Chapter 3 Kotori and Yui
(…Huh?)
Shimizu Kotori noticed it on her way home from school.
She had seen Yuuki off to work as usual and had just returned to the apartment a little early.
That’s when she ran into Yui, the girl she’d spent time with two days ago.
“Hello, Yui-chan.”
“…”
Yui remained silent, but gave a small nod in greeting.
(She really is a beautiful child.)
Like a princess straight out of a picture book.
But that wasn’t what caught Kotori’s attention.
In Yui’s hand was a bag from the local convenience store.
Unlike Yuuki, whose schedule was erratic, Kotori had seen Yui coming home several times recently, and she always had a convenience store bag in her hand.
She’d seen an elderly woman who looked like a housekeeper coming and going a few times, but judging from the other day, it seemed her family was rarely home.
(That seems… a little lonely.)
Of course, some people wouldn’t mind, and maybe Yui was that type, but that’s how Kotori felt, at least.
Maybe I should invite her over?
They had spent a long time together the other day.
No, that would be too meddlesome, wouldn’t it?
But this was just Kotori’s personal feeling—when she was a child and her father was often away on business trips, she had felt lonely, even with her mother there.
She thought that was just how children were.
So if spending time with her could alleviate even a little of that loneliness…
“…? If you don’t need anything, I’m going.”
Yui said, noticing Kotori had been lost in thought.
“Ah, um, well…”
“…?”
Yui tilted her head slightly.
“It’s just that…”
The words “What if I’m being a bother?” swirled in Kotori’s mind.
She was so pathetic in moments like these.
Yuuki would have invited her without a second thought.
Thinking of Yuuki, his words echoed in her head again.
‘You know, it can make someone really happy when you work up the courage to talk to them.’
(…He’s right.)
It was the same with Yoshida-san.
If she just worried about being a bother, nothing would ever start.
She herself had been saved because Yuuki had stepped into her life.
That had made her so incredibly happy.
So, even if it was meddlesome, if she could make someone else feel that way…
“Hey, Yui-chan.”
Yui met her gaze, her eyes asking, What is it?
“Would you like to come to my place and talk for a bit?”
“…Why?”
“Um…”
She hadn’t expected to be asked for a reason.
What should she do?
She couldn’t very well say, “Because I thought you might be lonely by yourself.”
No, instead of making it about the other person, she should just be honest about what she wanted.
“Because I’d like to talk with you more, Yui-chan. Is that… not okay?”
Yui stared intently at Kotori’s face.
This girl had a habit of staring into people’s eyes, and being looked at by those beautiful blue pupils made Kotori feel as if her every thought was being seen through.
“…Okay. I get it.”
“R-Really?”
Kotori let out a breath of relief.
“Wait a sec…”
Yui took out her smartphone and, with fingers still shorter than an adult’s, began to type something.
“…Kotori.”
Yui showed her the screen of her phone.
“Eh, ah, yes. What is it, Yui-chan?”
Kotori felt a small thrill of happiness that Yui had remembered her name after only hearing it once two days ago, and looked at the screen.
“Hyodo-san says, ‘Please take care of her.’”
The screen displayed an incredibly stiff, business-like message that basically said what Yui had just relayed: “We apologize for the trouble, but please look after Yui-sama.”
She’s exactly as I imagined, Kotori thought once again.
“The pleasure is all mine, Yui-chan.”
“…Yeah.”
With that, Kotori unlocked her own apartment, dropped off her things, and then used her spare key to open the door to Yuuki’s room.
“Welcome, Yui-chan.”
Yui gave a silent nod and stepped into Yuuki’s apartment.
◇
(Well… I invited her, but what do I do now?)
It was great that Yui had come over, but now that she thought about it, Kotori was not at all skilled at leading a conversation.
Yui, for her part, was sitting at the table, silently eating a convenience store hamburger steak bento.
Kotori, who hadn’t considered her own lack of conversational skills, wasn’t naive enough to expect Yui to carry the conversation.
I have to say something, anything…
“…Um, Yui-chan.”
“What?”
“I have some leftover pudding in the fridge. Would you like some for dessert?”
“…I don’t like sweets.”
“Oh, ah… I see. Um…”
That was completely unexpected.
