It wasn't exactly an incident, but.
The next day, around midday, Ms. Nanase had the day off and was relaxing in the living room. I was dusting around the bamboo with a feather duster. Brushing off the dust that had settled on the leaves, and while I was at it, retying the strings of any wish strips that had come loose.
That's when it happened.
A breeze loosened one of the strips, and it fluttered to the floor.
"Oh."
When I picked it up, the folded strip flipped open.
May I get to stay in this house forever.
It was Ms. Nanase's handwriting. The very strip she'd secretly tied to that branch at the back yesterday.
I see, I thought.
Over on the sofa, I could tell Ms. Nanase had caught her breath. The blood drained from her face, and then she flushed bright red. She had a strange expression, as if she wanted to rush over and snatch it back, yet her legs were frozen in place.
There was no need to be so embarrassed. It was a lovely wish.
"Is this yours, Ms. Nanase?"
"Th... that's, um..."
"What a nice wish."
I meant it from the bottom of my heart.
"I think so too, you know. I hope you all can keep living here, safe and at ease, for a long, long time. I'm sure Tomi would want that too."
"...Y-yes."
"I really hope it comes true."
With that, I carefully retied the strip, this time on the highest, most visible branch. It was too good a wish to keep hidden. So it would reach where it needed to go, I thought.
Ms. Nanase was looking at me with an indescribable expression. Somewhere between smiling and about to cry.
"...Amane, you're..."
"Yes?"
"No... it's nothing."
She started to say something, then shook her head. She was red to the tips of her ears.
Was she catching a cold? Her cheeks had been flushing a lot since yesterday. Maybe the somen had chilled her stomach. I'd make her something warm later, I decided.
On the highest branch of the bamboo, Ms. Nanase's wish strip swayed proudly.
That night.
Before bed, I made a hot milk and brought it to Ms. Nanase. I'd been worried about how red her face had been earlier.
She took the cup in both hands, and then, for some reason, began to fidget.
"Um... Amane. I've been feeling kind of down today, about a lot of things."
"Oh dear. Work?"
"No... I can't really explain it, but..."
She clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest and looked up at me.
"...Could you give me a hug, and make me feel better?"
Hmm, I thought.
She wanted cheering up, I supposed. That happens a lot with young people when they're feeling low. In that case, I'd have to provide whatever worked best.
And I had something in mind. My secret weapon.
"Understood. Here you go—a very special 'hug.'"
I scooped up Komugi, who'd been sleeping belly-up at my feet. A big, golden, fluffy, warm dog. I gently placed him in Ms. Nanase's arms.
"Go ahead and give Komugi a good pat. That works best of all."
Even I thought it was a fine prescription. On a night when you're down, a warm, fluffy dog. I don't know of any comfort that beats it.
But Ms. Nanase, holding Komugi, just stared blankly for some reason. Then, little by little, her face crumpled.
"...Puppies are cute and all... but still...!" she wailed, half in tears.
Huh, I thought. Did she not like it? No, judging by how tightly she was hugging Komugi, she didn't seem to dislike him.
In her arms, Komugi licked her cheek.
"I'm glad you like him."
Relieved, I went back to the kitchen. Fluffy really does the trick. In her arms, Komugi let out a soft whine, as though he had something to say.
A little later, I peeked into the living room.
Ms. Nanase had already stopped crying. She was cradling the cup of hot milk in both hands, blowing on the steam. Her face buried in fluffy Komugi, she was quietly giggling to herself about something.
Good. She seemed to have calmed down.
Hot milk works. Fluffy works too. On a night when you're feeling down, those two are what you need. My diagnosis hadn't been wrong.
Come to think of it, I remembered.
A month ago. The start of early summer. Back then, Ms. Nanase came home every night with red-rimmed eyes. Without even the energy to carry a convenience-store bag, she would stand in the entryway petting Komugi for a long time.
And now here she was, laughing.
People change. If you eat properly, sleep properly, and let the nights you can laugh pile up, little by little you can face forward again. All I need to do is watch from the side, in the kitchen.
"...I'm glad I came to this house."
With her face still buried in Komugi, I heard Ms. Nanase murmur it quietly.
Those words were enough.
Komugi gave his tail a single thump, as if he agreed.
On the highest branch of the bamboo, Ms. Nanase's wish strip rustled in the night breeze.
May I get to stay in this house forever.
I hope it comes true, I thought too.