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The Next Morning

RaikaYeah, this is what a family morning is supposed to be...!

Raika"The day's plan lies in the breakfast with family"... Finally, it becomes true...!

RaikaAlright, let's have breakfast, my family! Let's put our hands together and say...

RaikaHuh~~!? You're already eating!?

ChieriIf you don't eat quickly, Raika, Chieri will take all the croissants!

YomogiPerfectly cooked bacon and eggs, and even a fruit platter... This place might just be heaven...!

MikuYomogi-san, you seem lively this morning.

YomogiYes, it's so lavish that I'm wide awake now!

ChieriThis crispy sausage is pretty good too...!

RaikaHold on!! Everyone, did you say "Let's eat"!?

MikuWe did. But Raika-chan wasn't listening, apparently.

RaikaHuh, really!?

ShizukuYou're not eating, Raika? At this rate, the food will disappear in no time.

RaikaI'm eating, I'm eating! Let's eat!

Raika*Chew*... Mmm~~~! Delicious~~~!!

ChieriMiku, if you're not eating that yogurt parfait, Chieri will take it!

MikuYeah, go right ahead~

Yomogi*Sniff*... What's that on this omelet...?

ShizukuIt's a lobster.

YomogiEek...!

RaikaLobster!? Can we really eat something like this in the morning!?

Shizuku? You don't eat things like this in the morning?

RaikaI've never eaten it in my entire life, let alone in the morning!

ShizukuI see. I thought it was quite similar to the breakfast at my home though...

RaikaSure it was! Because—

RaikaOuch!?

MikuOh, sorry~ I think my foot accidentally touched yours.

RaikaTouched? It was more like you stomped on my foot!?

Miku(That's because you were about to say something unnecessary. Do you forget things after three steps? Are you bird-brained?)

Raika...! W-Well, I guess things like that happen...! Ahaha...!

MikuHehehehe...

YomogiCherie-san... do you want this omelet? I'm not really big on seafood...

ChieriYomogi, you were also avoiding the vegetables earlier, weren't you? You can't be picky about food!

YomogiUh... I'm not in a position to be picky, but yet I am, I'm sorry~!

RaikaYou're one to talk, Cherie, even though you hate konjac~

ChieriWhat...!? Why do you know that?

RaikaAhaha, gotcha~! The other day, I got some Chikuzenni, and only konjac was left!

ChieriI-I don't hate it. I just don't eat it because it's all squishy and looks weak!

ShizukuRaika, you're amazing. You can even tell what people like and dislike.

RaikaThat's because we're family! I've gotta know what you like and what you don't.

ShizukuIs that so... I don't know what food my family likes or dislikes.

RaikaI see... Well, from now on, try figuring out what we like and dislike! Let's practice together!

ShizukuYeah...

Miku("From now on," "together"... She's really...)

MikuRaika-chan, can we talk for a bit, just the two of us?

Raika? Yeah... Then shall we go to the dining room door?

RaikaSo, what's this about...?

MikuIt's about Shizuku-chan. And this morning.

RaikaThis morning... Oh!

RaikaMiku, wake up, wake up!

MikuHm... Huh, Raika-chan...!?

RaikaMs. Nanny is here. Come say hello with me, Miku.

MikuMs. Nanny... you mean Shizuku-chan's...? Huh, why me?

RaikaIt was you who helped Shizuku so quickly yesterday, Miku! Come on, hurry up!

MikuHey... could you not drag me...!

Shizuku's NannyIt's a pleasure to meet you. I am the one in charge of looking after young lady Shizuku.

Miku(A classical maid outfit... In a normal residential street, it really stands out...)

RaikaLet me introduce ourselves. I am Raika, and this is my family member Miku.

MikuUm... You came to pick up Shizuku-chan, right?

Shizuku's NannyNo, I just came here to express my gratitude.

MikuWhat?

Shizuku's NannyAfter parting with young lady yesterday, I have been quietly watching over her from the shadows.

Shizuku's NannyWhen we parted, I gave her a map with a temporary shelter marked on it. But young lady got distracted by a kitten she saw, and ended up losing the map...

Shizuku's NannyI gave her all kinds of hints from the shadows, but young lady didn't seem to notice any of them. I was at a loss.

Miku(Then why not just help her directly?)

Shizuku's NannyWhen young lady began to doze off near a trash can, I was thinking I might have to step in myself, then you came and saved her.

RaikaYeah...? No, no, it wasn't a big deal!

MikuRaika-chan, is it really okay to say yes when you don't actually understand?

Shizuku's NannyI can entrust young lady to you with peace of mind. Please take good care of her from now on.

RaikaYeah, it's our plea—

MikuPlease wait a moment! Are you really thinking about Shizuku-chan?

