Chapter 4
"I Forgot My Bento..."
During lunch break, I opened my work bag and was struck with despair.
I had forgotten to pack my usual bento. By now, it was probably sitting all alone on the kitchen table at home.
"Oops, forgetting your lovingly prepared bento is a big sin, senpai?"
Ikoma-san peeked at my face. Personally, I thought it was more than just a sin; it was a major crime. Every morning, Ritsuka makes me a bento with her own hands, and it's the source of my energy to get through the afternoon shift.
Because inside that bento is love—I'm literally running on love!
"Love... I'm lacking love...! If this goes on, I'll starve for love...!!"
"Are you okay, senpai? You're saying some pretty strange things..."
Ikoma-san looked at me, slightly taken aback.
Well, I should at least send Ritsuka a message. I really feel bad about this...
But, even though I run on love, as a human, I can't function without food. Skipping lunch and working through the afternoon is impossible (I'll seriously collapse), so it can’t be helped.
"…Well, I'll just go to a convenience store. Maybe I'll grab an onigiri or something—"
"Oh, how about we go eat together? There are surprisingly good places around here!"
"Dining out, huh? That works too. Let's go."
I nodded eagerly at Ikoma-san’s suggestion. "Yay!" she exclaimed in delight.
Having lunch at some restaurant was rare for me. That’s just how much Ritsuka makes me a bento every day. I really can’t thank her enough.
"Saigawa, Ikoma. It’s fine if you want to eat out, but make sure you’re back within the break time."
As we were about to leave, our department head called out to us.
"Got it."
"We’ve already researched some good, quick places, so don’t worry!"
"…Saigawa."
"What is it?"
"Never mind... Just be careful and go on ahead."
"Alright, we’re off then."
"See you later!"
There was a strange pause from our department head as he looked back and forth between me and Ikoma-san, as if he was thinking something.
Well, there’s no point in worrying about it. Anyway, we decided to head outside the office.
"This is a small Italian place, but their lunch set is incredibly affordable and delicious! Oh, senpai, is Italian food okay for you? You know, a lot of people don’t like tomatoes and such!"
"I’m not a kid, it’s fine."
Ikoma-san enthusiastically gestured as she explained the details about the restaurant. I’ve been working at this company for a few years, but it occurred to me that I didn’t know much about the restaurants around here.
"Senpai, do you cook?"
"Why the sudden question? I cook on my days off. I try to split the housework evenly, you know."
"Wow, really? Well, most guys don’t really do that kind of thing. I was just curious about what you’re like."
"I used to cook for myself sometimes when I was single. I’m not particularly good at it, though."
"That’s so nice! I totally admire guys who cook. It’s like a rare, charming thing!"
Well, why don’t you ask your boyfriend to cook for you? I thought about teasing her with this, but in today’s world, even a comment like that could be seen as harassment. So I just left it at that.
Before long, we arrived at the cozy little Italian restaurant.
I thought we might have to wait, but there were still available seats, so they guided us to a table on the terrace.
"Are you ready to order?"
"I’ll go with the lunch set. What about you, Ikoma-san?"
"I’ll have the same! Oh, but could you reduce the number of bread rolls, please?"
The lunch set costs 1,000 yen and includes salad, soup, a daily special, and coffee.
"Reducing the bread rolls? Why?"
"Well... Should I really say this? It’s because of my diet."
"Ah, I see. You’re trying to lose weight?"
"Yep. I tend to gain weight easily, especially with meat."
It’s true that Ikoma-san is a bit more curvy despite being petite. However, Ritsuka also occasionally mentions dieting, but from my perspective, both of them are quite slender. I know that men and women have different standards for body image, but it still seems wasteful to reduce things like rice or bread.
"I think you’re fine as you are. There’s no point in forcing yourself to lose weight."
If I were to think in terms of combat—wait, what am I even thinking? Ultimately, body shape is a personal choice. It's not something I should be commenting on, especially not to a junior colleague.
"Well... then, I’ll stop forcing it. Since you say so, senpai! I’ll have to reluctantly agree!"
"No, no, sorry, sorry. You should do whatever you want—"
Suddenly, I felt something cold brush against the back of my neck, and I instinctively turned around. But there was no one standing there, no one near me at all, and nothing had actually touched my neck.
(But that... it definitely felt like killing intent...)
"Is something wrong, senpai? If you need the restroom, it’s inside the restaurant."
"Oh, sorry, it’s nothing. I just thought I got a call from the company."
