Kireizaki

❖ 4 ❖ “This is your home then, Ren Sasahara?” Kagura asked, the group walking up the small path that led to the front door of a house that even Ren would have called modest, but which was still home nonetheless. “Sure is. Was my grandma’s place, then after she passed my folks moved here from Tokyo. When they headed back a few years ago, sis and I stayed behind, so it’s been just the two of us for a spell. And, of course, Nina comes round a lot.” “It’s really cozy! Ehehe, it’s basically my second home!” “Hopefully it’ll be to your likin’, too, Kagura.&#

❖ 3 ❖ “This place is huuuuuuuge!” Nina shouted, loud enough to startle the birds out of the nearby trees. They hadn’t even gone inside, but the gates to the Zaizenji’s Kyushu manor were already an imposing sight. The manor had been a part of the town for as long as Ren could remember, but nobody ever seemed to know who, if anyone, lived inside. While it was reassuring to now have an answer, she still couldn’t believe that a place so mind-bogglingly large housed just a single occupant. It was staggeringly opulent, the kind of western-style manor you’d only ever see in period dramas. It was easy

❖ 2 ❖ “Mornin’ Ren! Aki’s already headed in, huh?” “Yep, she’s a real tyrant, don’tcha think? Leavin’ the two of us to walk while she drives off all nice ‘n comfy,” Ren wore a half-smile as she locked the front door behind her, before setting off to school with Nina. “Well, she’s riding a scooter. Not a ton of room left for us when you get down to it.” “Could get a pair of sidecars.” “Ehehe, might as well just get a car at that point.” “She could even get us our own scooters. We can start our own gang,” Ren offered.

❖ 1 ❖ Ren Sasahara set her school bag down at the side of the gashapon vending machine, peering over its contents intently. “Ya heard of these ‘Gourmet Otters,' Nina?” she asked her best friend, stroking her chin. “Can’t say I have! They’re really cute though!” Nina Collins grinned, taking a peek at the poster on the side of the machine. “I really like the one with the burger! Ooh, and the sweetie with a little bowl of ramen, too!” “First ones I get of those two’re all yers, then,” Ren half-smiled, inserting a coin into the slot and turning the dial. “