Chapter 9
by Need_More_SleepChapter 9: Rent
After a comfortable bath, drying off, changing into pajamas, and blow-drying her hair, Tohyama Kanako finally managed to recover a bit from her exhaustion.
Entering the living room, Tohyama Kanako found Aria watching a comedy show. Judging by Aria’s somewhat puzzled expression, she probably wasn’t quite catching the humor. After all, she’d only been in Japan for a few months, perhaps this was a comprehension gap caused by cultural differences.
“Remember to lock the dorm door, turn off the lights, and the TV before bed,” Tohyama Kanako instructed Aria, then went into the bedroom to sleep. Too much had happened today, with too much physical exertion, she was genuinely tired.
“Understood,” Aria acknowledged.
Before sleeping, Tohyama Kanako retrieved a set of dark-colored mosquito netting from the wardrobe. Although the dormitory building was near the sea and had few mosquitoes, this item served another purpose for her.
This mosquito net was actually something Tohyama Kanako had prepared when she first entered high school. Once set up, it could enclose her bed, creating her own private world, shielding her from her roommate’s view.
Tohyama Kanako knew her own limits, she couldn’t bet on a roommate maintaining rationality, potentially inviting unwanted nocturnal visits, which is why she came up with this method.
However, Tohyama Kanako’s previous roommates rarely stayed in the dormitory, leaving the mosquito net with little use.
Tohyama Kanako hadn’t expected this mosquito net to come in handy while living alone, she could only marvel at the unpredictability of life.
The next day, Tohyama Kanako woke to her phone alarm at seven o’clock.
Unzipping the mosquito net, Tohyama Kanako saw a pink ponytail hanging down from the top bunk of the opposite bunk bed.
Aria had brought her own pillow, sheets, and bedding. Since she spoke of a prolonged struggle, she was naturally well-prepared.
“…Hmm hmm… Peach bun pyramid…” Aria was still talking in her sleep, with what seemed to be a “drip-drop” sound of drool.
Seeing Aria sleeping so soundly, Tohyama Kanako recalled the events of last night, and a surge of inexplicable anger rose in her heart. She really wanted to grab Aria by her twin tails, drag her off the bed, lay her across her knee, spank her bottom, and make her cry and beg for mercy!
However, Tohyama Kanako just entertained the thought.
After getting up, washing up, changing clothes, combing her hair, preparing breakfast, and incidentally starting the washing machine—Tohyama Kanako noticed Aria had already tossed her clothes in.
While Tohyama Kanako was heating milk, Aria, rubbing her eyes, emerged from the bedroom and came to the kitchen.
“Jin, I’m hungry. Breakfast?”
“Only milk and bread.” If Tohyama Kanako were eating breakfast alone, she’d basically only have these two things. After leaving the Assault Department, she didn’t have such a high activity level and didn’t need to eat too much, or she’d gain weight.
“What’s this? Don’t you have coffee here? I want that.” Aria pointed to the instant coffee in the corner of the cabinet.
“Drinking coffee instead of milk in the morning, no wonder you’re not growing taller.” Tohyama Kanako looked down at Aria from her superior height, being 170 cm gave her the right to look down on Aria, who was only about 140 cm.
Additionally, Tohyama Kanako discreetly glanced at Aria’s chest.
Aria’s nightgown was thin and truthfully reflected her body’s contours. Her chest couldn’t be described as completely flat, but one could only say it was as smooth as a plain.
Tohyama Kanako thought Aria could wear those childish underwear without any issue at all.
“What did you say?!” Aria instantly perked up, glaring at Tohyama Kanako through gritted teeth, clearly very sensitive about her height.
“Nothing. You misheard,” Tohyama Kanako dismissed it casually.
Aria shot Tohyama Kanako a glare but didn’t press further. Instead, she opened the refrigerator herself, looked inside, and asked, “There are eggs and sausages in the fridge, even canned meat. Why aren’t you making those?”
“A freeloader staying in someone else’s dorm shouldn’t have so many opinions. You should be grateful I’m willing to prepare breakfast for you at all,” Tohyama Kanako retorted bluntly.
“You just wait!” Aria stormed back into the bedroom.
As Tohyama Kanako was wondering what Aria planned to do, the latter returned, holding a small wallet.
Slap! Aria took several bills from her wallet and slammed them hard onto the counter.
Tohyama Kanako estimated they were all 10,000-yen notes.
“This is my rent! Now! Make my breakfast properly! Use the stuff from the fridge!” Aria slapped the counter, making her demand with complete self-assurance.
“If you’d just done this earlier, it would have been fine.” Tohyama Kanako quickly took the five “Fukuzawa Yukichis” and put them in her pocket. Only a fool wouldn’t take money.
‘This girl is really rich, carrying so many Yukichis around, and there seem to be more in her wallet,’ Tohyama Kanako stole a glance at Aria’s wallet.
“Hmph!” Aria turned and left to wash up and get ready.
“So, do you still want coffee?” Tohyama Kanako called after her.
“…Prepare milk for me. With sugar cubes. Two,” Aria stood frozen for a moment before forcing out these words.
When Aria was finally ready and came to the dining table, Tohyama Kanako had prepared breakfast as requested.
An omelet, octopus-shaped sausages, pan-fried luncheon meat slices, lightly toasted bread, and warm milk. If there had been vegetables, Tohyama Kanako could have made a salad.
To support the family, Tohyama Kanako’s older brother started working very early. She wanted to help her brother, to share some of the burden. Starting roughly from elementary school, she learned to cook. When she wasn’t tall enough to reach the counters and stove, she’d stand on a small stool.
Tohyama Kanako began learning with simple fried rice and now could basically make all common household dishes. For more complex dishes, she could manage as long as she had a recipe for reference.
“No vegetables or fruit. Make do with ketchup,” Tohyama Kanako pointed to the bottle of ketchup placed before Aria.
“Why do you eat so little?” Aria glanced at Tohyama Kanako’s breakfast, which consisted only of an omelet, toast, and milk.
“Not attending Assault Department classes anymore, this is enough.”
After breakfast, the laundry was done. Tohyama Kanako took a basin to retrieve the clothes from the washing machine but unexpectedly grabbed a certain item.
“Hey, Aria, I’m talking to you…” Tohyama Kanako called toward the living room. After eating, Aria had turned on the TV to watch the news.
“What is it?”
“You should at least wash your underwear by hand.” Tohyama Kanako returned to the living room, holding up Aria’s playing card-patterned panties.
“Why?” Aria didn’t understand.
“Don’t you know washing machines are full of bacteria? Washing them like that isn’t hygienic.”
“How would I know? In England, I have a maid who does my laundry. Since coming to Tokyo, I’ve been sending my dirty clothes directly to the laundromat.”
“A maid…? What kind of young lady are you?” Tohyama Kanako gained a new understanding of Aria.
“If you’re asking that, in England, I really am a young lady,” Aria stated matter-of-factly.
“Never mind. In short, underwear and socks should be washed by hand. I won’t wash them for you.”
“How do you do it?”
“Wet them with water, add a little laundry detergent, rub them a few times, then rinse with water. If you’re not that particular, you can use shower gel or soap too. Don’t use hot water, it will cause any bodily fluid stains to set.”
“Jin seems to know a lot. You can cook and do housework.”
“If you had my family situation, you’d be the same as me.” After saying this, Tohyama Kanako went back to hang the laundry.
Aria didn’t respond, just watched the television thoughtfully.
[To Be Continued.]
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