Haru & Midori ch7

p1
>While being surrounded by past memories, we'll weave new ones.

p2
>It's done!

>Haru-chan.
>I've finished assembling the shelf over here.
>Thanks.

>Alright, let's just stick some random textbooks in there.

p3
>...What are you smirking about?
>I-
>It's nothing.

>...Ah.

>I think it's a delivery!
>Eh?
>You ordered something again?

>I don't need that much
>Okay~
>I'm coming~
>stuff...

>She's not listening...

p4
>...

>Hang on.

p5
>Sorry to have
>kept you wai-...

>ting...

>...Long time no see.
>You're looking well.

p6
>Midori.

>W-
>W-
>Wait a sec!

>Oh my~
>You're actually keeping things tidy here.
>Hey, wait!

p7
>Midori-san.
>Do we have a visito-...
>I said wait!

>Mom!

>...It's a spitting image...

p8
>My~
>What a cute young lady!

>She's like a doll.
>Hey, Midori.
>Mom.
>You're scaring her...
>Ah.
>That's right. Here's a souvenir.
>Mom!

>...They really

>look alike~...

p9
>It's nice to meet you.

>I'm Midori's mother, Youko.
>Ah.
>I'm Tachibana Haruko.

>Sorry for showing up so suddenly.
>I just happened to have business in this area.
>...

>I just really wanted to see Haruko-san...
>I wonder if I surprised you.

p10
>...It's fine.
>I'm glad to meet you too,
>Youko-san.

>Oh my

>Hey, hey.
>She's a nice polite girl, isn't she?

>She's 14, right?
>She's really well behaved...
>...Hey.

>Why did you come here
>so suddenly...?

p11
>What gives.
>I'm the one who should be upset here.

>Just when I was thinking it was unusual for you to call me
>you tell me that you're taking in your friend's daughter...
>You didn't even send me a letter.

>You haven't visited home either.
>I was looking forwarded to meeting that girl, so I waited.
>Meet her.

>You can't just think about Haru-chan
>so simply...
>Oh? Why not?

p12
>I mean
>you're practically family now, right?

>...F-...

>Family...
>you say...

>...You always
>overthink things by yourself.

p13
>So Haru-chan makes dinner?

>I'm pretty good at it.
>And it's dangerous for Midori-san.
>That's right. That girl is pretty bad at cooking.

>Ah.
>I have just the thing.

>I got these from my neighbor.
>Wah!
>So many veggies.

>That must've been heavy.
>It's fine.

p14
>...What's this?
>Ah, those are leftovers...

>Ah.
>This brings back memories...

>Yep.
>It's Midori's favorite.
>...Heh.

>I'm sure I've told you how to make them
>but you probably can't, can you?
>Ugh
>I at least tried once...
>...Looks delicious...

>...I know.

p15
>How about I
>teach you this recipe, Haruko-chan?

>Ah
>I want to know.
>Please teach me.
>Wah.
>Gladly!

>So with that said,
>please go on an errand for us, Midori.
>Eh?
>We might need more ingredients.
>Let me write you up a shopping list.
>No.
>Wait...

>...
>Why...?

p16
>That's it.
>That's as much salt as you need.

>You're really good at this.
>Not at all.

>...Hm?
>Ah
>I-
>It's nothing.

p17
>This feels kinda nostalgic.

>Long ago,
>Midori made a bento with me.

>She said "I want to give it to a friend"...

>Well, I did end up making pretty much the whole thing, though.

>...Now that I think about it,
>she must've been talking about Tsugumi-san.

p18
>...Bento...

>I'll make one.

>...So that's what it was.

>...Hey, Youko-san.
>Did you...
>...ever meet Mom...

>...No.
>But I heard a lot about her.

p19
>That girl
>rarely talks about herself.

>She always takes on everything herself
>saying she'll be okay on her own...

>Even though she clearly wasn't okay at all...

>...That's the kind of girl she was.

>Hey wait! What's this all of a sudden...
>"...Sorry for being so impulsive."

p20
>"But...."

>"I've made my decision."

>I'm sure

>that she really
>loved Tsugumi-san.

p21
>You too.
>Eh?

>I mean, that Midori is so shy around strangers~
>I was kinda worried~

>...Is that so..?

>I'm home~...
>Oh, she's back already.

p22
>What gives?
>That was quicker than expected~
>Why do you look disappointed...
>I did rush there and back, though...

>Well then.
>Since Midori's back too
>I should take my leave.
>Eh!?

>Wait, what about the cooking? Or rather, what about the ingedients!?
>She sure is carefree...

>Oh right, I forgot to mention.

>Money.
>I can lend you as much as you need.


p23
>Eh?
>You don't need to give me any money...
>It's fine, it's fine.

>Knowing you
>you wouldn't bring yourself to use it anyway.

>But for the times you really need it
>I'm more than willing to help.

>It's better to have some money than none after all.

>...Thank you...

p24
>...Get along with each other.

>You too, Haruko-chan.

>Please take care
>of Midori.

p25
>...

>...That was quite the storm.
>...Yeah...

>But it was fun!

>Or rather, I was surprised by how young Youko-san looked.
>How old is she?
>Oh?
>I'm so glad~
>Hmm...
>I think she's at the appropriate age...

p26
>So
>about as old as my grandma, maybe?

>...Not that I've ever met her.

>You see, her parents...
>They could've at least visited her during her final moments...

p27
>... Midori-san, open wide.
>Heh?
>Hah

>...This flavor.
>She said "take care of Midori".

>Normally it'd be the other way around.


p28
>...Maybe next time
>I should visit my home.

>When that time comes,
>would you like to come along, Haru-chan?
>I'm sure my Mom will be pleased...

>...Sure.
>I'm looking forward to it!
>Achoo

>>It's good to have a place to return home to.