She had assumed all girls, especially little ones, loved sweets.
“So, you don’t like sweet things?”
“…Nope.”
“…”
“…(munch, munch)”
“…”
“…(munch, munch, munch)”
(Yuuki-san, help meeee!)
Kotori, who hadn’t cried for help even when she was being abused, screamed internally this time.
It was in moments like this that she realized just how much she relied on Yuuki to initiate their usual conversations.
Come to think of it, Yoshida-san, the girl she’d recently started talking to in class, was also the type to lead the conversation.
She was keenly aware of how much she had been depending on them.
The conversation failed to gain any traction, and after finishing her meal, Yui started playing a game on her phone.
(I have to say something… anything…)
But for the next two hours, as Kotori did her chores, she tried to find an opening for conversation by observing Yui, but time passed without any success.
Eventually, Yui looked up from her smartphone.
“…I should get going.”
She said, standing up.
“Ah, yes.”
Kotori was about to say, Let’s talk a little more… but she swallowed the words.
What was there to talk more about?
They hadn’t had anything resembling a real conversation in the first place.
Kotori walked Yui to the door.
“Yui-chan… um…”
“…Sorry.”
“Eh?”
“…I’m not good at talking.”
Yui said as she put on her shoes, tapping her toes on the floor.
“That’s not…”
“…Sorry we couldn’t have a fun conversation.”
With that, Yui left Yuuki’s apartment.
◇
“Still, I can’t believe they gave me a raise at both jobs.”
Yuuki muttered to himself as he walked down the street at night.
Currently, Yuuki worked two different jobs.
One was for a moving company, and the other was assembly work at a factory near the school.
Both were physically demanding, which he had chosen deliberately when he was looking for work.
“I’m studying the rest of the time, so I should do something to stay in shape,” he’d thought.
Thanks to that, his arms were even thicker now than they were in middle school when he was heavily involved in sports.
And so, as Yuuki toiled away day after day, he had been informed today that he was getting a raise at both jobs.
The reason given was his diligent and energetic work ethic.
(I bet Kotori will be happy when I tell her.)
In moments like these, she would be happy for him as if it were her own accomplishment—no, even more so.
A little while ago, a pay raise wouldn’t have moved him at all; he would have just silently gone about his business as usual.
But now, he could genuinely feel happy.
Life really has gotten better since Kotori came along, he thought.
“Right, maybe I’ll buy something delicious tomorrow.”
A token of his daily gratitude.
Kotori would feel bad if he spent money frivolously, but in a situation like this, she might accept it without hesitation.
Thinking of her made him want to see her as soon as possible, and his pace naturally quickened.
He reached the apartment, took the stairs two at a time, pulled out his key, opened the door, and went to his beloved.
“I’m home—hey, listen to this, Kotori. Today, I actually—”
“Ugh, I’m so pathetic…”
His beloved was curled up in a futon burrito in the corner of the room, thoroughly depressed.
“The hell happened?!”
◇
“…I see.”
Yuuki nodded as he ate the dinner Kotori had prepared, listening to what had happened before he got home.
“So you ended up not being able to have a proper conversation with Yui before she left.”
“…Yes.”
Kotori nodded weakly.
Apparently, the most successful exchange they’d had was:
“Yui-chan, do you like hamburger steak?”
“…It’s okay.”
“What’s your favorite food?”
“Um, fried chicken.”
“Is that so? Fried chicken is delicious, isn’t it?”
“…Yeah.”
“Ah, um. Would you like some tea?”
“Thanks…”
“…”
“…”
That was it.
A mere four exchanges.
It was a bit of a stretch to call that a conversation.
“I was the one who invited her, and in the end, she was the one who apologized to me…”
Kotori said, her head bowed.
It was rare for her to be this obviously down.
She must feel terrible about what happened with Yui.
“Ah. S-Sorry. I’m bringing down the mood during your meal.”
And yet, she was still considerate of him and had managed to do all the housework perfectly.
That was just like her.
“Nah, it’s fine, it’s fine.”
If anything, Kotori was always too considerate.
He was truly grateful for it, and it was thanks to her that he could work hard at his job and studies every day, but he wished she would allow herself to just think about her own needs once in a while.
