It was already evening, but the new caretaker hasn't arrived yet. Len had to cook lunch and dinner for his grandparents. Well, it was fine by him. It has been a while since he cooked for them anyway, and he was happy he could at least do something for them to make up for the time he wasn't there. He cooked a vegetable stew with sushi as a side dish for dinner. His grandparents loved sushi as much as he did.
"Oh, dear. You don't have to cook this much!"
"I insist, baa-san. It's been a while since I cooked for the both of you."
"Thank you, Len. Your parents would be proud seeing you grow to be a fine young man."
Len only smiled, serving the stew and sushi on the dining table. He missed his parents, but all he ever did for them was being a hassle. He troubles them with his never-ending bully problems. He could sometimes hear his mother cry at night, worrying about him. He wanted to change, but he avoided people instead. He was starting to wonder if he even changed at all.
"Dear, are you alright? You're not eating your food..."
"Oh, I'm okay baa-san. I'm just... having some thoughts."
Someone knocked on the door before his ojii-san said a word, and Len was grateful for it. "I'll go get it."
The knocking became faster. The person was either in a hurry or just plain rude. Len opened the door and the person spoke and bowed before Len could do anything.
"I'm sorry I'm late! I swore I set my alarm, but it didn't rang! I came as fast as I can here when I realised I woke up at one. I promise I'll never be like this again. This is the last time something like this'll happen."
"Um..I didn't―" Len was shocked out of his mind when the girl stood straight. "―Miku???!!!"
Miku almost stumbled down.when he saw Len in front of him. "L―Len??!! W―What are you―"
"What is all the ruckus dear? Oh! The new caretaker! Do you know her, Len dear?" Len's obaa-san asked.
"W―Well, she―"
"Don't just stand there. Help her bring her stuff to her room."
Len carried Miku's luggage without a word to where Fukase's room was. When Len was sure that they were out of his grandparents' ear, he closed the door and spoke to Miku.
"What are you doing here? I thought you have 'something to take care of'."
"Well this is that 'something' I need to take care of. I need the money to take care of a certain 'something'."
"Oh man, of all people... Did it have to be you?" Len facepalmed.
"What? What's wrong with me? I thought we were friends."
"Well, yeah. But―"
"Let me guess, you're not comfortable living with a problematic girl like me."
"If you want to put it that way, it's sorta like that."
"Oh come on, Len. I'll be here for the rest of the month. Deal with it."
Len rolled his eyes. "God, you're such a troublemaker. Just― Just get yourself together. No funny stuff."
"Wh―"
"Come on, the stew's gonna get cold." Len hurried to the kitchen, ignoring her.
Miku walked behind Len. Something told Len that she didn't really care much in what he said. As they arrived in the dining room, Miku smiled and bowed to Len's grandparents'. Her smile didn't seem to be fake. It was the sincerest smile Len thought he'd ever seen.
"Good afternoon, Amakura-san."
"Oh, such a fine young lady. You don't have to be polite, my dear. Just address us like you would with your grandparents." Len's obaa-san was kind ― a little too kind, maybe.
"Ah, but―"
"Dear, we do not want you to feel like you are serving some kind of master. You are neither our servant nor we are your master. We want someone to feel comfortable with us. That's all," Len's ojii-san voiced.
Len saw a gentle smile coming from Miku. Len was starting to get confused of her nature. "Thank you, ojii-san, obaa-san."
"That's what I like to hear. Now come, have a seat."
Miku warmed up to Len's grandparents as they told her stories, which in turn led her to tell her own without being shy instead of bombarding her with questions. Len's grandparents knew how to get around with people. They always made them open up without feeling awkward. Len wished he was like that. He guessed it ran in his mother's side of the family. He seemed to be taking his father's side. He tried, but it was difficult when there was no one to support him when he did. Len just listened in silence as they talked, sipping his vegetable stew.
"Oh, Miku dear. You seem to know our dear Len here."
"Oh, we just met last night. We're actually college mates, but yeah... the college is huge and we take different courses, so we don't usually meet with one from another course that much."
"School nowadays," Len's obaa-san sighed. "It wasn't as huge as it is now. People would also marry a person from the same town. The world was small back then... See, your ojii-san here, he's actually my mother's brother's cousin's son!"
"Really? I mean, wouldn't they feel awkward since they're from the same family? Oh wait, we are from the same father after all." Miku propped her arm on her chin.
"Exactly! Oh, I didn't knew you were a smart girl."
"Heheh. Oh, I'll clean these up."
"But dear, you just arrived."
"It's okay ojii-san, I insist."
"Very well then," Len's ojii-san shook his head.
Miku was piling up the plates and took them to the sink. Len was deciding whether to help her or go to the living room with his grandparents instead. He knew he'd be awkward with her if he did help her, so Len went to the living room to join his grandparents who were watching their favorite evening documentary. He wasn't really watching anyway. His eyes were on the television, but his mind wandered. He didn't even knew what he was thinking about.
"Len dear, are you alright? You haven't spoken much today." Len's obaa-san's voice made him start.
"What? Oh, I just... I just don't feel like talking, baa-san."
"Hmm? Is it because of the girl?"
"Not really. W―well, k―kinda..."
"Len, we know very well that you are embarrassed, but she'll live here until the end of the month with us."
"I know... but―"
"Go to her, dear."
"Okay, baa-san," Len sighed.
Len stood up sloppily and headed for the kitchen where Miku was, wiping the table with a towel. He just stood there in silence.
"Are you still having a hard time dealing with me being here?" Miku spoke without looking at Len.
"It's not that..."
Miku stood straight and looked at him, tossing the towel on the table. "Then what is? What is wrong with you?"
"Look, I don't know, okay! I really don't know..."
"Len..."
"Just forget it. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have behaved like this. Maybe I'm just tired. I think I'm going to bed."
Len left before Miku could say anything. He told his grandparents that he was going to bed early and he headed to the room opposite hers. He covered his blankets over his body and convinced his brain to sleep in the dark room.
Len dreamt of his car accident again. He woke up with a gasp, sweat covered his body eventhough it was winter. Taking deep breaths, he squinted at his phone and saw that it was around 2 in the morning. Groaning, he got up and decided to wash his face. He froze before sliding his door open. He heard a faint cry. It sounded like a woman, no doubt. No man would cry like that. It couldn't be his obaasan either. Gathering his courage, he slowly slid his door open and walked stealthily. He listened intently to where the cry came from.
"Miku...?"
He sidled over to Miku's door. It certainly came from her room. Len pressed his ears on the sliding door. He can hear her cries. It wasn't loud. It was as faint as a mouse's cry, but it was full of grief. Len's hand went limp, his heart felt heavy. He'd never thought a girl as lively as Miku could cry like that. He tried his best to not slide the door open. Whatever the reason she cried was, it must be really heartbreaking to the point it made a delinquent like her cry. Len carried on to the bathroom and washed his face before heading to bed again.
Author's note:
A big thanks to the reviews! I was more than happy to hear from you your reviews made my day! Your reviews motivates me into this hobby of mine further. I'll continue writing as long as my life takes me.
