When people suddenly failed to recognize him and even turned hostile toward him, anyone could tell there had to be something fishy going on. Whether he could unravel the problem was precisely why he had come here.
"If you have to blame someone, then blame me for arriving too late."
"And this little injury will heal on its own if I just spit on it. More importantly, where is everyone else?"
"Ashu went to prepare supplies, Puka is cooking, and Homi went out on some business not long ago. She should be back soon, if I'm counting right." Ash was not fooled by her; the sound of the girl rummaging through things still came from the bathroom.
"As for everyone else, they're the same as always. They're probably still waiting for you."
"Is that so? Then in that case..."
Pushing open the door to the room on the other side, Ash pulled a chair from the table and sat beside the bed. He reached out toward Hanasaki Rei, who lay there with a blissful smile, as though she were dreaming of something wonderful.
"Honestly, I'm already home, and you won't even say hello?"
Though he said it in a teasing tone, no response came back through the dull, dark room. The rising lilt in his voice gradually fell in helplessness.
"What a heartless bunch... Are you really having that much fun?"
He tugged at the girl's smiling lips, and the soft skin his finger pressed down soon bounced back, rosy and supple. Then Ash poked it again and again, pressing and watching it rebound, endlessly amused.
"Looks like you really are having a wonderful time."
Releasing the cheek he had lightly pinched between his fingers, the man looked to the side. Miyuki, Megumi, Haruka, Yui, and the others who had