“Maybe it was just me being nosy after all. Yui-chan seems like the type of girl who’s fine on her own. Oh, Yuuki-san, would you like another serving of rice?”
“Yeah, thanks. Hmm, but…”
Yuuki said as he handed her his bowl.
“You invited her because you didn’t think she was fine, right?”
At his words, Kotori’s hand, which had just taken the bowl, froze.
“Um… well, yes. It’s not like she looked like she was about to cry from loneliness or anything, and this might just be my own wild assumption, but…”
Kotori lowered her gaze slightly.
“I don’t know what Yui-chan’s parents are like, but I think any child would be lonely if they couldn’t see them and were always alone…”
“Yeah… kids are kind of like that, aren’t they?”
Once you get a bit older, you understand that the world is bigger than just your family, and you might even start to find your parents annoying.
But Yui was only ten.
Too young for that kind of thinking.
That’s why Kotori had thought she could be a substitute, even just for a little while.
“Yeah, in that case, why don’t you just invite her over again?”
“Eh?”
Kotori looked up at Yuuki, a little surprised.
“You’re worried about her, right?”
“Well… yes. But I can’t talk to her properly.”
“Ah, about that.”
“Yes?”
“Do you really need to talk that much?”
Yuuki’s unexpected words made Kotori blink in confusion.
“Um… is that so?”
“Yeah. I think so. Because…”
Yuuki put down his chopsticks and took Kotori’s free hand.
“I like just quietly holding hands with you like this, too.”
“…Um, thank you.”
Kotori’s face turned a little red.
“I think what’s important is just being together. For example, I’m grateful that you always do the housework and listen to me talk, but even if you got seriously injured and couldn’t do chores or even speak, I’d be happy just to have you by my side, to be able to touch you like this. What about you, Kotori? If I couldn’t work anymore and lost my voice, would you stop seeing me?”
Kotori shook her head vigorously.
“Even if it’s you saying it, that makes me angry, Yuuki-san. That has nothing to do with it. I would be happy just to have you with me, no matter what happens to you.”
Hearing her say that, a smile spread across Yuuki’s face.
“Thanks, Kotori. So, I think that’s what it is.The happiness of just having someone there.”
Yuuki gently stroked Kotori’s hair.
“You don’t have to force it. If you just be your natural self, I think people will feel comfortable being with you even if you can’t talk much. At least, that’s how I feel, so you should have more confidence.”
“…”
Kotori stared at Yuuki’s face for a while, letting him stroke her hair.
Then…
Squeeze.
She gripped his hand with both of hers.
“…Yuuki-san. I’m so glad you’re my boyfriend.”
Her eyes were slightly moist with tears.
Yuuki gently patted her head.
“Yeah. I’m glad I could be of help to you, too.”
He’d missed his chance to tell her about his raise, but well, that could wait.
“I’m going to try inviting Yui-chan again.”
“Yeah. You can do it.”
For a while after that, Yuuki just sat there in silence, continuing to stroke Kotori’s head.
◇
The next day.
After school, Kotori walked back to the apartment at a slightly faster pace than usual.
She waited outside the entrance, and then…
There she was.
Yui appeared at the same time as yesterday.
In her hand was… also the same convenience store bag as yesterday.
“Welcome home, Yui-chan.”
Kotori walked over to Yui, crouched down to meet her gaze, and spoke.
“…(nod)”
Yui didn’t reply, but gave a small nod in greeting.
“Are you alone again today?”
Kotori asked, gesturing to the convenience store bag.
“Yeah.”
Yui answered curtly.
“I see…”
Yui was about to take out the key to her own room, but…
“Then, would you like to spend time in Yuuki-san’s room with me again today?”
Kotori said.
“…?”
Yui looked at Kotori quizzically.
“…I’m not good at talking, you know?”
But Kotori shook her head.
“That doesn’t matter. I want to spend time with you, Yui-chan… Is that not okay?”
This time, it was Kotori who looked straight into Yui’s eyes.
“…”
Yui held Kotori’s gaze for a moment, the two of them just looking at each other.
“Okay… I get it.”
Yui gave a small nod.
Kotori beamed.
“Thank you.”
She said, and opened the door to Yuuki’s room.
◇
And so, just like yesterday, Kotori found herself spending time with Yui.
