The Cleaning Campaign

It had been about four days after the Golden Week started. My routine was pretty much the usual. There was only one difference.

I had been going to 'Takahashi Bookstore' regularly these past four days.

I liked spending time there.

I loved reading books. But since I didn't have any friends I couldn't discuss these with anyone. So, I used to write down my analysis of the book I had read in a diary. My mom read that from time to time. Whenever she talked with me about those books, I remember feeling really happy.

But things were different now.

With she gone now, I had no one with whom I could talk about my books. But I doubted I would have talked about it with my mom, after 'that' incident.

I didn't have the balls to face her after 'that', nor could I make an attempt to explain what had happened.

After long, I finally mustered up my courage and decided to tell her everything about 'that'.

But I was too late.

She died on the very day when I had decided to tell her everything.

I still remember how I felt back then. I regretted not telling her about 'that' sooner. I regret that to this date.

Anyway, back to the current situation.

Now, I had someone with whom I could discuss about the books I read.

She was the owner of 'Takahashi Bookstore', Takahashi Yui.

She was about two years older than me, which meant she was about the age of Sakura.

She liked to read books and had similar interests to mine. So, I often spent time in the bookstore reading books and reviewing books with her.

It was the fifth day that I had gone to the bookstore.

When I returned there was a familiar-looking face standing on the veranda.

"Welcome home, Kobayashi-kun."

Huh?

What the hell is going on in her mind?

She was said that while a serious expression was plastered on her face and she looked at me suspiciously.

"What?"

"Nothing at all. I was wondering that lately you have gone outside a lot and not to mention always in the same time interval. So, I was thinking if something was up."

She knew that I was going out a lot recently and she had also kept track of the time I went out. Is she a detective or something?!

"I am just going to a bookstore to read books."

I replied.

"Heh?"

She put her hands in her chin as if checking whether I was telling the truth or not.

"I have something I need your help with."

She said.

"What?"

"Ummm… Can you help me clean my room?"

"Huh?"

Oye. Oye. What the hell was this girl talking about?! She's basically asking a guy to come over to her house.

"Allow me to respectfully decline. I don't want to see your undergarments scattered here and there."

"Y-You!"

She retorted, her face bright red.

I decided to ignore her and headed towards my apartment.

"If you want me to forgive you, then you have to help me!"

Just as I opened the door, she said.

"Huh?"

That was the only thing that came out of my mind.

This girl, and forgive me. I don't remember doing anything that owes an apology.

"I don't think I have done anything that deserves an apology."

I said what I thought.

"Y-Y-You have!..... You have done something that you haven't apologized for yet!"

I pondered for a while but couldn't think of anything. So, I decided to ask her.

"What?"

She hesitated. Her face went red again.

What the hell did I even do to get this girl embarrassed like that? I don't remember doing anything of that sort.

She inhaled a deep breath and told with everything she'd got.

"Y-You saw me full naked when you undressed me while I was sick!"

"Ah?!"

I couldn't deny that. My hand suddenly remembered the soft sensation of her thighs.

Now, I was cornered by this girl.

I couldn't deny that I had seen her fully naked while undressing her.

Although it was due to the situation, I did saw her fully naked. And this girl was using that very situation to her advantage.

(Sh-She's good.)

I thought to myself.

Since, she had now had me cornered I couldn't refuse.

"Okay. I will help."

I said, reluctant as I was.

"That's good. Then tomorrow at 10 am."

She said that with a sort of smug face. She was enjoying that I was cornered and had to comply with her demands.

*

The next day I went to her room at 10 am as she had instructed. The room was messy. I had to put one hand on the wall for balance.

My neighbor, Ichinose Kei, was wearing a T-shirt and khaki-colored cargo pants. The T-shirt closely followed the lines of her body, the delicate fabric bringing the curves and edges to full relief. Her long black hair was skillfully tied to a round bun. The dress she was wearing was good and could be even worn while going out. So, I asked her.

"Is it alright if that gets dirtier?"

"No problem. I was planning to throw it anyway."

"Now. Let's start with our cleaning campaign. First, we start by tossing the clothes in the laundry basket."

I had a question in my mind. So, I asked.

"..There aren't any underwear lying around here or anything, right?"

"They are in my dresser!"

She retorted.

"Then, that's fine."

I could hear her grumbling. But she had to bear with it as she was the one who forced me to help her. I was at least allowed to tease her this much.

As she had instructed, we tossed the clothes into the laundry basket and vacuumed the room. We couldn't vacuum it at night, since it might disturb our neighbors.

After we cleared the floor and vacuumed it, now it was the turn for the pile of books.

"I think it's better if you separate the books for your academics and other books you read like this."

I showed her the novel that was in my hand. I had read it before, "Whose Body". It was quite good.

"Oh. That would be better, I guess."

She agreed with what I had said.

She collected and piled the books for her academics while I did the same with her novels.

She had books such as Farewell; My lovely, The Woman in White, The Big Sleep, etc. Judging by the type of books she had I guessed that she liked reading mystery novels.

"So, you like mystery, huh?"

"Yeah. What about you? You said you went to the bookstore these past days. What genre do you like?"

"I almost read every genre. I don't have a particular one that I read."

"Heh."

She said as if she was amused by the fact that I read books of all genres.

After a while, we cleaned her room thoroughly and the room looked new and bright. It had a different atmosphere which contrasted the previous gloomy one that it had when I had first entered the room.

"It's already 4 pm."

I muttered while checking the watch.

We had started cleaning at around 10 am. So, it meant we had spent around six hours cleaning the room.

That was quite some time.

But it was amazing that we finished it before my estimated time.

I slouched on the sofa in my room.

I was a bit tired so I closed my eyes and decided to take a short nap.

When I opened my eyes, I spotted two black and beautiful eyes staring at me.

When my eyes shot open, she jumped backward.

"I-I'm sorry!"

She faced the other way but I could tell she was embarrassed just by looking at her slightly red ears.

But how the hell did she get inside my room? No. 'Why' was the more important question here.

"Why are you here?"

"Y-You helped me with the cleaning today so I thought I would repay the favor and cooked dinner for you as well."

"I-I had knocked at first but no answer came from the inside! And since the door was open I came in and found that you were sleeping on the sofa."

"I-I had no bad intentions, okay?"

She didn't sound that convincing though and not to mention she was so close to my face just moments ago.

But I decided to ignore that matter once I saw the food on the table.

I slowly got up and made my way towards the table.

"Mackerel?"

I was surprised. The dish looked exquisite.

This wasn't a dish that someone who did only regular cooking can cook.

I shot a questioning glance at her.

"I have received cooking training from professional chefs when I was small."

All so she could get the acknowledgment of her grandmother.

She had done everything and tried to master everything and become a good and talented girl just to get acknowledged by her grandmother but all for naught.

Just as I took a bite of the mackerel meat a viscous softness spread across my mouth.

The meat was cooked delicately and the spring cabbage puree brought an element of surprise with that sweetness.

"Delicious."

I said honestly.

"O-Of course it is. I was the one who made it after all."

She tried to act tough and arrogant but I knew that she was genuinely happy when I praised her.

After finishing the food, I cleaned the dishes and returned them to her.

I was at the door of my apartment to see her off.

Just before leaving she turned around bashfully.

"Umm.

"Hmm?"

"If I feel like it, I would make something for you again."

"Huh?"

She didn't give me time to say anything as she stormed out of my room.

Heaving a sigh and went to the bed. I was a bit tired from the day's work.

"I didn't get to read any books today."

But I got to eat something amazing today so it suffices.