Volume 2 - Epilogue

Epilogue

Unusually, I had to work overtime.

The convenience store doesn’t get very crowded, so I never had to work overtime before. But today, as I’m nearing the end of my shift, some people from a high school athletic club came into the store. Both Yaguchi-san and I had to stay at the cash register, so we were not able to make any progress in restocking the merchandise. We had to work overtime for an hour to finish it because if we didn’t, the people on the next shift would be in trouble.

“Thank you for your hard work!”

When I left the store and checked on my smartphone, it was already 7:00 pm.

Today is Saturday. Yoshida-san is at home, and I’m sure he’s hungry.

I had to hurry home and prepare dinner, so I ran.

It took me less than five minutes to get back home. I took the duplicate key out of my bag and opened the door.

“Sorry I’m late, Yoshida-san…”

As soon as I opened the door, I saw Yoshida-san standing in front of the kitchen, which was integrated into the hallway.

“Oh, welcome home.”

“I’m home… Huh? What are you doing?”

When I asked Yoshida-san, who was standing in front of the pot with a sullen look on his face, he answered bluntly with an even more sullen look on his face.

“I’m making miso soup. What does it look like?”

“Um, you are?”

I hurriedly took my shoes off and walked over to Yoshida-san’s side. I saw the brown soup simmering in the pot.

“Why?”

“You’re asking me why…?”

Yoshida-san paused as if he’s troubled and scratched his chin. Since his beard had grown a little longer, I could hear the sound as he did it.

“You’ve been cooking for me for a while now, so I thought I’d give you a break this time…”

When Yoshida-san said that, I felt warm inside.

How could something like this make me so happy?

Thinking about this, I found myself hugging him as if I were tackling him.

“Whoa, be careful!”

“Thanks, Yoshida-san!”

“Ah, yes… Dinner’s almost ready, so hurry up and go change. I can handle the preparation myself since I only made miso soup.”

“Okay!”

Skipping to the living room, I quickly changed out of my street clothes and into my loungewear.

After I slipped off my top and got into my underwear, I looked sideways at Yoshida-san. But he wasn’t looking at me, as he should have been. For some reason, I was a little unhappy to see him stirring the pot in a dazed state.

“Yoshida-san.”

“What is it…?

When I called out to him, Yoshida-san naturally looked in my direction, but then quickly averted his gaze.

“Hey, idiot! Get dressed first before you call out to me!”

“Perv.”

“You’re the one who called me, you idiot!”

Yoshida-san blushed a little and looked down at the pot again.

I chuckled and slipped my loungewear back on over my head.

I felt that I had become completely at home in this house.

I no longer ask myself the question, “Is it okay for me to be here?”

I took off my jeans and put on comfortable underwear. I stole a few glances at Yoshida-sam, who’s mindlessly stirring a pot of miso soup.

I no longer wonder if it’s okay to be here anymore.

However.

“Yoshida-san!”

“Are you dressed?”

“I am!”

“What is it?”

When I called out to him, Yoshida-san looked at me sideways.

I smiled and said it again.

“I’m home!”

Yoshida-san looked confused and scratched his chin out of habit. Once again, I heard the scratching sound.

“You said that before.”

“Can you say, ‘Welcome home’?”

“Huh? Welcome home…”

“Haha.”

When I nodded my head in satisfaction, Yoshida-san tilted his head slightly and sighed.

“I’m home” and “Welcome home.”

I wondered how many more times I would be able to exchange these words with him.

When I thought about it, I felt a little pain in my heart.

But I had already made a promise to him.

As I realize that our days together are coming to an end, with him by my side, I will get through today.

The strange, communal life of a high school girl and a grown man will continue, at least for a little while longer.