Whoa, whoa, whoa-

The banknotes are flipped at the fingertips.

One by one, it makes a moving sound.

Fifteen thousand-yen bills, or 15,000 yen.

After counting, Starfish stuffed the bills back into her purse, the reward for her hard work yesterday and the day before yesterday.

Although he emphasized that the reward for the day before yesterday should be 5,000 yen, when the money was given, it was still calculated as 6,000 yen.

15,000 yen......

It's so casual.

Starfish can't imagine what it would be like to settle someone's salary.

After a moment's pause, she slipped her purse back into the pocket of her clothes hanging on the wall, rolled over, and continued to lie on the bed.

Although it was already past nine o'clock in the morning, it was winter vacation, and there was nothing like yesterday, so she would rather sleep a little longer.

After lying down for more than ten minutes, there was a sound of footsteps on the stairs, followed by the voice of his father, Seiichiro Maki:

"Starfish, are you awake?"

She stared at her phone, "Awake." ”

"Mr. Sekine from Oda Tong's store wants a few bottles of wine, and I'll deliver them before noon."

Don't want to get up......

Just thinking of the "debt" on his back, Starfish still responded.

"I see."

After two more sentences, Seiichiro went downstairs first.

Looking out the window at the gray sky, Starfish put down her phone and sat up.

Today is December 30th, the penultimate day of the year.

After getting up and washing up and eating something casually, the starfish put on the green coarse cloth apron and adjusted it a little.

I glanced down, and the part on my chest was too flat, so that it didn't affect others from reading the order line above.

“……”

Putting away the sad thoughts that popped up suddenly, Starfish pushed the bike outside and returned to get the wine.

There were four bottles of sake in total, and they were to be delivered to a regular customer's house at Oda Tong's store, which was not close, but not too far, and passed by Morimi's house on the way.

"Be careful on the road." After confirming that the wine box was fixed, Seiichiro confessed again.

"Got it."

The road was covered with snow, and the starfish could only push the cart, and before leaving, they looked at the bookstore diagonally opposite.

Is Kazuha over here, or at home?

After two glances, she pushed the cart away.

Along the county road, she carefully held the car, but also paid attention to the ground, although four bottles of wine did not weigh much, but a small accident was also troublesome.

Pushing all the way, turning at the intersection, before reaching Morimi's house, Starfish saw a familiar figure walking towards this side from a distance.

She pushed her glasses and narrowed her eyes.

After walking a little further, she could be sure that the person who was coming over there was a leaf.

She noticed her too, and both of them quickened their pace slightly.

"Starfish—"

"One leaf."

Morimi stopped in front of her and glanced at the wine box in the back seat of the bike, "Where are you going to send it?" ”

"Over there at the Oda Tong store." Starfish said.

"It's a little farther away."

"It's alright."

Morimi smiled at her, "Be careful on the road. ”

"Hmm...... Are you going to a bookstore? ”

"Pretty much." Morimi said, "Naruse said that there was something to do with me. ”

"Huh?" Starfish was stunned.

"I'll tell you later." Morimi smiled at her again, "I'm over." ”

"Ahh

The two separated on the side of the road and walked in opposite directions.

After pushing forward for a while, the starfish glanced back, and Yiye had walked far without stopping.

"Walk so fast......"

She muttered and moved on.

"What is he looking for a leaf for?"

Images from her trip to the hot springs a few days ago flashed in her mind for no apparent reason, and she shook her head again, shaking off distractions.

"Get the wine there early, go back early."

With the thought that maybe he would catch up with something when he returned, Starfish took a deep breath and quickened his pace.

After passing by the Morimi house, walking across the Aoyagi Bridge, and passing under the almost abandoned Hinano Shrine, and pushing forward for another five or six minutes, she finally saw the Oda Tong shop on the side of the road, and Mr. Sekine's house, where he ordered sake.

"Is anyone home—the real wood hotel has brought the sake—"

"Here we are."

After delivering the wine, charging for the wine and home delivery, Starfish turned the car around and walked back.

After pushing for a while, seeing that the road ahead was relatively flat, she stepped on the bicycle again.

"I might be able to ride this section over......"

The wheels were running over the snow, and the front of the car was wobbly and unsteady, but she didn't fall after all.

After riding fearfully for a while, he rode across the Aoyagi Bridge, and when he saw a small truck coming in front of him, Starfish got off the car and continued to push.

"Starfish!"

The driver was still an acquaintance who often bought alcohol at her house, and when she passed by, she lowered the window and said hello.

Is it Mr. Yamada or Mr. Yamamoto?

The starfish couldn't remember, so he could only lower his head and respond simply, "You're ......"

"I just saw your little boyfriend chatting with the daughter of the Morimi family, so be careful."

“…… What a boyfriend! ”

Mr. Yamada or Mr. Yamamoto laughed, stepped on the accelerator, and drove away after making a rumor.

After turning his head to look at it for a while, Starfish also stepped back on his bicycle and rode home.

Although there was a voice in her heart that kept urging, she didn't dare to ride too fast, even though there was no alcohol behind her, and it didn't hurt much if she fell on the snow.

She still stopped when she was about to turn, which is the time when she is most likely to slip. The rest of the way, she pushed back.

"Coming back so soon?"

Seeing his daughter stop at the door, Seiichiro Maki was a little surprised and greeted her.

"Well, it's delivered." Starfish gave him the money, and before he had time to take off his apron, he ran straight to the bookstore on the other side of the road.

“…… Is this your idea? ”

"Half and half."

"What do you mean?"

"It's my mom...... Starfish? Seeing the starfish that appeared outside the bookstore, Naruse was slightly stunned.

"Coming back so soon?" Morimi looked back and was also surprised.

"Hmmm......"

Starfish suddenly realized that he was acting a little anxious, and only after the rapid breathing had calmed down a little did he pretend to ask casually, "What are you doing?" ”

The two glanced at each other.

"Nothing." Naruse said, "I'll talk to Morimi about something. ”

"Oh......"

The two were obviously discussing something they couldn't tell her, and Starfish didn't know how to ask.

"In short......"

Naruse looked at Morimi again, "That's all I have to say, no problem, right?" ”

She nodded, "Then you still have to go out in the afternoon?" ”

"Hmm. Do you want to come along? ”

"Hmm...... Okay, too. ”

Hung aside by the two, Starfish didn't care too much, she wanted to know what they were discussing.

However, this is the end of the conversation between the two.

"I'll see you in the afternoon, I'll go back first."

"Hmm."

Saying goodbye to Morimi, Naruse looked at the starfish again, "I'm going back." ”

She looked at him, holding the hem of her apron in her hand.

“…… Oh. ”

(End of chapter)