Shizuo Komemon drove to the mountainous area where the villa was located, and had to walk the rest of the way.
However, the distance was not too far. Ten minutes after getting off the bus, we found the villa Suzuki Ayako mentioned along the mountain road.
"The air is indeed good." Shizuo Komemon took a deep breath. It was much stronger than that in Mikawa Town, but it was a little stuffy today.
Stepping on the trembling wooden suspension bridge, you can see a deep valley at your feet, surrounded by dense forests, and occasionally leaves rustling in the breeze.
After stopping for a moment and looking around, Shizuo Komemon came to the door of the villa and pressed the doorbell.
Just hearing a rush of footsteps inside, the door suddenly opened, revealing Suzuki Ayako's slightly hurried figure and a face full of expectation.
Suzuki Ayako had a smile on her face and looked in a good mood. She seemed to want to say something, but after a moment's pause, she only said, "Please come in."
"Excuse me." Shizuo Komemon responded briefly, carrying a travel bag that he carried with him, and entered the villa.
Suzuki Ayako bent down and handed him his slippers, "You've had a hard journey on the road, I'll take you to your room to have a rest first."
Shizuo Komemon glanced at the pink apron she was wearing, "It's okay, just go about your business first, haven't the others arrived yet?"
"They will be a little later. They should arrive one after another before dinner."
"That's it." Shizuo Komemon nodded, but after all, he couldn't match Suzuki Ayako's initiative and enthusiasm, and was taken to the second floor to put down his luggage.
"The toilet and bathroom are here. Clean towels, bath towels and other supplies are already prepared inside. The hot water is also boiled, so you can take a hot bath at any time.
If Shizuo-san didn’t bring a change of clothes, I’ll prepare a set roughly according to your body shape and put it in the closet..."
Suzuki Ayako prepared very carefully, so thoughtfully that even Shizuo Komemon felt ashamed.
"If you need anything else, I will stay in the room opposite and you can come to me at any time..."
When she said this, a blush flashed across Suzuki Ayako's face, which made Shizuo Komemon feel a little distracted for a moment.
He didn't say anything, and Suzuki Ayako didn't feel left out, and started talking about the nearby scenery.
"There are probably two or three villas outside the suspension bridge. On our side, there is only this villa until the back mountain, so it is very quiet.
Although the maple leaves can be seen all around the villa, the mountains behind are more beautiful. In addition, the spring mentioned earlier is also on the mountains behind. When does Shizuo-san want to go see it?"
Shizuo Komemon looked at her and said, "I can do it."
"Then... now?" Suzuki Ayako tilted her head slightly, with a smile on her face.
"good."
Shizuo Komemon agreed, and the two of them tidied up a little before going downstairs.
When passing by the kitchen, Komei Shizuo smelled a sweet smell. Suzuki Ayako explained: "Cookies are being baked in the oven. We should be able to eat them when we come back from the back mountain."
Suzuki Ayako took off her apron and straightened her hair in front of the formal mirror at the door with some embarrassment. "Sorry, I was busy in the kitchen earlier, so I look a little sloppy like this."
"No, it looks good like this."
Shizuo Komemon's words brought a smile to Ayako Suzuki's face.
After leaving the villa, the two of them walked side by side towards the back mountain. Shizuo Komemon breathed in the air outside the house and felt a little more at ease.
"Ayako-san doesn't have to do this..."
"What?"
"You did so much specifically for me."
Hearing this, Suzuki Ayako brushed her hair beside her ears, lowered her head slightly, and said softly: "Shizuo-san, is it what I did that made you feel uncomfortable?"
Shizuo Komemon rubbed the back of his neck, "The main reason is that I'm not used to being taken care of in such detail. I always feel...well, how should I put it..."
"I probably understand." Suzuki Ayako clasped her hands behind her hands and looked at the hem of her skirt rising and falling as she stepped, "Actually, I really like doing these things, such as cooking, making snacks, doing housework, etc.
Others may find these things troublesome, but I am really happy and enjoy them without any reluctance, so Shizuo-san doesn't have to feel uncomfortable."
"Is that so..." Shizuo Komemon murmured, and then asked what had been swirling in his mind before, "Has Ayako-san known me before?"
"Why do you think of asking this?" Suzuki Ayako blinked, a little confused.
"Maybe I'm just being sentimental, but I always feel that Ayako-san seems to be interested in me..."
"Like love at first sight?" Suzuki Ayako gently stroked her slightly hot cheek.
"...It probably means something similar. After all, we haven't known each other for long."
Shizuo Komemon paused for a moment, inexplicably remembering Kyogoku Makoto's sight of Sonoko. There really wasn't much reason to talk about feelings, so it didn't seem to make much sense to ask these questions.
"This question is a bit abrupt, so it's okay if you don't want to answer it."
"Okay~ Shizuo-san can know anything you want." Suzuki Ayako said with a smile, "But it may disappoint Shizuo-san. I also look forward to love at first sight, but unfortunately, it was the first time I saw Shizuo-san.
The timing was a little bit bad.”
"I'm sorry, but I really don't remember seeing Ayako-san before." Shizuo Komemon slowed down his steps.
Suzuki Ayako smiled when she heard this and said, "No need to apologize, because I only met Shizuo-san one-sidedly."
"Can I talk about it?"
"Well... let's start from the beginning." Suzuki Ayako pondered for a moment, "The first time I met Shizuo-san was when I was in elementary school.
The two nursery rhymes Shizuo-san published at that time were extremely popular. Basically every child had heard them, and I was no exception. However, I didn’t know at the time that the creator of those two songs was Shizuo-san.
Thinking about it now, Shizuo-san must have been only seven years old back then, right? It’s really shocking that he could do such a thing."
Suzuki Ayako had a look of nostalgia and admiration on her face, which actually made Shizuo Komemon feel a little ashamed.
Suzuki Ayako continued: "The second time was at a certain banquet. She must have been in the second grade of junior high school. I don't know if Shizuo-san still remembers it. You also went there at that time, and you also saved a man who was killed by others at the banquet.
A little girl bullied by boys.”
Shizuo Komemon recalled carefully, "It seems that there was such a thing, but I probably just put the table on their heads because those guys were too noisy."
Suzuki Ayako did not criticize his harsh words and smiled without saying a word.
"You wouldn't say that little girl is you, right?" Shizuo Komemon asked.
Suzuki Ayako shook her head when she heard this, and said with some regret: "I hope so. Then we will have a special bond with Shizuo-san. It's a pity that there can be such a coincidence?"
