After lunch, Mikoto seemed to have quite an appetite. One bowl of rice was not enough, so she added another half bowl.
Ayari barely touched her chopsticks, quietly watching Mikoto eat heartily.
"What's wrong? No appetite?" Mikoto found her behavior strange. She glanced at the food on the table, thinking that these should not be things Ayari disliked.
"...I just don't feel like eating."
Mikoto fell into thought. Then Ayari suddenly stood up. "I just remembered that there's something to take care of at home. I'll be going now."
"Oh, all right." Mikoto got up to see her out.
Ayari's attitude had taken a complete turn from when she arrived. She barely even looked at Mikoto as she walked to the door, put on her shoes, and left.
Mikoto was left alone in the living room. The food on the table had not been finished, and a basin of water and a mop still sat outside the side bedroom. Ayari had probably planned to continue cleaning after lunch.
How could Mikoto not overthink such a sudden change in Ayari?
She went into her room. Only half the floor had been wiped, but the trash bin seemed to have been disturbed.
Mikoto suddenly realized something. No wonder Ayari had asked those questions earlier... She had thought Ayari was merely gossiping. Once she understood, she sat blankly on the bed and gave a bitter smile.
After leaving Mikoto's place, Ayari did not go straight home. Instead, she went to Kushina's house.
She did not know why she had come here. By the time Kushina opened the door, she had not even figured out what to say.
Kushina looked at her in surprise. "Ayari, why are you here?"
"I..." Ayari opened her mouth, but no words came out. She could only stare blankly