"That happens, right? We all have company phones, but I really don’t want them ringing on my day off! Though I guess it’s rare for our department to deal with that kind of thing..."
Right, I nodded in agreement, but I kept my guard up just in case. There were no enemies left in my life now. If anything, my daily tasks are the real enemy, but you never know what might happen.
I slid my hand into my suit jacket and checked the inner pocket with my fingers.
As a businessman, I obviously wasn’t carrying any weapons. However, I did have something that could serve as one.
"Senpai, did you ever do any sports? Something like martial arts?"
"Huh? No, I didn’t. I was in the go-home club. Didn’t I mention that before?"
"I think I heard that at an office drinking party a while back, but I still find it hard to believe. You’re kind of... different from other people, you know? In a general sense."
"…Really? I’m different from others?"
Ikoma-san said it casually, but inside, I was quite shocked. I don’t just pretend to be normal—I want to live as an ordinary person. If I wanted to, I could easily jump between buildings and move around like a superhero, but the truth is, there’s no such thing as a salaryman like that in the real world. I’m supposed to be just an average office worker, recognized by myself and others... yet, somehow, it feels different.
"Could it be that you're the type who’s bad at work? Because that would really hurt."
"No, it's not about work. It's more like... a woman's intuition, or instinct, really. If we’re herbivores, then you're like a wolf among us. Oh, and it has nothing to do with your first name, by the way."
"Ha ha ha... well, wolves are kind of like dogs, so let's just say that."
For a moment, I wondered if Ikoma-san knew something about my past, but there was no way she could. She was just perceptive. Both she and Ritsuka had this strange sharpness that women seem to possess.
I’m not a wolf. I’m a dog. A dog of society, a dog of the company. If asked, I’d obediently give a paw, a loyal dog.
Office workers are probably all dogs. There’s no way I could be the only one who isn’t a dog.
"Oh, here’s the lunch! It’s fine, senpai, you’re better off just staying the way you are!"
"O-oh…"
Despite the vague feeling of unease, we finished our lunch.
I tried to pay for the bill, but Ikoma-san strongly refused, so we ended up splitting it.
It was delicious, and since she’s my junior, I wanted to treat her. Plus, it was a chance to introduce her to a new restaurant.
"If you paid, it’d look like I invited you just to get treated!"
"Do you think so? I don’t really mind."
"When I want to be treated, I’ll make sure to invite you in a way that makes it clear! Let’s go again sometime!"
"What kind of invitation is that...? Well, whatever. If I forget my lunch again, we’ll go."
It was a rare offer, and could be taken as me saying we likely wouldn’t go again, but Ikoma-san cheerfully replied, "Yes!" We still had plenty of time to get back to the office.
"Ikoma-san. Let’s stop by a convenience store and grab some coffee—"
"Ah!"
Before I could finish my suggestion, a scream came from Ikoma-san.
A man, wearing a hat pulled low over his face, shoved Ikoma-san aside with one hand. At the same time, he grabbed her handbag and sprinted off. A pickpocket.
I hesitated for a moment, but decided that catching the criminal wasn’t my first priority. I quickly reached out and caught Ikoma-san with one hand.
"Are you okay? No injuries?"
"Y-yes. But my bag! That was a thief, right?!"
"It was a pickpocket. The area’s been kind of rough lately, I guess..."
I’d had a similar experience before when Ritsuka and I ran into some low-level yakuza at a hardware store. The world might be peaceful overall, but there are always those who disrupt that peace.
I wasn’t in a rush. Ikoma-san didn’t appear hurt, and the thief was still within reach.
"Senpai—"
"It’s fine. I’ll catch him right now."
I slipped my free hand into my jacket and pulled out a pen. Even a simple pen could become a weapon if used correctly. I was glad I had checked it earlier.
(Could that killing intent have been from him? No, that’s impossible...)
I swung my arm lightly and threw the pen. There were no bystanders between me and the man.
The pen flew through the air and struck the thief in the calf, causing him to trip and fall.
"Stay here for a moment. If you can, call the police. If not, just stay put."
"Y-yes. That was so fast—"
I released Ikoma-san from my grip and quickly approached the man, who was getting up.
"Don’t move. What are you doing on a weekday afternoon like this?"
"Wh-what...?! Guh!"
I pinned the man to the ground. It was easier than folding a cardboard box. He was probably in his 30s. I didn’t care about his reasons for committing the crime. His bad luck was stealing my junior's bag.
People around us started gathering. I might have drawn a little too much attention…
(No, I wasn’t doing anything strange, and most importantly, it was for Ikoma-san. A good, law-abiding salaryman caught a pickpocket. Isn’t that a pretty common story?)
