The Neighbor Agreent 8
“So, what’s for dinner tonight?”
She returned humming a tune, peeking over my shoulder at what I was doing.
“You’re too close.”
When she leaned in to look, her hands naturally rested on my shoulder.
I felt a sudden warmth in my left shoulder where she touched.
“These room hallways are narrow, you know. It’s not my fault.”
With furniture and appliances like shelves and a fridge, the hallway is just wide enough for two people to walk side by side.
It’s inevitable for a reasonably priced one-room apartnt in Tokyo to be cramped.
“Can’t you ask from a distance?”
“I just wanted to see a guy skillfully handling a frying pan up close.”
“Unfortunately, it’s just a simple task of reheating. And please don’t play around near the fire.”
“Okay.”
Tenjō-san’s hands left my shoulder.
Her behavior seed even more relaxed than in the morning. She really seems to feel at ho here.
It looks like I’m the only one who’s tense.
“Are you in high spirits today?”
“Coming ho to a warm dinner is sothing unimaginable for soone living alone. My steps on the way ho were lighter than usual.”
“Then it’s worth cooking for you, Tenjō-san.”
“Don’t worry, I’m starving. I’ll devour whatever you make.”
She proudly rubbed her flat stomach with a smug look.
“Does that an you’ll eat it even if it’s bad?”
“No, the opposite. That ans I trust your cooking.”
Her cute gesture made like her even more.
“I’ll bring it now, so please sit and wait.”
“I can help too.”
“Then please serve the rice. The bowls are in that shelf. Serve as much as you like. I’ll have a normal portion.”
“…Did you wait especially for ? Aren’t you starving, Yuunagi-kun?”
Her cheerful face from before vanished when she realized I hadn’t had dinner yet.
Tenjō-san’s expression turned to one of concern.
“I was just late in cooking. I went shopping at the supermarket after school, then took a nap. Plus, I’ve been tasting it along the way.”
“From now on, you can eat whenever you’re hungry.”
“If I’m hungry, I will.”
“We’re equals here, so you don’t have to be so formal.”
“I also want to see Sensei’s reaction directly. Today’s nu is a new challenge for .”
I carefully watch the simred fish being reheated to prevent it from burning.
“Oh~, I like your courage to try sothing new instead of sticking to your specialties.”
Tenjō-san smiles, showing her white teeth.
I appreciate her lively and positive reactions.
“I would never cook simred fish just for myself, so I thought I’d give it a try.”
Tonight’s dinner is a Japanese nu: rice, miso soup, simred fish, rolled olet, and boiled spinach.
We carry the food to the table and eat dinner together.
“Tenjō-san, were you holding back laughter this morning when I was talking with Kuhouin?”
“Ah, yes. I was trying not to laugh.”
“Was there sothing funny?”
“No, it’s just that watching Kuhouin-san reminded of myself as a teenager.”
“Was the young Tenjō-san like that, so edgy?”
“When I was a teenager, everything around was annoying. I had a period when I was always in a bad mood and rebellious against adults, so I understand the feeling. It felt nostalgic and sowhat embarrassing, you know～”
She squirms as if embarrassed to put it into words.
It’s hard to imagine that from the bright, beautiful, and kind Onee-san image.
“That’s unexpected.”
“Even so, I was seriously troubled and suffering back then. Now I can laugh at my immaturity. It’s like having my high school yearbook opened right in front of , and I just couldn’t help but laugh.”
What a torturous teenage flashback.
“Well, I beca a teacher because I wanted to be an adult who could guide such lost youths in their adolescence.”
“It’s great that you can use your own experiences.”
It’s nice to have an adult nearby who understands the pain and suffering of others.
“At your age, people tend to say harsh things defensively to keep others at a distance. As a horoom teacher, I’d appreciate it if Yuunagi-kun could help Kuhouin-san as a classmate if she’s in trouble.”
“If there’s any way I can help, I will.”
Tenjō-san smiles contentedly at my response.
“Thank you. Kids like her are particularly easily moved by casual kindness.”
“Tenjō-san, you speak with such conviction.”
“Well, I am also soone who gratefully enjoys my neighbor’s cooking. It’s delicious today as well. Thank you for the al.”
Tenjō-san ate everything neatly again today.
After finishing the al, she offered to do the dishes, saying, ‘I’ll take care of the cleanup.’
With her long hair tied back, she dons my apron and stands in the kitchen.
I lie down on the bed for a rest.
Even though I’m the owner of the room, should I really let my teacher wash the dishes?
I tried to refuse Sensei’s offer several tis, but she insisted.
Fiddling with my smartphone, I can’t help but watch her from behind.
“I wonder if living together feels like this.”
As I indulge in such sweet daydreams, my phone’s ringtone echoes.
“A phone call? Don’t worry, go ahead and answer it.”
Tenjō-san continues to rinse the dishes without turning around.
My phone vibrates with the call.
The na displayed on the screen is Kaguya Nishiki.
I flip the phone over as if to hide it.
“It’s nothing to worry about, I’m fine.”
“But it’s still ringing. I’ve just finished the dishes, so I’ll keep quiet.”
Tenjō-san brings over the sweets she bought from the fridge.
“I usually don’t answer calls from this person.”
“…If I’m in the way, I can go back to my room.”
“Please, feel free to stay and have your dessert here.”
The smartphone continues to ring.
“Is it a call from your family, perhaps?”
“You’re as sharp as ever.”
“You’re always so open, the only thing I can think of is that it must be a family matter.”
“There should be courtesy even among close friends, right?”
“Sorry. I just couldn’t help but notice.”
Finally, the ringing stops.
“It’s nothing for Tenjō-san to worry about. Let’s have dessert instead.”
While brewing tea after the al, we share the sweets Tenjō-san bought.
We continue to chat about trivial things while watching TV.
“Let have a bite of your pudding too.”
“Oh, we’re sharing?”
“I bought it, so it’s fine, right?”
“I thought it was a gift for .”
“What catches my interest, catches my interest.”
“That’s pushy.”
“It’s normal among girls.”
“I’m a guy, just so you know.”
“I can’t eat it with any excitent if you say sothing like that.”
Tenjō-san’s cheeks flushed.
“Wanting to eat it even though you’re embarrassed huh.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. In my mind, Reiyu Tenjō has completely beco a character who’s always hungry.
But this honesty was becoming increasingly endearing to .
I was happy that she showed her natural reactions and vulnerabilities that she doesn’t reveal at school, and I feel a bit proud to be soone who can support her.
Moreover, even when nothing much is happening, just idly spending ti with her after als was fun.
In the end, she happily ate my pudding with a bite.
Perhaps this kind of unremarkable everyday life is what people call happiness.
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