21 I Just Want To Look Out For My Friend

Hisaki was thoroughly embarrassed by Shuuya's keen eyes. She had totally forgotten that this man was also responsible for bringing her and her old man together in her previous life.

At that time, Shuuya realized there was something budding from the way Hisaki and Heisuke acted whenever they met each other. If not for his insistence, neither of them would have had the courage to take the first step.

Should she get him to help her again?

"Then..." Hisaki coughed once. Ignoring how hot her cheeks felt, she stared directly at Shuuya's still smiling face, "If your prediction is correct, what would you do?"

Stunned, Shuuya's eyes widened. He blinked a few times, looking so confused as if he actually didn't anticipate the answer.

"What? You really... toward my friend, Heisuke... you... like him?" asked Shuuya frantically. He was still shocked by Hisaki's indirect confirmation.

The maiden's face turned even redder. The sunlight was reflected in her round and watery eyes, showing the look of someone who had to hold back her love.

Now he was questioning her? Wasn't he the one asking her that?

Hisaki was annoyed by the surprised look on his face.

In a split second, Hisaki put away her blushing face. It was replaced with a calm and polite demeanor.

"Mr. Kawata, it's just a joke. I'm sorry to joke like that. I only met Mr. Saeki three days ago. You've misinterpreted things."

Sigh, maybe this was still not a suitable time to recruit his help.

Although Shuuya was taken aback, he still thought he didn't mistake things.

Did he?

"Ah, I'm sorry, Miss Chisaka," Shuuya also stopped teasing Hisaki. He put on an apologetic face, "I was just too excited because my friend isn't too sociable. Well, you could say I just want to look out for my friend."

"It's fine. It's good that you care for your friend," replied Hisaki. She was relieved that Shuuya dropped the subject.

Since she was supposed to only meet Heisuke three days ago, Hisaki was afraid that Shuuya would think she had an ulterior motive or be easily infatuated with a man if she told him the truth.

In this era where a man and a woman's relationship was still so conservative, she really had to mind her steps in courting her old man.

"Right, you said that you came to check on your new tenant," Hisaki changed the subject altogether, "Do you have things to say to me?"

Earlier, Shuuya mentioned he was here to check on her. Did he have any important matters to discuss with her?

Shuuya pursed his lips at the sight of Hisaki's calm face. The blush on her cheeks had already receded as if what he saw earlier was just an imagination of his.

After a moment of thinking, Shuuya answered, "I just want to ask if there's anything you find unpleasant at the apartment. You can immediately contact me if you need something to be fixed. I'll arrange that."

It was really Shuuya's true intention. He would always spend time regularly checking on his tenants and the apartment building, moreover if the tenant was still new here.

As the landlord, the tenants' well-being was his responsibility. It was the most important thing his father instilled in him thus preventing Shuuya to grow crook like some of the other landlords.

Hisaki didn't immediately answer him. She thought back on everything, trying to remember if there was anything going amiss.

"Ah, you know the windows at the back where we hang laundry? I found that the window panel is quite loose."

Hisaki only realized it last night. She washed some clothes and brought them to the back. In the kitchen, there was a small separated section where she could dry her laundry. Through the windows was the view of the backyard.

Whenever a harsh gust of wind pushed against the windows, a creaking sound would echo. Hisaki was disturbed by the sound as well as the possibility of someone might be breaking in.

Living by herself as a female made her had to be extremely wary of her surroundings.

"I can fix it myself using a screwdriver though," Hisaki commented sometime later, "I just need to find one first. Do you have the tools? Could I borrow them?"

Hisaki didn't intend to tell Shuuya of this trivial matter but, since he had asked, she brought up the subject.

"No, it's fine," Shuuya quickly shook his head, "You'd just stay home today, right? I'll send someone to fix it for you in a few hours."

"Is that alright? I can wait until later."

"No, no, it's totally fine," Shuuya grinned. His eyes shone mischievously, "We can't have a young woman as you live in an unsecured place. How about at five?"

"Sure," Hisaki agreed.