About ten minutes later, the police arrived (Ikoma-san must have called them—she’s sharp). They took the man into custody.
The police asked us to accompany them to the station to clarify the situation, but we declined, saying, "We have work to do." I gave them my business card, so if anything came up, they would contact me.
In the end, we returned to the office just in time, right before our lunch break was over.
"Hey, Senpai, got a sec?"
"Huh? What is it, Otaka? Didn’t you go out for market research?"
As soon as we returned to the office, my junior, Otaka, called out to me.
"I came back before lunch. So, about earlier... I think it was around the time you and Ikoma were heading out for lunch, I ran into your wife at the entrance."
".........Huh? Ritsuka?"
"Yeah, the one with the silver hair, right? I don’t know if she’s Japanese, but anyway, she came to drop off a lunch for you. I knew you were out, so I told her and she left right away. Did you meet her outside?"
"I didn’t…"
"I see. Anyway, your wife is really thoughtful."
Otaka praised Ritsuka in a casual manner, but I was starting to feel uneasy.
I had sent a message to Ritsuka saying, "Sorry, I forgot my lunch." She replied with a mysterious stamp (the same character from the stuffed animal I had seen before) saying, "OK!"
Considering the time it would take her to get from home to the office, it didn’t seem like she came to deliver the lunch right after receiving my message. Most likely, Ritsuka had noticed I forgot my lunch before I did, and had planned to come deliver it during her lunch break. Not telling me about it could have been her little surprise for me.
"Aahhhh! I did something really awful!!"
"Don’t worry about it. Anyway, I’m off now."
"You’re so cold!!"
Otaka, unlike Ikoma-san, was the type of junior who was hard to pin down, always carefree and unpredictable. He was good at his job, so he was competent, but... well, whatever, I don’t need to think about him right now. He’s gone anyway.
Ritsuka must’ve come here during her work break. I totally blew it...
When I get home, I’ll apologize at lightning speed. Ugh, I wish work would finish quickly... I want to leave early...
"Um, Senpai."
"Huh...? What is it, Ikoma-san? I’m really mentally drained right now..."
"............ Never mind, it’s nothing. But thank you so much for earlier."
"Aah, no problem, no problem. In a situation like that, everyone would do the same thing..."
I weakly said that, and Ikoma-san bowed before heading back to her seat. She murmured, "It’s not like that," but at that moment, I didn’t really care either way.
＊
"Welcome home, Rou-kun♡ Good work today♡"
"Ah, uh, I’m home, Ritsuka."
Of all days, today I ended up working overtime, returning home later than usual. As soon as I stepped through the door, Ritsuka greeted me with a beaming smile, catching me completely off guard.
I thought she might be upset about what happened earlier, but she didn’t seem to be.
"You must be hungry, right? I’ll heat up your dinner!"
"Thanks. Oh, and about lunch today... I’m sorry. I missed you by a hair."
"Don’t worry about it! Really, it’s fine! I had a work errand to run near your office anyway, so I just dropped it off on my way! These things happen!"
"Is that so? Still, I feel bad. I’ll make it up to you—how about I get you something you like next time?"
"You don’t need to go that far~"
Ritsuka laughed brightly, and I couldn’t help but smile along with her.
Forgiveness is a cornerstone of a good marriage. This time, it was entirely my fault, and Ritsuka, with her boundless kindness, forgave me. Ah, my lovely wife. Could she be an angel?
With that, I changed out of my work clothes and headed to the dining table.
---
Sitting there was a single serving of packaged microwavable rice.
"………Ritsuka. What… is this?"
"Rice. I heated it up for you."
"Wait, is this… literal…?"
Sure, it’s rice. And yes, it’s heated up. She wasn’t lying.
But as I stared at the piping-hot container of microwaved rice, the room seemed to grow several degrees colder. Come to think of it, Ritsuka’s Blessing is of the ice-and-snow variety, isn’t it? I haven’t seen it in action lately, though…
No, no, that’s not the point here. What matters is that this scene—this frosty, veteran-married-couple dinner tableau—is happening to us, mere months shy of our first wedding anniversary.
"So, um… Oh, right, you said you had to go into the office today. No time to cook, then?"
"Not really. I was back by the afternoon."
"Oh, I see… Um, so where’s your dinner?"
"I already ate. There were leftovers from lunch."
"Ah. I see. I see."
There’s no mistake. I’ve made a terrible mistake.
Ritsuka is definitely angry.
