"Yamano, I'm so glad you could come," Lumina said, ushering him inside the cozy orphanage. "There are two people here who have been asking about you."
Yamano furrowed his brow in confusion. "Me? Why would anyone be looking for me?"
Before Lumina could answer, Yamano shifted his attention to a particular person. The nekogirl from yesterday. The same nekogirl that called him a "pervert."
" YOU!!" Yamano raised his voice as he looks at the girl.
"Look who it is. Mr Pervert himself." said the nekogirl as she stand up looking at Yamano.
Hikari saw the nekogirl that insulted Yamano. " So you're the one that make Yamano-niichan a pervert. He won't do such thing to me and any of us."
Both of them look eye-to-eye. Lumina sensed a fight about to happens. " Hikari-chan, calm yourself down. We have a guests here. Try to be respectful."
The atmosphere at the orphanage had become tense after Luna, with her usual brashness, started taunting Yamano again, calling him a pervert in front of Hikari and the other orphans. Yamano was growing frustrated, trying to explain that it was a misunderstanding, but the nekogirl seemed determined to tease him.
" I thought you were lying. Turns out, I was right. You really are living in the orphanage full of girls." said the tomboy nekogirl.
Lumina could not believe what the nekogirl said. "Excuse me, young lady. I think you got the wrong idea. Yamano-kun would not do such things here."
Suddenly, a man burst into the room, his face stern, and his eyes filled with disapproval. The nekogirl turned to face the newcomer, a defiant look on her face. The man, however, was having none of it. He swiftly moved towards Luna and gave her a light but firm hit on the head.
*BONK*
" OWWW!!! THAT HURTS!!" the nekogirl shouted.
"Enough of that, Luna. Show some respect," the man scolded.
Yamano was surprised by the intervention and looked closely at the man. Recognition dawned on him as he realized that the man was the owner of the bakery he had visited just yesterday. The man had overheard Luna's continuous taunting and decided to step in.
" Wait? You? You're the owner of the bakery I went yesterday." Yamano said.
Luna, rubbing her head where she had been tapped, looked genuinely surprised. "Papa!! It hurts!! Why did you that? My head hurts."
The man sighed, "I cannot believe that you called him a pervert. Better yet, he saved you from crashing down the hill. Young lady, learn to appreciate when someone is trying to help you."
Yamano, grateful for the unexpected support, spoke up, "Thank you, Mr Baker. I appreciate your help."
" Don't call me Mr. Baker. My name is Gary Minazuki. Nice to meet you. I forgot to told you my name yesterday at the bakery. My fault." Gary admitted.
As Gary turned to leave, his gaze shifted to Lumina, the caretaker. Lumina, in turn, was taken aback when she noticed Gary's presence. A flicker of surprise and recognition passed between them, and the room seemed to hold its breath for a moment.
Gary's eyes met Lumina's, and in that instant, the past seemed to resurface. The unspoken tension in the room shifted, and both Lumina and Hiroshi found themselves caught in a moment of reminiscence.
"Lumina," Gary spoke, his voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.
Lumina's eyes widened, her expression a mix of surprise and realization. "Gary... is that really you?"
Gary nodded, a wistful smile playing on his lips. "It's been a long time."
The air in the room grew charged with unspoken emotions as the past unfolded before them. The orphans, sensing the shift in dynamics, watched the scene unfold with curious eyes.
Yamano, still trying to diffuse the tension from the earlier incident, observed the exchange between Lumina and Gary with curiosity. He had no idea about their shared history.
Lumina, gathering herself, managed a soft smile. "Yes, it has been a long time. How have you been?"
Gary's gaze softened, and he replied, "I've been well. Running the bakery and trying to make a difference where I can."
The conversation between Lumina and Gary revealed the depth of their shared history. As they spoke, it became evident that Lumina and Gary were once a couple, but circumstances had led them to part ways.
Both of them smiled when they looked at each other. Their mutual gaze made them look like they trapped in the good old days.
" Mama? Are you okay?" Yamano said as he slightly touch Lumina's arm.
