Wednesday afternoon.
When I walked out after my meeting at Zany, Kaedezaka was waiting for me at the entrance of the building.
âHow do you do, Sasamiya-san?â
âDid you wait for me?â
âWhat happened with that scouting offer?â
âI refused. When I told him that I wanted to work a little harder at my current company, he understood.â
Kaedezaka was surprised.
âAmazing. To convince that uncle of mine so easilyâ¦â
âIs it really that surprising?â
âYeah. He is the kind of person who would laugh and use any brute tactics in order to achieve his goals.â
âYouâre exagerrating.â
âIâm being modest, though.â
""
Ogai-san, the managing director of Zany Inc., was the person who chose me to be an assistant to the Comiket team, and Kaedezakaâs uncle.
I had heard that he was a powerful man, but his gentlemanly demeanor belied such rumors.
However, since he made Kaedezaka say that much, his true nature must be substantial.
As we were walking toward the nearest station, Kaedezaka spoke to me in a more serious tone than usual.
âThereâs something I need to talk to you about, Sasamiya-san. â¦â
âWhat is it?â
âIâm moving.â
ââ¦â¦That was sudden.â
âMy parents decided to live overseas, so I lived at my uncleâs house all through high school. But I had promised to stay there until I turned 20. â¦â
When I looked at Kaedezaka walking next to me, her expression seemed dark, partly because she was looking down.
Could it be â¦
âAre you going far away?â
âI donât know the exact location of the apartment because my uncle got it for me, but I think it will probably be near the university. Itâs the exact opposite of the route that you use.â
âThen we wonât be able to see each other much.â
âYeahâ
Kaedezaka shrugged her shoulders and gave a cute wry smile.
The expression on her face was somewhat sad.
While we were talking, we arrived at the station.
Kaedezaka stopped, smiled naturally, and asked for a handshake with her right hand.
âIâve had a lot of fun, despite everything.â
âYeah, me too.â
I held her hand.
Her fingers were long and slender.
âIâd like to see Yuika-san, too, and Iâll come here at least once a month.â
âIâll at least take you to a café then.â
After saying goodbye, she brushed her long hair out of her eyes with her hand and gallantly disappeared onto the station platform.
âââââ
Three days later, on a Saturday.
It was a holiday and I was lounging around in my apartment when the intercom rang.
Ding dongâª
Who was it at this hour?
Well, it was probably a door-to-door salesman or something.
I loved this apartment, the rent was cheap, but they need to do something about security, man.
I was bored, so I opened the front door without checking⦠but I couldnât believe my eyes.
I was surprised to see a beautiful, big-breasted woman with glasses standing there,.. Kaedezaka.
âIâ¦I just moved in next doorâ¦. I⦠am Kaedezaka⦠I came to say helloâ¦â
Kaedezaka, her face bright red, had teary eyes and was trembling with embarrassment.
Even though we parted with a heavy mood, we met again soon after.
That must have been embarrassing.
I was stunned, too.
âYou moved next door to my apartment?â
âI⦠I also learned about it today for the first time. Why are you next to me Sasamiya-san. Mou~~~, Mou~~!â
âHey, donât punch me. Itâs not my fault.â
I couldnât understand the situation.
How could there be such a coincidence?
Kaedezaka then handed me a letter that she had received from her uncle, Ogai-san.
When I opened the seal and read it, I found something extraordinary.
âDear Sasamiya-kun. If you are reading this letter, it is probably around the time you are reunited with Mai after she has moved out. As a relative of mine, I can tell you that Mai has no life skills whatsoever. Therefore, I would like to entrust her to you, Sasamiya-kun. I am sure you would not abandon Mai and would help her. If you and Mai fall in love in the process, I would be rather pleased. If so, letâs talk not only about our personal lives but also about our professional lives.â
â¦â¦ What a selfish letter.
I finished reading the letter and asked Kaedezaka, who was standing right next to me.
âThis⦠whatâs going on?â
âThat means my uncle hasnât given up on you, Sasamiya-san.â
âYou mean the Scouting? I mean, I did turn him down.â
âI donât think heâll back down at that level. I think heâs going to use my connection with you to scout you again.â
As expected of her uncle. His eccentricity was not the level of an ordinary person.
Was his gentlemanly behavior intended to camouflage his true nature?
Kaedezaka asked me timidly as I was stunned by the unexpected turn of events.
âBy the way, Sasamiya-san. May I ask you a favor?â
âWhat is it?â
âHow do you boil soba noodles?â
â⦠Alright. Iâll make it.â
Thus, a college girl came to live next door to my apartment.