Ch.257Epilogue. Like a Cat (5)

After that, Yuu ended up having meals at our house.

Everyone was a bit more relaxed than during high school. Classes started about an hour later than in high school, so we also woke up later than usual.

Still, Yuu seemed to have trouble adjusting. He attended school in Tokyo, which was closer to his house distance-wise. Well, even in high school, he probably woke up later than us.

The three of us—me, Koko, and Kagami—would go straight to his room and shake him awake if Yuu couldn’t get out of bed in the morning.

Despite how difficult it was for him to wake up in the morning, he must have disliked being late or absent, as Yuu would just whine a little before somehow managing to get up.

Kagami’s policy in this house is that “people should eat three meals a day.”

I think she’s still concerned about how I wasn’t eating properly for a while after I came here.

She absolutely wouldn’t allow us to get by with just cereal or bread, and made sure rice, miso soup, and side dishes went into our mouths. Even if our mouths were too dry in the morning to finish everything.

At first, Yuu couldn’t adapt to these forced(?) meals, but after about a week, he seemed to be adjusting reasonably well.

“Don’t you eat like this for breakfast at home?”

“…My dad would let me sleep as much as I wanted.”

He was more spoiled than I thought.

It wasn’t just that he was used to waking up late; it seemed he was accustomed to not eating breakfast at all.

Come to think of it, Mr. Yamashita doesn’t seem like the type to be strict about such things.

As for Ms. Mori… well, she was probably quite the ideal “mother” even before marriage, so she must have prepared breakfast, but she probably would have been flexible enough to accommodate if Yuu wanted something light. Or maybe she knew Yuu’s personality well and adjusted to him.

However, at least until now, Yuu hasn’t told us, “I’ll make my own food, so don’t call me.” At first, he seemed to be just being considerate, but at some point, the atmosphere seemed to change a bit.

“Well, I don’t have morning classes today,” Kagami said as she cleared the dishes after the meal.

“Could the three of you go together today? I’ll be able to meet you in the afternoon.”

The three of us nodded at Kagami’s words and got up from our seats.

Our three universities were surprisingly not that far apart, so we traveled together part of the way.

However, unlike having to go almost to Tokyo Bay from Saitama, Koko and I got off earlier. This was because our university campus was located a bit closer to our house.

Location-wise, Yuu’s university wasn’t that different either, so it was practically in the adjacent ward… but well, in my perception, even though they were both ward-to-ward differences, it didn’t feel as close as, say, “Minato Ward and Shinagawa Ward.”

“See you this afternoon, then.”

“Yeah.”

As we got off the subway first and said goodbye, Yuu nodded.

It was rush hour, so the subway was crowded as usual.

How does Yuu usually get to school? Does a driver take him? Considering his personality of disliking attention, he might surprisingly take the train or bus.

Well, judging by his expression among the crowd, he doesn’t seem to have adapted very well.

Well, there’s also the difference between people going from near Tokyo Bay inward and those coming from outside into Tokyo. Usually, there are more people coming from the outside in.

When we got off at the station, Yuka was waiting.

This wasn’t much different from high school. We were at the same school anyway, and Yuka was even in the same department as the two of us, so as long as no one was too late, whoever arrived first would wait for the others.

“It’s hot today.”

Sweat beaded on Yuka’s forehead as she waved in greeting.

Of course, there was air conditioning on the train. It’s just that there were so many people that its effect wasn’t really noticeable. In the end, we couldn’t avoid our clothes getting soaked with sweat by the time we got here.

“Let’s get to school quickly.”

At least the university has air conditioning in each classroom.

“Ugh…”

Even Koko’s energy seemed meaningless in the full-fledged summer heat, as she made drooping sounds.

As we quickly moved toward the school, I suddenly remembered something I’d forgotten.

“Oh, right. I’m meeting Yuu today. And Mako and Harumi are joining us too.”

“Really?”

