Our Life That Begins with a Convenient Relationship - Chapter 20

The next morning, I woke up much earlier than usual. Faint morning light peeked through the gaps in the curtains, softly coloring the air in the room.

The clock showed it was just past seven. I should have set an alarm, but I opened my eyes naturally before it went off.

I thought it might be because of the unfamiliar futon, but surprisingly, my body felt light and I wasn’t sleepy at all. Rather, my heart was quietly racing. Perhaps the excitement of starting a new life woke me up naturally.

I sat up a little and looked over; Sakura was still sleeping peacefully. She had pulled the duvet up to her chest, and her shoulders moved up and down slightly with her breathing. Her sleeping face, lying there in bed, was completely different from the brisk office worker she usually is; it showed a girlishness suited to her age.

Her hair was a bit messy from sleep and brushed against her cheek, making me want to fix it for her. I let out a small sigh, smiling wryly at myself.

—It’s almost like looking at a younger sister.

Even though I’ve never had a sister, the thought made my chest feel ticklish.

I turned off the alarm and slipped out of bed so as not to wake her. Walking quietly toward the living room, the thin morning air filled the space.

I washed my face with cold water and fixed my hair. Then, I opened the refrigerator and began preparing breakfast.

—Though, it wasn’t anything special. Just toast, fried eggs, and a light salad made from vegetables in the fridge. I’ll make Sakura’s portion once she wakes up.

Judging by her sleeping face, she didn’t look like she’d wake up for a while. Since she works so hard every day, she probably wants to sleep in on her days off.

I finished the preparations efficiently, set my own breakfast on the table, turned on the TV, and began to eat.

On the screen, a news anchor was calmly reporting on a celebrity couple’s divorce. Married for five years, a joint statement. They thanked each other while saying they would “walk separate paths”—an ending decorated with beautiful words.

“I wonder what love really is…”

The thought slipped out of my mouth.

The two people on the screen were supposed to have married after swearing their love for each other. If it can crumble in just a few years despite talking grandly about love and vows, maybe love is just that kind of thing after all. Affairs, misunderstandings, lies—relationships that end easily for those reasons.

“Well, if we’re talking about lies, our relationship is one too.”

A fake marriage is a relationship based on a lie from the very start. However, this is a lie necessary for both of us, and it works because it’s convenient. There’s no need for romantic feelings; in fact, because there are none, we can maintain it peacefully.

And besides, we are both women to begin with.

“…Still, it’s a strange story.”

I took a sip of coffee from my cup. The bitterness remained on my tongue, pulling me back to reality just a little.

Just then, the door to her room opened with a small creak. Rubbing her sleepy eyes with her hair a bit disheveled, Sakura wandered over.

“Good morning, Ms. Sakurai…”

Her voice was stretched out sleepily. Her expression, with her eyelids looking heavy, was somehow quite cute.

“Yes, good morning.”

When I replied, she gave a soft, weak smile.

Good morning. Good night. Welcome home. These are ordinary words that I had no one to say to when I lived alone. Now, they are slowly returning to my life here.

I didn’t realize that such simple words could fill my heart with such calm.

On days when she comes home earlier than me—when she opens the front door and says “I’m home,” will I be here in this living room to welcome her with “Welcome back”?

Even if it’s a fake marriage, that exchange surely wouldn’t be bad. In fact, I’m even looking forward to it a little. Just imagining that scene makes the depths of my chest feel warm.

…Wait, why am I getting so sentimental this morning?

I pulled my chair and stood up to shake off the feeling, heading to the kitchen. The metallic sound of the frying pan echoed pleasantly against the quiet air.

“Now, her turn next.”

As I started cooking, the TV in the living room was playing the weather forecast along with some upbeat music.

“It looks like it’ll be sunny all day today.”

Sitting on the sofa, Sakura spoke up lazily. Perhaps she was still half-asleep, as her voice was soft.

“Since we’re going shopping in the afternoon, it’s better if it’s sunny. It’s a pain to carry things home in the rain.”

“True! Oh, my fortune for today looks pretty good.”

Listening to her relaxed voice, I set the toast and dropped an egg into the pan to fry. Along with the light sizzling sound, I heard her give a small yawn.

For some reason, that sound made my heart relax a little. Just the fact that someone else is in this space—I didn’t realize such a simple thing could provide this much security.

Before long, I plated the food and carried it to the table along with the salad I had already made.

“Here you go.”

As I held it out, Sakura’s face lit up. She put her hands together and took a bite.

“Mmm, delicious! It’s just a normal breakfast, but why does it taste so different?”

“…It’s just toast, a fried egg, and salad, you know?”

“But it really is delicious, really!”

Seeing her eat so happily like a child made me smile too. Even though it’s a completely ordinary breakfast, just knowing it makes someone say “it’s delicious” fills my heart so much.

It’s likely a feeling I had forgotten during my long time living alone.

Still, making a meal for someone and eating at the same table as them—why does just that feel so wonderful?

However, I can’t stay relaxed for long. There are many things to do today. Once my luggage arrives, I have to unpack, and I want to finish the laundry before then if possible.

“Sakura, I’m going to start the washing machine, so put anything you want washed in soon.”

“Okay~.”

“Put your underwear in a laundry net so the colors don’t bleed, okay?”

“I-I know that much! I’ve been doing my own laundry properly until now, you know!?”

Seeing her protest with a red face, I almost burst out laughing.

…I’m sure she really does know. Well, if she had been doing the cleaning just as “properly,” this room wouldn’t have been in such a disastrous state when I first came here.

“Hehe… well, alright.”

After she finished her breakfast, she went back to her room. I began preparing the laundry while collecting towels from the bathroom and kitchen. When I pressed the switch on the washing machine, the sound of water flowing vigorously filled the room with the feeling of a new day beginning.