Our Life That Begins with a Convenient Relationship - Chapter 23

After finishing lunch and doing the dishes, I headed out with Sakura-san to a large store that sold furniture and appliances. The prices there were surely one or two levels higher than the stores where I bought things when I first started living alone.

We passed through the station plaza and walked through the weekend crowds. The afternoon sun was unexpectedly strong, and the heat reflecting off the asphalt felt hot against my cheeks.

“I definitely want a dresser, a desk, and a chair, but…”

“Understood! Oh, what about a bed?”

Her voice sounded excited, like someone preparing for a brand-new life. She seemed brighter and happier than usual.

“I’ve always used a futon, so if I can have the one from before, I’m fine as I am.”

“Eh? Doesn’t sleeping on the floor all the time hurt your back? And even with the heater on, it gets really cold down there in the winter.”

“When you put it that way, I kind of want one…”

I felt like I was being led right into it. But when she mentioned my back, I couldn’t argue. Besides, her words were filled with genuine worry. There was no hidden motive or sales talk in her voice.

That was why I found myself accepting her kindness so easily.

“Don’t worry about the money; please pick whatever you want, Kyoko-san!”

That’s right. In our fake marriage agreement, the only financial burden I had was the cost of food, which served as my rent. She would cover all other costs for furniture and daily life.

That was the contract but as we actually walked toward the store, I still felt a bit guilty.

“…About that, is it really okay for you to buy everything? It’s going to be quite expensive, isn’t it?”

“It’s fine! I’ve been working hard and saving money for a time like this!”

Her eyes sparkled with pride.

A time like this—. It would be conceited of me to think she had planned for the day I moved into her house. Knowing her, she probably saved up for “the future” or “in case I get a partner.”

If that was the case, I couldn’t just waste her money.

“I understand. But I’ll avoid the luxury items so we don’t waste money.”

“Okay!”

Since she was buying them, I began to organize what I needed in my head. A dresser, desk, chair, and bed. I would also need a rice cooker. The food bill might go up, but freshly cooked rice is better than the pre-packaged kind. With a rice cooker, even she could probably cook rice just by pressing a button. …She can do that, right?

As I was thinking about that, I noticed her acting restless beside me. She kept clenching and unclenching her hands, looking like she was holding back something she wanted to say.

Before I could ask if something was wrong, Sakura-san suddenly stepped in front of me.

“U-Um, Kyoko-san!”

Since she blocked my path so suddenly, I reflexively took a step back. But she didn’t mind my reaction and squeezed her hands together in front of her chest. She looked nervous, her lips opening and closing as if trying to speak.

“What is it?”

“The thing is… we are in a fake marriage, right?”

“Yes. And?”

At first, I thought she was going to say, “Leave the directions to me!” But I was wrong. She took a breath and continued with a very serious expression.

“So, um… I think it’s better if we act a bit like lovers while we are outside!”

“Like lovers?” I asked back. She leaned forward eagerly.

“Yes! If an acquaintance sees us and tells my parents that we don’t look like we’re dating at all… you know, that would be bad. So, just in case…!”

“…Well, I guess you’re right.”

I see. She was saying we needed to go on “fake dates” to make people believe the fake marriage. It would be a hassle if my parents found out the truth too, so it might be good to practice acting like a happy couple for the future.

But—.

How exactly do people act “like lovers”?

I had never gone out with a partner before, and I had never even imagined it because I wasn’t interested.

Come to think of it, how did my classmates who were dating back in school spend their time? I think they walked while holding hands. Would something like that work?

Relying on those vague memories, I took her hand as if following a script.

——I interlaced our fingers, just like that.

“Is this okay?”

“K-Kyoko-san!?”

“Eh? Is something wrong?”

She blinked rapidly and stared at our joined hands. Perhaps because I held her hand with our fingers intertwined, our palms were pressed together, and I could feel her body heat directly.

“Don’t lovers do things like this?”

“W-Well, sure, they do ‘lover’s hand-holding,’ but…! …No, it’s nothing. This is fine!”

Her voice went a bit high at the end. I seemed to have surprised her, but if she said it was fine, then there was no problem.

And so, we started walking again while holding hands. The noise of the people passing by felt a bit far away.

The warmth in my palm spread slowly with every step we took. Her hand was surprisingly soft, and I could feel her fingertips trembling slightly.

Looking at her from the corner of my eye, I saw that Sakura-san’s cheeks were flushed. For a second, I wondered if she had been drinking in secret, but it was still the middle of the day. That was probably impossible.

“Are you okay? Your face is a bit red. Did you catch a cold?”

“N-No… I’m fine! I’m at a hundred percent!”

“…A hundred percent?”

“Yes! Um, you know in terms of spirit!”

I didn’t really understand what she meant, but she seemed energetic enough.

…Maybe she was just embarrassed to be seen by others. But she was the one who suggested acting like lovers. I was just going along with it and holding her hand.

You’re the one who brought this up, so just deal with the embarrassment, I whispered in my mind as I matched my pace to hers and walked toward the store.