"I believe it's time for Manako and me to return," I announced to everyone at the table as I stood up, gently patting my satisfied belly. Glancing at Preya, I inquired, "Unless there's something else...?"

She shook her head. "I have no objection to that. I was considering taking the opportunity to stretch my wings a bit further myself."

"Sounds Gucci," I responded. "Shall I plan another visit for next week?"

Preya paused her gaze, not quite meeting the curious expressions of everyone in the room. Surprisingly, Chinatsu remained uncharacteristically silent, her attention fixed on the spring roll she was still chewing.

"...I'm not entirely convinced it's necessary," Preya finally expressed. "However, I wouldn't object if you dropped by occasionally."

I responded with a smile and a nod. "I feel the same way. If that's agreeable to you, Mrs. Kuramoto."

"Oh, absolutely," Nana assured me warmly. "We don't get visitors often, considering how far we are from town, so please feel free to drop by anytime! It was truly delightful having both of you here."

Naturally, Manako's expression hinted at her skepticism, but she refrained from voicing her doubts. Instead, she silently rose to her feet alongside me.

"Happy to hear it," I told Nana. "Then I guess we'll be on our way."

"I'll walk you two out," Nana offered, already accompanying us into the hallway. "Kei, Chinatsu, don't you both have homework that needs your attention?"

"Yes," the two siblings replied unison, their voices lacking enthusiasm. I couldn't help but chuckle, reminiscing about being in the same situation ages ago. Meanwhile, Preya had already started making her way outside, briefly nodding at me before closing the back door behind her.

"Thanks again for the food," I told her as we walked to the front door. "It was delicious!"

"You're too kind," Nana said with a smile, a slight laugh in her voice. "I had a couple of questions to ask before you go."

"Sure thing." I nodded as I sat down to put my shoes on. "What's up?"

"It might not be my place to ask, but..." She paused, seemingly unsure of how to approach the subject. "Could you tell me what happened to Preya before she arrived here? The coordinator mentioned she had an incident with her previous host but didn't provide any further information."

Manako briefly glanced at me, then shifted her gaze back to the ground. Meanwhile, I tapped my fingers lightly against the wooden floor, contemplating her question. Though it might have been just my imagination, recollecting the "incident" caused a twinge of pain in the scar on my shoulder.

"...' Incident' is one way to describe it," I replied slowly, my hand absentmindedly rubbing my shoulder. "May I ask why you're curious about it?"

"It's quite evident that whatever occurred has had a significant impact on her, more than she lets on," Nana responded. Folding her arms, she glanced to the side, wearing a bittersweet smile. "During my teenage years, I worked at an animal shelter, and at times, her behavior reminded me of the few animals that had been mistreated. I'm just... uncertain whether her reserved nature stems from what happened, if it's simply her personality, or if it's related to being a raptor, although I'm reluctant to generalize it based on her species, you know?"

I nodded, regarding Nana with a newfound seriousness. While my interactions with fellow humans had mainly revolved around Kurusu, Kuroko, Sasaki, and Oosawa, who were all relatively accepting of liminals to varying degrees, I knew that the general public's perspective was far from ideal. The noticeable glances and stares we received on the streets whenever the girls were with us were hard to miss. Even in a world where the unbelievable had become a reality for almost five years now, it seemed that people were still grappling with this relatively new phenomenon. It was hardly surprising, especially considering that we were in Japan, a country with its historical struggles with xenophobia.

That's why I thought the woman standing before me was far more worldly than the average Japanese housewife. Once again, I couldn't help but feel grateful for the luck that led Preya to find such a caring family, although I suspected that Kuroko had played a role in her placement.

"Don't worry; I can't deny that I've also pondered whether her species influence her behavior," I reassured her, scratching my head. "However, any reservations you may sense from her right now are undoubtedly a result of her past experiences with her previous host."

"I understand," Nana mused, her gaze drifting toward the back of the house. "It must have been truly dreadful..."

