In the quiet commuter town of Aoba, Midori leads a double life—a dedicated nurse on weekdays, and the gentle owner of the café "Green Note" on weekends. To her regulars, she is the warm smile behind the counter, the woman whose chiffon cake is as light as air and whose dimple appears whenever she laughs.
But behind the counter, Midori carries a loneliness she has never spoken aloud. Her husband, Yuuichi, has vanished again—no calls, no messages, just silence stretching into days. It is a patter
Goodnight Punpun Side Story: Midori's Secret - Small hands, a warm dining table
Morning light slipped in thin through the gap in the curtains.
Midori stood in the kitchen and cracked an egg with practiced hands. The yolk wobbled in the bowl. As she moved her chopsticks to break up the white, she was listening for any sign of movement from the next room.
(Is he up properly today, I wonder.)
A week had nearly passed since Punpun came to this house.
That rainy night, a boy like a chick's doodle had stood at the front door, soaked to the bone. He was still as silent as ever—even when she said good morning, he only gave a small nod. But that was fine. Because Midori knew that small response was meant for her, and her alone.
She greased the frying pan and poured in the egg. With a sizzle, the smell of morning spread through the kitchen. Midori warmed the miso soup on the next burner and took the leftover simmered dish from the fridge.
(That simmered dish Yuuichi made—there's still some left.)
Daikon and taro sat in a thin brown broth. Yuuichi was good at cooking, at least. The last time he'd stood in this kitchen was already two weeks ago.
(...Where is he now, what is he doing?)
Midori paused her chopsticks for just a moment. But she shook her head right away and rolled the omelet over. A sweet aroma tickled her nose.
"Punpun, breakfast is ready."
A faint sound came from the living room.
After a while, Punpun appeared, drifting in. The yellow fuzz on his head stuck up in cowlicks. His black dot-like eyes were still half-closed with sleep.
"Good morning."
When Midori spoke, Punpun gave a small nod.
Then the two of them sat facing each other. On the table: two servings of rice and miso soup, the omelet, the simmered dish. Thin wisps of steam rose.
Midori waited for Punpun to pick up his chopsticks before she began eating too.
(I'm not alone.)
Just that made the food taste good.
Punpun ate in silence. Each time he moved his mouth, his beak-like pointed lips worked busily. There was something so endearing about it that Midori felt her face soften without meaning to.
"Is it to your liking? Not too bland, is it?"
Punpun nodded, once.
"Good. Yuuichi once complained about my seasoning, you see. Maybe I do make things a little too bland."
Midori said this and laughed. But the moment she said Yuuichi's name, a small ache pricked deep in her chest.
(Yuuichi still hasn't contacted me.)
(And he's left everything about Punpun to me, too.)
Punpun glanced at Midori's face.
His black dot eyes wavered, as if he wanted to say something.
But he said nothing.
And Midori said nothing more either.
The morning light quietly lit the table.
When he finished eating, Punpun took his dishes and headed for the kitchen.
"Oh, you don't have to. I'll wash them."
Even when Midori said so, Punpun shook his head. He turned on the tap, put soap on the sponge, and began washing the bowls without a word.
His small hands scrubbed the bowls carefully.
Midori watched him, leaning against the counter.
(This whole week, it's been like this.)
(This child seems to be desperately searching for a reason he's allowed to be here.)
(That's why he washes the dishes.)
Something tightened deep in Midori's chest.
"...Thank you, Punpun. That helps."
Punpun stopped his hands for just an instant.
Then he went on washing in silence.
But his back looked just a little bit happy.
"I'm off."
At the entryway, Midori held out a wrapped lunch box to Punpun.
Punpun took it without a word.
"Today it's omelet and fried chicken. Make sure you eat it, all right?"
Punpun nodded, once.
"...Have a good day."
Midori waved with a smile.
Punpun stared at Midori's face for a little while.
Then he slowly turned his back and started walking.
Midori stood at the door watching until the yellow head disappeared into the morning light.
