SWNOVELXO Volume 1 Chapter 61 - Living Together
When I get home, I switch from Eleanor back to Mr. Okita and go out shopping.
Today is the last day I’ll be spending in this house, so I buy a bunch of snacks and start drinking by myself in the evening.
“Ah, drinking alone like this reminds me of that time…”
That was when I got fired from my job and was drinking out of despair. The uncertainty about my future, the frustration of losing my job, and my own inadequacies—it was probably the worst time in my life.
But then, I saw a late-night commercial for adventurers and my life changed. I reunited with Kaede and acquired an overpowered skill called Alchemy.
Now, I have nearly 20 billion yen and will be living with my cute junior from tomorrow. I’m drinking alone under the same circumstances, but my feelings are worlds apart.
I sip my booze while checking my smartphone. Kaede keeps messaging me.
“The living room is spacious.”
“I’ll put some flowers in your room!”
“Look, look! The room is ready!”
Kaede is giving me live updates with photos. I almost feel like we should just call each other.
But the photo of the flowers she sent was beautiful, and Kaede’s room looked cute.
“The bath is clean! So comfortable!”
Kaede apparently took a bath. But this time, there’s no photo.
“Forgot to attach a photo?”
Kaede is so clumsy.
“I can tell you’re drunk.”
Along with that message, she sends a photo of a yellow chick.
I think she’s acting like a child, but it’s cute, so I’ll let it slide.
“I’ll be there by noon tomorrow. I’ll make soba noodles!”
It seems Kaede will be making soba noodles for me.
“Looking forward to it!”
“If it’s noodles, leave it to me!”
Well, it’s just boiling them. I get it, I get it.
I decide to postpone explaining the Nanapon kidnapping incident until tomorrow and enjoy my drink while having a light-hearted conversation with Kaede.
Needless to say, the booze I’m drinking now tastes several times better than what I drank the day I was fired.
The next morning, after storing all my belongings in my item bag, the landlord and property management people came to check the room. After finalizing the move-out process, I give the landlord a gift of confectionery, thank him for his kindness, and leave the house. Then I press the intercom of the next-door apartment.
After pressing the intercom, a man with a rough appearance comes out. He probably just woke up.
“Ah? Oh, it’s the guy next door…”
The neighbor looks displeased.
“Good morning. Were you sleeping?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
“Actually, I’m moving out today. Thank you for everything. Oh, here are some high-end sweets.”
I hand him a bag of confectionery.
“Ah, you’re moving out… Thanks for going out of your way.”
“You wanna know why I’m moving?”
“Sometimes you’re annoying, man. Are you moving in with that girl from before?”
Oh? He seems to know.
“Yes, I am.”
“Congrats. You two have been noisy recently.”
“Oh, you could hear us?”
“These walls are thin, and you guys were too loud. I thought you were going to start something.”
Geez.
“I won’t let you hear Kaede’s cute voice!”
“Aren’t you scared of me?”
The neighbor asks something strange.
“To be honest, I was scared. No sharing of meat and potatoes, you know. That was a real dilemma.”
Aren’t meat and potatoes usually given by college girls or lonely housewives? I learned from textbooks that they would invite you in when you return the container.
“That’s not what I meant… Anyway, that was just leftover from what a woman made for me. I gave it to you because you seemed poor and pitiable.”
Poor!? Pity!?
“Did I look that bad?”
“You had the eyes of a dead fish… And you were bad at one point.”
“Bad?”
“You started making noise in the middle of the night, shouting in the bathroom like ‘I’m going to slash him,’ or ‘I want to die.’ You were really noisy.”
I don’t remember that.
“Eh? A ghost? That wasn’t me.”
“No, it was you. There were times when you even banged on the wall.”
“Hmm, I don’t remember. Maybe it was alcohol?”
It must have been when I was depressed.
“Compared to that time, you making noise with a girl is not a problem. I thought you were never going to start.”
“Sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”
I wouldn’t want a neighbor like myself either.
“Don’t worry about it. Take care. She was a cute girl, wasn’t she?”
“You get it, right? She’s cute.”
“I feel like punching you.”
“Please don’t.”
No violence!
“Alright, I won’t punch you. You look strong.”
“Did you know? I used to practice swordsmanship.”
“That makes your shouting even scarier. Quitting your job was a good thing. You seemed like you would cause an incident.”
I did imagine slashing my terrible boss at work several times.
“I’m fine now. My heart has healed.”
“Good for you. I wouldn’t find it funny if I saw you on the news. Well, good luck.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your kindness.”
I bow my head and express my gratitude once more.
“Hey! Wait a minute!”
The neighbor stops me and goes back into his apartment. I wonder what it is. He comes back shortly.
“Here, take these.”
The neighbor hands me two card-like papers.
“Business cards? Wait, you’re a CEO?”
“Yeah.”
“You’re not a gangster?”
Not a yakuza group, huh? Well, they wouldn’t have business cards in that case.
“It’s none of your business.”
“Hmm… But why two cards? I won’t give one to Kaede. I’ll slash your neck if you try anything.”
“You’re scary because you’d actually do it. No, give it to the other woman—the one with long black hair who was wearing your jersey.”
Ah, Eleanor.
“Hmm.”
Well, she’s been on TV a lot, so he would know.
“If you need anything, let me know. I’ll help you out. I’ll even give you a neighbor’s discount.”
“Understood. I’ll let her know.”
“Yeah. Good night.”
“Good night. Thank you very much.”
“Yeah!”
The neighbor closes the door.
Well, that’s it.
Let’s go… to my new home!
I leave the apartment complex, walk to the station, and board the train. When I arrive at Nerima Station, my destination, I leave the station and head to my new apartment.
After a few minutes of walking, I arrive at the apartment building. I climb the stairs, stand in front of the door to my room, and press the intercom.
“Hello!”
I press the intercom, and after a moment, the door opens. Of course, the one who opens the door is Kaede. Today, she’s wearing a light pink shirt and a skirt, which is a bit short today.
“I’ve arrived!”