“…”
Just like yesterday, Yui was silently munching on her hamburger steak bento.
And just like yesterday, Kotori was doing her housework.
And, once again, just like yesterday, there was no real conversation between them.
However.
“~♪”
Unlike yesterday, Kotori was humming happily as she cleaned.
Yui couldn’t help but glance in her direction.
Noticing her gaze, Kotori looked over at Yui.
“Is something wrong, Yui-chan?”
“…Uh, it’s nothing.”
“Oh, that’s right. I have some special milk pudding. Would you like to try some?”
“…I don’t really like sweet things.”
“You don’t, do you? But this one isn’t too sweet, so maybe just as a sample… what do you think?”
“…Okay, I’ll have some.”
Pleased, Kotori took the milk pudding from the fridge, served it in a small glass, and placed it in front of Yui with a small spoon.
“Here you go. It’s okay if you don’t finish it if you don’t like it.”
“Okay, thank you for the food.”
Yui nodded and slowly picked up the spoon.
She scooped up a tiny bit of pudding and took a small bite.
“…Oh, it’s good.”
Yui muttered under her breath.
Hearing that, Kotori smiled happily.
“I’m glad.”
“…(munch, munch)”
“…”
“…Hey.”
“Yes, what is it, Yui-chan?”
“Kotori, why have you been looking at me this whole time?”
While Yui had been eating her dessert, Kotori had been sitting across from her, watching her with a happy expression.
“Because I like watching you enjoy something I made, Yui-chan.”
“…Isn’t that boring?”
“Not at all. Just having you here with me is fun… Ah, but maybe it’s hard to eat with me watching? If so, I can go back to my chores.”
When Kotori said that, Yui shook her head.
“No, it’s not that.”
“I see. Thank you.”
“…You’re the one who gave me the pudding, Kotori. You’re weird.”
Yui said, and brought the spoon to her lips again.
◇
After eating, Yui started to relax in the living area.
She sat on the bed, fiddling with her smartphone.
Meanwhile, Kotori, having finished her chores, decided to work on her school assignments.
She sat at the table, reading a textbook with a highlighter in hand.
Again, there was no conversation between them.
But the atmosphere was clearly different from yesterday.
The silence wasn’t awkward.
Ah, I really was trying too hard to interact with her yesterday, Kotori thought.
Neither she nor Yui was good at initiating conversation.
And that was fine.
There was no rule that said two people had to talk when they were together.
What was important was being together.
Feeling each other’s presence.
Yui’s expression rarely changed, but Kotori felt that today, she looked more at ease.
No, she was probably genuinely relaxed.
After all…
“…”
Her head was bobbing as she dozed off.
Her eyes were half-closed.
For the first time, Kotori felt like she was seeing a side of her that was appropriate for her age, and she let out a small smile.
“If you’re sleepy, it’s okay to sleep.”
Kotori went over to the bed, sat down next to Yui, and patted her own lap.
“…I’m… okay.”
Even as she said it, she already seemed half-asleep.
Kotori gently placed a hand on Yui’s head and slowly guided it onto her lap.
“…I said I’m okay.”
“This is what I want to do. Is that not okay?”
“It’s not… not okay…”
With that, Yui relaxed her entire body and closed her eyes.
“It’s all right, I’m here. I’ll wake you up when it gets dark.”
“…Okay.”
Kotori stroked Yui’s hair.
The fine, golden strands felt silky as they slipped through her fingers.
“You know, doing this really does warm my heart…”
Kotori murmured wistfully.
“…Warm?”
Yui asked from her lap.
“Yes, it’s warm.”
“…My body temperature is on the higher side.”
“Hee hee hee. Yes, your body is warm, Yui-chan. But it’s not just that. When you’re close to someone like this, your heart gets warm, too. Doesn’t yours feel warm?”
“I don’t know… I’m always alone, and it doesn’t bother me.”
Indeed, Yui’s expressionless face and firmly set lips conveyed a sense of strong will.
She was a child who could spend all her time at home alone without any issue.
She must be a strong girl.
“I see, you’re very strong. Unlike you, I’m a coward, so I get lonely when I’m by myself before Yuuki-san comes home. When I’m lonely, it makes me happy to have someone by my side like this.”
