"Regardless, Miss Yamashita is now one of us; welcome."
Shinya produced a key from his pocket, attached to a wooden tag inscribed with the character for "flame." Though it was new, it bore the marks of craftsmanship.
"This is the master key to the apartment. While you may not use it often, please carry it with you and do not detach it from the keychain," Mr. Kogimi explained. However, Mr. Shinya's added remark left Haruko feeling uneasy:
"Yes, it might come in handy if a fire breaks out in the kitchen."
...Is the kitchen here really such a fire-prone place?
Haruko felt it best not to ask further.
"Your bedding was purchased yesterday, and the room lacks air conditioning. If you find it too cold tonight, just let me know, and I will see what I can do," Mr. Shinya said, having previously informed her that her one-year work contract meant the apartment was equipped only with the basics.
"It's alright! My hometown is much colder than this."
That was true. Yet, despite the chill of her hometown, she usually only ventured out in a single layer of clothing.
"That said, please do not hesitate to ask if you need anything. I reside in Room 201, just next door to yours," Mr. Kogimi said as he turned to enter his room, casually stroking the head of a stone lion as he passed. "And Shinya lives in Room 202, which is adjacent to mine."
Imitating his gesture, Haruko also touched the stone lion's head and asked Mr. Shinya, "So you both live here too?"
"I'm usually around, while Mr. Kogimi is out during the day. If you need anything, feel free to find me—Room 202."
She nodded and followed the two gentlemen upstairs. To her surprise, Mr. Shinya effortlessly lifted her suitcase onto his shoulder, startling her. Upon reaching the top, the two men exchanged brief farewells before retreating to their respective rooms, leaving Haruko to unlock the door to her new abode alone.
The familiar scent of tatami greeted her, but with the windows shut, the room felt warm. As she slipped off her shoes, every step felt cozy. Opening the closet, she found neatly folded new bedding inside.
Eagerly, she unpacked her belongings, setting her laptop, notebook, stationery, and ancestral tablet on the desk, then placing her few articles of clothing into the wardrobe.
Next, she folded the kotatsu and spread out the bedding, which felt as soft as freshly made cotton candy.
However, after a bit of play, she put the bedding away and returned the kotatsu and lone cushion to their proper places. It was nearly noon, and she had much to accomplish, including procuring more items and cleaning various areas.
Haruko first noted down her essential needs, which included toiletries and food items. For the latter, she needed to investigate what the kitchen already had, as most common condiments were communal supplies that could be replenished from the apartment's shared budget.
Grabbing the key Mr. Shinya had given her, along with her wallet and the apartment's special budget funds, she opened the window to let in some fresh air before locking the door and leaving her new room.
In the kitchen, she discovered that most of the seasonings had not even been opened. There was a full bottle of salt, and the soy sauce hadn't even been unsealed. Other condiments were similarly untouched. It seemed that city dwellers did not often cook.
Opening the refrigerator revealed it nearly empty, containing only a little milk and juice on the adjacent shelf, with the freezer completely bare.
Although she had visited friends living alone, this was her first encounter with such an empty refrigerator. Just looking at it felt disheartening.
Though she wished to fill the refrigerator, being alone meant that buying too much would only lead to waste. However, today was her first day of a new life, so she could indulge a little.
In truth, Haruko's indulgence meant simply adding extra sweet potato vermicelli to her pork stew. The concept of frugality was deeply ingrained in her mind.
After purchasing personal items, she acquired some discounted pork nearing its expiration date, four or five generously sized potatoes, and a couple of onions. With these, she could make a large pot of pork stew! She also planned to prepare some for Mr. Fukuda and his wife, ensuring she had enough lunches for three days.
She then bought rice, a thermos, and a food storage container, finishing with a bento box for future use. After calculating her expenses, she realized she was just shy of qualifying for free home delivery, so she decided to splurge a little more on a kettle and tea set, allowing her to serve tea if guests came over.
After meticulous planning, Haruko returned home with her hands empty once again.
Home. The word felt fresh when applied to this apartment.
As the pork stew simmered on the stove, she finally grasped the reality of living alone. The quantity she had prepared was enough for six people—perhaps a reflection of her ingrained habits.
In the busyness of it all, one becomes accustomed to it. Just days earlier, she had been accompanied by the Fukudas, which kept her from feeling lonely. Now, with only herself to keep company, her mind wandered.
As the pot bubbled gently, she tidied the kitchen and the second-floor bathroom. To her dismay, she found no rubber gloves among the cleaning supplies. After finishing on the second floor, her hands stung from the harsh cleaning agents, and she had to forgo cleaning the other bathrooms.
