After a Heartbreak, My Bitter Childhood Friend is now Sweet Like Sugar - Chapter 2.1
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Chapter 2
A Sense of Change (Part 01)
TL: Devxtt
ED: Shish
It’s been more than a week since I’ve patched things up with Kokoa.
Still it was too early to forget what I had lost. But with everything going on around me, it was hard for those feelings to find a place in my schedule.
Clearing my mind means having enough room to spare.
If you don’t then you’ll lose your will to work, instead, you’ll end up spending your days playing games acting like you’re saving your stamina.
I was grateful to the people around me who gave me that kind of leeway, especially Kokoa, who was supposed to hate me.
That’s why…
“Today I’ll clean your room.”
“…”
After school, when the two of us were leaving together -which had become a norm- I was unable to dismiss her troublesome proposal.
“The dirt in your room is the dirt in your mind. It’s impossible to be healthy living in such a messy room. It’s dusty and you’ll get sick again.”
“No, I’m healthy. I’m fine in that room. It’s comfortable and easy to live in. I can eat in the living room just fine.”
“The living room is a little better, but there were unpacked boxes left all over the place. There were also cans and bottles left in garbage bags.”
“I was waiting for it to fill. If I throw it frequently then it would be a waste of money on garbage bags. It’s a hassle and takes a lot of time. Saving energy is important, you know. It’s also good for nature. I’m taking into consideration the issue of forests and global warming.”
“Huh. How can you come up with one excuse after another to justify your sloppiness?”
Kokoa said bluntly.
No, it was unexpected, and I wasn’t prepared.
“It’s embarrassing to let a girl see my room. I don’t know where she’ll look, what she’ll find. And most importantly I’m scared of her.”
“Then why don’t you clean the room by yourself?”
She already knows that the room is dirty because of my laziness, so cruel.
On weekdays, I don’t feel like doing it when I get home from school. And on weekends, I don’t feel like doing it on my day off because I don’t know why I have to do it.
Also it’s the same for cooking. I knew that I should cook for myself as much as possible, it’s both economical and nutritional.
But usually I stopped the moment I thought about the effort it would take.
Recently, Kokoa’s been teaching me how to cook.
“But, you know, it’s evening. You don’t have to do it right now.”
“Tomorrow is burnable trash collection day, so it’s convenient for me. You’ve been living alone for about two years, right? I don’t know how you’ve lived without cleaning for so long. Don’t you ever invite your friends?”
“No-one. I don’t have many people I can call friends, and I’ve never invited Kazama or Senpai.”
Kokoa blankly stared at me.
I think she was taken aback because I mentioned Senpai, and that I had never let my former girlfriend into my room.
Recently, I’ve become more open about Senpai, but whenever I bring her up, the people around me react as if they have been hit by a peashooter.
“Y-you’re right, I didn’t hear any strange voices.”
“I don’t have any words to say. Well, you don’t trust me that much, do you? If you come to my room, you’ll lose your reasoning and will scold me again. I don’t want that.”
“In short, it’s a mess, right?”
“Please tell me you have compassion and self-control.”
We were in front of my room. Without a word Kokoa went inside my room and I followed after. She quietly prepared for cleaning.
“Hey, are you sure you don’t mind? No, it’s not really a bother or anything. I’m glad that someone is cleaning my room for me. You did so much for me, or rather, aren’t you paying a lot more attention to me? You must be tired, right? Please, you shouldn’t waste your energy on this.”
“It’s okay, I’m not tired at all. Besides, I’m doing it because I want to. I’m teaching you how to cook because I want to. I’m cleaning it because I’m worried about the mess. That’s all.”
“That’s what I want to know. We’ve known each other since childhood. Why’re you doing so much for me?”
“Well, I wonder why?”
She giggled.
“It’s a quiz. Why am I doing this?”
“No, I’m asking because I don’t know.”
“Well, it’s okay if you don’t know for now. I’ll teach you.”
“… I’m scared. What’ll you do with me?”
Kokoa laughed at my frightened remark.
It felt as if she was teasing me, but I didn’t feel uncomfortable at all.
After that, I helped her clean my house and managed to get the trash to the right place before dinner.
“We’ll do some minor work tomorrow.”