MikuShe got kicked out because of family circumstances, and now you're leaving her with a household of strangers... She's being pushed around by her family.

MikuWe were actually about to call the police yesterday. But do you know what Shizuku-chan said then?

MikuMs. Nanny, she pleaded for us to not call the police, so that you wouldn't lose your job.

Shizuku's NannyYoung lady...

MikuOh, sorry. I didn't need to tell you that, did I? I mean, you've been taking care of Shizuku-chan all along♪

RaikaMiku...?

Shizuku's NannyYou have only just met young lady, and yet you have thought this much for her.

Miku...!

Shizuku's NannyYou are absolutely right. It has been painful for us too. But this is a "trial that young lady must overcome."

MikuUm, that sounds nice, but—

Shizuku's NannyYoung lady needs to leave her "family." Right now.

Raika、Miku...!

Shizuku's NannyWith you, young lady will be fine. That's what my 70-year maid intuition is telling me loud and clear!

Shizuku's NannyBesides, I have looked into all four of your backgrounds and histories. And I have already received approval from Raika-sama's grandmother.

MikuHuh!? You investigated all that in a single night...!?

RaikaOh~! If you've already talked to Granny, then I'm good with it!

MikuRaika-chan...!

Shizuku's NannyHer luggage has already been arranged to be delivered here, so please just receive it upon arrival.

RaikaOkay~! Leave it to me!

Shizuku's NannyHow reassuring. Well then, as a small token of gratitude, please allow this nanny to prepare today's breakfast.

RaikaThank you so much! Please come on in!

MikuHey, wait...!!

Miku(Geez, you idiot!! Don't say yes when you don't even understand!!)

RaikaWhy does this have to be kept secret from Shizuku? Ms. Nanny could have seen Shizuku before leaving.

MikuMore importantly, you do understand what this means, right?

MikuIt means we're going to look after some young lady in this house. And you just agreed so casually... Did you really think this through?

RaikaThat face again... Miku, are you angry?

Miku! I'm not angry... I'm just feeling a bit uneasy.

RaikaIt's fine. Because Ms. Nanny trusted us enough to leave her with us.

Miku(That's not what I'm talking about...!)

Miku(After I leave, what will happen to her? Just left behind in the jungle of rare animals? That would leave such a bad taste in my mouth.)

RaikaI don't know the place where Shizuku grew up, nor the places where you and others grew up. But we're family, so I'm ready to protect you.

RaikaThe rest is up to Shizuku.

Miku(She really doesn't understand anything...!!)

ChieriRaika, Miku! How long are you going to keep whispering!?

ChieriThis juicy ham, Chieri will take the last slice of it!

RaikaHuh! I haven't even had any yet!

MikuChieri-chan, you really eat a lot~

ChieriHehe, I could easily put another hundred slices of this ham into my stomach. Chieri's stomach is the strongest too.

RaikaReally~? I don't think that much would fit~

ChieriIt would! Very easily!

ShizukuRaika, I will join.

RaikaHuh!? Shizuku, you eat that much too!?

Shizuku? I mean the family.

Yomogi、ChieriHuh~~~!?!?

ShizukuThere are so many things I don't know. Myself, my family... and this "family."

ShizukuSo I want to know about "family" first. And then, I want to be able to think about myself and my family.

ShizukuThat's what I want to do now.

RaikaShizuku...!

ShizukuEven with a reason like this, would you accept me as family?

Miku*Sigh*...

RaikaOf course!! We're all on your side, and we'll be your number one cheer squad!

RaikaBecause that's what "family" is!

RaikaRight? Miku.

MikuWe have to try hard~♪

Miku(Well, it's you who have to try hard.)

ShizukuThank you. Then...

RaikaShizuku? Why did you stand up?

ShizukuEveryone, I am Shizuku Shinomiya. Please take good care of me from now on.

YomogiSh-She bowed like a princess...!!

ChieriCh-Chieri can bow gracefully too, you know!

RaikaPlease take good care of us too, Shizuku!

MikuShizuku-chan, you probably shouldn't say that outside~ People could get the wrong idea.

Miku(Even her nanny didn't mean to marry her off to a place like this, right?)

ShizukuIs that so...? I see. I'll be more careful from now on.

ChieriMore importantly, Shizuku, please think this through carefully once more. Are you joining the family, or the Chieri Union?

ShizukuUm... I'm not allowed to belong to both?

ChieriNo, you're not! Now, please make your choice!

RaikaShizuku has already chosen family, right~?

ShizukuMaybe I should take more time to think this through...

The Next Day - Break Time

MikuYes, yes... If transferring dorms is difficult, could you recommend a boarding house or something...

MikuNo... there's no problem with the room. It's just... the cohabitants...

MikuYes... It's my fault that I made the decision in a hurry.

