bunnyandcomet | Tomose Onda SR: Turning His Back on the Hustle and Bustle (Initial)

Chapter 1

Ito: We should be able to meet up with Nina-san if we stay around here, right?

Tomose: Yeah. Let's wait here.

Having safely completed all our planned duties, we were about to rendezvous with Nina-san, who had been carrying out his part independently.

Tomose: ......

Ito: (At a time like this, it'd be best to talk about something to pass the time. But all our conversation up until now has ended after just a few words......)

When it comes to necessary things, he'll answer if I ask, and tell me even if I don't.
But on the other hand, because those exchanges were limited to the minimum necessary amount of words, it didn't really feel right to talk to him for no reason now.

Ito: (Still, it's a bit awkward if I stay silent......Umm, is there anything work-related I can bring up......)

Just as I was about to rack my brains for a conversation topic—
A car pulled up in front of us.

—:ཐིཋྀ:—

Tomose: ......

Yu: ......

Ito: (It's so quiet......)

Meeting up with Nina-san......did absolutely nothing to change the situation. I sat alone in the back seat, filled with a strange tension.

Ito: (Let's just stay quiet for now. I'll come up with something to talk about, and then this silence will—)

Tomose: Yu, you didn't have any problems on your end?

Ito: (Ah, he broke the silence.)

Yu: None. Did it seem like there was?

Tomose: No, but you're the one who said that if there were any, you'd deal with them in time to meet up with us.

Yu: I can't keep you waiting.

Tomose: That's why I asked. Resolving it doesn't change the fact that it arose in the first place.
Besides, I don't mind waiting if it's for you.

Yu: I said it knowing you'd say that. There weren't any problems.

Tomose: All right.

Ito: (Ooh. Surprisingly, Onda-san is talking a lot......?)
(And above all, I feel like the tone of his voice is more gentle.)

Nevertheless, it wasn't as if he was casually talking about this or that, so I wouldn't say it was too different to the "bare minimum" conversation we were having before.

Ito: (Of course, the scope of "bare minimum" would be wider for them than it is with me. They know a lot about each other, after all.)

Yu: Once we've sent Yashiro back, I'll drop you home and go out again.

Tomose: ? You shouldn't have any more work.

Yu: It's not work.

Chapter 2

Tomose: If it's not work, then what is it?

Yu: Shopping. We're running out of ingredients.

Ito: (Ingredients shopping......)

Yu: We're almost out of detergent too.

Tomose: Really?

Yu: I'm sure, I checked this morning.

Tomose: I see. Reliable as always.

Yu: There's other things we need too, so I'll go buy them.

Tomose: Then after we drop off Yashiro, let's walk to get them together. It'll be quicker and more efficient that way.

Yu: If that's what you want, then sure.

Ito: (If this was a conversation I shouldn't be hearing, they wouldn't talk about it in front of me to begin with. Still, it somehow feels like I'm listening to something significant.)
(Well, come to think of it, these two do live together.)

I heard about it from Kise-san before.
But even knowing that, trying to imagine them going grocery shopping together......
Is quite the challenge.

Ito: (In the first place, I can't even guess as to what their daily life must be like. I doubt it's that different from how they are now though......)

Tomose: Anyway, Yashiro, you feeling okay?

Ito: !

Onda-san glanced at the back seat, catching me off guard.

Tomose: ......?

Ito: (Our eyes met.)
(What does he mean by "okay"......? What's the correct way to answer this......)

Tomose: I heard that some people feel ill if they ride in a car they're not used to.
You probably haven't been in Yu's car much.

Ito: (Ahh, I see. I guess he thought the reason I was quiet might be because I wasn't feeling well, and asked to check up on me?)
Yes, I'm okay. I feel completely fine.

Tomose: Is that so?

Yu: Her voice isn't any different from usual either. Seems like she was just trying to be unobtrusive.

Tomose: Yeah. But there's no guarantee it won't happen from now on.
If you start feeling unwell, don't hesitate to tell us.

Ito: Thank you. I really think I'll be all right, though.

Tomose: ?

Ito: Since Nina-san's a very good driver.

Tomose: ......He is, isn't he.

Ito: (Ah. That's the gentlest voice I've heard from him today.)

Tomose: I should add, if there's ever something you want to say, you can say it, whether it's about your physical condition or not.

Ito: Thank you.
(But, at the moment—)
(Just listening to the two of them is enough for me, I think.)

It now felt comfortable somehow, hearing that "bare minimum" conversation between two people who were so close. My nervousness from before had gradually ebbed away.

SP Skill: A Deserted Exterior Stairway

Home Screen Voice Lines:

Someday......No, not yet.

Guess I'll go home and take a shower.