The youthful romantic comedy between my “commuting wife” and me is too sweet!! - Chapter 6

Episode 6

The area in front of Hasegasaki Station was as desolate as ever.

Hasegasaki Station is an unmanned station with no station staff. 

It’s an old, somewhat rundown station, seemingly built with leftover materials from a defunct factory, but I found its quaintness strangely appealing.

On holidays, many people gather at the crossing in front of the station, a spot famous as a pilgrimage site for a certain basketball manga. 

But to me, the station, with its factory-like remnants, seemed far more valuable.

At this time of day, it seemed there were no passengers, and both the station and its surroundings were empty. 

From a distance, I could hear the sound of waves, and I even thought I could hear the faint buzzing of small insects’ wings.

“Well, see you tomorrow.”

I smiled at Miu.

Miu lives in the residential area of Fujisawa, at the end of the Enoshima Electric Railway. 

It was already past 6:30, but even with a little delay, she should be able to get home by around 7:30.

“Yes…” 

Miufiddled with her long silver hair as she walked toward the ticket gate. 

She pulled out her commuter pass from her skirt pocket and walked up to the gate. 

Suddenly, she stopped. 

Then, slowly, she turned back toward me.

“…See you tomorrow, Souma-san.”

She waved her hand with the one not holding the pass, her face full of a soft, wistful expression that made my heart tighten.

“Miu.”

Before I realized it, I had called out to her.

It wasn’t unusual for me to see her off here, but for some reason today, I felt the urge to stop her.

Miwa tilted her head slightly and asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Ah… um, do you want to come by my place?”

I blurted out the words.

It was only 6:30. 

There was still plenty of time before her curfew, so she could stay for a while.

Miu’s face lit up with joy, and if she had a tail, I’m sure she would have been wagging it furiously.

“Is that okay? Then… I’ll just stop by for a little bit.”

She smiled shyly and rushed toward me. 

Even the way she put her commuter pass back into her pocket seemed to radiate happiness.

“Though, I just visited your place this morning.”

“Yeah.”

“Oh, but this might be the first time I’ve come at night in a while.”

“Really?”

Come to think of it, I remembered she had come over after a date on the first or second day of spring break. 

Since then, it was probably the first time she’d come over at night. 

We saw each other every day, so the sense of time had become a little blurred.

Not just today, Miuwould come by my room every morning to wake me up. 

Sometimes she’d crawl into my futon and fall asleep with me, which always meant we were both late.

“I think there’s nothing in the fridge, so should we stop by the supermarket on the way?”

“Sure! Should I make something?”

“No, you’ve already made me lunch. I can cook this time.”

“Eh…”

Miu raised her voice in discontent at my suggestion.

“What’s with that dissatisfied voice and face?”

“Because it’s just going to be another stir-fried dish, right? It’ll end up being all greasy.”

“Ugh. You know me too well…”

For a guy who’s not particularly passionate about cooking, it’s usually just rice and stir-fry to get by. 

Especially for a teenager with a big appetite.

“That would throw off the nutrition balance, so I’ll cook something instead.”

“I appreciate that, but… can you make something simple? I feel really bad asking.”

“Leave it to me!”

Miu walked closer and took my hand, her fingers intertwined with mine as she held my hand tightly.

In that moment, my heart was filled with warmth, and I realized why I had called her back earlier.

 Like her, I also wanted to spend a little more time with her.