“I see… But I’m fine by myself. I’ve always been…”
Yui’s voice didn’t sound like she was trying to act tough; it sounded like she simply believed that was the natural state of things.
That image overlapped with the person she herself used to be, who had accepted the unreasonable as normal.
Ah, I want this child to be able to relax when she’s with me.
That’s what she thought.
…Eventually.
“…Suu, suu…”
As Yui began to breathe deeply and evenly in her sleep, Kotori draped the bed’s comforter over her small body.
And then, she continued to gently rub her back as it rose and fell in time with her quiet breaths.
◇
“…Phew. Another long day.”
Standing in front of the apartment door after work, Yuuki rolled his shoulders.
He might have pushed himself a little too hard, what with the raise and all.
“Hee hee hee, and I’ve brought a souvenir today.”
Strawberry daifuku from a long-established Japanese confectionery.
It was Kotori’s favorite.
A little something to celebrate his raise and to thank her for everything.
“Alright, I can’t wait to see the look on Kotori’s face.”
Yuuki inserted the key into the lock and turned it.
Clank.
The lock disengaged.
Yesterday was an exception, but usually, he would hear Kotori coming to the door from inside…
“Huh? I don’t hear her today either.”
What was going on?
Puzzled, Yuuki opened the door.
“Hm? Oh, Yui’s here.”
As he went to take off his shoes, he noticed a pair of small shoes that weren’t Kotori’s.
Yuuki stepped inside and walked toward the living area.
“Kotori—I’m ho—ah.”
The moment he entered the room and saw the scene, Yuuki understood everything.
Kotori looked at him and put a finger to her lips.
(…I’m home, Kotori.)
Yuuki whispered, giving her an OK sign with his right hand.
(Welcome home, Yuuki-san.)
Kotori whispered back.
On her lap, the blonde-haired girl was sleeping peacefully.
…Ah, Kotori really is a strong and kind person.
Seeing Yui’s completely unguarded sleeping face, Yuuki was reminded of this once again.
*(Ah. I have to prepare Yuuki-san’s dinner.)*
*(It’s fine, just let her be. It’s all ready except for heating it up and serving it, right? I can handle that much today.)*
(…But you must be tired from work.)
*(It’s fine, it’s fine. If anything, thank you for everything you always do. So, here. Your favorite sweets. I got a little carried away since I got a raise. I’ll put them in the fridge.)*
Yuuki put the sweets in the refrigerator and then put the pot of pork miso soup that Kotori had already prepared on the stove.
“…Hm?”
As he was serving his own food, he felt Kotori’s gaze on him from behind.
What’s up?
He looked over at her and tilted his head questioningly, but Kotori just shook her head as if to say, It’s nothing.
*(What was that about? Well, anyway…)*
Yuuki glanced over at the living area as he worked.
There was Yui, sleeping, and Kotori, stroking her head with a gentle expression.
There was something almost sacred about the scene, yet at the same time, it was familiar and intimate.
He felt a nostalgic warmth enveloping the two of them.
(…Haha, they look just like a real mother and child.)
The sight warmed his own heart, and a natural smile spread across his face.
◇
While Yuuki quietly ate his dinner and took a bath, Yui slept soundly.
He had come home earlier than usual today, but it was already quite late.
(Maybe I should wake her up soon…)
It wouldn’t be good if she slept too much here and then couldn’t sleep when she got back to her own place.
As he thought that and peered at Yui’s face…
“…Nn.”
Yui’s eyebrows twitched.
Then, her eyes fluttered open.
“…Dad?”
“Nope, not him.”
“Hee hee.”
Kotori let out a small chuckle.
Yui sat up from Kotori’s lap and stared blankly at Yuuki’s face.
“…Not my dad.”
“You got that right.”
“…Why are you here?”
“Probably because it’s my apartment.”
She seemed to be extremely groggy.
At his words, Yui looked around the room, then at Kotori’s face.
“Good morning, Yui-chan.”
Kotori said with a smile.
“…Morning.”
“You slept well.”
“Yeah…”
Yui picked up her smartphone and looked at the screen.
“I’m heading back now. Thanks, Kotori.”
Yui got off the bed and headed for the door.
Yuuki and Kotori walked her to the entryway.
