Chapter 1: A Black Slate

"…and that about wraps it up!"

Done with rearranging the dining room to my preferred style with the last step of setting aside my living room table, I flopped my body back first slowly onto the cold floor for some needed rest.

The cold, hard floor maybe wasn't too accommodating for my back but I'm too tired to notice and I was too busy basking in this single moment of victory for my senses to even try and tell me..

With that, I finally finished with the preparations.

"Ha…" With nothing else left to do, I then stared at the ceiling above me but not before a sigh of relief escaped my lungs.

"It'll probably take some time before I get used to this ceiling." I said to myself, my feelings on the said matter completely unknown to me yet.

Today officially begins my first day in this living here.. I wonder how things will go from now on.

"Going somewhere, my dear?"

Going out after spending about a couple of hours inside the unit, I moved out for some needed stretching. Upon reaching the streets immediate to where I was, I met gazes with my sweet-looking landlady who had a kid accompanying her.

"Um, yes. I'll just go take a walk while I go grab some snacks on the way back." I replied back with the appropriate respect in my voice.

The landlady nodded upon response, taking my mundane words to heart. Then her eyes lightened up a second or so after.

"I know I've already said this to you a couple of times but you're such a pretty girl~! Are you sure you want to stay here? I'm so sorry our place is so plain! It doesn't fit you at all!"

With her very apologetic rambling, I could only present to her a bashful response of my own. "Please, I don't really mind at all. It's a bit small than the average, I've got to admit, but it certainly feels nicer here and has a less robotic look to it. Besides, I've gotten a nice and comfortable way to my workplace thanks to your kind offer."

Plus, it's cheap enough for my own pocket so who cares? It does what it's supposed to do, right?

"By the way, is this your kid?" In an attempt to take the topic into another direction, I asked.

"Ah, you're already flattering me! Oh no!" The granny then laughed and hugged her face as if she was a flustered schoolgirl. Whether to call it adorable or just plain weird, I'm not really sure about it. "But seriously, this is actually my own kid's daughter. I'm just taking care of her on her mother's behalf because she's a bit busy at the moment."

"…But you look like you're just in your late twenties." Seeing her go crazy like that, I couldn't help but do tease her a little. Just a little.

"Oh stop it you! You're just taking advantage of my flustered heart now~"

Unable to find any more appropriate response (or any more motivations to do so) to the actions of the landlady right now, I shifted my attention to the kid following her that curiously stared at me all this time we've been talking to each other. Innocent looking eyes and a quiet type. My, aren't you a cute little one?

If I had to guess her age, I would assume she was around four to six years old.

"Aww, aren't you an adorable little girl?" Hunkering down to meet her small frame, I proceeded to poke her chubby cheeks in which she made a curious expression while looking at my finger.

"Blondie.." She then said as I notice her tightening grip on her grandma's long skirt.

"Heh. That's the first thing you call me, huh?"

"Hey, it's rude to call people names! Introduce yourself first and then politely ask for their name, deary.."

"It's fine, it's fine!" I interrupted before the little girl could respond. "She's a kid after all. It's my fault for not telling her my name after all this time, anyway."

I took a moment's notice to think of what fitting nickname I'd recommend for this pipsqueak to use. Should I go with something cutesy to go along with her tiny voice, or should I just play it straight?

"Hmm, alright! You can call me Yumiko-neesan, kid." I commented with content, lightly pinching her soft cheeks while also trying not to hurt her the best I can.

"Blonde-neesan."

..Even with what I said, she still addressed me in that form a second time.

"So that's how it's going to be, huh.. So be it then." With a bittersweet smile, I detached myself from the little girl and stood up. Fixing and patting my skirt a couple of times as a small gesture of readying to leave, I turned my eyes to the landlady again.

"Oh~, that reminds me, before you go, Yumiko-chan, you're on the far end of the third floor so you only have on direct neighbor, right?" She asked, holding her cheeks with one hand just like the stereotypes would do.

"Yes, that's true… is something of the matter?"

The old lady clapped her hands in excitement, almost as if she was about to also say 'How perfect!' or 'What a coincidence!'.

