After that Mizuki went home. But the next day, when she was going to college, she saw a truck outside.
She took a closer look to find it a moving truck. Someone moved into the house next to theirs.
"Ohhh. That house had been empty for a while. So someone moved in. Maybe I should say hello once I am back."
She said that and left. On her way, she met Momoko. She was going to the station.
Meeting with her and going yo the station together was their regular routine.
"How are you this morning Mizuki?" She asked.
"Fine. But I saw a weird family yesterday."
"Weird? How so?" Momoko was intrigued.
Mizuki told her about the gloomy guy and his parents.
"So someone like that exists." Momoko was surprised to know that such an eccentric family existed.
"Yes. But I still have a hard time believing it." Mizuki voiced her doubt.
"Don't let it bother you. There are all kinds of people out there."
Momoko just told her to not let it bother her.
Then they separated and they went there usual ways.
Afternoon. Mizuki just returned from her college.
She entered her house. Her mother was in the kitchen, preparing dinner.
"Hey mom, do you know who moved in next door?" She asked her mother.
"No. But it was quite sudden, wasn't it?" She replied.
"Yeah. But we got a new neighbor."
"It can't hurt to be on friendly terms, can it?" Her mother said.
They were chatting when the doorbell rang.
"Oh. Someone's here. Can you get the door?" Her mother asked her.
"Yes." She said and went to open the door.
But when she opened the door, she saw someone she never expected.
The woman who was looking for her husband and son yesterday. She was standing with a present.
"Oh my. Aren't you the one who helped me yesterday." She said.
"........Yes." Mizuki was recovering from the shock and she gave a delayed response.
"We moved in next door. So we will be neighbors from now. Hope we can get along. My name is Juno." She smiled and handed her the present box.
Mizuki took the present and was thinking of something to say. But she left like a storm without listening.
Mizuki closed the door and went inside.
"Who was it?" Her mother asked.
"The new neighbor. She came to say hello." Mizuki replied.
"But why do you look so troubled?" Her mother was worried.
"Oh. It's just that I met her yesterday. She was looking for her husband and son. So I helped her." She said.
"Isn't that good?" Her mother didn't understand her meaning.
"No. She is fine. But if those two really are her husband and son, then we are in trouble. Those weirdoes!!" She said.
The next day when Mizuki left for college, she saw that same depressing guy from yesterday.
However, he wasn't so shaggy. He looked a little better. He was also leaving and was on the same way as Mizuki.
At first Mizuki thought that she would greet him. But then she decided to avoid him.
He didn't say anything either. So they just walked by one another on each side of the road.
Then Mizuki met Momoko at the usual place.
"What happened? You don't look good." Momoko asked her after meeting.
"Well, see that guy," Mizuki pointed towards him who was walking on the opposite side of the road.
"Yes. Who is it?" Momoko asked.
"He is our new neighbor. But that family is weird. The man he calls father and the woman who calls him her son, they are just too young. Also he doesn't look anything like them. Like a fake family put together." Mizuki expressed her thoughts.
She wasn't trying to be discreet but she said that in a low voice.
However the man heard. But the distance should be at least 5 meters.
"Well sorry for not taking after my parents." He said to them.
They were both stunned to hear him say that. They didn't expect for him to hear that.
After a moment of silence Mizuki was the first one to respond.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that."
"It's okay. I get that a lot. Apparently I take after my great grandfather. So I look different from everyone else in my family."
"By the way, I haven't asked for your name yet. My name is Mizuki and yours?"
Mizuki asked for his name casually.
"I am Akatsuki. Nice to meet you. Also sorry about yesterday. I lost my job and was a bit drunk."
He said while smiling. He didn't seem like someone who lost his job yesterday.
"Oh. But you seem totally fine."
"I got a new job. I am going there. So I'll be going on ahead." He said and took off.
Momoko just walked by her side. But she didn't enter the conversation.
"That guy was weird. Wasn't he?" Momoko said.
"Well maybe. But he looks better than yesterday. But how can one get a job so easily after just losing one?"
"Maybe, he had some connections. Or something like that." Momoko answered.
They walked to the station and then got on their trains.
When Mizuki arrived at her college, she stopped.
"From today starts my college. Let's give it my best." Pumping herself up she stepped in.
She took a look at the seat placement of her room and took her seat.
The classes were normal and she found some of her friends.
It wasn't bad. During lunch, she went to the cafeteria to eat. There she saw a sign in the corridor.
It had the wet floor sign on it. And a man cleaning.
She at first didn't pay much attention. But then she realized. The person who was cleaning the floor was Akatsuki.
He was wearing an overall which made him look like a janitor. And how to say, he fit in quite well.
For a moment, Mizuki didn't even notice him.
"Ummm..... hello. Is that you, Akatsuki?" Mizuki hesitantly asked.
She still wasn't sure if that was him or not.
He looked up to see who it was. Then he smiled at her.
"Oh. What a coincidence! I didn't expect you to find here. Are you also a new student?" He asked.
"Yes. But what are you doing?"
"My job. I am the new janitor for this semester till summer break. So I am working hard."
"I see. But are you fine doing that work?"
"I am fine. I am basically a free loader at my parents's house. So I have to work. I am already 24 and yet I live with my parents. That alone is too agonizing." He said while clenching his fists.
He really hated the idea of living with his parents. But he had no money. So he had to stay with them.
"Well anyway, are you going to the cafeteria? If so then hurry. The break will end soon." He hurried Mizuki.
Mizuki was truly surprised to see him. But he sent her away.
Mizuki didn't think much of it and went to eat lunch.
After lunch, there was still some time left. So she was leisurely going back to class.
That's when she came across that. Akatsuki was talking to someone. He was talking but no one was there.
Mizuki saw this and hid in a corner.
"What is he doing?" She said in her mind.
"So, why are you here?" Akatsuki asked someone but there's no one there.
After a short silence,
"You came to talk to me. So where should we go?"
"Behind the building. Okay. Wait there." Akatsuki said.
Then he quickly finished his work and went away.
"He is acting suspicious. Should I follow him?" Mizuki asked herself this.
Then she made her mind. She is going to follow him. Something about Akatsuki bothered her greatly.