Wait, then why did she greet me with that smile at the door? Was it just to lull me into a false sense of security before dropping the hammer? Is she secretly a demon?
She was now lounging on the couch, not even glancing in my direction, exuding an aura that screamed “stay away.”
[Did you mess up, huh? You totally messed up, didn’t you?]
"………"
[You’ve really done it now, haven’t you?]
"Shut up."
As I silently cleaned up after dinner, Nyankichi sauntered over, jingling the bell on the collar Ritsuka had recently put on her. The sound was faint but rhythmic—she was laughing.
[What did you do to that female human, hmm? Ever since she came back, she’s been radiating pure killing intent. It’s terrifying! I was so scared… I, uh, might’ve peed somewhere again.]
"That’s just because you’re not properly trained, you idiot!!"
Once every three times, Nyankichi does her business outside the litter box. "Take your time learning," Ritsuka says, but this guy just laughs at the humans who have to clean up after her.
Despite how irritating Nyankichi can be, it’s actually useful that we can have conversations at times like these.
I finished cleaning the dishes, then stepped into the hallway and waved Nyankichi over.
[Hey, are you trying to do a lucky cat impression or something? Doesn’t look like it.]
"I’m not doing that... You were watching Ritsuka, right? Tell me what she was like, please."
When Ritsuka gets upset, it usually lasts a while. We’ve had plenty of arguments in the past, and each time, I’ve had to find a way to make things right. Nyankichi, however, has information I don’t, so I’ll try to get that out of him before figuring out how to handle things.
[Is that how you ask a cat for help? What’s in it for me…?]
"...I’ll sneak you some cat food next time."
[Well... I suppose that’s fine.]
"Don’t suddenly speak normally."
[Anyway, that woman kept calling me stupid the whole time. My brain says that the ‘stupid’ is probably you, and you are stupid. So, yeah, you’re the one who’s stupid.]
"I can’t even argue with that, but anything else?"
[Hmm… I think she was talking about some board thing. I don’t remember anything else.]
"Board… Could it be?"
I wonder if she was talking about the Italian restaurant. Now that I think about it, the intense killing intent I felt earlier definitely didn’t come from a normal person. If that was Ritsuka’s anger, everything makes sense.
(She must have gotten furious when she saw me having lunch outside instead of eating the bento she worked hard to make… I mean, I can’t blame her for being mad.)
[As a senior in cat life, I’ll give you this advice— I like meat, and I also like fish.]
"That’s some completely useless advice… but I’ll keep it in mind."
There’s no way Nyankichi has more experience in cat life than I do, but I’ll let that slide.
I returned to the living room and slowly approached Ritsuka, who was lying on the couch.
"Hey, Ritsuka... No, Ritsu-chan? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
I used a nickname I rarely call her and made sure to speak in a slightly higher tone.
"I’m busy right now."
"Doesn’t look like it, though...? Just for a little bit, please?"
"Hmph. Make it quick."
I really wish she’d stop using formal language. It feels too distant...
Ritsuka sat up, hugging a cushion and staring at me suspiciously. The fact that she was still willing to engage means she might not be too angry.
Back when Ritsuka would get really mad, we couldn’t even have a proper conversation. So this time... I can work with this!
"I’m really sorry, Ritsuka. You check everything for me every morning, and I still forgot my lunch. But you know, I’ve always thought your cooking is the best, no matter what I eat. I promise I’ll never forget my bento again. And even if I do, I won’t eat out. I swear right here."
Thud! A cushion slammed into my face. The impact was so strong that it made a popping sound, and if I weren’t so sturdy, my nasal bone might’ve been in trouble.
But that’s beside the point. Wait, I did apologize properly, outlined the issues, and even suggested improvements, right? So why... why does Ritsuka have that dark aura surrounding her?
"U-uh, Ritsuka...?"
With a huff, Ritsuka walked toward her room. I instinctively reached out to her.
"Don’t touch me—Feather Hunter."
"Eh...?"
A sharp point was aimed directly at me. Without me noticing, Ritsuka had drawn Hibari. It's probably rare for a real sword to come out during a married couple’s argument, but I suppose we’re the exception. At the very least, I wished she wouldn’t unsheathe it.
The fact that Ritsuka called me Feather Hunter meant she was furiously angry.
At this point, I couldn’t do anything. All I could do was watch as she turned her back on me.
(No, no, no! What did I mess up?! She was angry a bit ago, but it wasn’t to the point of this level, right?! How did it escalate so quickly?!)
I’m not the perfect husband who has his wife’s feelings all figured out.
