Our Life That Begins with a Convenient Relationship - Chapter 17

We reached Sakura-san’s room. She stopped suddenly in front of the door. As if she remembered something, she said, “Oh!” and turned around to face me.

“That’s right. I have to give this to Sakurai-san.”

She rummaged through her bag. After a moment, she said, “Found it!” With a proud smile, she held something out to me.

“Is this…”

“Yes! Since we are living together, you need a spare key!”

A silver key swayed gently in her palm. It reflected the hallway light, shining brightly in the quiet night. I caught my breath. Even though I was just taking a key, my heart started to race.

For a second, I wondered if I should accept it as casually as our conversation earlier.

However, I am going to live here, so it is natural to have a key. I told myself that, took a deep breath, and gently took the key. The metal felt cold in my hand, making everything feel very real.

I pulled out my old leather key case. It was worn out at the corners, and the color had faded over the years.

The key to my old apartment was already gone. The only thing left inside was a spare key for the izakaya where I work. I slid the new silver key into the case.

It made a small clicking sound as it fit into place. It looked so new that it felt a little out of place.

“I’ll make sure not to lose it.”

“Yes, please take good care of it.”

Her voice was so soft that it made me feel a bit ticklish inside.

“Well then, please. You should open the door, Sakurai-san.”

As I stood there holding the key, she gave my back a gentle push.

When I pulled the handle, warm air flowed out from the entrance.

The moment I stepped inside, I let out a small sigh of relief. Unlike the disaster I saw the first time I came here, there was nothing on the floor. Last time, the floor was covered in trash and papers. I spent the whole day cleaning with trash bags in my hands.

…I remembered how a cockroach appeared back then, and she jumped at me in fear. I hope that experience made her want to keep things clean. Well, from now on, the housework is my job anyway.

“It’s surprisingly tidy.”

“Right?! I worked hard!”

Seeing her puff out her chest with pride made me laugh.

However, I could only see the main area. I’m still too scared to open the closets or shelves. I hope she didn’t just shove everything inside.

For now, I put my backpack which had my clothes for tomorrow in the spare room and headed to the kitchen.

I hadn’t eaten dinner yet. Sakura-san had eaten a lot at the izakaya earlier, but I had to cook for myself now.

“You bought several ingredients for me, right?”

“Yes! Oh, but the rice is just the pre-cooked packs…”

“That’s fine. It’s too late to boil rice now. …Wait, you don’t have a rice cooker, do you?”

“Let’s buy one tomorrow! I’ll pay for it!”

I smiled a bit at her energetic voice.

I tied my apron and opened the refrigerator. Unlike before, it was packed with food.

“I’ll pay you back for all of this later. How much was it?”

“Don’t worry about it! I bought these before you moved in.”

“Are you sure? If you’re okay with it, then fine… but you really bought a lot. Before, you only had half-empty water bottles in here.”

“Ahaha…”

But the food wasn’t just stuffed in. Everything was arranged so it was easy to see. …Maybe she organized it specifically so it would be easy for me to use?

The moment I thought that, my heart felt warm.

It was a small thing. But I realized how happy it makes me when someone prepares something just for me.

…Starting tomorrow, this will be my “daily life.” Thinking about that made me feel a gentle warmth in my chest.

“With all this, I can make anything. For today, let’s see…”

I took out some vegetables and chicken and lined them up on the cutting board. While I was busy chopping, Sakura-san sat in a chair and stared at me.

“What’s wrong? You already ate dinner, didn’t you?”

“Well… it just smells so good.”

Her eyes were sparkling. She looked like she definitely wanted to eat.

“…Do you want a little?”

“Yes!”

She answered so fast that I couldn’t help but smile.

I wondered how she could still be hungry after eating and drinking so much. While I made a stir-fry, I put a side dish I was making into a small plate and handed it to her.

“Wow!”

Her face lit up. She reached for the food with her chopsticks like an excited child. After taking a bite, she squinted her eyes and smiled happily.

“Mmm! This is delicious!”

Seeing her like that made me feel warm inside.

At the restaurant, customers sometimes tell me the food is “good.” But seeing this expression right in front of me is completely different.

I didn’t have much money, but I love cooking and housework. …However, when I lived alone, I never had the chance to see someone look this happy.

That’s why seeing her innocent smile right now touched my heart more than I expected.

“By the way, what do you usually do for breakfast or lunch?”

“I usually get rice balls or sandwiches at the convenience store! I try to save money where I can!”

“Oh! I remember you had convenience store bags everywhere.”

She sounded proud, but doesn’t she spend all that saved money at the izakaya at night? I think her way of saving is completely wrong. …Well, as a staff member, I appreciate a regular customer who spends a lot of money.

But since we are living together anyway.

“…Do you want me to make you a lunch box?”

Sakura-san’s eyes went wide.

“Is that okay?!”

I suggested it because it isn’t much trouble if I use the leftovers from dinner. She leaned forward as if she were about to jump out of her chair. Her eyes were shining like an elementary school student. I had to laugh.

“…Oh!”

But a moment later, she held her head in her hands.

“I don’t have a lunch box! …Okay, I’ll buy one tomorrow! So please start from the day after tomorrow!”

“Yes, yes. From the day after tomorrow.”

“Yay!”

With that smile, I couldn’t believe she was the same person who acts like a strict boss to her staff. Only in this room does she look like a younger girl.

Watching her eat with her mouth full, I smiled quietly. When I lived alone, I hadn’t laughed like this for a long time.

When was the last time I laughed from the bottom of my heart before I met her?

Even if I try to remember, the memory is blurry.

But for now, this is enough. Having the sound of her happy voice nearby was all I needed.