(Is he actually making it to school?)
(He said he'd run away from home, but...)
(Where does he go?)
Midori didn't know where Punpun went.
Yuuichi hadn't told her any of the details. And Punpun himself hardly talked about himself at all.
(But I won't force him to tell me.)
(When he feels like talking, he can talk.)
Midori had decided that in her heart.
When Midori came home after finishing work at the hospital, Punpun was already back.
He sat on the living room sofa, staring vaguely at the television.
"I'm home. You must be hungry, right? I'll make dinner now."
When Midori spoke, Punpun turned around and gave a small nod.
Midori put on her apron and opened the fridge.
(What should I make today?)
(Does this child have things he likes or dislikes?)
(A whole week eating together, and I still don't know.)
For now, Midori decided to make nikujaga with what was in the fridge.
She peeled the potatoes and cut the carrots into chunks. She sliced the onion and sautéed it in the pot. A sweet aroma spread through the kitchen.
For this past week, Midori hadn't eaten a single dinner alone.
When Yuuichi was here, she'd always prepared food for two, in case he might suddenly come home. But Yuuichi almost never came home.
(So that's why dinners alone tasted so flat.)
(Now it's different.)
(Punpun is here.)
Midori stirred the pot and smiled softly.
Dinner time.
On the table were nikujaga, tofu miso soup, and cold tofu.
"Here you go. Eat while it's hot."
Punpun took his chopsticks and ate a bite of the nikujaga.
He chewed, mouth working.
Midori watched him closely.
(Is it good?)
(Is the seasoning too strong?)
Punpun said nothing.
But by the second and third bite, the speed of his chopsticks seemed just a little faster.
(Ah, he's eating it.)
Warmth spread gently through Midori's chest.
"There's more, so help yourself. Don't hold back."
Punpun nodded, once.
Then the two of them ate dinner quietly.
Only the sound of the television flowed through the room.
But that quiet was completely different from the quiet of being alone.
The weekend.
Midori decided to take Punpun to the coffee shop, Green Note.
"Will you help out at the shop today? You don't have to push yourself—just do what you can."
Punpun nodded, once.
When she opened the shop door, the aroma of coffee drifted softly out.
"Oh, Midori! The little one's with you today!"
The moment they entered, a regular elderly woman raised her voice.
"My, what a cute little boy!"
"He really is, like a doll."
Three elderly women customers praised Punpun one after another.
Punpun wriggled his body as if to hide his embarrassment. The yellow fuzz on his head swayed softly.
"Fufu, everyone, if you praise him that much, he'll get embarrassed."
Midori laughed and handed an apron to Punpun.
"Will you put this on? Could you sweep the floor for me?"
Punpun took the apron and silently began sweeping the floor.
He held the broom in his small hands and swept steadily.
Midori watched him from behind the counter.
(This child is here.)
(In my shop, this child is here.)
(Just that makes me love this shop a little more, somehow.)
Warmth spread slowly through Midori's chest.
"Hey, Midori."
Suddenly, a low voice spoke.
She turned to find the regular customer Heiroku Shishido standing on the other side of the counter. An elderly man who ran a real estate business.
"Oh, Mr. Shishido. Welcome."
Midori greeted him with a smile.
"Yeah. ...Say, Midori. I mentioned this before, but lately there's a man loitering around this shop."
Shishido lowered his voice.
Midori's heart gave a jump.
"...He's still there?"
"Yeah. A young man, wandering this alley at night, apparently. Some of the residents were talking about calling the police."
Shishido nodded with a serious face.
"Midori, you be careful too. A young woman running a shop all by herself—once something happens, it's too late."
"...Yes. Thank you. I'll be careful."
Midori answered, pretending to be calm.
But she felt something cold flowing into the depths of her heart.
(A suspicious man...)
(Ever since Punpun came, talk like that started.)
(Is there some connection?)
Midori glanced at Punpun's back as he swept.
