Raika

Alright, I'm putting her down...! Here we go.

??? (Shizuku)

Um...

Yomogi

S-So we put her on the sofa, what do we do next...!?

Chieri

Raika, you said you would help her. You must have a plan, right!?

Raika

That's... Let's think together!

Yomogi・Chieri

What...!!

Chieri

What are we gonna do!! We must do something immediately!

Miku

(What must be done first is...)

Miku

(1. Resolve the immediate trouble as soon as possible. 2. Resume the property search.)

Miku

(3. Leave this dorm and reset my living environment. Okay...)

Miku

Everyone. Could you quiet down a bit?

Miku

Her breathing... yeah, she's fine. Then next, let's take her temperature.

Yomogi・Raika・Chieri

...

Yomogi

Wha-What do I do... She's a stranger... My heart is starting to ache...!

Chieri

What are you saying in an emergency like this...!?

Yomogi

Even in an emergency, she's still someone we've never met...!

Raika

The thermometer beeped! Miku, how's it!?

Miku

It doesn't look like she has a fever. And the injuries seem to be just minor scrapes.

Yomogi・Raika・Chieri

*Sigh*...

Chieri

W-Well, Chieri could tell that much too.

Raika

Liar~! You were flustered right there with me, weren't you~!

Chieri

Raika, you're the one who was all talk, and you had no plan at all!

Raika

Oh, sorry about that!

??? (Shizuku)

Umm... Where am I...?

Miku

Oh... she woke up...!

??? (Shizuku)

Wa...

Raika

Wha-What!? Pardon me!

??? (Shizuku)

Wa... water...

Raika

Water, she said water!!

Yomogi

H-Her stomach! Her stomach is growling too!!

Chieri

Then Chieri will go get all the prepared dishes available!

Raika

Then I'll cook up all the rice we've got~~!

Miku

Everyone, stop!

Yomogi・Raika・Chieri

!!

Miku

She's not fully recovered, so she can't just eat regular food now. And I think there are things to do before that.

Raika

Things to do?

Miku

Yomogi-san, get the first aid kit. Raika-chan, get towels and hot water ready.

Miku

Chieri-chan, get some water ready. And if there's a blanket, give it to her.

Yomogi・Raika

Ye... Yes...! Understood!

Chieri

Hehe, only Chieri gets two missions...! Okay, leave it to me!!

Miku

Hey, can you say your name?

??? (Shizuku)

Shi... zuku...

Miku

Shizuku-chan, do you think you can eat some porridge?

Shizuku

Hm...

Miku

Okay, then we'll prepare it.

Shizuku

*Munch*... *Chew*...

Raika

That's good...! Eat a lot and get better soon...!

Shizuku

*Chew*... *Swallow*. Phew...

Shizuku

I'm saved. Sorry for putting you through all this trouble.

Raika

Wow, she talked! She talked, Miku!

Miku

Shizuku-chan, do you know who you are?

Shizuku

Um... My name is Shizuku Shinomiya. I'm a second-year student at Tsukinomori Girls' Academy, Middle School.

Raika

Tsukinomori!? You're a super rich girl~!

Shizuku

Is that so...?

Chieri

Chieri is more amazing than a super rich girl! Chieri has never collapsed on the roadside!

Shizuku

This is my first time too, so I'm also surprised.

Raika

Do you remember what happened when you collapsed?

Shizuku

I don't know. I was just walking.

Shizuku

Before long, my stomach made these strange noises, my vision went completely black. Next thing I knew, I was here.

Yomogi

Strange noises...? Wait, you didn't even notice you were hungry...!?

Miku

But I'm glad you're getting better~ Do you think you can get home from here?

Shizuku

I don't know...

Miku

What do you mean...?

Shizuku

I don't know this town. I have no idea how to get home.

Huh...!?

Miku

Then how did you come here?

Shizuku

I left home, got in a car, was dropped off in an unfamiliar town... And now here I am.

Raika

You were with someone together in the car, right!?

Shizuku

Nanny was there, who took care of me. Normally she would always accompany me wherever I went, but...

Shizuku

Suddenly, Nanny said this is as far as I go, handed me an envelope, and then dropped me off.

Chieri

What's up with that...! Shizuku's subordinate is so cold-hearted!

Shizuku

That's not true. Nanny only ever does what's best for me.

Yomogi

Then, why would she do that...

Shizuku

Nanny said, "You have to leave your family."

Shizuku

And, "There are things you need to learn in the outside world."

Raika

Huh, what does that mean...!?

