It was almost 9 pm at the apartment.
I was cooking while Akie silently watched me. Akari had left for her room a while ago. I was making vegetable curry rice since there weren't many ingredients in the kitchen.
— "This is the only thing I can make with a pot of rice and some carrots and potatoes, but I'll try to make it a good one," I said, reassuring Akie.
She smiled,
— "It smells really good though."
Still stirring the pot, I replied,
— "Hope it tastes good too."
Since Akari left, I figured I could say what I wanted.
I rolled my eyes at her.
— "I saw what you did earlier."
She looked up, curious.
— "What?"
— "You came up with the cooking idea at the apartment so I can get closer to her, right?"
She smiled slyly.
— "You really got me there. Yes, I did come up with that so you can talk to her most of the time and get along."
— "Well, I appreciate that. Thank you," I said, shifting my focus back to cooking.
— "You're welcome," she said, rolling her eyes, clearly wanting to say something that was bothering her.
— "Hey, can I ask you something?" Akie asked.
— "Yeah, sure. What is it?"
— "It's been itching me all day, but I really want to ask — why do you want to get to know Akari more and get closer to her?" she asked.
I started,
— "I already told you, it's because—"
She cut me off,
— "Yeah, I get that you want to know her more so there won't be any trust issues between you two and so you can live peacefully for the next six months. But no one would do that for a stranger who's rude to him. So why are you doing this?"
— "To not be strangers anymore."
Akie's eyes widened at my words.
— "Not be strangers?"
— "The fact that I'm a stranger is why she can't trust me, so she acts rude to me. If I get to understand her more and become close to her, maybe we can make it through these six months. Don't you think?" I asked, waiting for her answer.
Akie rolled her eyes.
— "Well, yeah, you're right. But… is that the only reason?" she asked.
— "Well, yeah. That's the only reason I want to know her more."
— "Do you like her?" Akie suddenly asked.
I looked at her, raising an eyebrow.
— "What kind of question is that? Of course not," I said with a shaky voice.
— "If not, then why would you even bother? It means you do like her," Akie said.
I sighed.
— "I don't hate her, but I don't like her in the way you're referring to. I think you're too young to get the situation right now."
— "I'm not dumb, you know? Maybe you're the dumb one, trying for nothing," Akie said, annoyed.
— "Yeah, yeah, I'm dumb. Now let me cook in peace," I said, not wanting to continue the conversation.
I know why I am doing this. Only I understand how much of a burden I am handling.
Thirty minutes later,
The vegetable curry was done. I took a small sip from the pot.
— "Okay, it's good."
I started getting everything ready to set on the dining table.
I called for Akie, who was sitting on the couch scrolling on her phone.
— "Hey Akie."
She looked up.
— "What is it?"
— "Dinner's ready. Go bring Akari."
She nodded and headed toward Akari's room.
Akie knocked on the door.
— "Oi, big sis, dinner's ready."
Akari heard her and shouted back,
— "Alright, I'm coming in five minutes."
Akie came to help me set the table.
— "Let me take care of the table setup. I'm pretty good at it," Akie said.
— "Thank you, you're really helpful," I said.
Akari just came out of her room.
While setting the table, Akie asked,
— "Don't you wonder if I was your roommate, it would've been easier?"
Akari heard that and quickly hid behind the wall.
— "Well, when I think about it, yeah, you might have been easier to get close with," I said with a smile.
Akie grinned.
— "Too bad it's my big sis."
Akari heard the whole conversation, fully annoyed and feeling a pang of jealousy.
It's not like I want you as my roommate either.
She shook her head, pushing those thoughts away and made her way to the dining area.
Akie Catches Akari,
— "Big sis is here already. Just get it done already, senpai," Akie said to me.
I looked at Akari.
— "Wait a little more, we're almost done setting up."
She looked away, clearly avoiding eye contact for some reason.
— "Take your time."
I thought to myself, What's up with her now? Is she still mad about the cafe thing?
Akari calmly waited for dinner to be set up while Akie and I finished preparing the table.
Finally, the scent of vegetable curry filled the house.
— "It smells like heaven," Akie said.
— "Hope you say the same thing after having it," I said with a soft smile.
Suddenly, Akari spoke up.
— "Kazuma, thanks for making dinner for me and Akie. We appreciate it."
Akie and I were stunned and stared at her.
She looked confused by our reaction and asked,
— "Why are you guys staring like that?"
I replied,
— "Why are you being so formal? You're still cleaning the dishes, you know?"
