Episode 4: A One-Year Trial Cohabitation Is Just Too Convenient!
Ignoring my outburst completely, Mom just keeps nodding to herself, satisfied.
“Well, they say strike while the iron’s hot, right? I already got a quote from the movers ahead of time.”
“Ahead of time — when?!”
“Last month.”
“Last month?! I only just heard about the remarriage just now?! And besides, the remarriage isn’t happening until next year, right?!”
“That’s right.”
Mom tilts her head, looking genuinely puzzled by my confusion.
“But there are things you can’t really know unless you actually try living together, aren’t there?”
“There might be, but—!”
“So — call it a trial period, until the remarriage.”
“Don’t say it like you’re switching your phone plan! Anyway, you can’t just spring this on us out of nowhere! There’s stuff to prepare — a room, our things—”
“There is, isn’t there~”
“Don’t ‘there is, isn’t there’ me!”
Then—
“Um, actually, that part should be fine…”
Makina’s dad raises his hand apologetically.
“Huh?”
“Truth is, I’ve been sorting things out little by little… ever since the remarriage first came up.”
“Since when did it ‘come up’?”
“About half a year ago…?”
That’s a long-term plan! This is basically premeditated at this point!
Beside me, still reeling, Makina timidly raises her hand too.
“Yotsuka…”
“What, Makina…?”
“I was helping Dad sort through his things. Oh, but of course, I didn’t know about the remarriage part!”
“Then why were you helping?!”
“Well, Dad was doing it, so I just sort of joined in without really asking… so that’s what it was about.”
“Don’t just calmly accept that!?”
“I’m actually getting kind of excited…!”
I’m the only one panicking here.
But this is normal, right? Getting told about a remarriage, and then hearing about moving in together, all within a few hours of each other?
This is happening way too fast!
Then, shifting from her light, breezy tone, Mom’s voice drops a little.
“There’s always the chance it just… doesn’t work out, you know.”
“Th-that’s… true, maybe, but…”
“That’s why we’re keeping the Uzuide family’s apartment as-is.”
“Huh?”
“For one year.”
Mom holds up a single finger.
“We try living together. If it goes well, we get remarried.”
“…………”
“If it doesn’t, everything goes back to how it was. …See? Reasonable, right?”
It’s infuriating that something this outrageous still manages to sound so weirdly practical, coming from her.
That’s just how Mom is, honestly.
But.
If it doesn’t work out.
Could things really go back to how they were?
Not just for our parents.
But for me and Makina too.
◇◆◇◆◇
“Morning, Yotsuka-chan, Makina! Let me know if the toast isn’t done right — I’ll swap it out for a fresh one!”
“Oh, uh, no, it’s fine. Thanks, Uncle.”
By the time I make it to the living room, breakfast is basically ready.
Makina’s dad hasn’t put on his tie yet, but he’s already in his dress shirt.
Making breakfast, even before heading off to work.
“Da~ad, is there strawberry jam?”
“Yes, yes. Strawberry’s your favorite, isn’t it, Makina. Here you go.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“Yotsuka-chan, I warmed up some milk, but not too hot — you don’t do well with hot drinks, right?”
“Oh, um, thanks… wait, you remember that?”
“Of course. I’ve been watching over you since you were tiny, after all.”
Mom seems to have already left for work.
…Until recently, it was just me and Mom in this house.
And mornings were always just me, alone.
But now, Makina’s sitting right next to me at the table.
And Makina’s dad is in the kitchen.
Before I even realize it, there are three breakfasts lined up.
It feels strange.
But not bad.
If anything, it’s strangely calming.
“Should I put strawberry on yours too, Yotsuka? I’ll spread it for you.”
“Yeah, please.”
After spreading jam on her own toast, Makina starts on mine next.
Her face is completely serious, checking the angle of the spoon over and over.
Careful, so careful, not to let it spill over the edge.
Scrape.
Scrape.
The sound of the spoon sliding over the toasted surface.
I watch, unfocused.
Ah.
So this is what it’s like, spending every morning with the girl you like.
Birdsong drifting in from outside the window.
Warm sunlight.
Peaceful. Calm. Precious.
…No, wait, hold on.
I am absolutely not calm right now.
I like her. Makina, spreading jam like this.
Why is she being so serious about it?
Scoop once with the spoon, then use the back of it to spread it out carefully — that’s her type.
Do you really need to concentrate this hard? And for someone else’s toast, no less?
Isn’t that just… too kind?
Of course I’d fall for her. Of course!
I mean, I already have! I already do!!
“Here you go.”
Makina holds out the plate with the toast on it.
…Maybe I should just say it already.
“Thanks, Makina. Will you keep spreading jam on my toast for the rest of our lives?”
“We’re going to be sisters, remember? I’ll spread all the jam you want.”
“No, Makina, not sisters — I mean as my life partner.”
………….
Who even is that?! My imaginary self is way too resolved, way too smooth about it!!
No, no, no! Isn’t imaginary-me a little too strong?!?!
Could I get, like, a small loan of that courage for the real me?
Half would be fine. A third, even.
If I actually had that kind of nerve, we’d probably already be together.
Probably.
…I wonder, though. Would we be together?
…No.
I hope we’d be together.
Just imagining it makes me feel like I might explode.
“…Yotsuka, spacing out again? Hurry up and eat, or you’ll be late.”
Makina peers at me suspiciously, catching me mid-daydream.
“Oh, huh?! Nothing! Nothing at all! The toast’s delicious!”
“You haven’t even taken a bite yet.”
“Ah—”
Out of sheer embarrassment, I shove the still-hot toast into my mouth with a completely idiotic amount of force.
I can’t taste anything, it’s burning hot, and it’s stuck in my throat — I think I might actually choke to death!!
“Wai— Yotsuka?! What are you doing?! Here, water, water!”
◇◆◇◆◇
Right before leaving the house.
Sipping the microwave-warmed water from my mug, a thought crosses my mind, unbidden.
What if.
What if I actually said it?
What would happen?
Would Makina be troubled?
Would things get awkward?
Would she stop smiling at me, the way she does now?
If that happened, it wouldn’t just affect the two of us.
Our parents too.
The cohabitation that’s only just started.
The remarriage planned for next year.
All of it could fall apart.
…No. It’s no good.
There’s no way I can take that kind of risk.
By the full-length mirror in the corner of the living room, Makina is straightening her uniform ribbon.
With a face that knows nothing. Staying like that, knowing nothing.
…Well, of course she doesn’t know — I never told her. Obviously.
Ugh, seriously.
If there’s a god out there, I have some questions.
I wake up in the morning, and the girl I love is straddling me on my bed.
Bare-faced, in pajamas.
Her face close enough that my heart feels like it’s about to explode, smelling incredible.
She casually pokes my cheek without a second thought, and we live in the same house.
—Given how convenient everything about this is so far—
why does it all lead to us becoming sisters?
Why, why, WHY can’t we just date instead…?!!