Tears And Stars
I hear the sound indicating that the bath is ready.
"Hmm...Is it ready…? the bath... yawn... I'm getting in then..."
Mil groggily got up and walked toward the bathroom.
Now then, what should I do? I was planning to ask about food after her bath...
That's right, the laundry. I'll do the laundry while the sun is still up.
I saw the washing machine when I was leaving the bathroom earlier, and as for the laundry... There’s quite a lot piled up... It seems Mil doesn't do laundry...
"Sigh... I'm glad I was given a job, but if those people who took care of her before were going to clean the bath, I wish they had put her laundry in the washing machine too... Or am I being too greedy here?"
Well, such thoughts won’t make the laundry clean itself. I checked that there's detergent, so I’ll separate the laundry by type and wash only what can be done together today.
The washing machine rumbles as it starts spinning. Alright, next is... The kitchen is clean... I thought about the floor, but that's clean too... I'd like to have a meal, but... since Mil is a vampire, I really don't think there would be anything other than blood…
"That's it! I'll air out the bed in the sun!"
I took the futon to the balcony and hung it up. Since it's spring, there's a perfectly gentle breeze.
"Ah... what a pleasant breeze."
After walking around and hanging up the futon, I heard the washing machine again.
Beep beep!
"Alright, let’s go!"
I transfer the washed clothes to the laundry basket and hang them on the balcony using clothespins and hangers.
Maybe because I've always done my own laundry, I've gotten used to doing household chores naturally. Thinking about how my mother used to do this made me start to miss my family.
"Sigh…"
After repeatedly washing the laundry and hanging it up, I finally finished and took a breather.
It’s kind of a late realization but I feel like I bend quite easily. My feelings change depending on the moment, and things I thought I couldn’t do often turn out to be surprisingly doable. Unlike geniuses or prodigies... I just go with the flow.
Well, now is not the time to allow myself the luxury of worrying about such things;I must show composure.
Unnecessary thoughts were whispering to me, and because I’m weak, I blocked them out.
I hear a click coming from the bathroom. It seems Mil has finished her bath.
I thought about whether it was my turn next, but I'm not some perverted lolicon who would immediately soak in the bath a young girl just used, so I'll wait a while before going in.
I'm such a weak person. I care too much about how the world sees me. Even though I was forced into this situation, I still worry about things like that.
"Ahh! That was a good bath... Masato, you should go in now too. Taking a bath during the day feels great!"
"No no, I’m okay! I'll take my time and go in later..."
"Hm? Alright... It’d feel so good right now though..."
She had changed into different clothes. Earlier, she was wearing a dress-like outfit, but now she was in a T-shirt with a mysterious character on it and shorts
"This outfit is really comfortable and nice... One of the reasons I like Japan is the concept of a 'shut-in'. I admire that... And I learned that this outfit is what shut-ins wear to live comfortably!"
She spoke proudly with a "Hmph!", and I can't help but feel a bit charmed by how cute she is... Ugh! Is my heart gradually turning into that of a lolicon...?
"Oh, right... Mil, what should I eat for food?"
Hm? About that... You can just eat the instant curry rice over there, right? That's what it's for.
Mil spoke as if it were something obvious as she sat on the bed.
"Curry, huh? Understood."
"Do you not like curry? Should I have something else prepared for you?"
"No, it's just that I'm not used to instant meals because I've always cooked for myself."
"Hmm... I heard humans like to eat these things though... Cooking, huh... Well, eat that for today."
For a moment, I thought I saw Mil glance this way, but it doesn't seem like something I need to worry about.
The rest of the day passed with small talk as I looked around the residential unit. Before I knew it, evening had arrived.
"Well then, let's have dinner. I'll drink this pack, but... Are you alright? Your face looks pale..."
"Ah... It’s nothing. It's just that I'm not good with blood, so please don't mind me."
"...I'll eat outside. You eat right there."
"Ah! If you're going outside, could you ask the base personnel to bring a table and some matching chairs? Foldable ones would be fine too!"
"That much stuff?! ... Fine, I’ll tell them."
