The night grew later and later. It was almost midnight.
Most of the homes near Yayoi-cho 2-chome in Nakano Ward had turned off their lights. Only the dim yellow streetlights illuminated the empty streets, but light still spilled through the entryway of the Uchiha Clan's detached house.
In the living room, Uchiha Naruto's mouth twitched as he looked helplessly at Uchiha Senmon and Yamanashi Inaba, who stood behind him.
Seeing Uchiha Naruto's expression, Uchiha Senmon thought he had misunderstood something and hurried to explain, "Naruto, this girl is the daughter of a former colleague of mine. She might be staying with us for a little while."
"This is my son, Uchiha Naruto. He's in his first year of high school..." Uchiha Senmon introduced him to Yamanashi Inaba.
"No need, Uncle Senmon. We know each other," Yamanashi Inaba said flatly.
The sword bag, almost as tall as she was, remained strapped to her back, never leaving her side.
"We're classmates."
"Is that so? What a coincidence, hahaha." Uchiha Senmon laughed, rubbing the back of his head.
Uchiha Naruto, too, marveled inwardly at the wonders of fate.
After Yamanashi Inaba rushed out of the Kendo club, Uchiha Naruto immediately assigned a crow to follow her from a distance.
After racing out of Jinguji School at a speed that would have put even the track team captain to shame, Yamanashi Inaba stood on the crowded street, seemingly searching for something, but found nothing in the end.
But after standing silently in place for half an hour, Yamanashi took the train alone to Gokokuji Cemetery in Otsuka 5-chome.
She took a freely available wooden bucket, rag, and shovel from the cemetery entrance, cleaned two gravestones bearing the surname Yamanashi, then silently sat leaning against a cherry tree from which she could see the graves.