Yuka smiled at my words.

I had made friends at university too. But still, there’s a difference in the atmosphere between friends made in college and those made in high school.

Plus, what I experienced with Yuu, Mako, and Harumi was quite different from what I experienced with “ordinary friends” in many ways.

“Yeah. We’re going home together anyway. It would be nice if we could all meet up.”

Even if we attended all university classes until the afternoon, we wouldn’t have to stay that late. Well, if we really attended all classes, we’d have to sit much longer than in high school, but we weren’t tied to the company like office workers either.

“I see. Together… huh? Together?”

Yuka, who had been nodding at my words, looked at me with wide eyes.

“You two live in different directions. Did Yuu start living on his own?”

“Living on his own… well, yes. Didn’t I tell you?”

I asked, a bit surprised, and Yuka tilted her head.

Ah, I guess I didn’t mention it.

It was summer, and since we met every weekday and often hung out on weekends too, I thought I could tell her anytime.

Thinking about it briefly, I really didn’t need to mention it.

Even when I hung out with Yuka and we parted ways, I would take the train in a different direction, and last weekend, we didn’t meet up with Yuu included.

“Yuu is living in the spare room in our apartment.”

When I said that, Yuka’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

“Huh?”

When I turned to look at Yuka, she was staring at me with a somewhat shocked expression.

Why?

“Yuu is living at your house?”

“No, not our house…”

…

I guess it is our house.

Yuu eats meals with us.

He offered to pay for food, but Kagami refused. He’s just learning for now, and once he gets used to it, he’ll take care of his own meals.

“He’s living in the spare room.”

But saying he’s living at our house sounded a bit strange, so I just repeated that.

“How did that happen?”

Yuka asked as she started walking again.

I thought about how to answer that for a moment, then said,

“For personal reasons.”

I kept the answer vague.

What else could I do? No matter what, I couldn’t talk about my friend and cousin’s parents’ night life.

“Personal reasons…”

“He is living at our place, but he’s paying proper rent.”

“I see.”

For some reason, Yuka seemed to mull over my words.

“Okay, I got it.”

Her response seemed suspicious somehow.

Wouldn’t it normally end with just “I see”? Why add “I got it” at the end?

I wondered about that, but Yuka didn’t talk about it anymore.

*

And that weekend.

Knock, knock, there was a sound of someone knocking on our door.

Today I wasn’t sprawled on the floor. I had some assignments, so I had set up the table and was slowly working through them with Koko.

I had no idea who it was when Yuu came last time, but somehow I felt like I knew who was standing outside this time.

That’s because Yuka had already mentioned wanting to live on her own before. And since I told her that Yuu was living in our apartment, it would be strange if that didn’t stimulate Yuka.

After all, our family was the only one living in this apartment. Well, Yuu had recently moved in too.

“Coming~”

And somehow, Kagami got up from her seat with an expression suggesting she knew who was coming, too naturally.

Outside the front door that Kagami opened was—as expected—Yuka.

With a large bag on her back and an equally large suitcase in hand.

“Hi!”

Yuka smiled brightly at Koko and me.

“Wow!”

Koko raised one hand and waved enthusiastically, following Yuka’s lead.

“Mom?”

“Oh, well. Yuka’s grandfather called a few days ago. He said Yuka wanted to live on her own, and he thought he could trust her with this house.”

Just a few years ago, you looked at us with completely distrustful expressions, Grandfather.

…Well, if that’s what Yuka wants, there’s nothing we can do.

After all, this is Kagami’s property, and it’s her right to rent to whoever she wants.

Right, she did buy more groceries than usual yesterday.

Besides, well.

I don’t think it’s bad for me to have a close friend living next door.

I got up from my seat, smiled, and said,

“Welcome, Yuka.”

“Thanks. Looking forward to living here!”

Yuka replied with a bright smile.

Is it just my imagination that the room seems a few lumens brighter?