NOVEL NEXT Chapter 24
A few days had passed since Chiaki became an officially recognized “Silky.” However, there wasn’t really any significant change from her unofficial days.
Originally, she had been almost constantly invading my home. Her frequency was so high it was nearly at its limit, and the only way to surpass it would be to move in together, which I had no intention of allowing. Hence, there were no changes to speak of.
—
“…What should we do next?”
“If you run out of things to do, you can leave.”
“Nooo, not yet! I’m not going home!”
“You sure do stick around a lot.”
—
Correction: There was one change. I had set a limit on the amount of time Chiaki could stay at my place.
Previously, I had been ignoring Chiaki, which allowed her to stay as she pleased. After finishing the housework, she would stay in the room for as long as her schedule permitted, sitting next to me and doing whatever she wanted.
However, once I stopped ignoring her, things changed. Now that she was officially recognized, I asserted myself as the homeowner and made sure my boundaries were respected.
—
“Ugh…! To be told to go home as soon as the housework is done, you’re really cruel, Haruto-kun!”
“I can’t have you here indefinitely. I have my own private time, you know.”
“Well, if you just treated me like I wasn’t here, it would be fine!”
“You can’t complain about me treating you like you weren’t here when you’ve been misbehaving.”
“Ugh…”
—
I responded to her protests with equal stubbornness.
Honestly, being called cruel for setting boundaries was frustrating. I was merely exercising my legitimate right as a person with private space.
Chiaki had been coming over nearly every day. The times varied, and her stays ranged in length, but it was still almost daily.
It wasn’t something I could complain about openly, but I did value my personal space. It’s not that I’m particularly socially awkward or stressed by being around people, but everyone needs some time alone to feel settled.
If Chiaki could act like a professional housekeeper, it might be different, but given her strong personality, that was not feasible.
In essence, having her come almost every day and stay for long periods made it hard to relax. So, I set the condition that she must leave after the day’s chores were done.
The unintended consequence was that I had to clean the room thoroughly each time, which made my home always sparkling clean.
—
“Honestly, it’s so clean that it’s making me uneasy. This level of cleanliness is unnatural for a guy living alone.”
“Well, if I don’t clean up like this, it’ll be done in no time! It’s lonely saying goodbye so quickly!”
“As a trade-off, you’re responding to some light conversation, right? I’d like that to be enough. …Though, it’s a bit much to be lamenting about how lonely you are when we see each other almost daily.”
“Why not!? We’re like modern-day Orihime and Hikoboshi, only able to meet for a short time!”
“Frankly, seeing each other too often makes us start noticing each other’s flaws. A once-a-year meeting is just right for maintaining good feelings.”
“That’s a pretty harsh response…”
—
But isn’t that how it goes with relationships? No matter how loving a new relationship starts, spending a lot of time together inevitably reveals annoying traits. The phenomenon of “mid-life divorce” seems like a prime example of this.
Therefore, not seeing each other too often, maybe just once a year, might be the best way to keep emotions in check.
—
“No, that’s not it… I was actually hoping for a response like, ‘Since we see each other almost every day, you should apologize to Orihime and Hikoboshi!'”
“I was aware of that. And, by the way, I’m also subtly suggesting you should cut down on the frequency.”
“Haruto-kun, you’re really cruel! Ignoring the feelings of someone who wants to see you as much as they can!”
“While you’re neglecting my need for private time.”
“But Haruto-kun, you don’t really mean it. If things don’t work out, you just brush it off.”
“You understand me well.”
—
Maybe it’s due to our long acquaintance, but Chiaki has grown quite perceptive about my thought processes. She used to be surprised by my reactions, but now she’s become good at reading between the lines, reducing her astonishment.
—
“Well, aside from that… I still don’t understand something.”
“What?”
“I get that your university is fine, but what about part-time work? It’s not free to engage in music activities. You must be doing something, right?”
—
From our interactions, I knew Chiaki was serious about her band. There were memories of celebrations related to record labels, and she had often left for practice, which gave me some clues.
Therefore, there must be considerable expenses involved. Music activities are known to be costly, and covering those costs would require a source of funding.
With academics, part-time work, and band activities, she was juggling three responsibilities. Adding her role as a housekeeper at my place, it was clear that she must be extremely busy.
So, I wondered how she managed to visit almost every day. It was truly a mystery.
—
“Well, I’m not really working a part-time job. I live with my parents, so my living expenses are quite low. Plus, I have support for live performances.”
—
Her response was completely unexpected.
—
“You’re not working a part-time job!? And support?”
“Yep. To put it simply, it’s income. I guess it’s hard to imagine unless you’re familiar with band situations. — So here’s the ticket.”
“…What’s this? A ticket?”
“Yep. There’s a live performance coming up, and I’d like you to come see it. I want you to know me better since it’s a special occasion!”
—
Chiaki extended the invitation with a beaming smile.
—
“…I’d rather pass; it sounds like a hassle.”
“Why!? I picked a day that fits into your schedule! I even asked the members to make adjustments! Please come! I’m begging you!!”
“Eh…”