— "Yup, that was the rule. He'll do the cooking and you'll do the dishes," Akie added.
Akari looked annoyed.
— "I know. Can't I just appreciate the cooking?"
— "No, it's just you were being so formal it was weird," I said.
— "Too much weird," Akie said.
Akari grinned.
— "Can't even thank without getting judged."
I changed the subject.
— "Enough talking. Guys, dig in as much as you can."
We all started eating.
Akari took a small sip of the curry soup.
Oh my God, it tastes heavenly…
She was so into the taste she was smiling.
— "Big sis is loving the curry so much. She's smiling." Akie said
Akari heard the comment and quickly got her guard up. She hadn't realized how much she had enjoyed the sip.
— "Who said I'm smiling?" Akari asked.
— "You were smiling," Akie said.
— "It was your imagination," I added.
I gazed at her, asking,
— "So, how does it taste?"
She looked kind of flustered when I asked.
Earlier she said it would be bad, but now it tasted so good and she felt embarrassed to admit it. Still, she managed to say,
— "It's decent, not anything over the top."
— "Thank God you liked it, I was really worried."
She softly blushed at my expression. Now she felt a little guilty for not telling how good it actually was.
— "It tastes so good, Kazuma senpai. I wish I could've had your cooking all the time. I'm jealous of big sis."
— "Oh really? I'm really glad. Thank you, Akie," I said with a smile.
Kazumas too-good expression was making Akari feel a lot of guilt.
She was now questioning if she should've just appreciated the food without letting her ego get in the way.
She had never felt it before, but for some reason, he was making her feel this way.
He's too good. His behavior is making me guilty for some reason and I can't even catch any bad sides of him.
Is he perfect? No ego, no attitude.
How can a person be like this?
He's so different from anyone I've ever met.
Akari shook the thoughts away, convincing herself.
No… everyone is the same. It's just a mask. Inside, there is another person no one shows. That's how everyone is. And that's how everyone will be…
While Akari battled with her own thoughts, I spoke up to Akie.
— "So you're heading home tomorrow?"
— "Yes, I'll leave early in the morning. Don't want to trouble you guys anymore," Akie said with a smile.
— "Yeah, for real," I said with a grin.
— "So you're telling me that I was trouble?"
— "You're the one who said you don't want to trouble us," I said with a quiet smile.
— "It's just the way of telling. Senpai, don't need to call me trouble, you know."
— "Yes, yes. Now eat up already. Don't cause any more trouble."
While we talked, Akari stared at us.
They're getting way too close to each other.
She clenched her fists under the table.
Maybe it would've been better if I lived alone.
I can't be close to anyone because I can't trust people.
I'm the problem in everyone's life.
That's why people always leave me.
Even if someone is nice to me… because at the end of the day, they'll get bored of me.
Akari finished eating and silently said,
— "Thank you for the food."
She stood up, and both Akie and I looked at her.
— "Finished already?" Akie asked.
— "Hmm,"
She said before going back to her room and shutting the door pretty hard.
Akie and I watched her, confused.
— "What's up with her?" I asked.
— "It's unusual. I'm kind of worried," Akie said.
I looked at Akari's plate.
She didn't even finish her meal.
— "She didn't even finish her meal."
— "I guess she wasn't feeling good after all. It was a rough day," Akie said, reassuring.
I just stared at her room, fully confused of her behaviour,
I really want to get you, but at the same time I feel like I can never get you…
Thirty minutes after dinner was done,
— "So you don't want me to call her to clean up the dishes?" Akie asked.
— "No, I think she's not feeling well. You better not. I don't mind cleaning some dishes."
While Akie and I were arguing,
Akari's door opened and she came out of her room.
Both Akie and I looked at her.
I asked, looking at her,
— "Need something, Akari?"
She looked at me with a casual expression before speaking,
— "I was supposed to clean the dishes?"
She started to approach us while I said,
— "You don't have to do it if you're not feeling well."
— "Who said I wasn't feeling good?" Akari said.
— "Well, you didn't seem like you felt really good," I said.
— "It's usual for me when I'm not hungry."
— "Nope, that's surely unusual," Akie said straight up.
Akari narrowed her eyes with a demonic look at Akie.
— "It is usual for me."
— "Yup, it's usual for her," Akie said before going full silent.
— "Hey, I don't mind doing some dishes," I said, still not wanting to let her do it if she wasn't feeling okay.
She looked up at me.