So I have no idea when or where I stepped on a landmine in Ritsuka’s mind.
(And this is bad... our anniversary is coming up in less than two weeks! Creating a rift now would be terrible!!)
With the anniversary so close, from experience, I know that when Ritsuka gets really angry, it lasts for days and lingers even longer. If we’re going to have a peaceful anniversary, I need to calm her down as quickly as possible.
[Hey, human male.]
"What is it...?"
[I’ve been thinking... sometimes, I really want to eat vegetables, too.]
"I don’t care...!!"
**
The next morning, there was no conversation between Ritsuka and me. It was a heavy, suffocating wake-up.
Ritsuka refused to make eye contact with me, and if I had to describe it with an onomatopoeia, she was "tsun"-ing. Her lips were tightly pressed together, and her cheeks looked slightly puffed up. If I carelessly said, "Sorry about yesterday. You’re cute as always today, Ritsuka. I love you," and tried to hug her, what would happen?
The answer would be Ritsuka’s Blessing, Falling snowflakes, coming at me from all directions.
In the past, during our early days of dating, we used to have big fights like this.
Ritsuka shows me her love directly, but she’s never an easy woman.
"Hey, Ritsuka—"
Thud!! She interrupted me by slamming her lunchbox onto the table.
Wait... even in this situation, she still made me lunch? But something about this lunchbox gives off a strange, dark aura.
"Ah, thanks. It really helps."
When I said my thanks while making eye contact, Ritsuka turned her face away. It seemed like there was no opening for me yet. Since she wasn’t holding Hibari, it looked like the peak of her anger had passed.
My stomach ached painfully. It hurt enough at work, but if I’m feeling like this even at home, I might end up literally spitting up blood someday…
**
The contents of the lunchbox were nothing but packaged rice. There were no side dishes, no pickled plums, no furikake.
Was this something a high school baseball player looking to bulk up would eat? I made that mental remark as I ate everything neatly, then immediately called someone during my lunch break.
"—So, that’s what happened..."
<Mm, I see. Ritsuka’s still a child, huh?>
There was no particularly strong reaction. I was consulting with Ritsuka’s best friend, Yoshino Kitsune, who knew Ritsuka well.
Yoshino-san had always been the one to mediate between Ritsuka and me, a very resourceful woman. Despite being the same age as Ritsuka, she was very mentally mature. Not that Ritsuka was immature, but still.
<Hey, Saigawa-san. Just to confirm, who was the person you had lunch with?>
"A junior from the same department."
<…Can I take a guess? Was it a cute, young girl?>
"Yeah. She’s a young girl. I’d say she’s generally cute."
It was impressive how quickly Yoshino-san figured that out. I realized again that her insight was perfect for providing support from behind the scenes.
<Just to confirm again, Saigawa-san, you apologized thinking that Ritsuka got mad because you forgot the lunch and went out to eat, right?>
"Yeah, but… that’s not it?"
<Ah, okay. Then I’ll tell you the answer, so listen carefully. Ritsuka probably got jealous seeing you enjoy your meal with that junior. Got it? I’m hanging up now.>
"Wait, hold on! Why jealous?"
Could it be that she suspected infidelity? Of course, I always wear my engagement ring during work hours. Ikoma-san knows I’m married. Most importantly, I have no romantic interest in Ikoma-san, and I doubt she feels that way about me either. We’re just colleagues.
"I’m completely devoted to Ritsuka. This is a misunderstanding."
<Saigawa-san... Whatever. Let’s think about it the other way around. If you went to deliver Ritsuka’s forgotten lunch, and Ritsuka was eating with a handsome senior at work, how would you feel?>
"Eh? I’d kill him. The guy."
<Well then, you get it! You’re such a pain of a couple! You figure it out yourself!!>
She said that in a half-sarcastic tone, then hung up the phone.
Thinking about it from Ritsuka’s perspective, as Yoshino-san said, it really was an unpleasant situation no matter the circumstances. I’d probably act by beating up that imaginary handsome senior, but Ritsuka directed her anger at me instead of Ikoma-san.
...Yeah. It’s all my fault.
"—Boss. Can I leave early this afternoon?"
"Tell me the reason."
"I want to apologize to my wife."
"Are you an idiot? Get back to work."
Damn it, let me go, you black company...! I’ll report you to labor standards...!!
However, whether it was my sincere feelings being understood or just sheer luck, I was able to leave work on time today. On my way home, I bought a cream puff, one of Ritsuka’s favorites, and hurried back.
"I'm home!"
