The morning light broke, and I pulled myself upright. Just as I had the night before, I’d spent the night on the hard floor. Hayashi had been persistent, pressing me to just sleep in the bed with her, but I’d brushed her off, telling her she was being too loud, and opted for the floor instead. As a result, my shoulders were incredibly stiff.
"...I should probably go buy a futon later."
Hayashi was still in bed, her breathing rhythmic and soft.
I had woken up at seven in the morning. For a university student on summer break—a demographic that exists solely to lead a slothful existence—I was likely an exceptionally early riser. Ever since I was young, I’ve always made it a point to wake up at this time on my days off, provided I didn't have a late-night shift. Waking up early makes the morning stretch out, giving me a satisfying sense of having gained something. Usually, I’d use that extra time to clean my room thoroughly before eating lunch and heading out.
Today, however... with a guest sleeping in my room, I felt hesitant to make any noise.
I wondered what time Hayashi usually got up.
She’d been on edge for the past few days, so I wouldn’t dream of blaming her no matter how late she slept. Still, the fact that I couldn't clean the room put me in a foul mood. At the same time, I didn't have the heart to wake her.
"...Maybe I'll go for a walk."
Even in the height of summer, the outdoors was far more pleasant at this hour than it would be during the day. I decided to head out for a stroll to clear my head. I didn't have a destination in mind, so I simply stripped off my pajamas, stuffed them into the washing machine, changed into my street clothes, and left. On the way, I spotted a convenience store and decided I might as well pick up some breakfast to bring back.
"Huh?"
I let out a small exclamation the moment I returned home.
As soon as I opened the door, I heard the rhythmic thrum of the washing machine. Had I started a load before my walk? No, that was impossible. I’d specifically intended to let Hayashi sleep, so I would never have done something so noisy.
I noticed the curtains, which I’d left closed, were now drawn back. A figure stood out on the balcony.
"Oh, morning, Yamamoto."
"What are you doing?"
"Cleaning."
T-shirt, shorts, sandals, a broom, and a dustpan. Hayashi looked every bit the part of someone deep in the middle of chores.
"You could’ve stayed in bed."
"I always wake up at this time. It's just a habit now."
"I see."
"You keep this place pretty tidy. There wasn't even any trash out here on the balcony."
"I run the vacuum whenever I have a spare moment. It's my hobby."
"Wow. What a depressing hobby."
...Wait, what?
Did she just insult me?
When I left for university in Tokyo, my parents had practically wailed at the prospect of me moving out—the guy who spent every free second with a vacuum in hand. They cried about the "Cleaning Freak" leaving the house.
...Wait.
Had they been making fun of me back then, too?
"Why are you standing there moping?"
"Is cleaning every day really such a bad thing?"
"No, it's a good thing. I just think making it your hobby is a bit much."
"Most hobbies are just money sinks with no productivity. Cleaning, however, is productive."
"You seem to have bought an awful lot of supplies, though. It looks like you've spent plenty of money on it."
I stole a glance at the large closet behind me. It was packed with cleaning gear.
"...Did you open that?"
"Sorry."
"There's no need to apologize. I'm sure the supplies are fulfilled, finally being put to use."
"Why are you anthropomorphizing them?"
"...Anyway, let's eat breakfast."
I set the plastic shopping bag on the table. I’d bought a variety of rice balls for the two of us.
"I wasn't sure what flavors you liked, so just take whichever you want."
"...Rice balls, huh."
Hayashi rested her chin in her hand, looking thoughtful.
"I’ve been thinking since yesterday, but your cooking is pretty unrefined, isn't it?"
"You think so?"
More importantly, which rice ball was she going to pick?
"Starting with lunch today, how about I handle the meals?"
"Starting with lunch?"
Seriously, which one was she going to eat? I was actually getting a little hungry...
I pretended to consider the offer, though I wasn't actually thinking that hard. I already knew what my answer to her request would be.
"It's fine. I'll handle the cooking."
"Oh? Are you one of those people who's particular about food, too?"
"No, not at all."
It was simply that Hayashi was a guest in my home. It felt wrong to put her to work.
"I'm the one crashing here. I should at least do that much, right?"
"...You’ve been through a lot of mental strain lately. Don't you think you should just rest while you're here?"
"It’s the opposite."
"The opposite?"
"If I don't stay busy, I just end up dwelling on the bad things."
...In other words, she needed to keep her body moving.
"...Alright. I'll leave it to you, then."
"Thanks. Actually, I’ll handle most of the housework."
"Wait, why?"
"I want to stay active."
"...Fine. I understand. No, wait a second."
I pressed toward Hayashi, my expression more serious than usual.
"...What?"
Driven by a sudden sense of urgency, I leaned in close to her face. I thought her cheeks flushed a faint red, but it was likely just my imagination. Regardless, I had a priority that outweighed everything else—something I couldn't back down on no matter what.
"The cleaning is the one thing I will do."
"Do whatever you want, you Cleaning Freak."
Hayashi snapped at me with an exasperated look. It was a sharp, characteristic remark that reminded me of how she used to be in high school. Back then, we’d have a few exchanges, I’d say something teasing, and I’d receive an angry retort like that dozens of times.
Of course, unlike back then, I hadn't had the slightest intention of teasing her this time... but if I’d managed to annoy her, there wasn't much I could do about it.
"Thank you for yielding."
"...You really are a weirdo."
"Don't praise me. You'll make me blush."
After receiving a heavy, exasperated sigh from Hayashi, we finally began our breakfast.