After leaving school, we walked towards Niizuma-san's house. Well, I didn't know where it was so I was walking a little behind her.

  "...It's here. Thanks for sending me home."

  "No, I'm totally fine."

  She said, and led me to a house about a 15-minute walk from the school. The lights were already on. It was possible that he lived alone, which was unusual for a high school student, but if she had a family, would that be reassuring?

  …I still have something I want to do, so I reach for the intercom. Rather than leaving it half-hearted, if I've ever wanted to help, I should see it through to the end. So I'll do it.

  "Yes, who is this?"

  The person who came out was a beautiful woman in her early twenties. I had never heard of it before , but maybe she has a older sister?

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  "Sorry for showing up so suddenly. I'm Niizuma-san...umm, my name is Sugita Mamoru, a classmate of Rie-san's. I'd like to ask you for some advice about Rie-san...umm, are you Rie-san's older sister?"

  "Oh my, come on! I'm Rie's mother Niizuma Rika Please come up now."

  "...Huh?"

  Niizuma's mother urged me to come in with a smile. ...No, it's a lie that someone who is easy enough for a college student to understand is her mother, right?

  "Hey, Mom!!"

  "Oh? Rie was here too. Welcome home."

  「I’m home. No, that’s not it!!」

  "Rie?... Come in quickly."

  "!?…yes"

  Niizuma-san said as she went inside the house. …For a moment, I felt pressure from Rika-san. It was just my imagination, right?

  "You're welcome, Mamoru. It's just an empty house."

  "...Well then, I'll take you up on your offer. I'll come in."

  I thought it would be okay to talk at the front door, but remembering the pressure from earlier, I accepted Rika's proposal. ...It wasn't until I entered the house and the front door was locked with a "click" that I realized I couldn't escape any more.

  "That's right, Mamoru-san, please go and have dinner."

  "Huh? N-no, I'd rather not participate, as I feel too sorry."

  "Oh my. There's no need to be shy. You have something to discuss, right? It'd be better to do it over dinner."

  "...I, I understand. Then I'll take you up on your offer and enjoy the meal."

  I had no choice but to reply like that. I thought there was some truth in what Rika-san said, and I had no other intentions than to be scared of her, really? I told my parents that I would be coming home late and that I didn't want dinner, so I decided to join the Niizuma family at the dinner table. ...I can't go against Rika-san, can I?