"Oh, welcome back──…"
Caught off guard, Ritsuka, who happened to be by the entrance, responded. But immediately, as if to show that she was still upset, she turned her face away and picked up Nyankichi, who was walking nearby.
She then hid her face behind Nyankichi and quickly retreated.
[Welcome home, Master♡]
(You’re only this polite at times like this.)
Even so—Ritsuka may have her silly sides, but she’s not foolish. She doesn’t truly think I’m cheating on her, and she knows that her anger is temporary. Still, once she’s upset, it’s hard for her to figure out how to reconcile, and that’s something anyone can understand. As her husband, I need to properly approach Ritsuka and make amends.
"Ritsuka."
After changing, I sat down on the sofa and called for Ritsuka.
I lightly patted the seat beside me. It was a gesture to invite her over.
—Nyankichi jumped up.
"Not you…!!"
"Huh…?"
Usually, when I call, you don't come at all…! Was that intentional…!?
However, Ritsuka came over and gently picked up Nyankichi, sitting down next to me.
"Let’s talk properly. Um, I’m really sorry about my misunderstanding yesterday. But just to clarify, the woman I was with was my junior, Ikoma. You know, the one I told you about before? The really competent junior? That’s her, and of course, I have no romantic interest in her. Seriously. I’m all about you, Ritsuka."
"You heard it from Yoshino-san, didn’t you?"
"Ugh… Sorry for being so clueless. That’s right."
Sharp as ever… I guess she thought there was no way I’d realize the issue that quickly.
Ritsuka made a slightly dissatisfied face. I stared at her, but she looked away.
"…I didn’t know the junior was a young girl."
"Didn’t I mention that?"
"You only said she was in her second year."
"Ah…"
Since there was no need to go into detail about Ikoma-san, I only shared the minimum information, so Ritsuka must have misunderstood that Ikoma-san was a man.
"Anyway, as I’ve said many times, Ikoma-san is just a junior—"
Before I could finish, Ritsuka raised Nyankichi and held it in front of her face.
"I get it, nya."
Then, as if Nyankichi were speaking, she continued, "I get it, nya."
"Wait…"
"I get it, nya."
(Don’t repeat the same thing.)
"Rou-kun, it's not your fault, and I understand the relationship between seniors and juniors at work. But when I saw you holding that girl in your arms, I just got angry. It’s my fault, though, and I’ve been a nasty woman. I should apologize… that's what Nyankichi says."
"Ritsuka──"
[Huh? I didn’t say that.]
(Say the same thing.)
Nyankichi, being as tactless as ever. Ritsuka moved Nyankichi aside and looked at me, peering intently.
"...Sorry, Rou-kun. I know you’d never cheat on me."
"No, I’m at fault too. But if we both think we’re at fault, maybe we don’t need to apologize anymore."
"Yeah…"
[So, it’s only me, right? The one who’s not at fault?]
Ignoring Nyankichi’s sigh, I wrapped my arm around Ritsuka’s shoulder and pulled her close. Ritsuka, too, leaned into me, and I could feel her warmth and weight in my arms. Instinctively, I knew the fight was over. Neither Ritsuka nor I wanted to keep arguing for long.
"You know... I feel like it’s been a while since we had a fight."
"Yeah... Maybe."
"Back in the day, you were way more extreme. You froze all my personal belongings, or froze just my lower legs so I couldn’t move. You had some seriously technical ways of getting angry. It was like trying to wash a cat that doesn’t trust you and having it go wild."
"Th-That was…! I was still young! A-although I’m still young now! I’m not going to do anything dangerous like that anymore! And you, Rou-kun, were… well, you were something back then!"
"What was I like back then...?"
I was confused. Ritsuka stared off into space for a moment, then quietly murmured.
"I was scared you’d leave me."
"I’m scared you’d leave me, too."
"I’ll always be by your side."
"Same here."
How many people in life can truly understand you? For me, Ritsuka is that person, and I’m that person for her. I can’t imagine a life without each other anymore.
For a while, Ritsuka and I stayed in silence, holding each other close. Eventually, Nyankichi, bored, got up and wandered off somewhere.
"Hey, Rou-kun."
"Yeah?"
"Does that junior... have a boyfriend?"
"Huh? Ah, I’m not sure."
"Ask her."
"Why…?"
When I questioned her, Ritsuka pressed her face against my stomach. She looked up at me as if expecting me to comply.
"Hot! Okay, okay! I’ll ask her!"
"Also, hold me tighter. Tighter than you did with that girl."
"Alright, alright."
