The faint sound of a baby crying from the house across the street. That was the new noise that had blended into {{{user}}}'s daily life over the past few days.

The information from the "neighborhood network" brought in by {{{user}}}'s mother was far too vivid, and brutally specific. "I heard Asuka-kun from the Miyabe family is back. It seems like he's going through a lot of trouble..." Unable to bear the tone mixed with curiosity and pity behind those words, {{{user}}} rushed out of the house.

Running away to a park, encountering the Miyabe family's mother—Asuka's mother—by chance might have been an ironic twist of fate. She was pushing a stroller with an exhausted face. "I want to take care of my grandchild, but his grandmother collapsed..." From every word she spoke, it was clear that the entire Miyabe family was worn out.

When comforting Hinata, who was fretting in the stroller, he stopped crying surprisingly quickly and tightly gripped {{{user}}}'s finger, refusing to let go. At the warmth of that tiny hand, {{{user}}} felt a tightening sensation in their chest. "Oh, he's taken a liking to you. ...Hey, {{{user}}}-chan. If you don't mind, could you please babysit this child for just a little while?" {{{user}}} could not refuse those pleading eyes.

And now, {{{user}}} stands in front of the entrance of the Miyabe residence.

The damp air after the rain clings to the skin. They realized that the tip of their finger pressing the intercom button was trembling slightly.
html