Mandarin Orange, Kotatsu, And A Found Cat

After the three of them were reunited, it took quite some time before they were able to talk slowly and calmly.
Miku-chan stopped crying, but she held Mashiro tightly.

Of course, Tsukiyama-san, Mashiro, and I think the time is worth it.
Mashiro was happily closing her eyes embraced by Miku-chan, whom she loves more than anything else, while Tsukiyama-san and I watched and talked ahead of time.

I share information about myself as well as about Mashiro’s time with me.
Tsukiyama-san gave me information from her side about Mashiro
I explained what had happened since I met Mashiro and how we came to the house this time.

After a while, Miku-chan gradually calmed down and eventually became interested in what Tsukiyama-san and I were talking about, so I decided to proceed toward the main topic.

“First of all, nice to meet you. Miku-chan, if you don’t mind.”
“N-Nice to meet you. I’m okay with you calling me that…”

I tried to greet her as friendly as possible, but Miku-chan looked somewhat frightened and did not make eye contact with me.
…Makes sense, if a man you don’t know comes into your house without your permission, you might be a little wary…
I’ve embraced a being that was her own precious family member as my own. She may have mixed feelings.

“Miku-sama. Satou-sama is the one who protected Lumi. He is not a dangerous person.”
“I-I see. …I’m reliefed.”
“Haha…dangerous person, huh.”

It should have been a nice follow-up from Tsukiyama-san, but somehow my feelings was hurt. Do I look that scary…

Nevertheless, it would certainly be easier for Miku-chan to hear what Tsukiyama has to say than to have a complete stranger talk to her out of the blue, like just now.
Perhaps Tsukiyama-san understood this situation, and she took over the explanation.

“Thank you very much for saving Lumi!”

After receiving a full explanation from Tsukiyama-san, Miku-chan bowed deeply to me.
I was actually impressed by the way she politely thanked me, despite the fact that she had been so wary just a few minutes before.

If this is the result of Tsukiyama-san’s education, I can admire and be impressed with her.
Because Miku-chan acts almost exactly like Mashiro. It seems that people who share the same teacher can act like each other.

“And Lumi now lives with Satou-sama under the name Mashiro.”
“Mashiro…”
“Meow.”

When Miku-chan mentions the name, Mashiro immediately replies.
I thought it might be a little difficult for the child, but Miku-chan took it well.

“It’s not that I want you to change what you call her or anything like that. Just call her what you like to call her.”
“In that case…I’ll stick with Lumi.”
“Nyan.”

Mashiro probably wants it that way too. Even in Mashiro’s mind, among these two people, she is remembered by the name Lumi.
And even for me, the name Lumi is easily accepted without any strange discomfort.

…I wonder if Miku-chan will accept Mashiro’s true identity.
Today’s objective is to first meet these two in cat form. After that, Mashiro want to meet Miku-chan in human form.
It’s about time to get down to business.

“And there’s this one thing I’m keeping from you, Miku-chan.”

I look at Mashiro and Tsukiyama-san.
Mashiro, of course, immediately nodded her head, and Tsukiyama-san seemed to have guessed what I was talking about.

“Keeping from me? …Does Tsukiyama know?”
“Afraid so.”

Miku looks at Tsukiyama-san with a curious face.
Maybe Tsukiyama-san had never had anything hidden from Miku-chan before before. Miku-chan was a little defensive toward Tsukiyama-san, who answered bluntly.

“Sorry. This is something that I was also told to keep quiet about by Lumi.”
“Lumi did…?”

Miku is tilting her head at Tsukiyama-san’s words.
I ask Miku-chan’s permission once to get Mashiro back.
Then I tell her to wait for a moment and leave the room with Mashiro.

As on the way there, after borrowing the bathroom and transforming into human form, I call out to Mashiro when she comes out.

“Are you ready?”
“I am. Tsukiyama-san has also been supporting me. I will be fine.”

Mashiro answered without hesitation, but despite what she said, she took my hand and squeezed it.

“I thought you said you are fine?”
“…What if I am not?”
“Then we will go home now.”
“Of course I am fine, we wouldn’t need to do that.”
“Then let’s do this.”

I squeeze her hand back in my hand and pull her to me.
I embraced her as it was, her face on my chest.

“…I always feel at ease with Satou-san.”
“That’s good to hear.”
“Also, Satou-san’s heart is beating really hard.”
“You don’t have to bring that up.”
“Fufu.”

It might have been unimaginable for me to do this not so long ago.
I was so preoccupied with the importance of Mashiro that I unconsciously refrained from being too close to her.

Now she is so close.
And this place has also become a comfort zone for her.

“Satou-san, what do you think of me?”

Mashiro asked me this question as she nuzzled her face against my chest.

“I place Mashiro…above anything else.”
“Then I’ll be fine.”

She took my words and immediately reply with determination and gave me her usual smile.
I, on the other hand, was a little confused with myself.
Mashiro and I… Why was I at a loss for words there? I couldn’t understand why the words didn’t come out right away.

The fact that Mashiro is more important than anything else has remained unchanged for a long time, and has been conveyed many times before.
So why did I feel that something was “different”?
I put my hand on her head and hugged her tightly again, trying not to let her realize the haze that was hanging over my heart.