— "You cooked for me, right? So it's my duty to do the dishes. I can't act like some spoiled kid."
I sighed.
— "Are you sure?" I asked.
— "Yes, now step aside."
I stepped aside while she entered the kitchen area and started cleaning the dishes.
I looked at her while she did the dishes.
I still couldn't stop thinking if she was mad or something.
Okay, why would she even be mad?
But since she wanted to do it, I shouldn't argue.
Akie came beside me.
— "Since you're free from washing dishes, can I get a cup of tea?"
— "Tea?" I asked at her sudden request.
Akari looked up at her from cleaning the dishes.
— "Why do you need tea this late at night?"
— "It's alright, I can give you a cup of tea. She's a guest, Akari," I said.
— "You're spoiling my little sister, Kazuma."
— "It won't hurt to be a little spoiled sometimes," I said.
Akie smiled at me.
— "Thank you, senpai."
Akari rolled her eyes and continued cleaning.
— "Do whatever you guys want."
Akie pulled the lower part of my shirt. I looked down at her and she winked.
Now I get it she asked for tea so..
— "I'll be heading to the room. Senpai, call me when tea is ready," she said before heading to her room. Midway, she stopped, looked back, and gave me a thumbs up with a grin on her face.
I gave her a reaction of don't leave, but she went inside the room and shut the door.
In the kitchen, however, I was stuck making a cup of tea while Akari was doing the dishes.
Okay, now this is awkward. I need to come up with something to talk about. What can I say?
Suddenly Akari spoke up.
— "Why were you stopping me from doing the dishes?"
— "I thought you weren't feeling good, just that," I said.
— "You really care about people's feelings, I'll give you that. But it's my duty since I'm your roommate and you're cooking for me. I should be doing it and not be a burden to you," she said.
— "You're not being a burden to me," I reassured.
— "I don't want to be either, so please don't stop me from doing the things I should."
I understood her. Even being rude or sometimes a little annoyed, Akari had sincerity.
— "Okay, I won't," I said.
She heard me and went back to cleaning the dishes.
After a long silence, she spoke up again.
— "I was really relieved when you said you can cook for me," she said.
I looked at her, curious.
— "Relieved?"
— "Yeah, I don't know that much cooking. From my childhood, I was always focused on studying and studying and nothing else. So when someone said they can cook for me, I genuinely felt happy," she said and smiled at me.
That smile was so genuine and so different.
It just looked like the old Akari…
She shook her head.
— "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought my personal stuff up. It's boring, I know."
— "Nope, I really like to listen to everything. I'm a very good listener, and I'm just glad that you're happy. All this time I thought you were mad about something," I said, reassuring her.
— "Oh, I'm not mad about anything," she said before shifting her focus back to cleaning.
What was that just now? I just talked about my own things so casually in front of him.
I don't usually talk about anything related to myself to anyone.
But somehow, some way, I felt comfortable talking with him.
She clenched her fist while cleaning.
Why am I letting my guard down so easily in front of him?
I can't trust anyone… everyone is fake, I convinced myself.
But yet, he seems different…
— "Oh, tea is ready," I said, turning off the stove and pouring the tea into the cup.
— "And I'm done with the dishes," she said.
— "Oh, then we're done together," I smiled.
— "Yeah," she said.
— "You're heading to your room?" I asked.
— "No, I'll just have some fresh air at the balcony. It's refreshing."
— "Can you call Akie to come and get the tea?" I asked.
— "Why don't you go?" she asked.
— "You said I can't go to your room," I said.
— "You just need to go knock and give her the tea. Simple as that. Who's telling you to go inside?" she said.
— "Okay then," I said.
She walked past me to the balcony while I headed for Akie's room.
I stood in front and knocked.
— "Hey Akie, you there? Your tea's ready?"
A small groan came from the room.
— "She fell asleep?" I asked myself.
Oh, she wasn't even asking for tea like she wanted it. She just asked for tea so I could spend time with Akari and get close.
Well, Akie, thank you for that. It was awkward at first, but I think I made progress.
Now what should I do with this cup of tea?
Oh, Akari is at the balcony. Let's just give it to her.
I made my way to the balcony. I peeked and saw her just staring at the night view.
I slowly entered the balcony.
— "Sorry to disturb you, but I think your sister's asleep, so do you want some tea?" I asked.
— "Since it was for my sister, I can accept it. Thank you," she said before I handed the cup to her.
— "She fell asleep after asking me," I said.
