When I was little, I didn’t really understand the definitions of living well or poorly.
I didn’t quite grasp why living in an apartment was such a good thing, and living in a villa or semi-basement was considered so hard; after all, a house feels about the same size.
I vaguely sensed that friends who lived well had lots of cool toys or game consoles, or computers with good specs…
If Harumi or Yuuki were to come to my house, they probably wouldn’t be shocked or anything. They might just ask with pure expressions, “Why is there only one room here?”
But—if there were an overwhelming difference obvious enough for such kids to notice, then the story changes a bit.
“Wow.”
The first words Harumi exclaimed after entering Yuuki’s house were such exclamations.
Sometimes, people say a house looks like a ‘palace’, and Yuuki’s house was just like that. It wasn’t just spacious; from the gate to the surrounding walls, and the inside of the house, everything had a traditional appearance that seemed to have been built long ago.
In fact, it had the vibe of a ‘Yakuza mansion’ often seen in Japanese subculture.
“Hmm~ Hmm hmm~”
Normally, the one who would hum happily like that would be Harumi, not Yuuki. But no matter how carefree Harumi is, it seemed a bit tough for her to act nonchalant in such a foreign atmosphere.
Leading us was Yuuki, who walked ahead while Harumi and I followed behind.
The passing uncles nodded towards Yuuki. He waved his hands to respond to them.
“……”
His respectful demeanor towards children was indeed that of a ‘stereotypical Yakuza’.
Just like you’d see in cartoons.
Thinking back, it’s a bit funny. After all, Yakuza are basically just the Japanese equivalent of Korean gangsters, yet here they are living in such traditional mansions.
It’s probably because when the concept of Yakuza was first introduced in cultural content, it was heavily influenced by the ‘real Yakuza’ whose existence was almost mythical.
The image originally set influences future generations. Once it takes root for those who grew up watching those movies or cartoons as a ‘cliché’, it can continue to affect things unless an exceptionally outstanding work comes along to completely break that cliché.
In manga, anime, and light novels, that gets exaggerated to turn them into humorous villains.
…And, I thought that was fortunate.
If the reality were a Yakuza that didn’t adhere to ‘minimal justice’, both I and Kagami might not receive help but instead could be sold off as a set.
Having spent several years here, it’s easy to forget, but I am, after all, a person reincarnated into another world.
I’m not sure if that applies here as well, but if it’s following the clichés of possession stories, there’s a good chance I’ve entered into some work. It would actually be stranger to think that I and Kagami aren’t in a peculiar circumstance.
After all, in light novels from back in the day, heroine’s parents were often strangely young, or there were cases where they were completely targeted as love interests.
No, I wonder if that was the case even as I grew up… Anyway.
Even if that could all be a wrong assumption, at least here, it seems so.
“This is my room.”
Confidently walking, Yuuki stopped in front of a door and said that.
“Oh.”
Harumi, who was feeling a bit shy, seemed to adapt to the atmosphere quickly. Initially, she must have thought the scary uncles were around, but since those uncles bowed respectfully before us like they would adults, she must have figured there was no need to be scared.
Besides, it was right in front of her friend’s room.
Yuuki had a slightly nervous look, extending his small arms forward, grabbing the traditional sliding door that would easily fit in a Japanese house.
Slide…
The door slowly moved to the side, revealing the inside of the room.
And that room was—
Ordinary.
“Oh.”
This time, it was my exclamation.
It wasn’t particularly spacious or barren.
Aside from the door area, it looked just like a normal room that an elementary school student would have.
The wallpaper was a very light yellow, exuding a calm atmosphere. The furniture inside was either white or light yellow, keeping a consistent theme.
There was a small TV and a video game device, and a low two-tier bookshelf stocked with picture books and children’s books.
Next to the bed, the toy box was made of semi-transparent plastic, so the dolls and magic wands inside were very visible.
…What can I say?
If Kagami had seen it, she would have been very envious; if we had lots of money and I could have my own room, Kagami would definitely have decorated it like this.