"I'm uncertain about how much Kuroko has informed you," I said, rising to my feet and brushing off my shorts. "And I believe it's up to Preya to decide how much she wants to share with you. However, please know that your home is infinitely better than where she came from. Not that it's much of a comparison, but..." I struggled to hide the grimace forming on my face. "No one should ever have to endure what she went through."

"I suppose I should simply be grateful that she managed to escape that situation," Nana remarked, nodding thoughtfully. She turned her gaze back to me, offering a warm, maternal smile. "You know, she has opened up more to you than with any of us. I don't recall seeing her smile until she started talking to you."

"She will gradually open up to all of you; I'm confident," I reassured. "It will simply take some time and patience."

"That's not what I...." Nana sighed and shook her head, though the smile didn't fade. "Mm, I guess you're that type, aren't you?"

Suppressing my initial impulse to demand clarification on her ambiguous remark, I reminded myself of Nana's consistent cooperation and kindness since our meeting. The least I could do was avoid snapping at the caring woman who had clearly shown concern for Preya's well-being.

Instead, I tilted my head and inquired, "What type do you mean?"

"The type that seems well-suited for being a counselor, I suppose," Nana replied with a chuckle. "Thank you for your dedication, Mr. Bando. Please stay in touch."

"Likewise," I responded, waving at her as I walked towards the exit. Manako stood just outside the doorway, anxiously fiddling with her suitcase. "Thank you once again, Mrs. Kuramoto."

With that, Manako and I departed. We strolled, savoring the peaceful atmosphere and basking in the gentle warmth of the weather. Well, I was, at least. When the sound of gulls resonated once again from the north, my ears perked up, prompting me to nod my head and proceed in that direction, eager to follow their call.

"The car is supposed to arrive only when we call it, correct?" I inquired of Manako.

She winced, seemingly taken aback by being acknowledged after remaining silent. After a moment, she regained her composure and gave me a tentative nod in confirmation.

"Sounds good," I replied, slipping my hands into my pockets and eagerly forging ahead. "Do you mind if we take a moment to explore the beach? It's been ages since I've been to one."

"That's alright," Manako responded, her head tilting down as her dark bangs partially obscured her face. "B-But I didn't bring my sunglasses, and my eye tends to dry out even faster at the beach...."

"That's unfortunate," I remarked, frowning and lightly tapping my chin. "Can you use mine, perhaps? I only needed them because I felt a bit hungover earlier, but I'm fine now."

"Mm, well... It could be helpful," Manako admitted, her gaze still fixed on the ground as we continued walking. I adjusted my position before her, ensuring she could follow my shadow and avoid potential obstacles. "But I don't want to inconvenience you..."

"It's no problem," I assured her, waving my hand dismissively. I reached for my sunglasses, which were hanging from my collar, and handed them to her. "You need them more than I do."

Manako took the sunglasses with a shaky hand, nervously biting her lip as she daintily held them.

"What are your impressions of the Kuramotos?" I asked, shifting the conversation to a different topic before she could inquire more about the sunglasses. Manako hurriedly caught up with me, though she still didn't wear the sunglasses.

"Um, I believe they're a good match for Preya," Manako replied, pausing briefly before continuing. "They're kinder than I anticipated... though that little girl was quite persistent and wouldn't leave me alone..."

"Well, she had never encountered a monoeye before," I remarked with a shrug. "It's understandable that she would be curious."

"I suppose you're r-right..." Manako sniffled, wiping her nose. "S-Sorry..."

"No need to apologize," I reassured her, scratching the back of my head. I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was constantly tiptoeing around sensitive topics whenever I spoke to her, no matter how hard I tried. As I glanced back, I noticed her eye starting to water, and I couldn't be sure if it was solely due to the sun.

We proceeded in silence for the next few minutes, the air filled with a palpable awkwardness. Following a dirt path that appeared to lead to the beach, we continued our journey with only the sound of our footsteps crunching on the ground and the gradually intensifying cries of seagulls in the distance.