— "Yeah, she is like that."
I thought I didn't need to get in her personal space, so I should leave.
— "Okay then, I'll head to my room."
— "Wait— you can keep me company. I don't mind."
— "You sure?"
— "Yes," she said.
I came to the balcony right beside her. Both of us watched the city view on a rainy night.
It was beautiful to just witness it.
Akari's mind was battling again.
Why did I let him in my personal space? Why did I just tell him to wait?
Weird feeling, but even when he's here, I'm feeling comfortable… I never feel comfortable with anyone because I can't trust anyone.
I spoke up.
— "Almost forgot to tell you, I'm sorry."
She stopped thinking in her head, focusing straight on me.
— "For what?" she asked.
— "For whatever I said back in the cafe. It was embarrassing, I know."
Akari rolled her eyes to the city view.
— "Yes, it was really embarrassing, but I forgot about it. However, you better tell sorry to Hana the next time you see her, got it?"
— "Yes, I was wanting to apologize the next day I got to college," I said.
— "Good." She said before looking up at the sky again,
A moment of silence passed before Akari spoke up.
— "Why did you say all of those things back there?"
A memory of Hana telling her "Maybe he cared for his roommate, you know" flashed through her mind.
— "I don't know. I just felt bad about the situation," I said.
— "Why would you feel bad?" she asked.
— "I just felt bad that you had to ask her so much just to keep it a secret," I said.
— "So you felt bad for me?"
— "I guess so."
— "Why would you feel bad for me? We're basically strangers, and ever since we became roommates, I have been nothing but rude to you all the time. Then why?" she asked.
— "The reason you were rude to me is because we're strangers, right?" I said.
— "Huh?" she asked, genuinely confused.
— "I understand that. Nobody can trust a stranger overnight. It takes time to trust someone. So I really want to know you better so we can live peacefully for the next six months," I said.
— "You want to know me better?" She said, her heart fluttering for some reason she couldn't explain.
— "Akie told me a little about how you two are half-blood sisters and how you found out. Now I get why you act like this or can't trust people," I said.
She raised her eyebrows.
— "So she told you that, huh?" A pause, then she spoke again. "So what now? You pity me?"
— "I don't pity you. I think I understand you a little more," I said.
— "You can't understand me. I'm hard to get along with. I can't trust anybody. You don't know anything about me. You can't seriously understand me, Kazuma," she said, fully genuine — it was her real side.
— "That's why I want to know more about you," I said before stepping a little closer.
Her cheeks flushed slightly.
— "You're hard to get along with, but I will still stick by your side and get along. You can't trust anybody, but I will try my hardest to gain your trust. You're rude to me, but I'll still want to know the reason behind it. I'm genuine."
These words… why do they feel so real to me?
His eyes — I can't find a single clue that he's lying about anything.
His words are so genuine about someone he basically just met a day ago.
Why does it feel like I can actually…
When I realize I'm kind of close to Akari, I step backwards and say,
— "I'm sorry I said all those things so bluntly. It was embarrassing as hell."
She shook her head.
— "It's fine. No big deal," Akari sighed. "So you really want to know me better just to live peacefully for the time we're roommates?"
— "Yes, I really don't want many problems for the next six months," I said.
— "If that's the only reason, then I'll try to be less rude and get along more with you, since I also don't want any problems," she said.
I smiled.
— "Thank you."
She rolled her eyes over her phone.
— "It's getting pretty late. I better go to sleep."
— "Yeah, you should," I said.
She walked past me inside the apartment from the balcony before looking back again.
— "Hey Kazuma."
Yes, I think that in a very long time, I found someone who I think I can.
I looked up.
— "Yes?"
— "You're blunt and sometimes a lot embarrassing — I mean a lot — but today you truly gained a little trust from me," she said before giving a genuine smile.
I blushed at the smile.
That smile looked like the Akari from elementary school.
That smile I used to love so damn much.
I shook off the feeling before saying,
— "I'm glad."
She smiled again, gave me a wave, and headed back to her room, shutting the door gently.
I looked back at the city view, thoughts running wild. It was so good to see the real side of her and and now I'll try my hardest to know her more and better,
— "By The way I just realized this was the first time she didn't smack the door hard after talking with me. Now that's what we call progress," I said before smiling like an idiot and looking up at the night sky.
The days ahead?
We'll meet new people.
Face new challenges.
Maybe even new adventures.
But whatever comes…
We'll face it together.
As roommates.