Chapter 6: The Blessing from Heaven (1/2)
Amane found it a hassle to go down to the convenience store, and was slurping at the jelly drink he usually kept at home, leaning on the railing as he breathed in the air outside. It was then that Mahiru appeared on the veranda herself.
Once Mahiru spotted Amane, she leaned over the veranda, noticed the jelly juice he was drinking, and frowned a little.
Amane never expected to be approached, and could only remain momentarily rooted.
“You understand, right? It’s jelly that replenishes my energy in just dozens of seconds.”
“…Are you planning to eat this for dinner?”
“What else then?”
“…A high school boy with a big appetite is eating this?”
“Stop being a busybody.”
Typically, he would have lived on bentos from the convenience stores or sides from the supermarket and not eat that little. He was not in the mood to cook dinner, nor have cup ramen, so he decided to have jelly juice instead.
It was unlikely he would have sufficient food, and he might have some snacks or sweets thereafter.
“…What about cooking?”
“Can’t do, and won’t do. You know that, right?”
“…And you cannot tidy up. It is amazing how you are living alone…”
“Shut up. That has nothing to do with you, right?”
The scathing truth hit him, so he frowned and finished his jelly juice.
He had suffered days ago, and was planning to clean up, but being told this for days turned his determination to the opposite direction.
Amane, in turn, was curious as to why Mahiru was being a little naggy; she stared back at him and let out a little sigh.
“… Please wait for a moment.”
Before he could respond or deny, Mahiru returned from the veranda to her apartment.
Upon hearing the windows clatter shut, Amane asked. “What was that?”
She said to wait, but what did she want him to wait for?
He looked towards Mahiru’s apartment with surprise, but naturally, there was no response.
Guess I’m cooled down. Time to go back.
He waited for her as told, but the winter night was colder than he thought. A sweater was insufficient.
In any case, he did not know why he was waiting so obediently.
The temperature was so cold, he was breathing white air. He exhaled, and there was an electronic buzzing sound from the corridor.
He immediately turned towards the door once he heard the bell.
There was only one visitor he would expect to arrive.
He did not know why she would appear, but he avoided the messy pile of clothes and magazines as he went towards the corridor.
He knew who it was even without looking through the peephole. He dragged his sandals towards the door and unchained it. As expected, slightly beneath his eyes was flaying flax-colored hair.
“…What are you doing?”
“I had enough seeing how poorly you live… these are leftovers, but here.”
Mahiru retorted tersely as she stretched her hands outward.
The hands, which were much smaller than Amane’s, were holding a tupperware container. The translucent lid gave Amane a sneak peak of the cooked food inside.
The contents were still warm, and there were some water droplets on the lid. It was hard to see, but there should be some cooked food inside.
He blinked a few times, and once she saw that his eyes were trying to comprehend why, Mahiru let out a deep sigh.
“You do not eat properly. Supplements are simply supplements, not to be taken as the main course.”
“Are you my mom?”
“I do think what I insist here is normal. Also, you should be cleaning up your apartment, no? It is difficult to stand in there.”
Mahiru glanced behind Amane, and narrowed her eyes in exasperation, leaving him speechless.
“… I can still walk through.”
“Not at all. Clothes typically should not be on the floor.”
“Well, they just dropped.”
“They will not if you wash them, dry them, and fold them properly. Please pack up all the magazines you have read. It will be troublesome if you slip and fall.”