Volume 2 Chapter 14 Vigilance
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Is it almost over?)
For lunch, I decided to make a soup with canned tuna and cabbage seasoned with salt, pepper, and soy sauce, along with a toast sandwich filled with cucumbers and sausages, flavored with ketchup and mustard.
I also bought 2 sets of a mug and spoon for the vegetable soup at the 100 yen shop.
I contacted Risa-san to suggest that I cook lunch instead of eating out, but she was reading. I wondered if it was too much for a housekeeper to consult with a guest like Risa-san.
I was worried that if they had a long-term contract, they might become close, but it seems I don’t need to worry about that.
(Am I running away from cleaning like a cat?)
Holding the bags I bought, I sighed briefly in front of Risa-san’s door. Normally, at my own home, I not only cook for myself but also clean and do laundry alone.
Since my place isn’t as big as Risa-san’s, I can finish cleaning quickly, and it’s not much of a burden.
Feeling like I don’t have a place just because of cleaning is probably because I haven’t had anyone clean my room for the past few years.
Even before I lived alone… when I lived with my guardians, I was always told to manage my own room, including cleaning.
If a stranger I don’t know comes into my territory to clean, it feels even worse.
”I’m home.”
Even though I came back, there was no response from Risa-san, who should be at home. I thought she would be in the living room reading, but she wasn’t there. Instead, I could hear typing from upstairs.
It seemed she was so focused on something that she couldn’t hear me. Is she working?
If that’s the case, it might be better to talk to her after I make lunch. To avoid interrupting Risa-san, I decided not to go upstairs until I prepared lunch on the counter table.
”…Risa-san?”
Now that I finished setting everything up, I went upstairs to call Risa-san before my food got cold.
”Oh, Shuu! Welcome back!”
”Are you working?”
”Yeah. I have a study group tomorrow. I forgot that it was my turn to present the paper review. Since there’s a discussion from a systematic review perspective, I need to read more than usual. I’m making slides right now.”
I don’t really understand, but I get that it seems tough and that she’s under pressure with a deadline coming up.
There were piles of medical journals on the edge of her desk. On the cover of a Japanese magazine that I could barely understand, there was a word I didn’t recognize followed by “Review.”
It seems that what she was reading when I contacted her wasn’t just a hobby book.
”Lunch is ready, what do you want to do? Should I bring it over, Risa-san?”
”Thanks! I’ll come over. I got tired from sitting and concentrating for so long.”
That’s good. If she was in a tough situation with a deadline, I wouldn’t be able to ask her about the housekeeper, but since she seems fine, I might be able to ask while we eat at the counter table.
”This morning, you were really panicking.”
”Uh, sorry.”
Risa-san, holding the cup with vegetable soup in both hands, shrugged her shoulders.
”So, does the housekeeper come in every Saturday?”
”No, just twice a month.”
I see, so it’s every other week.
”Then the next time is the week after next.”
”Yeah, that’s right. Oh, this toast sandwich is delicious.”
She must have been really hungry. Watching her eat so happily made me ask, “If you want more, I can make it for you?”
”Ugh… I want to, but if I eat more, I might get sleepy.”
That wouldn’t be good. If she falls asleep during a tough time, it could be bad.
”It’s better to stop then.”
”Okay, I will.”
After finishing her meal, Risa-san put her hands together and said, “Thank you for the meal,” then stretched and stood up from the counter table. She took the used dishes to the sink.
”You can leave them as they are, Risa-san. I’ll use the dishwasher.”
”Huh? We can use it even though there’s no detergent?!”
”I bought detergent for the dishwasher.”
”When did you do that?! Ah, I’m making you spend so much money, Shuu… Is it okay if I pay you back later for the food and living expenses?”
”That’s fine. If I can use the water, utilities, and rent here free, that would be great.”
If I keep living off Risa-san, instead of making her say, “I can’t live without you,” I might end up saying, “I can’t live without Risa-san.”
Right now, I’m a student, so it’s okay to rely on her financially, but that will only last until March. After that, the gap between my life now and what it will be like will get even worse.
”Is that okay…? Shuu is a high school student, after all.
”Don’t mind it. Anyway, what about your work? The deadline…”
”Ahhh! I know, I know, Shuu! I think… I’m almost done, so it should be fine… probably. I should be done before I leave for work at 3.”
She says these uncertain words as if trying to convince herself. I wonder if that self-talk really works?
”Risa-san.”
I know she’s busy, but I still haven’t asked her the important question. I stopped Risa-san as she was about to go back to her study.
”Hm? What is it?”
”I saw that long-haired housekeeper when I went shopping, and she looked like she was about to collapse.”
”…Oh, yeah. I’ve been worried about her for a while… I’m trying to take some action, but it’s not easy…”
So she’s been thinking about it too. Even without being asked, Risa-san cares. I wonder if it’s really a good idea for her to get involved with someone who looks like they’re in such a bad situation.
”I see.”
”Yeah. Shuu is… um… worried too, right? She’s a pretty lady…”
”Well, yeah, she didn’t look normal. I hope it gets resolved soon.”
”Yeah… I’m going to get back to work now.”
”Ah. Sorry for stopping you. Good luck.”
I patted Risa-san on the head to encourage her. But she had a complicated expression. Well, it’s right before the deadline──there are only 2 hours left, so it’s a really stressful time.
Telling me to “do your best” when I can’t help at all doesn’t mean much.
In the kitchen, after Risa-san left, I put the leftover soup in the fridge with the pot. I loaded the used frying pan and dishes into the dishwasher and set the detergent.
Honestly, living here is easier than before. Even if it’s just for a limited time.
(I definitely need to make sure I don’t get too involved.)
I realized I need to be cautious every other week. Today I got away with it, but it would be bad to leave Risa-san alone when the housekeeper comes.
Men are out of the question, but even if it’s a woman, if she threatens her territory, it’s normal to want to get rid of her.
If that housekeeper, who seems to be of the same kind, is in worse shape than me, Risa-san’s attention will shift to her.
Considering Risa-san’s personality, which makes her help strangers like me, I couldn’t let my guard down just because she’s not a man.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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