The next day, Eric woke up earlier than usual, completed his morning exercise ahead of schedule, and called the hotel to arrange for a car with a chauffeur to pick him up.
"You seem to be in more of a hurry than usual. Are you planning to go somewhere?" Emiko asked Eric, noticing he had already finished bathing at the same time he usually returned home on other days.
Eric paused mid-movement and turned to his mother, his bathrobe swaying gently with the motion.
"Since we don't have school today, I was planning to hang out with a friend," he answered, fully turning to face her.
"Ohh, is it a girl? Ohh, is it the girl from before?" Emiko teased, a playful grin on her face.
"Nothing like that, just normal friends meeting up," Eric replied calmly. "If you'll excuse me," he added, turning away again.
Emiko watched her son with a smile, a little surprised by the change in his attitude.