Five o'clock wasn't too late for an unknown man to come to her apartment. She could even stay outside the unit if needed.

"I'll ask the handyman to check on other things as well."

Thus, Hisaki parted ways with Shuuya without knowing what he had been scheming inside his mind. Her popsicles had melted completely by now. She poured the liquid into a glass and let it freeze inside the refrigerator.

Hisaki changed out of her outfit. With only wearing her underdress, she let the table fan cool her while she sat in front of the open refrigerator.

"Oh, I really hope AC would be more affordable soon," sighed Hisaki.

After cooling herself down, Hisaki went to take a nap. She lay the futon in the living room. The bedroom was too hot at this time of the day.

Before Hisaki drifted out of consciousness, she saw the unfinished tote bag lying on the low table. She still had time to complete it before starting her new job tomorrow.

'I miss our daffodils.'

Hisaki noticed the yard surrounding the apartment building was bare except for a vegetable garden on the left side of the yard. From afar, she saw there were carrots, chillies, tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers planted there.

The vegetables were tended by Mrs. Saeki and Heisuke. The middle-aged lady told Hisaki once that she was welcome to pick anything whenever she needed.

At four, Hisaki woke up. She made herself a plate of omelet fried rice as late lunch. While waiting for the handyman to arrive, Hisaki sat at the low table, trying to finish the tote bag.

Knock! Knock!

"Miss Chisaka, are you inside?"

Hisaki was taken aback. She abruptly looked in the direction of the door.

Was that her old man's voice?

"Miss Chisaka?"

"...coming!"

Hisaki quickly discarded whatever was in her hands. The tote bag, yarn threads and hooks fell on the table. She anxiously smoothened her hair and clothes before she opened the door.

Heisuke stood outside with a toolbox in his right hand. He peered at Hisaki who was a lot shorter than him.

"En, Shuuya... I mean, the landlord Mr. Kawata asked me to check your apartment," explained Heisuke.

"Oh, yes, I reported something to him," Hisaki smiled nervously. She opened the door as wide as she could, "Please come inside, Mr. Saeki."

"Sorry for the intrusion."

Heisuke left his flip-flops at the entryway. He slowly walked inside the living room.

"Oh, are you crocheting the bag earlier?"

The purple crochet tote bag was left on the table sitting in the middle of the living room. Heisuke estimated it could be finished in another half an hour.

And... the small yellow flower patterns attracted his attention more than anything else.

"I wanna bring it to work tomorrow," Hisaki answered while walking away from the front door. She let it stay open, "What do you think? En... does it look bad?"

The initial surprise she felt had faded. A calm Hisaki couldn't help but think if Shuuya had purposely told Heisuke to come or if Heisuke was indeed the handyman of this building.

Either way, Hisaki was pleased with this arrangement as long as she could see her old man often. Fortunately, her apartment wasn't in a messy state.

"No, it looks good. I can see that you're quite skilled," Heisuke glanced at Hisaki who stood at an appropriate distance from him. He asked hesitantly, "The flowers..."

Hisaki's face brightened. She grinned happily, "They are daffodils! Aren't they cute?"

Heisuke's eyelids trembled. He quietly stared at the radiant smiling face.

For a second, the image of the woman in his dreams flashed in his mind the moment he saw Miss Chisaka's smile.

"Well... where's the loose window panel? I'll check on other things too."

"Oh, it's one in the back."

Heisuke didn't talk much when working. He just diligently did his job.

Although Hisaki wanted to stay close, she might just bother him considering the size of the laundry-hanging space. It was also inappropriate. Thus, she just watched him from the kitchen entrance.

"Mr. Saeki, are you in charge of the maintenance of this place?"

After racking up her brain, Hisaki could only think of asking this question.

"No, the handyman is someone else," replied Heisuke without looking back, "Mr. Kawata asked me to do it today. He said the handyman couldn't come."

Tilting her head, Hisaki thought of Shuuya's annoying smiling face.

Hurm, it seemed like she already got her answer.