Out of money.
Impoverished.
Utterly distressed.
Such is the current state of Haruko Yamashita.
It's not that she has squandered all her savings; rather, there are many things she wishes to purchase but lacks the budget for.
For instance, a proper chef's knife, an oven, a blender...
Sigh, it's not just a set of specialized knives; even buying a single one requires her to negotiate earnestly with her wallet.
Looking at the dwindling funds in her bank account, she recalls how substantial this amount seemed back home. Yet now, as new necessities arise, it feels utterly insufficient.
While the sashimi knife must be a specialized one, the others can be substituted with her existing basic knives; however, an oven is essential for learning Western cuisine.
Her savings, along with her monthly salary, might enable her to purchase these items in two months. She hopes that culinary classes won't progress too quickly after the semester begins, or she'll have to dip into the funds her father has provided.
"Ah... the life of the poor is truly burdensome…"
She swayed unsteadily as she rose from her desk, her lengthy calculations having left her feeling dizzy.
"Perhaps I should cook... at least cooking won't give me a headache…"
Yet, she realized that cooking incurs material costs, which ultimately leads to the very headaches she wished to avoid. With a deep sigh, Haruko donned her coat and headed outside.
Although she dutifully carried her keys as instructed by Mr. Kogimi, she rarely locked her door. After all, there was nothing of value within her room. The laptop her father bought her for high school now serves merely for browsing and note-taking. Even her old phone, once a prized possession, is now hardly accepted at secondhand shops. The most valuable item in her room might just be the bedding Mr. Shinya gifted her.
For the first time, she truly felt the weight of financial constraints. Yesterday, while at the supermarket, she purchased a multitude of items, all the cheapest available, most of which were nearing expiration.
"Considering all this, buying so much amounts to waste…"
She sighed again, knowing that while most of the meat could be frozen, the vegetables would spoil if not used soon.
Ultimately, she selected broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots, alongside the bacon and eggs she had bought yesterday.
Although she had prepared rice and pork stew in proportion, Mr. Kogimi had only nibbled half a bowl, while Mr. Shinya's appetite for meat was extraordinary, leaving her with half a pot of rice.
With these ingredients, she could whip up the simplest of Chinese dishes: fried rice.
Originally, she had hoped to add some frozen shrimp, but that would exceed her dinner budget.
...This must be what it feels like to be a housewife.
Recently, her thoughts seemed consumed by budgeting and household expenses. What should a young woman be considering? She was unsure herself. Nevertheless, her love for food remained steadfast—whether eating or cooking, even looking at food pictures or recipes could captivate her for an afternoon.
Taking a bite of the fried rice, she found it passable, but the lack of shrimp left it a bit dry. At home, while she cooked for the family, she had never worried about meal expenses.
Perhaps it was this very reason she was often told she didn't act like a girl, which ultimately contributed to her breakup with her ex-boyfriend...
The thought of that scoundrel made her lose her appetite, spurring her to finish the fried rice in her bowl.
There was still a bowl left in the pot; she had perhaps added a bit too much oil, and it might not taste good the next day. So, Haruko decided to portion the fried rice into bowls and leave a note for everyone to help themselves.
When she went upstairs to fetch paper and a pen, she spotted a woman in the corridor on the second floor. The woman had sleek, jet-black hair and an undeniably attractive figure from the back. Hearing Haruko's footsteps, she turned around, and it was immediately clear she was a beauty. When she faced Haruko, her stunning appearance was even more striking.
She resembled a model—not the sweet, smiling type from magazines, but rather the expressionless runway models of Paris, exuding an air of detachment.
"Hello, I'm the new administrator, Haruko Yamashita."
Haruko smiled and greeted her, but the woman's expression remained unchanged. After a moment's pause, she approached Haruko.
"Shimo... my name is Shimo." Standing before Haruko, Miss Shimo was half a head taller, despite Haruko being relatively tall among women.
Miss Shimo sized Haruko up, extending her hand. Haruko anticipated a handshake, but instead, the hand moved toward her cheek, causing her to step back in confusion.
"Miss Shimo, is it?" Another individual without a surname. Could it be that surnames are not used in this apartment? It seemed only Mr. Shinya had a surname.
"Pleased to meet you."
Miss Shimo lowered her hand, genuinely intending to shake hands this time. As Haruko reached out, a jolt of electricity passed between them, prompting Miss Shimo to withdraw her hand abruptly.
"Ouch." Although she spoke, her expression remained stoic, her hand resting where it had touched Haruko.
"Are you alright?! Miss Shimo?!"
"Mmm…" Miss Shimo rubbed her hand, as if still feeling the sting, then said something completely unrelated. "You smell wonderful."
"Really? Thank you."
It was likely not the pleasant scent of perfume, but rather a hint of fried rice. "By the way, I made fried rice for dinner; it should still be warm. If you don't mind, would you like to try some?"
Miss Shimo's intense gaze made Haruko's scalp tingle, and after a moment, she finally spoke.
"No, thank you… I don't like eating hot food." Then, as if just remembering, she added, "I prefer cold food."
"I see…"
"Yes… I enjoy cold food. I reside in room 209. Well then, goodbye."
With that, Miss Shimo showed no sign of a smile, simply opening the door and entering room 209.
Haruko felt a flush of embarrassment. Did that mean she should invite her next time there was cold food? Miss Shimo truly was straightforward and easy to understand.