Just a bit of a color change, maybe.
“W-what do you think?”
Yuuki asked me in a slightly nervous voice. His cheeks were a light red; it must have been his first time showing his room to a friend.
“It’s pretty.”
“Yeah, super pretty!”
As I quickly replied, Harumi raised her hands up and echoed my enthusiasm.
Yuuki’s lips curled upward. He must have been trying hard to hold it back but it wasn’t working too well.
“Can we go in?”
As I asked, Yuuki seemed to have forgotten about that for a second, blinking his eyes, and then with a gesture like he learned it from someone, one hand gestured towards the room.
“Yes, please.”
That somehow sounded like a phrase a child would use, but I felt it might be his way of mimicking the other adults living in this house.
Well, it’s cute, so whatever.
Eagerly excited, Harumi went into the room first, and I followed behind her.
To be honest, looking at just the layout, there’s not much different from Harumi’s room.
Yet, why does it feel so exciting as if I’m going to a completely new place?
Spending time with kids seems to make my personality feel younger continuously.
If I stay like this for a few more years, there might come a day when my age matches my personality perfectly.
I thought while watching the two kids opening the toy box’s lid.
*
Just because I had come to a friend’s house, I didn’t do anything especially different.
However, being in a different friend’s house made even usual activities feel ‘different’.
Like watching cartoons in a friend’s room.
“I wish I had a TV in my room too.”
Harumi said.
“If Dad’s in the living room, I can’t watch cartoons.”
“Uh…”
But Yuuki tilted his head at Harumi’s words.
“Yuuki?”
As Harumi looked at Yuuki, puzzled, he opened his mouth.
“But if the TV’s in the living room, you can watch TV with Dad.”
“Is that so? Dad only watches boring stuff.”
Somehow, it seems the content Mr. Yamashita watches on TV might not be much different from what Mr. Fukuda watches.
At this age, their concentration might not be that great, so a slightly long movie could seem boring.
“How about Kotone’s room?”
“Uh?”
I got a bit startled at the sudden question while I was lost in thought.
“My room?”
“Yeah. Like the TV and stuff.”
Yuuki looked at me as well with genuine curiosity reflected on their faces.
It’s not that strange. Since they’ve already shown me their rooms, it’s natural for them to want to see mine.
When I was little, I often wanted to visit friends’ houses. It’d make me want to see a house I had never been to, and sometimes, parents’ houses that were often vacant would become gathering places.
Thinking back now, I might feel sorry for those kids instead, but at that time, I felt envious.
“…The TV is in the room.”
“Wow.”
Harumi’s eyes sparkled at my answer.
It’s not exactly a lie. It’s not ‘my room’, it’s ‘our room’, after all.
“Must be lonely.”
No, it’s not like that.
More importantly, is Yuuki feeling lonely? Is that why he’s always playing at Harumi’s house?
Since it’s still the 90s and his dad isn’t what you’d call a typical office worker, it might be hard for him to find time.
“Lonely… not really.”
I nodded.
If I were a truly ordinary kid, I might have thought it was frustrating. I might have wanted my own room.
But I’m… not.
It’s a bit embarrassing to say at my age, but I longed for the existence of family too much.
I was far too young to be called ‘Mom’, yet at the same time, to have such a devoted family who could be called ‘Mom’ was a condition I couldn’t help but think I was truly blessed.
However, my words seemed a bit ambiguous to the two children, as Harumi and Yuuki tilted their heads.
Just as Harumi was about to open her mouth to ask me something—
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked on the door.
“Yes!”
Yuuki answered, and the door slid open to the side.
“Miho-nee!”
“Are you having fun?”
The person named Miho, who always comes to pick up Yuuki, stood there beyond the door.
“I brought snacks, want some?”
“Yes!”
Yuuki responded with much more enthusiasm than when he was at Harumi’s house.
What Miho brought were sliced apples, snacks, and small breads.
They all looked delicious. They all must be expensive.
But still, I couldn’t help but internally compare them to the pancakes Kagami made.
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