Chapter 24
Minami Yuuki opened the door, and the dazzling sunlight poured down from above. He shielded his eyes with his hand, giving them time to adjust.
Walking from the corridor to the elevator lobby, everything looked just as it had a few hours ago, yet Minami Yuuki felt a tinge of nostalgia. He had spent a long time in the simulation.
The elevator doors opened, revealing a mother and daughter inside. The mother stood while the daughter sat in a wheelchair. Both wore white dresses and white masks, obscuring their faces.
Hearing the ding of the doors, the daughter looked up at Minami Yuuki.
“Hello,” the mother greeted Minami Yuuki.
“Good afternoon,” Minami Yuuki nodded in response.
They didn’t know each other; the greeting was just a courteous gesture between neighbors.
The elevator stopped on the first floor, and Minami Yuuki stepped aside to let them exit first. The mother thanked him and pushed the wheelchair out. They paused by the door as the mother opened an umbrella for her daughter. Minami Yuuki walked past them, leaving the apartment ahead and heading quickly towards the Asano residence.
Even though it was just a few hundred meters, Minami Yuuki felt a bit irritable walking this short distance.