As night fell, Fushimi Roku sat beside her and asked, "What are you watching?"

"Nothing much," Minamoto Tamako replied with a smile, "Just suddenly realized that, after being in Tokyo for so long, I've never been as happy as today."

Fushimi Roku wasn't happy at all, he was dirty and felt exhausted, unable to empathize with Minamoto Tamako. But this time, he rarely didn't dampen the mood and instead let out a "hmm," gazing at the rising moon over the sea.

Minamoto Tamako began to chatter away:

"I saw the weather forecast. Tomorrow will also be sunny. Got to get up early to hang the duvets from the cabinet out in the yard to dry..."

"When paying the electricity bill tomorrow morning, might as well get some daily necessities from town, like slippers, towels, basins..."

"For lunch, are you planning to eat out or cook yourself? If you're eating out, I can recommend a little place, but I'm not sure if the owner has moved..."

...

Fushimi Roku's tired heart gradually relaxed.

He listened quietly, occasionally responding with a sound or two. Minamoto Tamako spoke for a full half hour until Taira Sakurako impatiently asked when they could return to the guesthouse for dinner, jolting her back to reality. She asked somewhat sheepishly, "You're not annoyed by me, are you?"

"No, even in police school I didn't find you annoying, I definitely wouldn't now," Fushimi Roku said.

Minamoto Tamako remembered how back in the police school cafeteria, she would complain to Kawai, feeling that Fushimi might find her annoying, which could be why he kept avoiding her.

She felt inexplicably moved and a bit reassured, just about to lean on Fushimi's shoulder to enjoy this peaceful happiness when Taira Sakurako urged once more:

"Aren't you guys hungry? Does being in love fill your stomachs?"

Minamoto Tamako blushingly stood up to tidy the gloves and cleaning tools; Fushimi Roku turned to glare at Taira Sakurako, muttering, "What's the rush? A little delay won't starve you."

"I'm going to report you for child abuse."

Taira Sakurako had mastered using the tools of law.

Fushimi Roku, as the first victim, instead smiled and waved her over, his expression one of a 'great teacher with a worthy student,' saying, "Have you memorized the child-related laws? Come, let me quiz you..."

Taira Sakurako approached and was about to speak when she saw Fushimi Roku's fingers transform into a Buddha-like pinching pose, flicking at her forehead!

She yelped, her head snapping back as she took the impact of the forehead flick solidly.

Fushimi Roku's gratified smile vanished, only leaving behind the Evil Lord's cold sneer: "Brat really deserves a spanking, it's true what they say about kids being annoying around seven or eight years old."

Taira Sakurako was very displeased, covering her forehead with a blank expression, she ran off to complain to Minamoto Tamako.

Minamoto Tamako finished tidying up, locked the doors and windows, and left with Fushimi Roku and others, walking along the coastal path back to the guesthouse.

Upon hearing Taira Sakurako's complaint, she first looked closely at Sakurako's forehead, relieved that it wasn't swollen, red, or broken, and then somewhat mildly criticized Fushimi Roku:

"Apologize quickly, and no more flicking Sakurako's forehead next time."

Fushimi Roku walked with his hands clasped behind his head, not mimicking the gait of the famous detective Conan, but scratching his back: "She was the one who threatened to report me for child abuse first."

Minamoto Tamako casually asked, "Really, why?"

Fushimi Roku said: "Because I delayed her dinner, so she holds a grudge — such a headstrong kid, she has no understanding of adults' hard work." He shook his head as he spoke, wearing an expression of a father lamenting an ungrateful child: "In my day, we didn't have such conditions! Let alone eating dinner on time, having a hot meal at all was a luxury!"

Finishing, he suddenly realized.

Ah, have I reached the age where I start saying 'we didn't have such conditions back then'?

Maybe not, perhaps it's just having reached the condition to say it.

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