Mrs. Komie's voice floated over.
The Quail girl came back to herself and quickly looked away.
"I wasn't looking at anything."
"Well, Shoko's learned to lie, too." Mrs. Komie propped her chin on her hands and smiled. "I used to make that exact same face, many years ago."
The Quail girl looked up curiously at her mother, seated across from her.
"That was back in high school, right?" A look of nostalgia crossed the Quail girl's face as she spoke softly. "Your dad finally worked up the courage to ask me out. I was so happy. On the morning of our date, I'd already finished putting on my makeup early, dressed in a pretty outfit, and gone to wait at the street corner."
"There was a car parked at the corner. I happened to see my reflection in its window, and I was making the exact same face Shoko is making now."
Mrs. Komie paused for two seconds. Seeing her daughter watching her curiously, she curved her lips into a delighted smile and said softly:
"That's the face of someone hoping her sweetheart will hurry up and arrive."
At those words, the Quail girl's eyes widened. Then her cheeks flushed red at a visible speed. She hurriedly lowered her head to look at her toes, her pink lips opening and closing as she tried to object.
Unfortunately, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get the words out.
Mom was right.
She really was hoping Amamiya Natsuki would hurry over.
"Was Little Natsuki coming to see you?"
Mrs. Komie asked with a smile.
The Quail girl lowered her head until her chin nearly touched her chest and murmured:
"W-well..."
"That must be it." Mrs. Komie sounded certain, without a hint of hesitation. "My daughter would never be fickle or