Our Life That Begins with a Convenient Relationship - Chapter 9

In the end, it took until nearly noon to finish cleaning everything. The hallway from the entrance to the living room, the spacious living area, and her bedroom—it seemed like cleaning had been pushed aside because she was so busy with work. Clearing it all out was quite a tiring task.

The thing that surprised me most was finding a room that was completely empty. No curtains, no furniture. Perhaps because it wasn’t being used, there wasn’t even any dust; it was just a clean, open space. It was plenty big enough, yet she wasn’t even using it for storage.

“What is this room for?”

“Oh, um… I haven’t really decided yet.”

“? I see.”

I didn’t mean to pry, but I tilted my head slightly in wonder.

Well, I suppose she didn’t intend to use every room by herself. Maybe she’s keeping it ready so she can live with a partner if she ever gets one. It felt like too much work to think about it deeply, so I just settled on that explanation for myself.

Come to think of it, I’ve never heard Sakura-san talk about a partner. Not a single complaint has come up, and there’s no trace of anyone else living in this entire apartment.

The only thing I’ve heard is that, just like me, she’s being “pressured by her parents to get married.” With her career, earnings, and looks, you’d think there would be plenty of people chasing after her. Maybe her standards are incredibly high, or maybe men feel they aren’t a good match for her and run away.

…Well, either way is fine. It’s not like it has anything to do with me.

“Phew… we’re finally done!”

Turning around at the voice behind me, I saw Sakura-san lying spread-eagle on the floor.

—That, incidentally, was the exact spot where I saw a baby cockroach crawling while I was cleaning.

…Well, it’s better not to tell her. I disposed of it without her noticing, and she’ll be happier not knowing.

“This reminds me of when I first moved in!”

She said, looking up at the ceiling with a satisfied expression.

Her bangs were stuck to her cheeks with sweat, looking nothing like the professional office worker she usually is. It wasn’t the polite smile she showed at the izakaya, nor was it her “work face.” It was a defenseless expression suited to her age—or rather, looking like the younger girl she is.

Seeing that, I couldn’t help but give a wry smile.

Then, just as I went to stretch my own back and take a breather—

“Ah… ow!”

A sharp pain shot from my waist to my thighs. The thing I had forgotten had returned. Yes, the muscle pain.

“Sakura-san, let me use that massage chair. I’m really at my limit.”

“Oh! Go right ahead! Please, don’t hold back!”

I sank into the chair as if collapsing. The seat, neither too soft nor too hard, wrapped around my whole body perfectly. Even before turning on the massage function, just sitting there made my body feel like it was melting with relaxation.

“What is this…? I feel happy just sitting here.”

At my whispered words, Sakura-san peeked over at my face.

“I’m so glad! This was really expensive!”

“I can tell. It’s worth the price!”

I muttered. This is a dangerous chair that could turn a person into a total slacker.

Now then, I wondered what kind of massage I was about to experience but just as I reached for the remote.

Grumble… Our stomachs growled in perfect harmony.

“…”

After a moment of silence, our eyes met, and we both burst out laughing at the same time.

“Ah, hahaha…”

“Hehe… come to think of it, we haven’t even had breakfast.”

Looking back, she hadn’t eaten anything since last night. I had only had a few bites before leaving the shop. It was no wonder our stomachs were growling.

I picked up a notepad and pen that were lying nearby.

“I’m going to borrow a pen and paper for a second.”

“Y-Yes!”

As she replied, I started listing the necessary ingredients on the notepad. Chinese cabbage, pork, green onions, tofu, and some seasonings just in case. …Miso would be good to have too.

“Here, can you go buy these? I’ll make us lunch.”

“Wait, you’re going to cook for me? Yay! …But, don’t you need to check the fridge first?”

“I doubt there’s anything worthwhile in there anyway.”

“…Y-You caught me…”

I couldn’t help but laugh as she shrugged with a pathetic look on her face. Whether I “caught” her or not, anyone who saw the disaster from the sink to the living room would reach the same conclusion.

Sakura-san headed to the entrance and looked back while putting on her sneakers. She had a happy, almost child-like look on her face.

“Okay, I’m heading out!”

“Oh, wait.”

I realized I should mention one thing, so I called out to her.

“Listen, okay? Don’t mix up the Chinese cabbage, regular cabbage, and lettuce when you buy them.”

“I-I won’t make a mistake like that! I’ll make sure to look at the name tags!”

She left with an energetic shout, and the door clicked shut.

…I poked fun at her in my head, wondering if she really can’t tell ingredients apart just by looking. But then again, for her, that wouldn’t be surprising. Even though she’s in a position of responsibility, she seems a bit ditzy in some ways.

Left alone in the living room, I sank deep into the massage chair once more.

“Haaaah… heaven… mmm~”

When I pressed the button, the machine gave a low hum, and the rollers slowly pushed up against my back. The stiffness in my muscles at my shoulders, waist, and legs began to melt away bit by bit. The airbags wrapping around my legs squeezed tight, nearly making me let out a sound.

“Mm… this is cheating…”

I whispered with my eyes closed, overwhelmed by how good it felt. The micro-vibrations against my back, the rhythm pushing against my shoulders. It felt as if it were sucking away years of fatigue.

Honestly, this room is too comfortable. The furniture I saw was relatively new, and the air conditioning was so quiet it didn’t make a sound. Through the window, I could see the city buildings in the distance, with bright sunlight streaming in.

I want to stay here forever. It made me feel that way.

But that’s impossible. To begin with, with my earnings, I’ll never have a space like this in my entire life. This is just a reward for today.

“…Sigh.”

A sigh escaped my lips. It was a world of difference from the run-down apartment I live in. It was beyond being merely envious.

By the way…

Even though we are somewhat acquainted, she must trust me quite a bit to leave me in her room while she goes shopping. I could look through every corner of the place if I wanted to.

Of course, I have absolutely no intention of doing that. But when I think about her doing the same thing with someone else. It makes me a little worried.

(I wonder if she’s too quick to trust people for better or worse.)

Straightforward, honest, and a hard worker. But she’s also a bit clumsy. There’s something about her personality that makes it impossible to leave her alone.

(–I wonder what I am to her. Just a staff member at her favorite izakaya? An older acquaintance, or a friend?)

I thought about those things idly as I let the massage chair take over.