Ever since then, Hisaki would often catch a glimpse of Heisuke.
On Saturday morning, she saw him walking inside the apartment yard. From how haggard he looked, she concluded that he might have worked the midnight shift.
Hisaki didn't see him again until the late afternoon. She had just returned from the Ikeda family home to meet Mayuka. Heisuke appeared with a trash bag in his hand.
Both of them just casually greeted each other. Right after Heisuke walked past her, a bright smile bloomed on Hisaki's face.
Unlike the matured Heisuke who got muscles in all the right places, this younger Heisuke was skinny. This made Hisaki worry about him as she knew how strenuous his job was. But, she couldn't nag at and care for him as she did in their previous life.
In fact, Hisaki was still contemplating how to get closer to her old man without startling him.
On Sunday morning, Hisaki had just walked down the staircase when she caught a look at him ascending the stairs in the opposite direction. She quickly moved her eyes away, afraid that Heisuke realized she was staring intently at him.
"Calm down, Hisaki. Take it easy, take it easy."
Hisaki often told herself that. Even though she shared more than twenty years together with her old man before, it wouldn't be easy for her to catch his heart at this time. Her identity to him was just as a new neighbor.
After leaving the apartment, Hisaki headed to the business district. She wanted to buy some more yarn from the craft shop.
The ones that she bought before for the purpose of crocheting a cardigan had been reduced to half. She spent yesterday afternoon making something else.
"Welcome!"
The shopkeeper greeted Hisaki once she entered the shop.
"Good morning, ma'am," Hisaki politely nodded at the middle-aged woman, "I'm here to buy yarn balls again."
"Ah, didn't you just come here a few days ago?" The shopkeeper was surprised, "Are you working on a big project?"
"No, it's just a simple bag," Hisaki laughed at herself, "I wanted to use the yarn to make a cardigan but, some of them were spent to make the bag."
The sling bag and backpack that Hisaki brought were quite old. Since she had the skills and time, she decided to make a tote bag for her daily use. It was also more sturdy and could fill many items.
"Some new colors arrived yesterday. Take a look at them," The shopkeeper gestured to Hisaki the place where she displayed the yarn balls.
"Sounds good. I wonder what colors are they," replied Hisaki who quickly walked to the display box.
Like the shopkeeper had said, there were a few new shades of yarn balls. Hisaki took her sweet time picking as she rearranged the design of her cardigan inside her mind.
A memory of the past came knocking. Whenever she and her old man entered a craft shop, they would often stop for a long time to look at the items and exchanged their opinions.
"Thank you for your patronage. Please come again!"
"Have a good day, ma'am!"
Hisaki made a quick stop at a convenience store before heading back to her place. She bought a few popsicles for herself. They could be stored inside the refrigerator.
"...ah."
She bumped into him again.
Hisaki saw Heisuke walking down the street leading to the apartment. He wore a dark-colored T-shirt and a pair of black long pants.
Instead of just casually acknowledging her with a nod, the man stopped a few feet away from her.
"Miss Chisaka, let's meet at the gate around 7:30 tomorrow morning."
"Ah?" Hisaki's mind went blank for a while.
"I'll go to work with you," Heisuke reminded her, "Have you forgotten about it?"
Since his mother had made a promise, he should fulfill it. Moreover, this young lady was a newcomer in this town. It was all the more reason to help her.
He had already experienced being in such a foreign place before during the first time he and his mother stepped foot in this town.
"Oh! I remember!" Hisaki anxiously nodded, "But, is it really alright with you? Won't it trouble you, Mr. Saeki?"
"It's fine with me. Please don't worry," replied Heisuke calmly. As something struck his mind, he asked her, "Unless it makes you uncomfortable?"
"Ah, no, no, it's fine! I don't feel uncomfortable! It's okay to go together."
It was already too late when Hisaki felt she was acting too eager. She lowered her head in embarrassment.
Heisuke blinked. He suddenly didn't know what to say to his new neighbor. His eyes drifted to one of the plastic bags in Hisaki's hands before they flickered in recognition.
"Did you go to Mrs. Toyoda's craft shop?" asked Heisuke in interest.
Hisaki glanced at the white plastic bag with the shop's name printed on it. As the only craft shop nearby, Heisuke might have been there a few times already.
She smiled sheepishly, "En, I went to buy some yarn balls to crochet."
