"Big brother, Rin and the others are here. Are you done packing? If you are, hurry downstairs." His sister's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Sana jolted and sprang up, afraid his sister would come straight in like last time.
Then she remembered he had shut the door.
When the person outside found she couldn't turn the handle, she muttered, "Big brother, what are you doing in there? Why did you lock the door?"
"Ahem—I'm moving out soon, so I thought I'd check whether the lock worked. Didn't want any trouble when I handed the place back."
A somewhat embarrassed voice came from outside. "O-Okay. Hurry up, then. Reisa and I will go downstairs first."
"Mm." Chikage felt something was off, but he answered anyway.
Once his sister had left, Chikage suggested, "Sana, let's go down together."
"Um—I need to use the bathroom first." Sana wanted to make her earlier lie hold up.
"All right." Chikage didn't press her and headed downstairs first.
As soon as he arrived, he saw Rin, Suzune, Aoi, and Nanase in the living room.
His sister and Kaga Resaki were sitting on the sofa too.
When Ruri saw Chikage come down, her cheeks reddened. She mumbled something under her breath.
"What? That idiot Sana got here before us?" Aoi huffed. "Where is she now?"
"I think she went to the bathroom," Ruri explained.
Rin frowned. She had a feeling it wasn't that simple.
"Chikage!" Nanase's eyes lit up. "Your sister said you've bought the house back. Is it true?"
"It is." Chikage smiled and nodded.
"That's great!" Aoi was overjoyed.
"Congratulations," Suzune said, offering a rare word of praise.
Nanase clasped her hands lightly. "That means Chikage won't have to keep moving anymore."
"That's right. He can finally settle down." Rin was delighted. Only