Lumina broke her gaze and immediately replied Yamano's question. " Hmm.. Yes, sweetie. I am fine."
Gary broke his gaze as well. He looked at his daughter and decided to discuss the incident between Yamano with his own daughter.
" I think we should discuss this matter someplace...quiet." said Gary.
Lumina took Gary and his nekogirl daughter to the backyard. Gary requested a discussion with Yamano, Luna, and Lumina. They gathered in the peaceful garden of the orphanage, surrounded by blooming flowers and the gentle rustling of leaves. Lumina, Gary, Yamano, and Luna took their seats, each bracing themselves for the conversation ahead.
Gary, with a thoughtful expression, spoke up, "I feel it's important to address what happened yesterday. Lumina, Yamano, Luna, I want to hear your perspectives on the events."
Yamano nodded, taking a deep breath before explaining, "Yesterday, your daughter lost control of her bicycle when going down the hill. I saw the accident about to happen, and I rushed to help her. I managed to rescue her in time, but when I mentioned I live in the all-girls orphanage, Luna misunderstood and called me a pervert."
Gary raised an eyebrow, directing his attention to Luna. "Is it true? Luna?"
" Don't blame me. You told me yourself. There are some human that cannot be trusted." said the nekogirl.
"...but that doesn't mean that you have to call someone like that. It's true some human out there are evil but... you are old enough to tell the different which can be trusted." Gary told his daughter.
Lumina knew what the nekogirl said and she cannot blamed her for it. She knows that monster-girls cannot fully trusted human yet after what happened fifteen years ago. The incident really did a number on so many people. Lumina gently look at Luna.
"Misunderstandings happen, Luna-chan. It's important to recognize when we might be wrong and to learn from those situations."
Lumina then gently open her story about why Yamano is the sole human in the orphanage. " The thing is, Yamano will never do such thing. I remember the time when Yamano arrived in this orphanage. One night, I heard a knock coming from outside the entrance. Then, I saw him. A baby who were deeply asleep in a basket."
Gary and Luna look sorry towards Yamano. Gary and Luna exchanged curious glances, their attention now fully on Lumina's words.
Lumina continued, her voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and warmth, "At that time, there was a conflict between humans and monster-girls fifteen years ago. When I first saw baby Yamano in the basket, I hesitated. The tensions between our communities were high, and I was torn about bringing him in. You remember the incident, Gary-san?"
Gary remembered the incident. He can feel the incident like it was yesterday. He remembered the sudden announcement broadcasting on radios, television that a human organisation declaring war with monster-girls. The broadcast caused monster-girls to lose their trust on human. Monster-girls lost their trust even towards human that treated them with nicely.
" Yes. I remember it fondly. The announcement... the massacre... everything. A single moment that changes the course of history." said Gary.
Lumina slowly pat Yamano's head as she continue her story. " When I look at Yamano at that time. There's a part of me want Yamano to die at the front of the orphanage. Even if he died, no one will know. But the moment I looked him in the eyes, so small and vulnerable, I couldn't turn away. Despite the fear and uncertainty, I decided to take him in and care for him as my own.
Gary and Luna listened in silence, absorbing Lumina's revelation. The gravity of the situation sank in, and Luna's eyes softened with understanding. Gary, too, showed a mix of surprise and empathy.
Lumina continued, "Yamano has grown up with us, surrounded by the love and support of the orphanage. He's an integral part of our family, and I couldn't be prouder of the kind-hearted human he has become."
Gary nodded, acknowledging the depth of Lumina's decision and the significance of Yamano's journey. Luna, who had once called Yamano a pervert, now looked at him with a newfound appreciation for his background and the challenges he had faced.
Yamano, who had been quietly observing the conversation, felt a mix of emotions. Lumina's revelation explained some of the complexities he had sensed in his past but hadn't fully understood.
Luna felt like she did a huge mistake. All she can do is staring at the bench. Yamano looked at the nekogirl. He smiled, knowing that she learnt from her mistake on judging people without knowing their story first.
