Ichika stared intently and asked hopefully, "Kuromori-kun, what do you think?"
Haruto remained silent for a moment before giving a response that everyone agreed with, "Very similar, almost exactly the same."
"Kuromori-kun, are they really the same?" Itsuki couldn't help but confirm.
"Maybe."
Nino whispered, "Idiot, don't be foolish, she can't be our mother."
Even though they looked so alike, and even Haruto said they were almost identical, Nino knew it was impossible for her to be their mother. Their mother had died from illness, and they had all been there, even for the cremation.
Nino remembered Itsuki holding onto the urn and crying for a long time. Because of that, even though they resembled each other, there was no way the woman could be their mother.
The hair tuft on Itsuki's head drooped.
She lowered her head, clutching the hem of her skirt, and said softly, "I know, but she looks so much like Mom."
Because of their strong resemblance, she couldn't help but entertain wild thoughts.
For instance, maybe their mother had become an angel and returned to the world?
Their mother was gentle, kind, a responsible teacher, and such a good person. So she must have become an angel, right?
Or perhaps their mother hadn't passed away? Maybe it was all a dream, a false, long dream, and now they were waking up from it. Their mother was still with them, always had been.
They could still hug their mother, act spoiled like they did as children, and feel the warmth of her embrace.
Itsuki couldn't think about it anymore; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to hold back her tears. Crying in front of Haruto would only make him worry.
She bit her lip, but her eyes inevitably turned red.
She could no longer hold it in and threw herself into Nino's arms. Even though she remained silent, everyone knew she must be crying right now.
Haruto stood still for a moment before walking to the window, giving them space.
Ichika approached and stood beside Haruto, watching the figures playing outside in the schoolyard. Yotsuba was among them.
Ichika averted her gaze, tilting her head slightly to look at Haruto. She reached out and gently poked him.
"Kuromori-kun, what do you think about all this?"
"What do you think?"
Ichika sighed, covering her forehead, and said with a sad and anxious expression, "Since she looks so similar, I thought I was seeing Mom when I saw her. But after taking a picture and looking at it for a while, I couldn't find her again."
Ichika said softly, "Actually, during all this time, while I was out working, a lot of it was spent searching for her."
She pressed her chest gently, "I understand Itsuki because we're quintuplets, with a deep bond. So even though I know she might not be our mother, I still held onto hope."
Ichika stuck out her tongue playfully.
"Let me tell you in secret, Kuromori-kun, I cried in private too~ But since I'm the eldest, I have to keep my composure in front of my sisters. That's why I'm only telling Kuromori-kun."
Ichika turned to him with a smile on her face, "Hey Kuromori-kun, aren't we quintuplets just a bunch of fools?"
She was clearly smiling, but there was sadness hidden behind it.
Haruto thought of Rikka, who smiled brightly even while crying. This time, the contrast between Rikka's smile and Ichika's was striking.
Haruto was silent for a moment before saying, "Do you want me to help you find her?"
Ichika took a deep breath, biting her lip with a confused expression. Initially, she had thought of this plan since she knew Haruto was strong and capable. If she asked for his help, surely, he would be able to find her, right?
But now that the moment had come, Ichika hesitated. "Kuromori-kun, what if we find her and confirm that she's not our mother?"
Once you have expectations, discovering they're not true will only bring more pain and sadness. It was inevitable.
And it's been ten years since Rena passed away. The quintuplets, including Itsuki, had slowly started moving past their grief. If they reopened that wound now, Ichika suddenly regretted her decision. Maybe she shouldn't have brought it up.
Haruto glanced at Ichika, then turned away, speaking calmly, "Now that you've started, don't regret it. Life doesn't offer a cure for regret. Instead of clinging to sorrow, it's better to face things head-on."
He looked out the window, "I accept the task."
❀❀❀
Haruto returned to his apartment, reaching for the key when he suddenly heard Nanako shouting from inside.
"Sora-Nee, this is bad! Baka Nii-san has kidnapped a girl and brought her home, and she's a super beautiful girl too!"
Who kidnapped someone?
A few lines of exasperation appeared on Haruto's forehead. Every time he encountered his foolish sister, he couldn't help but feel the need to teach her a lesson. It was decided—he'd prepare a spicy meal soon that would make Nanako question her life choices!
With that thought, he opened the door and entered.
Yoruha's presence was no longer something that could be hidden, and Haruto didn't intend to hide it either. He had already thought of an excuse: Yoruha was a runaway girl he found late at night. It sounded unbelievable, but whether anyone believed it didn't concern Haruto.
As for Yoruha's current role, was she a maid? Or simply a girl living here?
At this moment, Nanako and Sora were sitting on the sofa in the living room, while Yoruha stood at the bedroom door, resembling a doll.
As soon as Haruto stepped through the door, Yoruha, who had been standing motionless by the bedroom door, immediately appeared in the foyer.
Nanako's eyes widened, and she exclaimed, "Wow~ Amazing! Onee-san moves so fast!"
Not just fast, but incredibly fast!
Sora looked at the doll-like girl at the entrance in surprise. Initially, she had been quite upset, but upon seeing this, she felt relieved. Even though Sora trusted that Haruto wouldn't act recklessly, the girl's presence had caused her some doubt.
However, it was clear this girl wasn't ordinary.
Sora knew about Haruto's abilities due to past events with Rikka. Though she never asked or pressed him for details, she assumed he was likely an onmyoji—a practitioner of spiritual arts. The world they lived in wasn't so simple.
So, a girl with extraordinary abilities suddenly appearing wasn't out of the question.
At that moment, Yoruha knelt on the ground, took off her shoes, leaned down, placed one hand on the floor, grasped the edge of her skirt, and slowly lifted it.
Yoruha gazed at Haruto with her beautiful sapphire eyes and, in a calm voice, asked, "Master, dinner is ready. Would you like to have dinner first, or shall I serve myself?"