Hearing the boy's request, Reiko Onodera's eyes visibly brightened, and she seemed very happy,
"Mm-hm, then tomorrow's lunch will be abalone rice! I'll go ask Shimizu what she'd like to eat in a bit."
This feeling of being needed was exactly what the madam wanted most,
"You should go take a bath first; I'll cut some fruit for you."
"Okay." Watching the graceful figure of the madam departing, Haruka Yuzan couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
...
[Tenant: 002]
[Name: Reiko Onodera]
[Tenant's Wish List:]
[1. Wishes to earn more money (Unfulfilled)]
[2. Wishes to have her own true career (Unfulfilled)]
[3. Wishes to bring her daughter to live together in Tokyo (Unfulfilled)]
[Completion of Wish List One, Reward: Eighty percent of Reiko Onodera's income]
[Completion of Wish List Two, Reward: One career starter package]
Glancing at the virtual panel, Haruka Yuzan entered the first-floor bathroom and began to bathe. Chiba Shimizu, sitting quietly in the living room, reading a book, didn't show much expression toward the return of the boy.
"Whoosh" The water flowed over the boy's perfect muscle contours; after washing his hair, Haruka Yuzan couldn't help but start contemplating,
Working part-time in a convenience store was never a long-term plan; those places are mostly taken by housewives or students for part-time work.
It's leisurely, and the pay barely covers daily expenses,
For the madam, although she's not spending money now, the salary obviously wouldn't be enough if Rika Onodera were to come and live with her in Tokyo.
Possibly, the scene of mother and daughter parting that day had quite an impact on Reiko Onodera, which prompted the madam's wish list to earn more money.
In fact, Haruka had also considered this.
"It's very good, Class President Chiba,"
"Mm." The girl's response was still very aloof.
Shrugging, he began to check his earnings for the day.
[Completion of Misaki Saki's Wish List One, Reward: Five thousand yen.]
[Completion of Chiba Shimizu's Wish List One, Reward: One Intermediate Cooking Fragment]
He had done nothing, easily accomplishing two daily wish lists,
Misaki ate the chocolate cake made by Chiba Shimizu, completing the wish list.
And Chiba Shimizu's wish to learn how to cook was also fulfilled, led by Reiko Onodera.
Every day that went by, he was closer to the day he would... lay back and relax.
...
The night was breezy,
The lights on both sides of the street were just enough to see the path under one's feet.
Haruka Yuzan sat on the sofa, gently stroking Roast Meat in his arms. The fat cat seemed to enjoy such moments, lazily stretching his chubby paws,
This night was so much like that one.
"Ah, Roast." The boy softly called, as if beckoning to a dear friend.
"Meow?" Roast Meat widened his bean eyes, sitting up in a sit-up posture and... looking around, confused, a ball of doughy face carrying a glimmer of "wisdom",
This... is someone calling for me?
"Ah, Roast, do you think the world really has such coincidences?" Haruka Yuzan gazed out the window, talking to himself.
"Meow?"
Haruka Yuzan first met Otome Mizuko not during the opening ceremony, but in his second week in Tokyo.
Back then,
Having passed the entrance exams for a prominent high school in Tokyo, Haruka Yuzan had already arrived in this international city a week before school started.