Chapter 218 - Two Keys, One Home
Kuro had many expectations concerning his relationship with Minami.
He expected awkward conversations.
He expected their first date.
Even Minami pestering him to no end over his confession.
What he did not expect was being in an apartment filled with cardboard boxes with Minami holding two identically-looking keys.
"Explain yourself."
Kuro looked at the keys.
"What?"
Minami lifted both keys.
"Why are we having two?"
"Because there are two of us?"
Minami frowned.
"Don’t play smart."
Kuro grinned.
"You asked."
Minami sighed.
She had proposed sharing the same apartment after a few weeks of dating.
Neither of them had considered it as a big deal.
It all started with one simple fact.
They were both teachers.
They usually worked late.
They used to go back home together.
They had dinner together.
Then one day, Minami looked at him and said casually,
"Wouldn’t it be easier if we lived together?"
Kuro stared at her for almost ten seconds.
Minami immediately got embarrassed.
"Never mind."
"No."
"What?"
"I think it’s a good idea."
And somehow, that was how they ended up here.
Together.
In their new apartment.
Surrounded by boxes.
Minami looked around.
"We should organize everything."
Kuro immediately sat on the floor.
"No."
Minami gaped.
"What are you doing?"
"Resting."
"We just arrived."
"Exactly."
"Kuro."
"Minami."
She crossed her arms.
He smiled.
She sighed.
"You’ve become lazy."
"I’ve become comfortable."
"That’s worse."
She grabbed a box.
Kuro immediately stood up.
"Give me that."
"I can carry it."
"I know."
"Then why?"
"Because you’re my girlfriend."
Minami froze.
Kuro smiled.
"What’s the matter?"
"Nothing."
Her face flushed.
Kuro took the box.
Minami looked away.
"Don’t use that line each time you want to carry something."
"Why?"
"Because..."
She hesitated.
"It feels weird."
Kuro smiled.
"Good weird?"
Minami glared.
"Just carry the box."
"Yes, ma’am."
---
An hour later, they had done practically nothing.
The living room was still filled with boxes.
The kitchen contained two unpacked bags.
The bedroom had clothes thrown across the bed.
And Minami had discovered something horrible.
Kuro couldn’t organize his books.
She stood in front of the bookshelf.
"Kuro."
"Hm?"
"Why are your psychology books among your novels?"
"Because they’re all books."
Minami slowly turned.
"That’s not how organizing goes."
"It works for me."
"You’re a psychology teacher."
"Exactly."
"That makes it worse."
Kuro laughed.
Minami started sorting the books.
"Psychology books here."
She pointed.
"Novels here."
The other section.
"Reference books here."
Kuro watched.
"You’ve thought about that."
"I’ve lived alone for years."
"That’s impressive."
Minami looked at him.
"Aren’t you mocking me?"
"No."
"You are."
Kuro smiled.
Minami picked up a book.
"This one belongs to you."
Kuro looked at its cover.
"That one belongs to you."
She gaped.
"No."
"Yes."
Minami looked at the book again.
Then at him.
Kuro smiled.
"You left it at my apartment."
She remained silent.
"You kept it?"
"Of course."
"Why?"
Kuro shrugged.
"I like keeping things that remind me of you."
Minami stared at him.
Kuro immediately understood what he had just said.
"That sounded..."
"Very romantic."
He scratched his cheek.
"I didn’t mean to say that."
"That’s the problem."
She smiled.
Kuro laughed.
Minami carefully put the book on the shelf.
Then she quietly said,
"I like that."
---
Their first dinner together was definitely not romantic.
They tried to cook.
The first problem was that none of them had bought enough products.
The second problem was that Kuro thought he could cook without reading instructions.
The third problem was Minami believing him.
Twenty minutes later, they stood looking at the result.
Minami prodded it with a spoon.
"Is it supposed to look like that?"
Kuro looked offended.
"It’s food."
"That doesn’t answer your question."
"Food can have various looks."
"That’s definitely an answer of somebody who doesn’t know what he’s doing."
Kuro tried tasting it.
He immediately went for water.
Minami gaped.
"That bad?"
"No."
She tried it.
Her expression changed.
"Kuro."
"What?"
"Did you put any salt into it?"
"Yes."
"How much?"
He hesitated.
"Enough."
Minami stared.
"How much?"
"...I don’t know."
She burst into laughter.
Kuro looked embarrassed.
"Stop."
"You said you could cook!"
"I said I could try."
"That’s not the same thing!"
They ended up ordering takeout.
They sat on the floor because they hadn’t assembled the dining table yet.
Minami held a bowl in one hand.
Kuro held chopsticks in the other.
The apartment was a mess.
There were no curtains.
No television was assembled.
Boxes were everywhere.
And yet Minami seemed happier than Kuro had ever seen her before.
Kuro smiled.
"What?"
She asked.
"Nothing."
"You’re staring."
"I like seeing you happy."
Minami immediately looked down at her food.
"You’ve become too good at saying such things."
"Is that bad?"
"No."
She smiled.
"It’s dangerous."
---
That night, they stood together in the bedroom.
There was only one problem.
One bed.
Minami looked at it.
Then at Kuro.
Then back at the bed.
Kuro noticed.
"We can buy another one."
Minami shook her head.
"That’s unnecessary."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She placed her bag on the chair.
"We’re adults."