She put on her shoes, tapped her toes on the floor, then turned to look at them.
“…”
“Is something wrong, Yui-chan?”
“Did you forget something?”
Yuuki was about to look back into the room, but…
“…Again.”
Yui said, her eyes fixed on Kotori.
“Can I come again?”
“…”
Kotori looked a little stunned.
For a moment, she probably didn’t understand what Yui had just said.
But after a brief pause…
“Yes, please come anytime… Ah, but.”
Kotori looked at Yuuki.
“Hm? Oh.”
Well, now that he thought about it, this was his room.
He’d gotten so used to spending all his time with Kotori that he’d forgotten.
To say “come anytime,” she would indeed need the homeowner’s permission.
Yui turned her gaze to him as well.
“Of course, come over whenever you want.”
When Yuuki said that, Yui gave a small bow of thanks and left the apartment.
Clank.
The door closed.
“…”
“…”
Silence fell in the room.
It was amazing how much bigger the space felt with just one person gone, Yuuki thought.
“Alright, Kotori, you haven’t had dinner yet, right? Since I’m up, I can serve you—”
He started to say, then looked at Kotori beside him.
“Nnngh!!”
Kotori was clenching her fists in front of her chest, savoring her happiness.
“…Kotori?”
“Yuuki-san!!”
Kotori turned to face him with a speed that seemed to make a whoosh sound.
“Did you hear what Yui-chan just said?!”
“Y-Yeah?”
“‘Can I come again?’ She asked if she could come again!!”
Her expression was so full of joy it looked like it might burst.
She was more worked up than he’d ever seen her.
Somehow, it was making him happy too.
“Your feelings got through to her, huh, Kotori?”
“Yuuki-san!!”
Kotori threw her arms around his waist and hugged him.
“I did it!! It’s all thanks to you for giving me that push!!”
“You’re the one who did the hard work, Kotori. You’re amazing.”
Somehow, Kotori seemed like a child right now, with a different kind of cuteness than usual.
He couldn’t help but pat her head.
After a while of this, she seemed to calm down, her breathing and heartbeat slowing.
Even after she calmed down, they stayed like that for a bit, just enjoying each other’s warmth.
“Should we get back to it?”
He said, and tried to pull away from her.
Squeeze.
Kotori tightened her arms around his back.
She was telling him, without words, that she didn’t want to let go yet.
It was rare for Kotori to do something like this.
“What’s gotten into you… you’re being extra clingy today.”
Yuuki said jokingly.
“…Because, well.”
Kotori said, still in his embrace.
“Just now, when you came home. When I was watching over a sleeping Yui-chan and couldn’t move, you didn’t make a single displeased face and just prepared your own dinner.”
“Well, yeah, of course I would.”
“And not just that, you bought me my favorite thing and said, ‘Thank you for everything.’ And after that, you were so considerate, trying not to wake Yui-chan. And then, um… ah, I’m sorry, this is too embarrassing.”
“Hey, hey. You can’t just stop there after saying all that.”
“Um, well… p-please don’t laugh, okay?”
Kotori hesitated for another moment.
“…Watching you do all that, I thought that even if we had a child, you would treasure both me and the child equally.”
She said.
“And then I just didn’t want to let you go. I’m sorry… it’s weird, isn’t it? Imagining having a child with you right now…”
“I’ll let go now,” she said, and this time, she tried to pull away.
SQUEEEZE.
This time, it was Yuuki who hugged her tight, pulling her back to him.
“Y-Yuuki-san?!”
“Kotori, you are… so damn cute!!”
What is this adorable creature?
I’m gonna treasure you for the rest of my life, you hear me?
“That’s it, we’re staying like this until we go to sleep.”
“Wha—?! Th-That’s a bit much.”
“…You don’t want to?”
When Yuuki asked, Kotori shook her head within his arms.
“…No. I’m happy.”
She said, and leaned her body against his.
Unfortunately, they had to separate once when Kotori took a bath, but other than that, they spent the rest of the day either hugging or holding hands.
And then, they slept huddled together in the slightly cramped single bed.
It was the first time they had slept together since she had moved into her own room.
For Yuuki, it was the most peaceful and deep sleep he could remember having in his entire life.
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