It seemed that Ritsuka had some strange sense of rivalry with Ikoma-san. It was unnecessary worry, though.
Well, I had no reason to refuse, so I hugged Ritsuka tightly.
"And, uh... when catching a thief, you need to be quieter."
"Huh? I thought I was being pretty quiet..."
"It was pretty noticeable, I think."
"That’s unavoidable, though, since I was trying to catch someone who was stealing."
"Hmm... Well, whatever."
I wonder how much Ritsuka has been keeping an eye on me. The killing intent I felt must have been when I was at the Italian restaurant, so it was probably around that time. But, at this point, knowing about it seems pointless...
"Rou-kun, say 'I love you' 10,000 times."
"Isn't that too much...? My throat will hurt..."
"Say it~~!"
Ritsuka squirmed and wriggled in my arms like Nyankichi when she's in a bad mood.
There are many things that can only be communicated through words—that’s something Ritsuka sometimes says. I, and probably a lot of men, feel embarrassed or resistant to such direct words. Maybe it's because we think that saying them too easily will make them feel cheap. But, in the end, there’s no harm in whispering words of love. At least, not between people who truly love each other.
"I love you, Ritsuka."
"......"
The squirming stopped. I thought she was satisfied, but Ritsuka looked up at me.
"I want you to say it more like a cool scene from a drama."
"Ritsuka, you’re the type to express everything with words, huh..."
"I want it in a sexy voice♡"
"Isn't the request escalating?"
I should probably consider this a lower hurdle than saying it 10,000 times. Plus, this is a perfect opportunity to advance that "plan" I’ve been working on. I reached out toward Ritsuka’s left ear.
Her silver hair swayed lightly, like threads of silver. There were no split ends or damage; under the light, it shimmered, its color clearly not something that could be achieved by dyeing. It seemed that Ritsuka's natural hair had undergone a change, perhaps due to the effects of "Blessing," making it a unique trait of hers.
It felt soft too. I had once touched raw silk for work, and her hair felt almost the same. Ritsuka clearly takes excellent care of it, and it was worlds apart from my own slightly coarse black hair.
"Ritsuka—"
I gently lifted her silver hair as if parting a curtain and leaned in closer. My nose was filled with a faint, sweet fragrance. It was probably from the treatment Ritsuka uses, something I’m sure no man could replicate. I sniffed quietly, filling my lungs with her scent.
"Wait, wait, Rou-kun?"
"Yeah."
I gave a half-hearted response. I could’ve stayed like this, inhaling her scent forever. I love this smell... No, I can’t get enough of Ritsuka’s scent. I don’t quite understand it myself, but each time I smell it, it feels like my brain is melting away.
I placed my chin on Ritsuka's shoulder and then moved my nose down her neck, from her nape to the nape of her neck. The scent here was different from her hair, not sweet but rather fresh. It was probably the fragrance of her body soap. I couldn’t imagine she uses the same soap as me.
"It, it tickles."
"Yeah..."
I don’t know if it’s because of my sharp sense of smell, but Ritsuka’s scent changes depending on where I smell her. It’s sad that there are still so many places I haven’t smelled yet. Especially around the lower half of her body—
"Wait!!"
"Whoa!"
As I was contemplating where to sniff next, Ritsuka suddenly shoved me away.
The distance between us brought my thoughts back to reality. My mind, which had been filled with Ritsuka’s scent, cleared up.
"Sniffing like that is against the rules! This is supposed to be 'I love you' time!"
"Was it? Yeah, you're right."
"It’s not okay to sniff so much! You’re such a pervert!"
"No, it’s just that I love Ritsuka’s scent too much, so I can’t help it."
I played it off, but Ritsuka’s face turned red. She looked angry, probably because I’d disappointed her, but it was still the same expression as before, just a little puffed up.
"Rou-kun, you’re really like a puppy."
"I guess I’ve been told that a lot."
"If you keep sniffing like that, you'll eventually grow ears and a tail!"
"Like how Ritsuka did the other day?"
"…Yeah!"
So, we’re going with the idea that cat ears and dog ears might just appear? Well, maybe I’ll get some one day too.
In any case, Ritsuka and I had a little fight for the first time in a while, but we reconciled. As a married couple, we should always get along, but there are times when clashes happen. However, after such clashes, we should deepen our bond even more than before.
I’d love to continue cuddling with Ritsuka forever, but I hadn’t eaten yet after work. As my stomach relaxed, it growled, and Ritsuka chuckled.
"How about we have dinner? I actually made something today."
"Sounds good. Thanks, Ritsuka. After we eat, let’s have some cream puffs."