Kuro nodded.
"Right."
Minami looked at him.
"Why are you suddenly getting nervous?"
"I’m not."
"You are."
"No."
She smiled.
"You were much more confident earlier."
"Earlier I wasn’t standing near one bed."
Minami laughed.
"Idiot."
She walked towards the bed.
Kuro followed.
They lied with an unnaturally big distance between them.
Kuro stared at the ceiling.
Minami stared at the ceiling.
Neither of them spoke.
Five minutes passed.
Then Minami whispered,
"Kuro."
"Yes?"
"Are you sleeping?"
"No."
"Why are you lying so far from me?"
Kuro turned his head.
"Because you might be uncomfortable."
Minami was silent.
Then she lay closer.
Kuro’s heart skipped.
She rested her head on his shoulder.
"Better?"
Kuro smiled.
"Much better."
Minami closed her eyes.
"Good."
A few seconds passed.
"Kuro?"
"Hm?"
"Your heartbeat is loud."
"That’s because you’re lying on me."
"No."
She smiled.
"Because you are nervous."
"I’m not nervous."
"You are a very poor liar."
Kuro laughed softly.
Minami drew near to him.
Her fingers touched his hand.
She held his hand.
"This is strange."
"Living together?"
"Yes."
Kuro looked down at her.
"Strange strange?"
"No."
She squeezed his hand.
"Strange but good."
Kuro smiled.
Minami opened her eyes.
"We are really going through with this."
"Yeah."
"Will we work together?"
"Sometimes."
"Will we come home together?"
"Hopefully."
"Will we fight over books?"
"You have started already."
Minami smiled.
"Will we wake up together?"
Kuro fell silent.
Minami noticed it.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You are thinking again."
"Perhaps."
She sat up slightly.
"Tell me."
Kuro met her gaze.
"I had never expected this."
"Our relationship?"
"Yes."
Minami smiled.
"So neither had I."
She leaned on his chest again.
"But I like this."
Kuro put his arms around her.
"So do I."
It was very quiet in the apartment.
The city outside twinkled in lights.
In the apartment two teachers, after many years of separate lives, were learning small details of sharing their lives.
Tomorrow morning they will quarrel over breakfast.
They will definitely be late.
Minami will grumble about the books scattered by Kuro.
Kuro will grumble about the blanket stolen by Minami.
They will learn the habits of the other.
They will get on each other’s nerves.
They will laugh at each other.
And perhaps that is exactly the point of living together.
Not some romantic moment every day.
Just someone who will be there when you wake up.
Someone who will wait for you to come home.
Someone who steals half of your food.
Someone who quarrels with you over your books.
Someone who holds your hand in the darkness.
Kuro closed his eyes.
"Good night, Minami."
"Good night."
A pause.
"Kuro?"
"Yes?"
"I love you."
Kuro smiled.
"I love you too."
Another pause.
"Can I have another blanket?"
Kuro opened his eyes.
"You said you are not cold."
"I lied."
Kuro laughed.
"Unbelievable."
Minami dragged the blanket towards herself.
"Good night."
Kuro stared at the ceiling.
He had a strange feeling this life is going to be very long.
And for once, he was glad of that.
Kuro woke up to feel something pressing to his face.
Frowning, he opened his eyes.
A pillow.
Gently, he took it off.
Minami was sound asleep next to him.
Kuro looked at her.
At the pillow.
At her again.
"Minami."
Nothing.
"Minami."
She stirred a little bit.
Kuro squinted his eyes.
"Did you throw this pillow at me?"
Nothing still.
Sighing.
"Of course."
Minami suddenly opened one eye.
"You’re awake."
Kuro froze.
"Were you awake?"
"Maybe."
"You attacked me with a pillow."
"I didn’t."
"It is on my face."
"Evidence can be fabricated."
Kuro stared.
Minami closed her eyes again.
Kuro smiled.
"You’re ridiculous."
"Good morning to you, too."
Laughing, Kuro got out of bed.
"I’m going to make breakfast."
Minami opened her eyes.
"Can you?"
Kuro turned.
"That sounds insulting."
"It was concern."
"I can cook."
"Yesterday’s dinner says otherwise."
Pointing at her.
"That was a one-time mistake."
"Three."
"Two."
"Three."
Kuro started moving towards the kitchen.
"Alright. Then let me show you that I’m capable."
Minami followed him.
"Should I call the emergency services?"
"Minami."
She laughed.
Opening the refrigerator, Kuro stopped in front of an almost empty fridge.
Looking at her, she was looking at him.
"Shopping?"
"Shopping."
They stood there for a moment.
Minami took her bag.
"Let’s go."
Kuro smiled.
Going out, Minami suddenly took his hand.
Kuro looked at their connected hands.
She noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Why are you smiling?"
"I like it."
Minami’s cheeks got a little red.
"Don’t make it embarrassing."
"I’m just holding your hand."
"Exactly."
Kuro squeezed her fingers.
"Then I’ll do it again."
Minami looked away.
"Fine."
Walking down the street together, neither of them realized that very soon their fridge would become a subject to arguments, their bookshelf will become their battlefield, and their mornings will start from a stolen blanket and accusation.
But it was okay for both of them.
Because somewhere between jokes, mess and routine, they were creating something that none of them had expected.
A home.
Not because the flat was perfect.
But because they lived there together.