My Part-time Girlfriend

Ah, Saturday. Another day of nothing. I woke up late—again—and the sun's already high in the sky.

I stretch and groan, rubbing my eyes. "Well, another day of watching romance anime and pretending I have a life. Let's go."

I flop down in front of my laptop and start streaming the next episode of my current anime obsession.

...

"I just wanted you to know... I've liked you since we were kids."

Whoa. The childhood friend confesses. Classic trope. I can already guess where this is going.

"I liked you too... I just couldn't say it out loud before."

Yup, nailed it. They both like each other. What a happy ending, huh?

I sigh. "Oh, to have a romance like that... Meanwhile, here I am, alone, watching anime, playing games, and wasting my life away. Living the dream, right?"

Just as the anime's soft piano music swells into a romantic climax—

"Yuto! Get out of your room, it's almost noon! Eat your breakfast already!"

My mom's voice cuts through the fantasy like a knife.

"Ugh, yeah, I'm coming!"

I drag myself to the kitchen. My mom's already finished eating and left me the table all to myself, as usual. My life in a nutshell. I scarf down the food silently. No siblings, no dad. Just me and Mom. Dad died in an accident when I was two. I don't even remember him.

...

After breakfast, I rinse the dishes and head to the bathroom for a shower. The hot water wakes me up a bit, but when I step back into my room, the mess waiting for me is overwhelming. Clothes everywhere, empty snack bags, and who-knows-what under the bed.

"Man, cleaning is such a pain. I'll do it… someday."

Before I can flop back into bed, Mom calls again from the laundry area.

"Yuto! We're out of rice. Get the money from the drawer and buy some. Oh, and we're out of soap too!"

"Got it!" I grab the money, slip on my shoes, and head out.

...

The grocery store isn't far, but it feels like it's been ages since I left the house. I finally reach it, grab the rice and soap, pay, and head home.

As I approach the house, something feels… off. There's a small crowd outside. People are murmuring, and I catch snippets of what they're saying.

"She just collapsed..."

"It looked like a heart attack..."

Heart attack? No, no, no.

"Hey, Yuto!" a neighbor calls out, hurrying toward me. "Where were you? Your mom collapsed while hanging clothes!"

"What?!"

My heart races as I see her being loaded into an ambulance. I drop the groceries and run toward her.

...

At the hospital, I'm pacing in the waiting area, biting my nails. The smell of antiseptic fills the air, and the hum of fluorescent lights feels deafening. Every second feels like an hour.

Finally, a doctor walks out.

"Doctor! Is my mom okay?"

"She's stable now," he says calmly. "She had a mild heart attack, but she's out of danger. However, she'll need treatment and should avoid strenuous work."

Relief washes over me, but it's mixed with guilt. Why didn't I notice she was struggling before?

...

In her hospital room, Mom is propped up on pillows, looking pale but alert.

"Yuto," she says softly, "the doctor told me I have to resign from work. I need treatment, but where are we going to get the money? I can't just stop working…"

Tears well up in her eyes, and I feel a lump in my throat.

"Mom, it's okay. Your health is more important. I'll take care of it. I'll get a job and handle things from now on," I say firmly, though I have no idea how.

She laughs weakly. "You? Take care of me? You can't even take care of yourself! And you still don't have a girlfriend either, huh?"

"Mom, not the time for jokes," I groan, but I can't help smiling a little.

...

We return home later that day. As I'm settling Mom into bed, there's a knock at the door.

It's my aunt. We haven't seen or heard from her in years.

"Yuto," she says, stepping inside, "I heard about your mom. I've decided to take her in and look after her, but… I can't take you in too. You'll need to manage on your own now."

I nod, trying not to let her words sting. It's not like I was expecting anything different.

...

After they leave, the house feels emptier than ever. I sit on the edge of my bed, staring at the wall.

"Well, this is it," I mutter to myself. "Time to grow up, Yuto. Find a job, survive, and… maybe stop being such a loser."

I grab my phone and start searching for part-time jobs. Let's face it—this is going to be a disaster. But hey, it's a start, right?

I exhale deeply and whisper to myself. "Here we go."