MikuThank you very much. I'm sorry to trouble you, but I'd appreciate your help.

Miku(Okay, I've contacted the real estate agent. Next is...)

Mother

MotherMiku-chan, are you eating properly? Have you gotten along with the other girls in the dorm?

Miku...

ClassmateMiku-chan, time to move~

MikuYeah, I'm coming~

After School

MikuGood work~

Miku(The soonest I could move would be around summer vacation...)

Mother

MotherMiku-chan, are you eating properly? Have you gotten along with the other girls in the dorm?

MotherWill you be able to come home during summer vacation? I'm looking forward to hearing all about what you've been up to, Miku-chan.

Miku(If she knows my current situation, I might get brought back before summer vacation...)

Miku*Sigh*...

ShizukuMiku?

MikuWhoa!? Oh, Shizuku-chan...

ShizukuYou look tired. What happened?

MikuNothing. Hey, Shizuku-chan, that T-shirt really suits you~

ShizukuThank you. Raika dressed me in it.

MikuDressed you in it?

ShizukuThis is my first time wearing this kind of clothes, so I had no idea how to put it on. I tried it once, and then Raika told me I had it on backwards.

ShizukuI was also taught that changing clothes is something you do alone. The world is vast, isn't it, Miku?

MikuYeah~

Miku(Her nanny even helped her change clothes... Classic princess household...)

ChieriNewcomer Shizuku, you were here!

ChieriCome with me! I'll show you how Chieri works!

ShizukuI'd love to go and see, but Raika told me to wait here.

MikuSpeaking of which, where is Raika-chan?

ShizukuThere was a visitor. She said she'd come back after dealing with—

The woman in a suitAs I said, let's talk properly one more time!

RaikaWe're finished talking~! Now go on, leave!

ShizukuIt seems she's still dealing with that.

MikuHey, that person... She was also here the day I moved into this dorm...

ChieriHehe, you newcomers wouldn't know. That person is Suzuki-san, and she is Raika's father's subordinate.

MikuHuh... So Raika-chan's father works for a music company.

ChieriHe is not just any employee. I heard that Raika's father is the company president!

ChieriHow's that for Chieri's knowledge!

ShizukuAmazing! Cherie, you know everything!

ChieriYes, Chieri is amazing! You can respect me more!

SuzukiPlease face reality. No matter how you look at it, this is in the red, red!

SuzukiThen wouldn't it be safer to entrust it to your father's company?

RaikaEntrust~? You said you would tear down the live house, didn't you!

SuzukiY-Yes... We will renovate it into a studio, but the spirit of the live house will be passed on, you know...!

RaikaAn idol project studio and a live house, aren't their spirits fundamentally different~?

SuzukiThat... that may be true, but...!

RaikaIn the first place, entrusting it to Dad doesn't even make sense!

RaikaThis is our "home." And originally, it was Granny's live house!

SuzukiShe is your grandmother on your mother's side, right? I heard that from the president.

SuzukiAnd your grandmother also said she would go along with whatever you decide, Raika-san.

RaikaSo, I'm saying I won't give up our "home." Isn't that enough?

RaikaIf you keep bothering me, I'll call the police! Police~!

SuzukiP-Please wait! Actually, um... Oh, right.

SuzukiThe president is worried about you, Raika-san. He said his daughter is trapped by a live house in the red.

RaikaHuh?

SuzukiAnd he said that if you are in trouble, as the president and as your father, he wants to help you.

RaikaDad isn't that kind of person.

SuzukiHuh?

RaikaI don't think he has ever wondered if I'm in trouble. Dad's catchphrase is, "I don't get you at all."

RaikaMy voice has never reached Dad, not even once.

Miku、Chieri、Shizuku...

Miku(That girl... I guess she's not hopelessly naive about her family after all.)

RaikaSo Suzuki-san, what you said just now was a lie! Too bad~ I'm not falling for it!

SuzukiSeriously... you are really good at making that annoying look...!

RaikaYou don't want to see this face anymore, right~? So you'd better not come again, okay~?

SuzukiYeah, I don't want to see that... But I will come again! Until I get this live house!

RaikaSo persistent...!!

SuzukiSay whatever you want. A shabby and empty place in the red like this, I know how to use it smarter than you do~

RaikaWhat'd you say~? You've never even seen a single "Nest" live!

SuzukiNo, I've not. Because it's not necessary.

RaikaIt's definitely necessary! You can only understand the charm of a live house in a live show!

RaikaSo please come see tomorrow's regular live! Once you see it, you won't be able to say you want to tear this place down!

SuzukiHuh... I don't think it will make any difference even if I watch it, though.

RaikaYou'll change your mind, definitely.

RaikaNo, I'll change your mind! With our family's live performance!!

Miku、ChieriHuh...?