The revelation of Yamano's past and Lumina's decision weighed heavily on Luna's mind. The realization that Yamano had been a baby left at the orphanage, and Lumina, despite being a monster-girl herself, had chosen to care for him, left Luna with a newfound understanding of Yamano's background.
Unable to contain her feelings any longer, Luna suddenly stood up, her eyes filled with sincerity. She took a deep breath and bowed in front of Yamano, a gesture of respect and apology. The orphans and Lumina watched in surprised silence.
"Yamano-san," Luna began, her voice earnest, "I owe you an apology. I regret calling you a pervert without understanding the full story. I didn't know about your past, and I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. I'm sorry for the misunderstanding and any hurtful words I may have said."
Yamano, taken aback by Luna's unexpected apology, smiled warmly. "Luna-san, there's no need to apologize. I understand that it was a misunderstanding, and I appreciate your honesty in admitting your mistake. I forgive you."
Luna looked up, meeting Yamano's gaze, her eyes reflecting a mix of relief and gratitude. The weight of the tension between them lifted, replaced by a newfound understanding. The orphans, sensing the shift in dynamics, exchanged glances and smiled at the reconciliation unfolding before them.
Lumina, witnessing the exchange, felt a sense of pride in the growth and maturity displayed by the individuals she had come to consider her family. The garden, once a place of tension, now radiated a sense of harmony.
As Luna straightened up, the atmosphere lightened, and she offered a genuine smile to Yamano. The unlikely trio – Yamano, Luna, and Gary – along with Lumina, shared a moment of unity and forgiveness, bound by the common goal of creating a supportive environment for the orphans.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the garden, symbolizing the end of a chapter marked by misunderstandings and the beginning of a new one forged by understanding, forgiveness, and the strength of their collective bonds.
As they ready to go home, Lumina told Yamano and Luna to leave with Gary for a moment. "Yamano-kun, Luna-san, can you leave us for a while. I want to talk to Gary-san for a bit."
" Yes, Maam." said Luna.
Now, Yamano and Luna together, looking at the sunset. " You know, some part of me believes that you are a kind human but I was so foolish that I let my beliefs of not trusting human decide my next action. I was wrong."
Yamano, still seated in the garden after Luna's heartfelt apology, sensed a shift in the air. Luna, now standing beside him, seemed genuinely remorseful for her past actions.
"Luna," Yamano began, his tone gentle, "I appreciate your apology. It takes courage to admit when we're wrong. As long as you've learned from the mistake, there's no need for you to atone for anything."
Luna, looking relieved, nodded. "I really regret calling you a pervert. I want to make things right. Is there anything I can do?"
Yamano considered her question for a moment before responding, "The best way to make amends is to learn from our mistakes and grow. If you genuinely want to change, that's enough for me."
A sense of understanding passed between them, and Luna, determined to mend their relationship, suggested, "Then, can we be friends, Yamano?"
Yamano's face lit up with a warm smile. "Of course, Luna. I would like that."
They sealed their newfound friendship with a handshake, the tension of the past dissipating with each heartfelt gesture. The orphans, witnessing the reconciliation, exchanged happy glances. Lumina and Gary, observing from a distance, shared a nod of approval.
As the evening sun cast a golden hue over the garden, Luna, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Yamano, couldn't help but suggest, "Hey, Yamano, would you like to come to the bakery with me tomorrow? My treat."
Yamano, touched by the invitation, replied, "I'll try my best to make it, Luna. Thank you for the offer."
They locked eyes, and a genuine smile passed between them. The prospect of spending time together at the bakery seemed to symbolize a fresh start for their friendship. The day that had begun with misunderstandings and tension now closed with the promise of new connections and shared experiences.
As Luna and Yamano looked at each other and smiled, it became clear that the bonds forged in the garden that day were strong enough to overcome the challenges of the past. The anticipation of a bakery outing filled the air with excitement and the promise of a brighter future for Yamano, Luna, and the unlikely group that had come together in the name of understanding and friendship.