Chapter 3: Chapter 3 Reiko Onodera
At the end of spring, dusk fell.
The cherry blossom tree next to the villa fluttered in the wind, its petals a blanket of pink that defined the season.
After popping open a can of meat for the chubby cat, Haruka Yuzan opted for a quick shower.
On second thought, he decided to pull the curtain across the bathroom window, shielding himself from the season of pink romance outside.
Even through the clear glass, he felt a sense of shame, although nobody would be peeping at him.
Probably, maybe, possibly?
An idea filled with mischief.
After the shower, Haruka Yuzan strolled out of the bathroom in just a pair of big boxer shorts, toweling his hair dry—the true mark of a man was to air-dry, never to use a hairdryer. That was the best choice.
Gazing at the lethargic orange cat sprawled on the floor, weighing close to ten pounds, he thought, hmm, it would be good to lift with one hand for a wrist workout.
"Bang, bang, bang." Just then, a sudden knock at the door spared the fat cat its fate, its dull little eyes and its poop-scooper both turning toward the front door.
Opening the door, it was Mrs. Onodera,
"Haruka, do you have any dietary restrictions? I'm about to start cooking."
The large white T-shirt just managed to cover her small posterior, a pair of round and full legs exposed beneath. Reiko Onodera, dressed in home clothes, still looked alluring.
He couldn't help but wonder what it would feel like to have those long legs constrained by fishnet stockings, compressed against the supple flesh.
However, despite her beautiful and delicate face, she still seemed somewhat afraid to look at men, and the air between them retained a hint of awkwardness.
"Ahem, ahem." Haruka Yuzan gave a fake cough,
"I don't have any dietary restrictions, Sister Reiko, whatever you make will be fine."
"All right, then I'll get started on the cooking." She brushed her hair back from her ear with her fingers, giving him a fleeting glance before turning to leave.
Her swaying figure was graceful, the unique aura of a mature woman deeply stirring the restless heart of the young man,
"Meow~" Apparently dissatisfied at the prospect of losing affection to a newcomer, the chubby cat leisurely came over and rubbed against Haruka's shins.
"Okay, I haven't forgotten you. There's a newcomer tonight, so you'll get an extra meal, I'll allow you half a can more."
"Meow, meow, meow~"
Having closed the door, he lay down on the double bed, his whole body sinking into it,
Not to mention, inheriting the furniture inside the villa was a complete setup, and it was all quite high-end, saving Mr. Haruka quite a large sum of money.
He opened the System,
eager to see just how much income he could get from Reiko Onodera.
[Tenant: 002]
[Name: Reiko Onodera]
[Physical Strength: 5]
[Intelligence: 5]
[Charm: 9]
[Daily Rent Due: 1000 yen or help with housekeeping services (already paid)]
[Daily Money Generated: 5000 yen]
[Tenant's Wish List:]
[1. Hope to find a suitable job]
[2. Hope to bring the daughter to Tokyo to live together]
[Reward for fulfilling wish one: Receive twenty percent of Reiko Onodera's income]
Spying that reward, Haruka Yuzan immediately felt one step closer to his dream of living off his rental income.
The softness of the Simmons bed allowed the boy's muscles to relax. Gradually, fatigue crept up to the corners of his eyes; his heavy eyelids slowly closed, and his handsome profile fell into a steady and serene repose.
The spring breeze from outside wafted in, mixed with the fading glow of the sunset that shone on the corner of the bed, where Roast Meat twisted its chubby body, looking at its master and meowing twice.
Seeing no response, it leaped with a "bang!" aiming for... the wooden headboard of the bed. Its round face trembled twice with the impact, like an orange cannonball, it crashed heavily onto the floor.
It cried out in pain with a "meow meow meow."
Haruka Yuzan, who had been dreaming of being a landlord, was jolted awake by the noise and sat up abruptly from the bed.
Gulping in large breaths of air, he looked around with beads of sweat on his forehead,
Was there an earthquake?
This damn place, 365 days a year, it shakes every day.
"Meow~" Suddenly, a cat's meow reached his ears,
After glancing at his phone and seeing no earthquake early warning alerts, Haruka Yuzan let out a sigh of relief and stepped down from the bed. He looked down, locking eyes with those two black-bean-like pupils.
"Did the earthquake wake you up, too?"
"Meow meow meow~"
"What nonsense are you talking, I don't understand." he muttered, stepping over Roast Meat and walking out the door.