Shizuku

I don't know the details. But Nanny said that my mother and big sis had an argument, so I should leave this house.

Chieri

So it was just a fight? That's no reason to be kicked out!

Raika

But, no matter what the reason is, you can't just kick your family out!

Raika

You have to complain to your mother and others!

Shizuku

Complain... Why?

Raika

Huh? Because you're in big trouble due to your mother and big sister, right!?

Shizuku

Is that so...?

Raika

Of course! That's totally not a peaceful family...! Shizuku, aren't you sad? Or angry?

Shizuku

Sad... angry...

Shizuku

I don't know.

Raika

Huh...

Shizuku

Why my mother and big sis had an argument, why I have to leave home, what do I think about that...

Shizuku

My family, myself... I guess I never really thought about these.

Raika

...

Miku

(Her family's a mess, but she's a mess too. She doesn't even realize her own situation...)

Miku

Shizuku-chan... What about the envelope you mentioned?

Shizuku

Oh, there was a letter from big sis, and some other stuff. I think it's in my pocket...

Shizuku

There it is. Here.

Miku

Let me see... A letter and... huh, ten-thousand-yen bills...!?

Raika

Miku, what does the letter say?

Miku

Um... "Shizuku, you can live in a much wider world. Don't end up like me"...?

...

Chieri

Chieri knows what this is. This is a case!!

Yomogi

We should call the p-p-police...!

Raika

The police!? But Shizuku didn't do anything wrong!

Yomogi

I meant like, a lost-child report or something...!

Miku

Yeah, that would probably help resolve it faster...

Shizuku

Sorry. Could you please refrain from calling the police?

Yomogi

Huh!? Would that be problematic for you?

Shizuku

Yes. I'm worried that might get Nanny in trouble. If they find out she left me alone out here, she'll lose her job.

Shizuku

More importantly, it's Nanny's words... "There are things you need to learn in the outside world."

Shizuku

I don't know what it means, but I can't go home until I learn it.

Shizuku

Because that was the first time I'd ever seen Nanny speak with that look on her face.

Chieri

I understand the feeling of wanting to protect your subordinate. But you don't even know what you're supposed to learn, do you?

Shizuku

...

Raika

That's obvious!

Raika

Shizuku needs to learn what family love is!!

Shizuku

...!

Yomogi

The weird family theory, even here...!?

Raika

While I was listening to Shizuku's story, I felt a little lonely somehow.

Raika

I think "never thought about those things" is probably the opposite of love.

Raika

Shizuku, I want you to love the important people you live with, and also love yourself. And I want you to laugh from the bottom of your heart.

Raika

So, Shizuku, come live with us! Starting today, we're a family of five!

Shizuku

Huh?

Chieri・Yomogi

Huh~~~~!?

Yomogi

We're already getting another newcomer!? Even though Miku-san has just come here!?

Chieri

That's unfair, Raika! Shizuku might be joining the Chieri Union, you know!

Shizuku

Family...? You don't seem to have a blood connection...

Raika

If we sleep at the same home, eat together, and play in a band, we will become a family!

Raika

Just as Granny taught me, I want to teach it to you, Shizuku.

Raika

That as long as you've got a family full of love and peace, life's the best!

Shizuku

...

Miku

(Geez... She thinks she's saying something good, but she knows nothing.)

Miku

(For a child, to meddle in someone else's family matters is way too irresponsible.)

Miku

(Not that I needed to be the one to say it, though.)

Miku

(Furthermore, she's gonna teach about "family?" What could someone who pushes her own twisted view of family possibly teach?)

Miku

(And... she "never thought about" the fact that there are people who suffer from family.)

Miku

(Not that I needed to be the one to say it, though.)

Shizuku

Um, who are you...?

Raika

I'm Raika! From the left, Miku, Cherie, and Yomogi. They're all my family.

Shizuku

Thank you, Raika and your family. About your offer just now, could I have some time to think it over?

Shizuku

I want to think it through properly before I give you my answer.

Raika

Okay, got it! For now, why don't you just stay the night?

Shizuku

I'm sorry for everything.

Raika

Shizuku, at times like this, you should say "thank you," not "I'm sorry!"

Shizuku

I guess you're right. Then... thank you.

Raika

Yeah, you're welcome!

Chieri

I guess we've got no choice. I'll grant the newcomer, Shizuku, the right to use Chieri's blanket for one night!

Chieri

How's that? You're starting to feel grateful, aren't you!

Yomogi

Ugh... Spending the night with a new person without any warning... My heart...!!

Miku

(This has nothing to do with me. I'm leaving here anyway.)