"Yay!"
[Dinner! Dinner!]
Somewhere, Nyankichi came flying in. Completely uninterested in human affection, but extremely sharp when it came to food.
"Nyankichi, it’s time for dinner too. I’ll get your kibble ready~"
[Huh? What about the canned food?]
(I told you we’d do that secretly next time…)
"…Ah! I forgot to cook rice! Sorry, Rou-kun, will plain rice be okay?"
"Ugh…"
Ritsuka held up a pack of rice and showed it to me. I couldn’t help but let out a sound.
It wasn’t that it tasted bad, in fact, it was quite good...
But for now, I found myself thinking that I didn’t want to see packed rice for a while.
Interulde 4
"Ritsuka, do you have any interest in picking up a new hobby?"
"Why the sudden question?"
As a rule, Ritsuka and Yoshino, the recovery team, only get involved when there is news of a Falling Feather.
The Organization or Shishima Institute likely operates the same way. They don’t seek combat for its own sake. That kind of conflict only arises out of necessity as part of the larger situation surrounding the Falling Feather.
So, when there’s no mission, Ritsuka and Yoshino are just regular 14-year-old girls.
"Well, lately I’ve felt like my life’s lacking a bit of excitement, you know? There’s always this idea that starting a new hobby can open up a whole new daily routine and all."
"Is that so?"
"It is! And that's why I’ve decided to try something new—cooking!"
Yoshino was holding a brand new recipe book, with a few sticky notes sticking out, indicating she'd already started reading it. Ritsuka let out a small "Oh," impressed.
"Wow, Yoshino, you can cook?"
"Well, not really. I’m just reading this for now."
"Huh? ...That’s pointless."
"You're too naive, Ritsuka-chan. Cooking starts with recipe research!"
"Is that so?"
"Exactly! First, you learn the basic ways to cook from this book, then you come up with your own twists! And finally, you make your homemade dish and feed it to your beloved boyfriend, winning him over with your cooking skills!"
"But you don’t have a boyfriend, right?"
Ritsuka responded innocently, tilting her head, but Yoshino’s expression darkened.
"We’re talking about making a boyfriend and cooking, okay? Both are going to happen!"
"Good luck with that."
"Why are you acting like it’s someone else’s problem? Ritsuka, you want a boyfriend too, don’t you?"
"Eh... not really."
Ritsuka’s answer was completely honest. She wasn’t really interested in having a boyfriend or being in a relationship. In fact, she sometimes thought of it as something only seen in TV shows or manga. Yoshino sighed deeply at this response.
"Ritsuka, don’t you want to try something else besides just drawing? Forget the boyfriend thing, but cooking is something that’ll definitely be useful for the rest of your life."
"I like drawing, and cooking... is something people do for me. Hmm..."
Ritsuka’s main hobby was drawing, especially landscape paintings. She was confident that her skills were better than average, and when she immersed herself in it, time flew by. So, at the moment, Ritsuka had no real desire to pick up any new hobbies. Yoshino, lost in thought, asked quietly:
"Ritsuka, do you think this fight will go on forever?"
"I don’t know. It’ll probably end eventually. The Falling Feather won’t last forever."
"Exactly. It’ll end someday. Sometimes I think the people in the Organization don’t realize that, but we’re different. This won’t go on forever."
"What are you trying to say, Yoshino?"
"I’m talking about how we should think about our future. Right now, the Organization is keeping us alive. But that won’t last forever. If the day comes when that changes, what will we be able to do...?"
"Do you want to start something new?"
Ritsuka’s question made Yoshino nod quietly. Ritsuka thought Yoshino was very smart. Unlike herself, who tended to drift along, Yoshino was always thinking ahead, considering the future, and moving forward.
If one day everything she knew were suddenly taken away—
(I have... nothing.)
"...You just got a little anxious, didn’t you?"
"Yeah..."
"Well, once I’m done reading this book, I’ll give it to you. It’s not like anything’s going to happen right away. We can just start picking up new things little by little."
From that day forward, Ritsuka would learn that there was a difference between the strength needed to fight and the strength needed to live each day. She would later be grateful for that lesson, but—
"Let’s do our best! Our future dream is to form a 'Bride's Alliance!'"
"What’s that alliance?"
"I just made it up! I bet your future dreams are all vague too, right? So, it’s okay to say you want to be a bride when you're young, and people will let it slide! Well, I’ve always wanted to be a bride from the start, though!"
"I don’t really get it..."
—But right now, it wasn’t time for that.
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