Punpun swept the floor steadily, as if he knew nothing.
That night.
Midori sat facing Punpun in the living room, eating dinner.
The menu was yesterday's leftover nikujaga, an omelet, and salad.
"...Hey, Punpun."
Midori steeled herself and spoke.
Punpun stopped his chopsticks and looked at her.
"...Have you heard anything from Yuuichi?"
Her voice was so faint it surprised even herself.
Punpun stared at Midori's face for a little while.
Then he slowly shook his head.
"...I see."
Midori tried to smile.
But she couldn't smile well.
The corners of her mouth trembled, twitching.
(I couldn't smile again.)
(I didn't want to show this face in front of Punpun.)
Midori looked down and brought rice to her mouth.
It had no taste.
Late at night.
Midori woke up thirsty.
She looked at the clock by her pillow. It was past two in the morning.
(I'll drink some water.)
Midori got out of bed and headed for the kitchen.
The moment she stepped into the hallway, she stopped.
(...A voice?)
From Punpun's room, she heard faint talking.
(Is he on the phone with someone?)
Midori held her breath and approached Punpun's door.
Through the gap in the door, Punpun's voice leaked faintly.
"...You're still not coming home?"
Midori's heart leaped hard.
(Not coming home?)
(Who is he talking to?)
(Could it be... Yuuichi?)
Midori pressed her ear to the door.
But she heard no more of Punpun's voice.
Instead, she heard the faint electronic sound of a call ending.
(He hung up.)
Midori stood frozen in place.
(Punpun is in contact with Yuuichi.)
(And yet he told me there was no contact...)
(Why would he lie?)
Something deep in Midori's chest tightened with a creak.
(I want to confront him.)
(I want to open this door right now and demand the truth.)
But Midori couldn't do it.
(I'm scared.)
(I'm scared of knowing the truth.)
Midori slowly stepped away.
She drank water in the kitchen.
The cold water went down her throat.
But the cold deep in her heart didn't fade at all.
The next day.
Midori stood behind the shop counter.
Last night's events wouldn't leave her head.
(Punpun said nothing this morning either.)
(He took his lunch box as usual, and I saw him off with "have a good day.")
(Nothing about that phone call.)
Midori nearly sighed, then hurriedly made a smile.
(When I'm standing in the shop, I have to smile.)
(I can't make the customers worry.)
Midori told herself this as she brewed coffee.
The doorbell jingled.
"Welcome."
Midori looked up with a smile.
Standing there was a young woman.
Her black hair was cut to shoulder length. She wore thin-framed glasses, and there was a small mole at the corner of her mouth. She had a slender figure and gave off a calm air.
(Oh, a customer I haven't seen before, perhaps.)
Thinking this, Midori stood on the other side of the counter.
"Welcome. Please sit wherever you like."
The woman looked around the shop.
Then she sat not at the counter but at a table by the window.
Midori carried a glass of water to the woman's table.
"Please call me when you've decided."
"Yes, thank you."
The woman spoke in a quiet voice.
It was a voice that felt somehow cold, yet strangely pleasant to the ear.
Midori returned to the counter and glanced at the woman.
(What a beautiful person...)
(And she seems mature, somehow.)
(About the same age as me, I wonder.)
Midori polished coffee cups while thinking such things.
After a while, the doorbell rang again.
"Welcome."
When Midori looked up, Punpun was standing there.
"Oh, Punpun. Welcome back. Perfect timing—will you help out at the shop?"
When Midori spoke, Punpun nodded, once.
At that moment, the woman at the window seat stood up.
"Oh, Punpun."
The woman called out to Punpun in a familiar tone.
Midori's heart gave a jump.
(Huh?)
(This person knows Punpun?)
Punpun turned toward the woman and gave a small nod.
"It's been a while. Have you been well?"
The woman walked
Novelia is an AI-powered platform to read original light novels and fan fiction, create your own in just a few taps, and chat with the characters. New, illustrated episodes arrive daily — free to start.