Checking the time, she realized the pork stew was ready. She packed the stew and rice, planning to deliver it to Mr. Fukuda's house while it was still hot.
"…Never mind, I'll just return to pack the leftovers later."
Initially intending to store the remaining portions in the refrigerator, she ultimately decided to simply cover the pot and head out with the meal.
...What she did not expect upon her return was the scene that awaited her.
"…The ingredients… are mostly starch, huh?"
...Of course, the primary ingredient is potato.
"No, wait, let's not jump to conclusions. There's also this translucent substance, along with onions and meat."
...That translucent item is vermicelli, which is also a form of starch.
"Could it be...?"
"There's nothing to speculate about... this is pork stew with potatoes, along with vermicelli."
Haruko entered the kitchen to find Mr. Shinya and Mr. Kogimi adopting scholarly postures as they examined the contents of the pot, leaving her somewhat perplexed.
Mr. Shinya held a white plastic bag containing two or three bottles of alcohol.
"Yamashita! Could this be?!" Mr. Shinya exclaimed with excitement as he pointed to the pot upon seeing her return.
"No, I already said this is pork stew—what's there to question?"
"I mean, could this possibly be your creation?!"
"Uh... yes? What's the issue?" Pork stew was a rather commonplace dish, typically prepared in every household, with each family having slightly different recipes.
Mr. Kogimi and Mr. Shinya exchanged glances, and finally, Mr. Kogimi marveled, "I never expected Miss Yamashita to possess such culinary skill!"
...This... hardly qualifies as a skill, does it? It's merely about throwing the ingredients together and letting them stew.
Seeing their genuine astonishment, she suggested, "If you two haven't had lunch yet, why not join me?"
She had anticipated an immediate acceptance of her invitation, but to her surprise, the two fell silent, exchanging glances.
"Well... may I just have a taste?"
"Of course! Please help yourself!"
Mr. Shinya's "just a taste" was, in fact, a very modest portion.
Rather than using a regular rice bowl, he took a small dish meant for dipping sauces, scooping a mere bite of rice, drizzling a little sauce over it, while Mr. Kogimi remained entirely passive, waiting for Mr. Shinya to test the waters first.
This made Haruko ponder what sort of culinary catastrophes they had previously endured.
"Delicious!!! Truly delectable!!" Mr. Shinya exclaimed after tasting a bite. He immediately took a bowl, piled a generous serving of rice, and then unceremoniously heaped a large spoonful of meat and potatoes on top, creating a mound that nearly overflowed the bowl.
"Well, I shall not hold back either," Mr. Kogimi said, his expression one of apology. "In truth, we seldom have the opportunity to enjoy such palatable home-cooked meals."
Ultimately, the two men, who had initially claimed they would only sample a small portion, indulged heartily, consuming what had been intended as Haruko's lunch. As they devoured the food ravenously, Mr. Shinya remembered to bring out the specially purchased wine and beverages to celebrate her housewarming.
"Ah, so it seems the first day has been quite a whirlwind for you. You must be exhausted," Mr. Kogimi remarked, a look of concern crossing his face upon hearing of Haruko's strenuous day.
"What happened to your hand? It appears quite red from the cold outside?"
Noticing the unnatural redness of her fingers, Mr. Shinya swiftly grasped her wrist to examine it closely.
Startled by the sudden touch, Haruko felt a mix of discomfort and confusion; ordinarily, such an action might be deemed inappropriate, yet it was evident that Mr. Shinya was genuinely concerned.
"Shinya!" Mr. Kogimi cautioned in a low voice, prompting Mr. Shinya to gradually release her wrist. "Miss Yamashita, what is the injury on your hand?"
"Oh, this? It's just a minor reaction from the cleaning agent. I'll buy some gloves tomorrow."
"You should have informed me about such matters sooner! If you're injured, just tell me directly!"
Mr. Shinya said this with urgency, his hands uncertain of where to rest, wanting to check on Haruko's condition yet fearing to hurt her further.
"Yes, I will. In the future, please let us know directly about such issues, alright?"
Mr. Kogimi's tone brooked no contradiction, and she nodded obediently. Seeing her agreement, Mr. Kogimi softened his demeanor and, with a delicate gesture, produced a small round box from the sleeve of his kimono and handed it to her.
"This is a remedy from my hometown; it is very effective for external wounds."
"Thank you. I apologize for causing you concern, Mr. Kogimi and Mr. Shinya."
"Don't mention it. Be sure to apply the ointment properly, every day!" Mr. Shinya instructed before taking another mouthful of meat. After swallowing, he continued, "You startled me; I thought you had injured yourself severely while preparing this!"
"...It's really not that difficult to make pork stew with potatoes!"