Looking down from the second floor, the entire villa was dim. Listening closely, it sounded like the noise of frying food in hot oil.
Descending the stairs and seeing the lights on the wall, he hesitated slightly but walked over anyways. There were a multitude of switches, but Haruka Yuzan only ever used two or three of them, pressing the one he used the most,
Even when he was home alone, he chose not to turn on the lights in the living room. After cooking or buying ready-made meals, he preferred to eat alone in his room.
Firstly, it saved a bit of electricity, and secondly, facing the emptiness of the large house could affect his mood while eating. It was better to cuddle up with the fat cat and retreat to his room, where they could watch anime together while dining,
"Click,"
In an instant, the entire living room lit up, even Roast Meat, just out of the bedroom, seemed unused to the brightness,
Meowing, its clear and foolish eyes filled with curiosity.
Starting today, there would be an additional source of income, so there was no need to be so frugal anymore. Now that a new member had joined the household, the living room should be utilized to foster a good relationship, especially since he would be counting on Mrs. Onodera to make money for him in the future!
Entering the kitchen, Reiko Onodera was deep-frying tempura, sliding the batter-coated fish one by one into the bubbling oil. Accompanied by a "sizzling" sound, the fish and batter quickly turned golden brown, and a faint aroma filled the air.
"Oh? Mr. Haruka, you're here." Mrs. Onodera noticed the landlord standing at the entrance and turned around with a smile, clearly enjoying her time cooking.
She was wrapped in a pink apron that was bought to fit Haruka Yuzan's size. Unexpectedly, it fit Reiko Onodera—who stood a head shorter than Haruka—just right, even a bit snug across her upper body.
Is it... a bit too small?
How wonderful!
"Once the tempura is done, we can eat. Just the two of us—I only made two dishes."
Dressed like a housemaid, Reiko Onodera slightly pursed her lush lips,
The frugal beauty originally thought one dish would be enough for the two of them. But, considering her landlord, Haruka Yuzan, was young and owned his own villa in Tokyo, he must have come from a wealthy family.
She was somewhat worried that serving just two dishes and a soup might bring complaints from Haruka, even though the young landlord didn't seem like that type of person.
Two dishes and a soup??? Isn't that a bit extravagant?
Haruka Yuzan was taken aback upon hearing this and showed a trace of shock in his eyes,
You see, to save money, he normally made one dish last for at least two meals. If rice wasn't filling enough, he'd eat noodles.
Just like in his previous life, he'd make a pot of stew and eat it with noodles whenever he got hungry.
No choice, though he had a big house, the exorbitant utility bills weren't something a poor student like him could afford!!!
Without being at least a bit thrifty, it was really hard to survive.
Chapter 4: Chapter 4: What Kind of Job is Sister Reiko Looking For?
"Is something the matter, Haruka?" Seeing the dazed Haruka Yuzan, Reiko Onodera grew somewhat flustered, "I just thought that the two of us wouldn't be able to eat too much, and it would be a waste…"
Her voice grew softer and softer, and in the end, she lowered her head without much confidence, thinking that for a son of a large family like his, two dishes and a soup probably wouldn't be appealing...
"Ah?"
Before the self-blaming Mrs. Onodera, the snapped-back-to-reality Haruka Yuzan quickly waved his hands to show he was fine, "It's okay, it's okay, this is good, I also detest those who waste on a normal basis."
In that moment, the words 'upbringing' and 'etiquette' popped into Reiko Onodera's mind, and she looked at the tall boy with a renewed sense of curiosity.
This must be just to console me, right?
"I'll serve the rice."
Mr. Haruka flashed a smile and started to help with the serving bowl and chopsticks, unable to help it… he was hungry...
As night fully descended, the moon's pure light couldn't outshine the neon lights of Tokyo streets; it seemed as though people living in this international metropolis had lost the concept of night.
The Haruka family's large villa also made a rare contribution to the city's power department that night.
The empty living room was lit with soft light, dispelling the fear in people's hearts, and the table was set with foods that looked quite appealing.
Two bowls of rice, a plate of deep-fried tempura, a vegetable salad, and two bowls of savory soup—that was dinner for the two that night.
"Please go ahead."
Having taken off her apron, Reiko Onodera handed over a pair of chopsticks, clearly indicating that she wanted their landlord to taste first.
"Then I won't stand on ceremony," Haruka Yuzan said, taking the chopsticks and looking them over before finally picking up a piece of tempura. The fish had been fried to a golden color, and a faint scent of meat wafted through the air.
