November 22.
Cynthia and Kaim watched the news on television over breakfast. There was nothing particularly new, and the program soon moved on to morning specials and the like.
"Today is November 22! What a wonderful Couples' Day! Why not tell your partner how grateful you are every day?"
At the presenter's words, Shirona reacted as she put a piece of grilled fish into her mouth.
"Today's Couples' Day, huh?"
"Hm? Oh, that's a common play on words."
With that, Kaim went back to eating.
Kaim generally showed little interest in such mundane things. He did not sneer at them as foolish, but they simply did not seem to suit his tastes. Cynthia did not think it was worth obsessing over either, but she was a woman, too. Sometimes, she found herself thinking about it.
What a lovely couple.
She glanced at Kaim, who continued eating in silence.
She remembered what someone had said to her that summer, on the boat back from the farthest Lonely Island. Even then, Cynthia had understood that those words had been spoken with her and Kaim's future in mind.
Of course, Cynthia hoped that future would come to pass, and she doubted there were many men better suited to her than he was.
I wish I could help him somehow.
As far as daily life went, Cynthia had reached a point where she could no longer live decently without Kaim. He quickly finished all the housework himself, leaving her no opportunity to do anything, but it was also true that leaving things to her only made them worse. Cynthia knew that herself, so she did not recklessly interfere. Still, she sometimes wondered whether it was all right for her and Kaim to become "family" someday.
*All right. Once work's over today, I'll help with