After My First Love Who is My Classmate Became My Family, My Childhood Friend Became Really Sweet to Me - Chapter 28

Living Together/A Little Happening/I’m Your Caretaker

It was Saturday, the day before I went on a date with Hinata.

It was early in the morning, I even hadn’t eaten breakfast yet, I took one deep breath in front of Tsukino’s apartment to fulfill her ‘request’.

‘I want to live together with Yuto for a day.’

That was the request Tsukino said to me and Hinata.

‘For one day, I want Yuto and Hinata-san to live in separate houses. I think it will be a more enjoyable date like that.’

‘A more enjoyable date?’

As I and Hinata tilted our heads dumbfoundedly, Tsukino said,

‘Yuto wants to have a date with Hinata-san as classmates, right? If that’s the case, I think it’s better not to spend the day before the date together. Because a date is when you get excited and nervous about spending precious time with the person you like.’

To our dismay, Tsukino spoke up.

‘It’s your first and last date as classmates, right? Then you guys have to make it the best date ever.’

I couldn’t say anything.

I’ve promised Tsukino to fulfil all of her request, but she used it for us instead of herself?

Ah, I see.

My childhood friend, Tsukino—she’s such a sweet girl.

‘Tsukino-chan…’

Eventually, Hinata, with a smile on her face said,

‘Thank you for doing this for us. I will definitely repay you someday. Then, please take care of Yuto for me.’

‘Yeah, sure. But I don’t need your gratitude. It’s true that I did it for Yuto and Hinata-san, but I also have my own reasons.’

Then Tsukino turned her bashful smile on me.

‘I’m looking forward to live together with Yuto. …I’ve been longing to live with him for a long time.’

—that’s what happened a few days ago.

It wasn’t the first time I’ve stayed at Tsukino’s house, but I was still somewhat nervous about it.

Was it because I was going to spend the day with the girl who confessed her feelings to me?

…if it’s true what’s the matter anyway. I was thinking too much about it.

I unlocked the door as usual and went inside the apartment. I didn’t even bother to ring the bell, as if we were live together as roommates.

Tsukino was probably still asleep anyway. So, I thought I was going to prepare breakfast while I’m at it—and that’s when I went into the living room.

Tsukino who was in her underwear wiping her head with a towel was standing there.

Both me and Tsukino were stunned and we looked at each other with a blank stare.

Tsukino’s body was beautifully shined by the morning sun shining through the window. Her skin was so beautiful that it reminded me of fresh snow, her body was so graceful and delicate that I couldn’t help but to admire her. I thought the underwear she was wearing looked familiar, but then I remembered it from the last time I washed Tsukino’s laundry—

That’s when I came to myself.

“I-I’m sorry!”

I hurriedly turned my back.

Behind me, Tsukino was giggling happily.

“Yuto, are you embarrassed? …I see, maybe it’s because he saw me in my underwear.”

“…Tsukino?”

“It’s okay if Yuto wants to see it. If it’s Yuto I’m totally fine by it.”

“…I can’t do that. Tsukino is a girl.”

“But I’m Yuto’s childhood friend. We’ve even bathed together before.”

“We bathed together when we were in kindergarten!”

What a nostalgic memory…

“But I’m glad Yuto is embarrassed. If he’s embarrassed to see me in my underwear, that means he sees me as a girl, right?”

“…well that’s because, Tsukino is the girl who confessed to me after all.

“I see, I’m glad to hear it.”

“I mean, I didn’t expect Tsukino to be up this early in the morning. Normally Tsukino won’t wake up if I don’t wake her up.”

“I was so nervous that I woke up earlier than usual. …it’s because today is a special day for me, I get to live together with Yuto for the day. I wanted to see Yuto as soon as possible.”

“…I-I see.”

She is really cute.

“Then, I’m going to go get changed, I’ll be back in a minute.”

When Tsukino walked away from the living room, I finally could take a breath.

But the sight earlier was burned into my mind that I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I’m not sure when the last time I saw Tsukino in her underwear. I didn’t notice it because I’m always with her all the time, but Tsukino has grown in many ways…

…if me and Tsukino are pure childhood friends, I wonder if I could have reacted normally.

As I finished preparing breakfast with that in mind, Tsukino came out from her room. Instead of her usual oversized sweater, she was dressed stylishly.

“The breakfast looks delicious.”

“Today’s my day off, so I worked a little harder to make it. But this isn’t nearly as good as Hinata’s.”

“No, it’s enough. With this, Yuto will make a great wife.”

I would like to believe that I had misheard you saying I’ll make a great wife.

“What about we go somewhere Tsukino want after we had our breakfast? Since we’re going to be together all day, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go somewhere different than usual.”

“That’s sounds fun, but I think I’ll pass.”

Tsukino’s cheeks relaxed as she continues to eat her breakfast.

“It’s a chance to live together with Yuto, so I want to spend an ordinary day with him. Yuto doesn’t want to?”

“…no, that’s not true. I’ve never lived together with Tsukino before.”

Then it was settled what we were going to do.

I crossed my arms as if to get into the mood.

“Then, I’ll spend the day doing as much housework as I want for Tsukino. There’s cleaning, laundry, cooking, and lots of other things that needs to be done.”

“I’m really happy about it, but what about Yuto? Today’s his day off.”

“…? There’s no such a meaningful use of time than this, I’m Tsukino’s caretaker, right?”

Well then, let’s start the big clean up.

I pulled out the vacuum cleaner, which Tsukino would not normally use, and dusted her apartment from corner to corner. The hardest part was Tsukino’s room, at school she’s known as the moon angel, but basically Tsukino has no life skills at all, so she doesn’t do any cleaning. Without me, her room would quickly become a mess.

After an hour cleaning her room, Tsukino eyes lit up as if trying to say ‘Oh, shiny!’ as she saw her room after we cleaned it.

Then, it was time for the laundry.

I threw not only clothes, but also bed sheets, pillowcases, and towels that had been accumulated over the past few days into the washing machine. I usually fold Tsukino’s laundry, but it’s been a while since I’ve done this much laundry.

While I was doing the housework, Tsukino asked me something.

“Does Yuto live with Hinata-san like this as well?”

“No, it’s rather the opposite. Most of the housework in my house is done by Hinata. Hinata loves to take care of other people, so she doesn’t listen when I told her that we need share the housework.”

“I see. But it might be better that way. Yuto doesn’t like housework very much.”

She’s right, I don’t really like doing housework. I’m the type of person that lives with the minimum necessity possible to avoid doing housework.

“Well, I do all this housework because it makes Tsukino happy.”

“Yuto, you are so kind. It’s because of that that I’ve become a useless person, you know?”

She is aware of that, isn’t she? …well, I think that’s a good thing if she is aware of it.

I spoiled Tsukino as much as she wants because I’m her caretaker.

Then, Tsukino giggled and said.

“I think Yuto will probably take care of his wife like this even after he gets married. Yuto, I’m sure you’ll make a great husband.”

…I’m sure I didn’t mishear what she said, but let’s just pretend I didn’t hear it.