Raika

—"Family shall be at peace!!"

Raika

Living under the same roof, eating together, and playing in a band.

Raika

That's what "family" is.

Raika

Grandma always said, "As long as you've got family, life's the best."

Raika

I've always believed that. As long as I have my family, I—

Raika

"Nest," I'm back!!

Raika

Whoa~ You guys are on fire today!

Raika

My family's doing great too! We had hot rice and a big bowl of hearty miso soup for breakfast—

Hey, Raika, is this gonna be another long story?

You better get started, or the regulars are gonna say you're talking too much again~

Raika

Ahaha, sorry! I just can't help talking about you guys!

Honestly... you really need to tone down the family bragging.

Aww~ that's just how she is! Come on, where does the essence of a family lie?

Raika

In the band!!

Raika

Now then... It's time to begin, my family.

Raika

Tonight, let's fill the air with love and peace!!

Raika

Ahaha! This is so much fun! You guys are having fun too, right!?

Raika

Let's keep this energy going all the way to the last song~~~!!

Hey, how long are you gonna keep messing around over there? Get over here and help clean up~

Raika

Aww...

Yomogi

*Peek*... *Peek*...

Yomogi

Okay... no sign of anyone on my people radar...! Now's my chance to make some tea...

Chieri

Yomogi! There you are!!

Yomogi

Gyaaaah! It appeared~~~~!!

Chieri

"It appeared"...? We were just working together!

Yomogi

P-Please don't talk to me... There's no one here~!

Chieri

Um... I, Chieri, am standing right in front of you! Look at me when I'm talking to you.

Yomogi

I-I can't! Too scary! Please spare me...!

Chieri

What a disobedient subordinate...! In that case—

Yomogi

Gyaaaaah! Don't look into my eyes! My heart feels like it's being twisted apart~~!

Chieri

H-Hey, Yomogi! Don't run away—

Raika

Cherie! Yomogi~~!! I told you to meet me at the stage after work~~!

Yomogi

Aaaah!?

Raika

Huh? Did something just hit the door...?

Raika

Huh!? Yomogi, why are you on the floor!?

Chieri

Raika, nice one! You stopped Yomogi for Chieri, didn't you?

Yomogi

Ugh... Why am I always so unlucky...

Raika

Huh? What's wrong? Are you hurt? Let me take a look!

Yomogi

Gyaaaah!! T-Too close! My heart's gonna jump right out of my chest!!

Raika

Y-Your heart...!? Oh no! We need to get you to a hospital, now!

Raika

Come on, Yomogi, hop on! I'll carry you piggyback!

Yomogi

Th-That's not what I meant~~!!

Chieri

You two have some nerve, ignoring Chieri like that!

Chieri

Chieri was amazing today! I cleaned, ate dinner, and even got the bath ready!

Chieri

Thanks to Chieri, you get to enjoy a sparkling clean, piping-hot bath! You're allowed to cry tears of gratitude, you know!

Raika

No way!? That's amazing, Cherie! Wait... you ate dinner too?

Chieri

I did. Well? Starting to respect me now?

Raika

But I said we were supposed to wait and eat together as a family~~!

Raika

And the band too! "The essence lies in the band!" Remember!?

Yomogi

There it is... the weird family theory...!

Chieri

Chieri doesn't remember ever signing up for this "family."

Raika

From the moment you came to this house, you two became my precious family!

Raika

Sleeping at the same home every day, eating together, and playing in a band. That's what family is all about!

Yomogi・Chieri

...

Raika

See? So come play in a band with me!

Yomogi・Chieri

That's not the point...

Yomogi・Chieri

We already told you we're not doing it~~~~!!

A student dorm...? You're looking for one now? After the new term's already started?

Miku

Yes. My dad got transferred unexpectedly... So I need to find a place as soon as possible.

Miku

But it's been hard to find a dorm with a furnished single room...

I see... Yeah, dorms for high school students can be especially hard to find.

Have you considered a boarding house? It can feel like having a "second family," so I'd definitely recommend it.

Miku

Uh...

Miku

That's a great point, but... I'd rather live somewhere I can be independent.

I see... You seem very mature.

All right, let me see what we have that fits what you're looking for. Just a moment, please.

Miku

Okay. Thank you.

Miku

*Sigh*...

Miku

("A second family," huh... Other places have said similar things.)

Miku

("The manager will be like a parent," or "a cozy dorm where you'll build lifelong friendships..." I've heard it all before.)

Miku

(That students... kids... are better off with close bonds to the people around them, so they can feel safe and secure.)

Miku

(Sorry, but I don't want any of that.)

Miku

(Actually, that's exactly what I'm trying to get away from. I'm already sick of my parents and my family as it is.)

Miku

(I'm finally going to live on my own. Why would I choose to go through all that again...?)

Sorry to keep you waiting. With your requirements, there's only one student dorm available.

Miku

Thanks for the brochure♪ Um... "P-Stay..."

It comes with a furnished single room. That said... support for students is pretty minimal.

You could say it values independence, which may be why it hasn't had many residents...

Miku

Independence...! I see. So that's why the rent is so cheap...

Miku

I'll take it!

R-Really? Are you sure?

Miku

Yes! This is exactly what I've been looking for!

Miku

(The conditions are perfect. I might even be able to support myself. And most importantly—)

Miku

(The life I've always wanted is waiting for me here.)

Miku

This is the one for me! "P-Stay!"

Miku

(At last... my life without "family" is about to begin!)