A Warm Place

XXX The World Where You Live

"Hello."
"[Ah, Hinata!]"

When I press the call button on my cell phone, I can hear the merry voice of my always excessively cheerful mother. Her voice is so loud that it hurts my ear, so I hold my phone a bit farther away from my ear.

"[It's been a long time. How are you? Are you doing okay? Are you forcing yourself? Mom is really, really worried about you.]"
"Yup, but I... just left yesterday, remember?!"

Why is she making it sound like I've left for the capital or something? It's not like I left home to go independent or something. I'll be back next week, you know?

"[By the way, you're not making any trouble for Hiori-san, are you?]"
"Of course I'm not."

I can say for sure that I'm not making trouble for her. In fact, I think I'm reserving myself a bit too much in that regard. It's been tiring since our departure, and I expel a sigh, just from remembering it. Tsubaki suddenly disappeared midway, Hiori threw a tantrum, Tsubaki declared that all of us would sleep together in one bed for some reason, among other things. It's been fun in its own way, but to be honest, I'm getting tired.

"[My, you don't sound so energetic. Are you feeling homesick? Are you lonely because Mom isn't there? Gee, Hinata~ you're so cute like that!]"
"Not. Even. Close!!"
"[Fufu, no need to be shy.]"

Aaaah, geez! Why does she never listen to what I say to her! I beg you, please take my words more literally.

"[Hey, hey, hello, Onee-chan? I heard you're feeling homesick? ...pff, you're so lame!]"
"Eh? Saki?!"

This time, it's not Mother's voice, but my sister's. It seems that Mother really thinks that the reason I'm not feeling energetic is because of homesickness. Thinking that it will cheer up, she passes the phone to Saki. Urgh, she's worrying too much... even though I clearly said that I'm not homesick.

"[So, have you bought the souvenir that I asked?"
"Yup, sure did. I bought the local wooden sword, as you told me."
"[Break that thing in two and throw them away right this instant.]"

Whoaaa, scary, scary. She actually snapped at me when I was just joking with her. I always thought that it's the norm to buy wooden swords as souvenirs. Ah, but I guess that's for school trips.

"I'm joking, okay? I bought it. The exclusive cell phone strap from this area, right?"
"[Sheesh, don't tease me like that. Well, never mind, since you did buy it properly.]"
"Of course. And I bought the wooden sword, too, since I thought it would suit you, Saki."
"[...When you get home, I'll play with you with the wooden sword you bought me.]"

So scary-?!

I-I guess I bought something unnecessary. I was thinking that she might need it since she's been getting popular among the weirdest bunch. Hahaha, you've gotten Onee-chan scared to go home now.

"[Anyway, listen to this! That person's in our house right now, and she's so annoying! Hey, aah! She got the phone!]"
"......Aah, could it be?"
"[Hello, Hinata-chan?]"

The loud, squawking voice of my sister is replaced with Rumi's composed voice.

Because Saki has poor grades, Rumi has been coming to tutor that girl recently when she finds the time. I don't mind teaching Saki myself, but she once told me, 'The way you teach really sucks,' so I had no choice but to entrust it to Rumi. I can't help but respect her for going out of her way to teach that girl when she's already busy with her own work.

They don't seem to hit it off, though, with the way Saki always flares up at Rumi whenever they meet. It doesn't seem that girl actually hates Rumi... she could've tried to get along better.