“Does that mean we’ve to clean again?”
“Of course. You have something else to do?”
“No, but… are you going to do this everyday?”
“I told you. Because I want to. So it’s decided. Now, shall I make dinner? Since it’s late, let’s eat together.”
“No, I don’t mind, but…”
I felt sorry because she’s preparing dinner right after cleaning my room. She must be tired.
I guess there’s no reason to stop her if she wants to do it. I’ll gladly accept her gratitude.
Hmm… I should give her something.
“Will you have some ice cream in return.”
“…You’ve learned how to give a witty reply. I’m looking forward to it.”
After that, we ate dinner that she had prepared, and chatted for a while.
Now that I think about it she’s visiting my house more frequently… no it’s daily.
Anyway, the rest of the cleaning has to be done next day.
“I’m done with the bath and toilet. My back hurts after so much work.”
“You sound like an old man. You’re still in high school, aren’t you? Don’t you think you should be more physically active?”
Kokoa, who had changed into her gym clothes and was helping me clean my room, said.
“No way. It hurts even at younger age.”
“I’m almost done here. I also polished the windows and now they’re shiny. Baking soda is wonderful, isn’t it? It’s an all purpose item which can be used for both cooking and cleaning. Even if you marinate a 50 yen/gm chicken, it’s flavour will go way up.
“Aren’t you a little old lady yourself?”
I retort back.
“This 2LDK room which had been unattended for more than a year broke your bones. You’ve been living in it for so long. And such negligence?”
“I told you, I was planning to clean it soon. In my brain.”
“It’s a schedule that seems unlikely to ever come to pass.”
She snorted.
“I know it’s too big for one person to live in, and it’s hard to maintain. We have the same structure, so I understand.”
“It would be a shame for my parents to leave such a beautiful room unattended.”
“If you weren’t living here, they would have rented it out to other people and made a profit.”
“That’s true.”
I’ve read on the internet that this area has good access to the city, and demand for it as a room like this has been growing lately.
In addition, this apartment is near the station. It must be expensive.
“It’s just right for two of us to live together, isn’t it? Still too comfortable. If we rent out the vacant room, it would be great. I’m not good at housework but Kokoa you’re good at it. We’ll earn a lot with less efforts. That’s three birds with one stone.”
“…Eh?”
When I casually said that, Kokoa was surprised. What’s more, her face turned bright red.
“What are you saying so suddenly?”
“I’m not trying to say anything strange. I was just joking.”
“Ah. I see, but please don’t make jokes like that! I don’t like it and it’s bad for my heart!”
“All right, all right.”
“Hmm!”
Kokoa diverted her eyes.
I guess I stepped on a land mine.
“Well, in my case, I guess they bought this room thinking this would happen from the beginning. So that they could leave me behind when they had to move for work.”
“… Are you still mad at your parents?”
“It’s not that I hate them, it’s just that they don’t care. How about you?”
“Unfortunately, no. Unfortunately, it’s not easy for either of us.”
Although our circumstances are quite different, both Kokoa and I don’t have a good family relationship.
However, my parents are just indifferent, so it’s not like we have a falling out.
I guess Kokoa had a rough time.
Yu: “Well, even so, we are living on our parents’ money, you know. We should be grateful.”
Kokoa: “That’s true. I’ll make sure to repay them. When I grow up, I’m going to pay back all the money it took to raise me, and I’m going to return in full.”
“You’re tough, aren’t you?”
“I don’t think I have the right to complain if I don’t do that much.”
I accept what I get, though.
It’s the difference between a lazy person like me and a strong person like her.
“Now that the cleaning is over, let’s have dinner. Actually, I had prepared a pot of rice. How about you, Yū?”
“You’re well prepared. I really admire your skills. I think you’ll be a good wife.”
“…!”
I was praising her, but for some reason, she puffed up her cheeks and turned away.
Oh this was a land mine too. What a pain.
“Well then, I’ll eat alone.”
“Wait, please don’t change your mind.”
“Humph~~”
“I don’t know what happened, but I’m sorry. I’ll buy you an ice cream next time.”
“Well… it’s a deal.”
I’ve promised to buy an ice cream every now and then, how many more times do I have to buy an ice cream for her?
***
ZETROTRANSLATION