"The unit beside you also just had a new residence in it. It's just one guy and he said he's also coming later today so you two might want to say hello to each other as, you know, newcomer buddies!" She rambled on so enthusiastically.

"It's a guy, huh?" I ended up muttering to myself in audible range of her.

"Yes, if memory serves me right, he's about the same age as you? Hmm, lucky right? Not that I doubt you'd be single with those look of yours."

"Eh.. I really don't know about that.." I answered to her giving a fake laugh, a drop of cold sweat dropping from my cheeks as my voice can't help but lower itself upon that topic.

Being single or not, I couldn't care less about them, honestly.

Taking my feet to the road afterwards, I stretched my arms and savored the afternoon air. Seeing as I'm already here taking notes and improving my knowledge of my way here, I might as well enjoy this walk of leisure of mine.

"…But mannnn, I wished I found this one sooner than later. I could've saved a lot more for myself if I did." I said with regret as I take a look back at the distant buiding behind me.

The rent's cheap, it saves me a lot of time and it gets me closer to my workplace, and it's in a not so busy, tranquil neighborhood.

Those were the main reason why I chose to move here in exchange of a downgrade, but there's also another small reason as to why the value of this deal was higher than one would take in face value.

..You see, it's really close to a convenience store.

"Welcome!"

Entering said convenience store, I was greeted by the clerk to which I silently bid some eye contact back.

Afterwards, I begun shopping for

Moving from one aisle to another, I scanned junk food to junk food.

Hm, maybe I should go for a can of beer today? One or two cans shouldn't hurt just this one time. It'll also help me get comfortable trying to sleep in my first night.

Oh yeah. Potato Chips. They go together quite nicely.

..Lastly, a bar of chocolate, yes?

Now that I see all of these, isn't this too much? But it's just for today, no? Maybe. Now that I think about it, aren't I on a diet?

"Ahhh~ This is a lot more calories than what I wanted but.. to hell with it."

Mentally ignoring the battle between my self's angel and devil of calories, I approached the cashier with the items in hand.

"Is this all, miss? Hehehe.."

"Ah, yes.." Along with the items I brought, I also placed my appropriate amount of money on the counter.

"I see, I see. Then please wait a moment."

This cashier is totally giggling to herself, isn't she? I wonder if something good happen to her? A funny joke that's just way too good, perhaps?

"Here you go, please come again!"

"..."

Slowly walking my way home, I observed the streets one more time.

It's almost empty and quiet to the point of silence. A little bit different than the bustling crowd of young adults going home and making plans at this time of the day.

But you know, it's kinda nice, having this for a change. I might really like it here.

"..."

Coming from the stairs below as I drag my body along until I reached the third floor, I suddenly held my breath for a moment, as I caught a figure of a guy staring at the door next to mine's.

Normally I wouldn't be so startled about seeing somebody else, since I'm not the only living around here, but this guy kind of emanates an oppressive aura around him.

The guy in question was wearing a formal attire, wearing white sleeves with his black coat removed and hanging on his one arm.

Unsure if I should just not mind and get inside or not approach at all, I just stared at him, waiting for him to get in or leave.

"..Why isn't it working?"

Though upon closer inspection, it looked like he was having troubles trying to unlock the door with a key.

"..Hm?"

The guy noticed my presence and cast a glance back.

With his face now turned towards me, subtle feelings of familiarity dawned into me.

Then those said feelings became imaginary thorns that began pricking at my throat and with them, the resurgence of memories from high school I wasn't even sure existed in the first place flooded my mind.

I recognize this person.. was what my inner thoughts would tell me right now.

The next thing I knew, words began escaping my mouth as the atmosphere got the better of me. "…Do you live here? Like, somebody renting here."

"…Yeah but I'm only supposed to start today. Why do you ask?" He calmly asked me with a hint of curiosity.

My index finger then slowly lifted and pointed towards my own unit. "I'm.. on this one."

"That means.." The brows on his face raised little by little as the situation both of us were in slowly registers in him too.

Before he got the honor to do it himself, I finished what he was about to say.

"…It looks like we're neighbors."