It was apparent that my previous declaration of our friendship had a limited lasting impact on Manako. This outcome was disheartening, albeit not entirely unexpected. The deep-rooted insecurities within her couldn't be easily overcome with a few kind words. I had hoped that the events of last night's celebration might have helped break down some barriers. Still, the occasion was rather tumultuous, with specific individuals commanding most of my attention. It pained me to admit it, but keeping track of someone as introverted and reserved as Manako was challenging in such a bustling environment.

"Oh hey, we're here," I noted once we crossed the last little hill. Dark blue waves slowly rolled onto a grey, rocky beach. The sand was still rather prominent on the shore, but there were enough odd rocks and jutting stones littering the area that I couldn't imagine this spot was much of a luxury destination. I sniffed the air, filling my nose with the smells of salt and rotting sea life. A few gulls hopped around on their little stick-figure legs, poking at dead fish and garbage that had washed ashore. All told, it wasn't the prettiest beach I'd been to. It wasn't the worst, either. Manako walked beside me, squinting up at the sun. With a sigh, she finally put on the sunglasses.

Still, it was enough to make me smile.

"Wh-What are you doing?" Manako asked worriedly as I knelt.

"I like feeling the sand on my feet," I explained, untying my shoes and slipping off my socks. Once I was done, I set them right at the border between dirt and sand and stood back up. "I'm just gonna walk around the beach a little bit, explore. Wanna join me?"

Manako shifted her weight nervously, her suitcase tightly in one hand, my sunglasses clutched in the other. "I don't want my feet to get hurt..." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.

"You don't have to take your shoes off either," I chuckled. "And you don't have to come along with me if you don't want to. It would be more enjoyable if I had someone to share this exploration experience with."

She kept her gaze firmly downward, her voice barely a whisper, "Even if that someone is me?"

Jesus, what had this poor girl been through to make her feel so low? I knew a thing or two about having low self-esteem, having gone through plenty of moments like hers in the past. But seeing the hapless girl in front of me made me feel even worse. It was almost as if I could see two important people in my life - someone I used to care for and still do - reflected in Manako's eye.

"I just want it to end..."

I clenched my teeth as sweat began to trickle down my palms. She had to be doing better now, even though I was no longer in her life. Wasn't she supposed to get married soon? She had even asked me to be her best man...

"Especially someone like you," I heard myself saying, my voice tinged with awe. Manako looked up at me, her brilliantly purple eye widening with shock, her mouth slightly agape as disbelief flooded her features. It was clear that she wore her emotions on her sleeve, and I could sense the surprise emanating from her.

"B-B-B-But y-you d-d-d-didn't..." she stuttered, looking utterly lost.

"Who wouldn't want to be friends with the badass sniper who helped take down one of the most notorious criminal organizations in history? That's an impressive feat! Many people would love to hang out with you and get to know you better!"

"I'm n-not that great...." Manako mumbled, her eye-watering. "It was all Kuroko a-a-and the others...."

"I must disagree," I said, my voice softening. "What you did was nothing short of remarkable. Standing up to Enkidu, even though they had enslaved you and caused such tragedy for many... It takes real courage to do something like that. I only wish I had the same strength."

Manako remained silent in response. I exhaled heavily and planted my hands on my hips, gazing back at the beach. Suddenly, two gulls appeared to be engaged in a heated spat over a particularly juicy morsel of carrion, their shrill screeches almost causing me to grimace in discomfort.

"Look, I don't really want to get into the heavier stuff, and I'm sure you don't either," I said gently, looking her in the eye. She glanced up at me in response. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it. I'm not asking you to be with me; I'm just offering."

Manako finally stared at me without any disbelief or tears in her eyes. It was almost impossible to read her expression, but after an eternity, she set down her suitcase and put on my sunglasses.

It was clear that the glasses weren't ideal for her - after all, they were meant for people with two eyes - and the sight of her struggling to make the frames fit was downright comical. However, after a few moments of experimentation, she eventually made them both comfortable and functional.

Then, Manako took a hesitant step into the sand, and I could've sworn I heard a voice just then, though I couldn't tell if it was from her or in my head.

"Thank you."

To be continued...