The address Iori had sent me was in an area known for its historic high-end residential district. While not particularly convenient in terms of accessibility, the area had a calm and serene atmosphere, lined with grand mansions and traditional Japanese-style homes. Luxury foreign cars were casually parked in the garages, and even just walking through the area made me unconsciously straighten my posture.

“Iori… could she actually be an ojou-sama…?”

Checking my map frequently, I walked along the street, examining the impressive nameplates affixed to each home. Since the dot marking my destination overlapped with my current location, I knew I was close. If it wasn’t this house, it had to be the large Japanese-style home next door. I glanced at the wooden nameplate by the entrance — elegantly written in calligraphy were the characters for ‘Tachibana.’

“This… this must be the place…”

At first glance, the house gave off the impression of an important cultural property. That might be an exaggeration, but it was undeniably a mansion. The expansive garden was meticulously maintained, and I could even spot a small pond in the back. I’d never seen a house with its own pond before.

I pressed the intercom button near the gate. After a moment, a calm female voice answered with a gentle “Yes?” While her voice was transmitted through the device, I could tell it wasn’t Iori.

“Ah, um… my name is Yamabuki Natsuki, a friend of Iori’s.”

“Oh, I’ve heard about you. Please wait a moment.”

The intercom cut off. After waiting briefly, a woman in a kimono emerged from the entrance and walked toward me. Her long black hair danced lightly in the breeze. Even from a distance, I could tell she was beautiful, and when she reached the gate, that impression remained unchanged.

She must be Iori’s mother.

“Nice to meet you, Natsuki-san. I’m Iori’s mother, Momiji.”

“Thank you for taking the time to meet me. My name is Yamabuki Natsuki, and I’m a friend of Iori’s.”

Thanks to practicing beforehand, the words came out smoothly. Times like these made me grateful for my experience working in customer service. Ever since I started working at Cyberia, I no longer felt as nervous when talking to people for the first time.

“Um… this is just a small gift.”

I handed her the box of sweets I had prepared in advance. After much deliberation, I had settled on a pack of rice crackers worth about 2,000 yen. But standing before such a magnificent home, my choice felt rather inadequate. I should have gone for something more expensive.

“My, you’re so thoughtful for someone so young. Thank you, I’ll gladly accept this.”

Relieved by Momiji’s warm response, I discreetly exhaled in relief. I couldn’t afford to make a bad impression on Iori’s mother — I had to mind every little gesture.

“Oh my, are these rice crackers? They look delicious.”

Momiji narrowed her eyes slightly as she admired the box, a small smile curling her lips. The way she smiled reminded me a little of Iori — they were clearly mother and daughter. If Iori grew her hair out and aged a bit, she would probably look just like Momiji.

“Hey, Natsuki-san.”

“Yes?”

Momiji looked up from the box of sweets and fixed me with a sharp gaze. Her elegant yet piercing stare froze me in place, like a frog cornered by a snake. Iori had a commanding aura that naturally drew people’s attention, but Momiji radiated an entirely different kind of intense presence.

Momiji leaned in close to my ear… and whispered,

“…Have you kissed Iori yet?”