Chapter 111: Chapter 98: Will Definitely Happen in the Future (Requesting Monthly Tickets)_2

"Okay!" Rika Onodera nodded her little head vigorously, "When I get home, I'm going to store it carefully!!"

...

On the bus,

Reiko Onodera chatted with her daughter, who was curious about the scenery passing by outside the window.

Madam was also there, talking non-stop, and the two of them seemed like a mother and daughter heading out for a day of fun.

Unfortunately... that was not the case...

When they arrived at the station, there were still more than ten minutes until the train's departure, so Haruka Yuzan and Madam waited together in the lobby.

In fact, they could have boarded the bullet train by now, but the mother and daughter wanted to spend a few moments longer together.

Even now, the feeling between them was one of uncertainty and reluctance; the surrounding air seemed to grow thick and made it hard to breathe.

Haruka Yuzan felt a tinge of sorrow at this scene.

"It's time to go," Mariko Akiyama said, glancing at the time, which showed only six or seven minutes left.

"Come by and visit mom again when you have the chance..."

Reiko Onodera took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions, and squeezed out a smile as she reached out to touch her daughter's cheek.

"Okay..." Rika Onodera was already choking up, her big eyes reddening, tears forming at the corners.

Understandingly, the little girl rubbed her eyes, wiping away the tears, and nodded firmly, "Okay! Mom, I'll wait for you to pick me up..."

"Okay..."

This time, it really was goodbye, and who knew when they would see each other next.

As she watched the little one take a step and look back three times, Reiko Onodera really wanted to keep her there, but... it just wasn't possible...

It wasn't until her little figure disappeared from sight that Madam finally let go of her covered mouth, her sobs audible and her eyes already misty with tears...

Misaki Saki smacked her own forehead and then scampered up the stairs with rapid little steps, "thump thump thump."

At this moment, Reiko Onodera emerged from the kitchen, looking curiously at the girl's retreating figure,

"Is Misaki heading up to paint so early today?"

Knowing that the girl was a manga artist, they were used to her going back to her room to work after everyone was about to sleep.

It was unexpected that she went up so early today, but it was understandable. After all, for an artist, inspiration could strike at any time.

Haruka Yuzan shook his head with a smile, choosing not to reveal that the girl was going upstairs to get a birthday gift for Madam.

"Sister Reiko, are you taking the day off tomorrow?"

He recalled how Madam had taken half the day off this afternoon and wondered if she would continue to rest or go back to her regular shift tomorrow.

"Yes, I'll go to work tomorrow," Reiko Onodera replied with a smile, "Thanks to Hoshina, she was supposed to have the afternoon off."

Their shift swaps were quite flexible, four days per month, and as long as they arranged it amongst themselves, the convenience store always had plenty of staff.

This afternoon, Arisugawa Hoshina had planned to take time off, but took over Madam's shift so she could attend to her matters, deciding to take another day off instead.

Suddenly, the phone rang,

Reiko Onodera sat on the couch and seeing the number on the screen, her eyes lit up with delight,

The video call connected, and Rika Onodera's cute little face appeared on the screen.

Earlier in the evening, Madam had already spoken with Mariko Akiyama on the phone, assured that she had made it home safely.

But Rika Onodera had fallen asleep on the roadside, drowsy when she woke up, and upon arriving home, she had pulled out the painting Misaki Saki gave her, and then immediately dozed off again.

Now it seemed she had just recently awakened.

Haruka lowered the TV volume a bit, stroked the roast meat in his lap, and glanced at the young miss not too far away,

The copy of "Being and Nothingness" in his hand was almost finished—it was just uncertain whether the young miss would ever read it a second time.