Mil closed the iron door with a thud and went outside.
Was I being too presumptuous? But a residential unit without a table, even if it's fully furnished otherwise, would be inconvenient for meals.
Wondering if the loneliness I feel from not being able to go home also had something to do with why I made that request, I heat up the instant curry rice in the microwave and eat.
Even after I finished eating, Mil still hadn't returned.
With nothing else to do, I decided to take a bath. I need to do something to stay calm.
Come to think of it, what about my clothes? There were two cardboard boxes placed at the entrance. I wonder which one contains clothes...
I opened the box on my right, and it was full of blood packs. I’m no longer surprised, having gotten used to seeing them, but it still gives me an uneasy feeling in my chest.
"Then this one must be… There we go."
It contained clothes and pants of the same size. I took out a set and headed to the bathroom.
"Phew..."
I began to wash my hair. I'm the type who starts with the hair. By the way, for the body, I start from my right foot.
After finishing washing my body, I soaked in the bathtub and thought about tomorrow, which had nothing scheduled.
"If there’s nothing planned, why think about it? What happened to keeping your composure? Did you give up?"
The whispers penetrated my ears and echoed inside my head. Even though it's my own voice, I can't help but think about how painful it is to be alone.
The reality I want to escape from shows me no mercy.
"Why don't you just forget about your parents? It's okay now, you've done well. There's no need to suffer anymore."
"That's... no way I can do that..."
I’m probably becoming a madman, talking to myself like an idiot, even though there’s no one watching.
"Aren't you just running away? You think you can use the excuse that nothing will be left if you stop looking for your family as a reason to keep living, right? You suicidal bastard."
The whispers of my heart were born from the loneliness my pathetic self feels. I’m like a weak and fragile child in an adult's body. If only I had cherished things like my friends more... Someone might have told me to seek medical help at a hospital.
I felt like I heard "See you tomorrow, weakling." as I got out of the bath, but that was just an auditory hallucination too.
After drying off, I changed into the new clothes and dried my hair. Then, I wondered what I should do next.
The sun had already set by the time I got out of the bath. Mil was standing on the balcony, looking at the sky.
"Hmm? You're out of the bath. Let's go then."
"Go? Where to..?."
"It's a secret. Follow me."
We left the residential unit and walked quite a distance. We kept moving through a path overgrown with vegetation.
"Um, how much longer still?"
"We're almost there. Oh! I can see it."
"Eh?"
We emerged in a place so high that even the lights from the base couldn't reach us. This area was surrounded by dangerous cliffs, with a sheet laid out in one spot.
"This is the secret place I prepared for you. Let's watch the stars here today."
"Stars?"
After saying that, Mil lied down on the sheet. She beckoned me to lie down next to her and pointed at the sky.
"I’m the one who invited you here, but... I'm not very knowledgeable about stars. Masato, I've been watching you all day, and you seem to be feeling anxious about your current life. This is my way of trying to help you relieve that anxiety. Just look at the glittering stars and try to forget your worries for a moment."
"Forget... my worries..."
I simply gazed at the stars in the sky. Come to think of it, I’ve never seen a night sky like this before. The night sky in town is hard to see because of the streetlights. Maybe that’s why tonight’s sky, though unfamiliar, gives me a sense of comfort and familiarity.
The burden on my heart didn’t just disappear; I felt like I could forget about everything, at least for this moment.
"Oh! A shooting star just passed by! Humans make a wish when they see one, right? I wish for Masato's anxieties to disappear...!"
"Haha, if you say it out loud, the wish won't come true, you know?"
"What? Is that how it works?!"
"Haha, but...that made me happy. Thank you... Haha..."
"Masato, are you crying?"
"Huh? There’s no way... Wait, why are tears..."
A single droplet fell down my cheek. Not from any rain, but from my own eyes.
"Well, humans cry when they're happy too. I'm glad you find this a happy moment..."
Mil spoke as she looked up at the sky with her eyes glowing red. The night sky reflected in them, combined with her gaze, made the night feel incredibly beautiful.