Under Reiko Onodera's expectant gaze, he put the tempura into his mouth, and in an instant, Haruka Yuzan felt like he had been illuminated—he couldn't help but widen his eyes a bit.
The tempura was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside; with one bite, a rich flavor instantly exploded in his mouth,
two bites for one piece of tempura,
Mrs. Onodera looked nervous,
"How is it? Does it suit your taste?" It was her first time cooking for her landlord, and although she had done it with great care, she wasn't sure if it matched the young master's dietary habits.
"Delicious!"
Haruka Yuzan gave a thumbs-up, offering his most sincere assessment.
It had to be said, madam knows how to cook, and it was in no way inferior to the taste of those izakayas outside.
Hearing this, Reiko Onodera finally breathed a sigh of relief, as receiving approval from someone else was indeed a joyous occasion.
Gone quiet during the meal, madam appeared somewhat reserved as it was her first time here, and Haruka Yuzan was not particularly fond of talking while eating, leading to moments of silence in the atmosphere.
In the end, as if she couldn't bear it anymore, Reiko Onodera stretched out her elegant finger to tuck her hair and revealed her delicate and beautiful face.
She opened her mouth, looking at Haruka Yuzan across her, who was relishing his meal, and then slowly began to speak,
"By the way, Mr. Haruka, I seem to remember you mentioning that I am the second tenant, right?"
Haruka Yuzan took a sip of the flavor-enhanced soup and felt much more comfortable, "Ah, the first tenant..."
Before he could finish, a sudden "meow meow meow~" came from the second floor.
It was as if the star of the show was making an entrance. Reiko Onodera couldn't help but look up, only to see a flash of orange fur through the gaps in the railing from time to time. The wide gaps weren't enough to reveal its full form, indicating just how large the newcomer was.
The plump orange cat appeared at the top of the staircase, looking down at the two people sitting in the living room with its chubby bun-like face. The cat's large eyes showed curiosity towards Reiko Onodera.
Not only it but Reiko Onodera was also quite curious as she looked back at the fat cat.
With its short legs, it slowly made its way down the stairs,
and with Reiko looking on in some surprise, Haruka Yuzan said with a smile, "This fat cat is the first tenant, Roast Meat."
"Hm?" Coming back to her senses, Reiko also revealed a smile, "Mr. Haruka is really interesting and kind-hearted."
She thought that Haruka Yuzan had treated this fat cat as a member of the Haruka Family, explaining his previous comment. It turned out that her handsome young landlord was also a person with such a delicate heart.
Haruka Yuzan laughed and said nothing. Roast Meat provided him with a steady income of four thousand yen each day, and he often depended on this "golden pig" to feed himself.
"Should I bring Roast Meat down?"
Watching as Roast Meat clumsily made its way downstairs, Reiko Onodera asked worriedly. She was afraid that the fat cat would tumble down the stairs in one swift roll, showing none of a feline's agility.
Cats from the city really were different. If this one was in the countryside, it would have starved in no time.
"No need, let it come down on its own. Whether it reaches today's exercise quota depends on these trips up and down," said Haruka Yuzan helplessly, "It's almost as fat as a pig now."
It seemed to hear itself being talked about, as Roast Meat meowed in displeasure, albeit feebly, which plunged it into deep self-doubt. Could this really be its life now? Did it truly need to go on a diet?
It seemed to recall its life before coming to this villa, leaping elegantly from roof to roof, a strikingly handsome cat. How had it come to this.......
Coming down the stairs, Roast Meat began circling Madam Onodera, scrutinizing this newcomer that had encroached upon its dining companion.
Its round eyes seemed deep in thought.
The fat cat was meant to attract the attention of pretty young girls, but Sister Reiko's age made her somewhat resistant to such cute things,
yet, she knew she was dependent on her landlord now and had to accept everything about him, including the existence of this fat cat.
"What kind of job are you planning to look for, Sister Reiko?"
It was as if a conversation had started, and Haruka Yuzan slowly began to speak, hoping that Reiko Onodera could find a high-paying position if possible; after all, he could gain more from it.
"I..." Upon hearing this, Reiko Onodera found herself in a dilemma, as the food on the table suddenly seemed less appealing, "I'm planning to look around nearby tomorrow."
Lacking both education and skills made it extremely tough to live in this city.
However, she was confident that things would get better in the future. The rent was really too cheap, saving her a lot of money.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
37 Power
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