Caro’s Return Home

After finishing the cleanup from the farewell party, we returned home. Rachel-san had already gone back to her own room above the shop. It seemed she wasn’t going to use the bath at my house today, opting instead for a shower in the facility on the second floor of the shop.

“Well then, my daughter and I will take our bath first.”

Having finished the preparations, Marie-san and Catherine headed into the bath first.

“Do you think I’ve caused Marie-san to be overly considerate?”

Caro-san asked, looking a bit worried.

“Since we won’t be able to spend nights like this together anymore, let’s just accept Marie-san’s kindness for today.”

“I understand. In that case, I shall do my best tonight… but before that, I will prepare some drinks.”

With that, Caro-san stepped into the kitchen.

“Kent-san, thank you for everything today. When I think about how we won’t be living together starting tomorrow, I really do feel lonely.”

Caro-san, who had returned to the living room with the drinks, sat down snugly right next to me on the sofa.

“It was a short period of just over a month, but it was a very precious time for me. I am so grateful to you for taking me in when I had nowhere to go—not just for providing food, clothing, and shelter, but for giving me a level of comfort beyond anything I had ever known. And also, for the fact that I was able to meet you, Kent-san…”

Saying this, Caro-san kissed me. It was a long, mature kiss. I responded to it, and our tongues intertwined.

“Oh my, it looks like I’ve interrupted something.”

Startled by the sudden voice, Caro-san and I pulled apart. Marie-san had come into the living room wrapped in a single bath towel.

“I am grateful to Caro-chan as well, you know.”

Marie-san said this and kissed Caro-san. Caro-san responded to her in kind.

“And of course, I’m grateful to Kent-san too.”

Next, Marie-san kissed me as well.

“Now, you two, please go take your bath.”

Marie-san spoke with a motherly tone, ushering Caro-san and me toward the bathroom.

We stripped down and started by washing each other in the bathroom before soaking in the tub.

“Kent-san.”

“Caro-san.”

Without either of us needing to start it, we kissed naturally. Once we were sufficiently warmed up, we left the bathroom and headed to my room. For tonight, Marie-san and Catherine were going to sleep in Caro-san’s room, while Caro-san and I would sleep in mine. This, too, was naturally Marie-san’s consideration.

“I won’t let you sleep tonight!”

With those words, Caro-san took off her jersey and underwear. I followed suit, removing my own jersey and underwear.

“As expected, it’s getting tough in this room without an air conditioner.”

“Now that I’ve grown used to the air conditioning, I’m worried about whether I’ll be able to endure the heat when I return to my own home.”

With summer approaching, the hot days were becoming more frequent. At my house, air conditioners were installed in only two places: Caro-san’s room and the living room. There wasn’t one in my room. Since I had enough money on hand to install one, I thought the time had finally come to seriously consider it.

“When that time comes, just call me and I’ll go install an air conditioner for you anytime.”

“Thank you, Kent-san!”

If Caro-san requested it, I was fully prepared to go to her house and install one whenever she liked.

“Since I won’t be able to do this for a while, I’m going to act very spoiled with you today, Kent-san.”

Caro-san clung to me, and our long night began.

The next morning, while I was still feeling drowsy, I was woken up.

“Kent-san, it’s morning. Please wake up.”

Caro-san, lying beside me, woke me up gently.

“Good morning, Caro-san.”

“Good morning, Kent-san. If you don’t get up soon, the shop preparations will be delayed.”

“You’re right.”

I still felt a bit sleepy, but I decided to get up.

When I got ready and went to the living room, Marie-san was—unusually—preparing breakfast.

“Good morning, Marie-san.”

“Good morning, Marie-san.”

“Good morning, Kent-san, Caro-chan. It looks like you had quite a bit of fun last night.”

Ignoring Marie-san’s usual banter, Caro-san and I sat at the table where breakfast was laid out.

“Ah, Kent-san, Caro-oneechan, good morning! I’ll bring the drinks now.”

Catherine said this and went to the kitchen to fetch the drinks.

The four of us finished breakfast and headed out to prepare for the shop’s opening.

“Good morning, Emily-san, Rachel-san.”

“Oh? Are you working, Caro?”

Rachel-san asked.

“I thought I’d help out until the opening.”

Caro-san had to prepare for her return home, but it seemed she was going to help us during the busy pre-opening hours.

Once the preparations were finished, Caro-san spoke up.

“Everyone, thank you for taking care of me until now. I’ve had a wonderful experience. Thank you very much.”

Caro-san gave her greetings to everyone and then returned to my house.

After Caro-san left, things became incredibly busy. Everyone truly realized once again just how hard Caro-san had been working for us.

