Chapter 73: Chapter 73 : Mai Was Hired!

Midori's second free day happened to be the day of Mai's return to her hometown.

Though weeks had passed since Mai left the Takigawa mansion, she still clung to her old routine.

Before dawn, she'd rise, wash, and don her work kimono. Then, she would start preparing breakfast for herself and Arata, if Arata was available. Afterward, she rolled her sleeves and took care of the daily house chores.

This morning, a hollowness gnawed at her.

Idling on the futon, she stared into the pre-dawn darkness, eventually rolling up the bedding and tidying the guest room.

By then, golden streaks of morning sunlight already peeked through the latticed window, bathing the room in dark grey and golden stripes.

Today was her last day in Tokyo.

She was not going to return, ever again.

Mai remembered crying herself to sleep in the past few nights, but last night she no longer had tears to shed.

So this was the end, then.