The end of school term ceremony was over, and there was a slightly more relaxed air around the entrance.
Students who were normally tidier wore their uniforms loosely, and talked to their friends about their summer vacation plans while their bags dangled. It was an atmosphere of liberation typical of just before a long break.
“Lain! Over here!”
And Ririi was still full of energy.
As she passed the school gate, she half dragged Lain by the arm as she immediately made her way back. There was a blue slime at her feet, jiggling as it tried its hardest to keep up.
The class’ pet slime, Poyopoyo.
It would be kept at her house during the summer, and suffice to say, that decision was not shared with Weiss.
“W-wait Ririi…! You’ll trip if you run…!”
“It’s okay! It’s the summer break!”
That made no sense, but it seemed she meant it.
Lain frowned, perplexed, but walked faster to follow Ririi.
“Keep up, Poyopoyo!”
Said Ririi as she turned around.
Perhaps it understood her, as it quickly caught up, wriggled, and settled in Ririi’s shadow as if it was nothing. It seemed it did not understand the concept of hurrying at the start.
Lain looked at this, and sighed.
“…It feels like every day will be noisy.”
“Yes! Fun!”
Her response with no hesitation was a little bright to Lain.
“Ririih’s back!!”
There were footsteps from the inside, and the door opened.
“Welcome…”
Was all Weiss said before his eyes naturally pointed, where he saw the blue slime jiggling near Ririi.
“Poyopoyo…?”
He was not surprised by the slime itself, as he heard more than he wanted about the class’ slime from Ririi.
There was another issue.
“Why is it here?”
“It’s summer vacation!”
She said as if it was natural.
“We decided someone had to take care of it during the break!”
“…And?”
“Ririh volum tiered!”
Weiss pressed his brow and exhaled slowly.
“Hum, I didn’t hear anything about you bringing it back.”
“Ririh didn’t say!”
Lain could not watch any longer, stepped forward, and bowed.
“I’m sorry, I couldn’t stop her…”
“No, it’s not your fault.”
Weiss immediately denied it. He was well aware that report, contact, and discuss were rules not at all embedded into Ririi.
This was one of those times. And he did not ask why Lain was there because he was used to such impulsive actions.
“It’s not harmful from what I heard. The problem is…”
His eyes pointed at Ririi again.
“You just charged ahead on your own.”
“Hehehe.”
“It’s not a compliment.”
Weiss was not seriously angry. In his mind, he was wondering where Poyopoyo would sleep.
And then calm footsteps approached from the back.
“What is the matter?”
Sieglinde appeared from the living room and looked at everyone in turn.
“…Is that Poyopoyo?”
“Big sister Sieglinde!”
Ririi lifted Poyopoyo with both hands and showed it off happily.
“It’ll live with us!”
“I see. That’s nice.”
Sieglinde then looked at Lain.
“It has been a while, Lain Florencia.”
“It has, Miss Sieglinde.”
Both nodded at the same time.
A greeting between two people aware of each other’s positions, without stepping closer than necessary.
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