As the time for school approached, I decided to head back home for a moment.

“Caro-san, it’s almost time for school. How are the preparations coming along?”

“Ah, Kent-san. I didn’t have many belongings to begin with, so I’ve mostly just been cleaning the room.”

Her personal effects had been removed from the room and packed into a large sports bag I had provided, which was now sitting on the bed.

“I started staying here with only the clothes on my back, but before I knew it, my personal belongings had increased.”

Caro-san said this while looking at the bulging sports bag. When she first came here, she had nothing but the school uniform she was wearing. Everything else was stuff I had prepared or given her as gifts.

“Also, I have to return this to you…”

I said as I handed a bag of money to Caro-san.

“What is this?” Caro-san asked, wondering why I was giving her money now.

“Well, first, this is the money I received from Josette-san as your ‘preparation funds.’ I ended up using quite a bit of it, but I’m returning the remainder. And this other part is the wages for the work you did. When we first started living together, things were tight, so I gratefully used it, but once our life stabilized, there was no need to spend it anymore, so I kept it for you. It’s money you worked hard to earn, so I want you to take it.”

“It’s not… severance pay, is it?”

“No, I have no intention of breaking up with you.”

“Kent-san, when you say it so clearly, it’s a bit embarrassing.”

I explained to a worried Caro-san, who had been unsettled by the sudden gift of money.

“In that case, I shall accept it. I must also return the preparation funds to Lady Josette.”

Having regained her composure, Caro-san took the money.

“Caro, this is the last time we’ll be going to school together like this, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, Rachel. It’s lonely when you think about it that way.”

Kent, Caro, and Rachel headed toward school.

“Good morning, Kent-kun. Thanks for yesterday. Everyone in my family was so happy.”

“It was just leftovers, but I’m glad they enjoyed it.”

Patty-san, from the seat next to mine, spoke to me as soon as I sat down.

“When I was sent home in Josette-san’s carriage yesterday, it caused a huge uproar in the neighborhood. My mother got worried too…”

“That sounds rough. It’s supposedly her ‘everyday’ carriage, but it is quite magnificent.”

“That’s an everyday carriage…?”

I didn’t know the full details, but apparently, the carriage she usually takes to school or Marie’s Bakery is meant for general city travel. For formal visits, she supposedly uses an even higher-quality carriage bearing the Duke’s family crest. Patty-san listened to my explanation with a look of surprise.

When lunch break came, the usual four of us gathered behind the school building.

“I prepared lunch today.”

Caro-san, who was supposed to have been cleaning and preparing to leave at home, had prepared a magnificent lunch. Since the room had been sparkling clean, she must have spent a lot of time on it. I thought she wouldn’t have had time to cook, but she was just too capable.

The fun mealtime ended in a flash, and afternoon classes began. Usually, Patty-san in the next seat would be nodding off, but today she was taking the lesson seriously. During the break between afternoon classes, I decided to ask her about it.

“You seemed to be taking the lesson seriously today. What happened?”

“The way you put it makes it sound like I’m always sleeping… well, I won’t deny it! But for some reason, I feel the eyes of the male students on me today. It’s so distracting I can’t slee—I mean, I couldn’t settle down, so I was listening to the lesson seriously to distract myself.”

(Well, I think she just didn’t notice because she’s been sleeping since we switched to summer uniforms, but she’s been the center of attention for the boys in a different sense.)

I thought this to myself but didn’t say it out loud. However, since Patty-san had started wearing underwear since yesterday, their eyes shouldn’t have been drawn to her chest as much as before, so I found it strange. Looking around, it did seem like various male students were looking at her. In the end, class started before I could reach a conclusion.

Afternoon classes ended, and it was time to go home.

“Broth—I mean, Kent-san, shall we go home together?”

Perhaps her class ended a bit early, as Rachel-san entered the classroom just as the bell rang.

“Well then, let’s meet up with Caro-san and head back.”

“My direction is the same, so may I join you?”

Josette-san had already left and was no longer in the classroom. Kent, Rachel, and Patty headed toward Caro’s classroom.

“Huh? Caro-san isn’t here.”

“You’re right. Her bag is gone too, so maybe she went home ahead of us?”

We had come to Caro’s classroom, but she was already gone. With no other choice, the three of us decided to head home.

When I returned home, there was a note on the living room table.

It was a concisely written letter, perhaps because she lacked time. When I looked into Caro-san’s room, the sports bag that had been sitting on the bed was gone. She really had gone home.

Realizing she was gone, I began to recall everything that had happened during the month and a half we lived together, and tears naturally began to flow from my eyes.