"Ah, welcome back."
A greeting returned. It'd be rude to reply with something like, "Is this your home now?" So, adhering to courtesy, I replied, "I'm back."
The two sat close to each other, the scene largely unchanged from yesterday. The only differences were a blanket draped over their laps and the presence of empty breakfast plates.
"Um, thank you for this," Kouji said, bowing his head so that his hair messily fell forward. He fondly touched the blanket, blushing slightly. Meanwhile, Anzu was facing a wall, seemingly lost in thought.
"Anzu, say thanks," Kouji nudged her by tugging on her sleeve.
"Why should I? This guy is suspicious. Why do I have to thank him?" she retorted.
She had a point, and it was hard to argue with her logic.
"He didn't kidnap us, did he?"
This was also true, but it wasn't something I could just let slide.
"Actually, I wish you'd consider it a kidnapping," I joked, to which both gave me puzzled looks. They'd naturally be confused, considering it's common sense that both parties would be held accountable in such situations. Even if I'm pretending to be the good guy here, by allowing them to be 'held captive', I'm no better than an accomplice.
"Anyway, you don't have to thank me. Ikeda-san already thanked me this morning."
Anzu's eyes and mouth opened wide in shock. "Is that so?"
As Kouji leaned in to take a closer look, Anzu retreated to a corner of the room. Her cheeks and ears were slightly flushed, possibly from self-loathing.
"You're still hungry, right?" I asked.
Kouji nodded honestly. "Just wait a little longer. If she doesn't wake up soon, I'll go buy some bento boxes."
I'd been debating whether to go to a nearby convenience store, a 30-minute one-way trip with average-tasting and average-priced food, or a closer supermarket with expensive, low-quality bentos.
"That lady, she sleeps a lot, doesn't she?" Kouji remarked with a wry smile.
"The other Sunday, she slept all day, waking up only on Monday."
Is it really living if one's sleeping time surpasses their waking hours?
"That must've been tough. But I think she'll be okay this weekend, since I'm here."
"You're living here now?"
"Something like that. I'm new, but let's get along," I said with a playful tone, extending my hand for a handshake. Hesitantly, Kouji took it. The touch was oddly slick, a sensation I found hard to stomach.
"Regarding the bath, it's tricky. I'd like to allow you to use it, but if I remove your restraints and you flee, I'd be a complete fool."
But what should I do with these kids? No plans or solutions come to mind.
How should I deal with them to ensure peace?
"Um..." Kouji's soft voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Are you a friend of that lady?"
"Not at all," I said, trying to sound foreign but failing. I continued as if nothing happened. "I've never felt a friendship towards Mayu, and I think Mayu feels the same. It's just that she's someone I want to cherish."
"How can you say something so embarrassing so easily?" Anzu murmured. I wonder if, in the common sense of society, these are words overflowing with embarrassment? I think my English translations are far more cringe-worthy.
"So, our relationship might be similar to yours."
"I'm not like that at all!" Anzu interjected, breaking the moment of understanding Kouji was about to have. Despite the melancholy in his eyes, Kouji chuckled and agreed, "Right." Maybe because Anzu seemed more upset than expected, she faced the wall again, looking guilty.
"Ah, no... It's a lie. Yes, a lie. Mayu and I are like an old couple. We're not like you two, who have only lived a single-digit number of years. In terms of insects, you're like fresh cicadas, and we're like crickets. But male crickets get eaten by the females, you know."
Trying to lighten the mood didn't help. Kouji offered a sympathetic smile, while Anzu shot me a glare filled with anger. I'm definitely not cut out to be a class representative. After all, I'm more of a beautification committee member.
"Anyway, did you want to confirm if Mayu and I are friends?"
"Uh, well..."
"Do you like Mayu?"
Love for a kidnapper? Stockholm syndrome?
"No, that's not it at all! There's no way!" He denied it with such fervor, waving his hands and shaking his head. Suspicious. Maybe he likes me instead? Unlikely.
Kouji blushed, turning his ears pink and looking down. I wonder what he thinks of Anzu's cold gaze. "I really don't feel that way," he tried to explain.
"Because it's scary," he trailed off.
"Being in love is... kind of..."
"Whoa, me? 1?" I responded in feigned surprise.
"It's disturbing..."
"Huh? Disturbing?"
I latched onto Kouji's casual comment. Looking slightly uneasy, he nodded twice, and Anzu followed suit.
"Like, she screams really loudly in the middle of the night. But not every night."
"Hmm."
I pretended to ponder, but it was clear to me. It's a heart disease.
"Maybe it's a type of PTSD..."
Does the doctor know about this? Mayu hasn't been to an outpatient check-up. The easiest conclusion would be that she's sleep-talking, but that's unlikely. Mayu's good at falling asleep but terrible at waking up. She wouldn't have the energy to scream.
"...You didn't know?"
Kouji's question contained an element of surprise. But it's not unexpected. After all, I hardly know anything about Misono Mayu. Just her name, nickname, and pen name. And, of course, one of those is a lie.
"I didn't really want to know."
I couldn't even determine how much of that was a lie. The two of them just gave vague responses like "huh" and "hmm."
I stood up, intending to go to Mayu's side, but glanced at the two of them first. Observing them from the swirl of hair on their heads to their toes, I decided to act on an impulse. "Like pouring water on a hot stone, or adding a drop of wine to a barrel of dirty water... Take off your clothes. I'll wash them," I nodded, gesturing to the laundry.
It would be easier to put them in the bath with their clothes on, but that's not an option. The two of them blinked, and after a few moments, they finally reacted to my suggestion.
"Is that okay?"
"Is it not?"
Is it so hard to believe that I can do a good deed, you bastard?
"I think it's fine..."
I seemed to have startled him a bit. I reflected on my behavior. Like an employee from an international brand, I decided to treat guests with utmost respect.
"So, can you undress?"
I extended my right hand softly. Kouji handed over his shirt, pants, and reluctantly, his underwear. Then, when I looked at Anzu, she hid under the blanket, squirming uncomfortably. From a gap in the blanket, she extended her hand holding a bundle of clothes. After receiving them, I left the room.
Arriving in the changing room with the source of the foul smell, I tossed them into the washing machine. The water turned a faint black even before I added the detergent. The dirt was overwhelming. Resignedly, I hand-washed the clothes on the spot, removing surface dirt. After draining the water, I added detergent and restarted the machine. After ensuring it was working, I prepared the next step.
I headed to the bathroom. First, I washed my slippery hands. Then, I prepared the bath, filling it with warm water. I soaked several towels in it, then carried them back to the room.
"Here, use these to wipe yourselves."
The two of them looked shocked. Perhaps they found my act of kindness out of character.
"Really, thank you," Kouji said, his gratitude almost making him forget his place.
"Just doing my part."
"That's right."
Don't agree with me.
Kouji crawled under the blanket and began wiping down Anzu. Their protective relationship seemed natural and accepted. When the towel emerged from the blanket, it was stained a yellowish hue, like wiping a nicotine-coated window. Kouji quickly soaked the towel in water, wrung it out, and resumed his task. I couldn't see the process, but I could sense his meticulous care, like one polishing a piece of art. This selfless dedication reminded me of peeling tangerines.