"Oh, do you crochet often?"
Hisaki sensed suppressed eagerness in Heisuke's voice. She chuckled softly.
"Whenever I have time," responded Hisaki, secretly thinking her old man was cute, "Do you crochet too, Mr. Saeki? I think I saw a crocheted flower garland inside a box in your apartment. Or, is that your mother's piece?"
Hisaki only noticed it when she stood up to leave. The garland was visible due to the opened box lid. She already had a hunch at that time but chose not to say anything.
Heisuke was stunned. He didn't think his new neighbor would see it.
After one minute of silence, he reluctantly nodded. One of his hands lightly scratched the back of his neck, "En, it's mine... not a suitable hobby for a man, right?"
Heisuke wanted to deny the garland was his creation but, he felt bad. There was something telling him not to make a white lie to her. So, he could only admit to it.
The sight of Heisuke looking a bit shy almost prompted Hisaki to laugh. If she could, she really wanted to pinch his cheeks.
"It's admirable ah," answered Hisaki, her eyes shining in delight, "A hobby doesn't have to do with gender. Just do whatever you enjoy."
Once again Heisuke was at a loss for words. He was momentarily dazed the moment he saw her smiling with such a pair of bright eyes.
Like stars were twinkling in them.
Heisuke coughed awkwardly. He quickly retracted his eyes as he felt he had been staring intently at his new neighbor for so long.
"...then, I'll go now," Heisuke took a step back, "See you tomorrow, Miss Chisaka."
"Alright, thanks again, Mr. Saeki."
Heisuke quickly resumed his steps. He missed seeing a look of regret in Hisaki's eyes as she watched him walking away.
"Hurm... How could I be more proactive but not annoy him at the same time?" Hisaki murmured to herself after Heisuke disappeared at the intersection.
In her previous life, their acquaintance began through Mrs. Saeki.
Five years after Heisuke was imprisoned, she fell seriously ill. With no one could take care of her, Shuuya benevolently paid for the nursing home fee. He didn't mind doing so just to let his best friend's mother have the proper care.
Because Hisaki often spent time with the sickly old lady right after she began working there, she always crossed paths with Heisuke after he was freed from prison.
To be honest, both of them were not actively looking for a life companion. With what happened to her and the torment he had to endure, getting married was the last thing in their minds.
Yet, they still found their way to each other.
"I might have to wait for years if I did nothing," Hisaki heaved a sigh, "Hurm, what should I do?"
By seeing how Heisuke acted, it didn't seem like he was attached to any young lady. But, Hisaki still didn't know the depth of his heart.
While Hisaki continued looking in the same direction, she didn't realize someone had actually witnessed her interaction with Heisuke from a secluded place. That peeping tom slowly approached her.
"When would you stop looking that way? He has gone, ah," said the eavesdropper in a playful tone, "Your ice cream has melted."
Shocked, Hisaki abruptly turned around.
"...Mr. Kawata?"
Shuuya stood not far from her with a wide grin plastered across his face. He half-covered his mouth. Hisaki could hear faint laughter coming from him.
...this didn't look good.
Hisaki had a bad hunch.
Shuuya crossed his arms together, "I came here to check on my new tenant. I didn't expect to see you have a pleasant conversation with my dear friend."
Hisaki's cheeks reddened. She moved her eyes away from Shuuya's teasing gaze, "...we just have a talk, that's all."
Shuuya didn't buy Hisaki's words at all. He softly hummed as he recalled how they acted earlier.
Heisuke was as taciturn as always but, Shuuya saw the faint excitement on his face when the two of them started talking more. If he heard them correctly, the words 'crochet' and 'go to work together' were spoken between them.
As for Miss Chisaka, the way she smiled and gazed at Heisuke was something he often saw from his own fiancee whenever she looked at him. Simply put, it was a look a person threw at his beloved.
Shuuya thought he was just mistaken but, when he quietly observed Hisaki who continued standing there looking in the direction Heisuke had vanished, he was suddenly eager to check.
What if the new girl in town caught a fancy to his best friend?
Shouldn't he help his pitiful friend find love?
Another chapter today :3 What do you guys think?
Hisaki was thoroughly embarrassed by Shuuya's keen eyes. She had totally forgotten that this man was also responsible for bringing her and her old man together in her previous life.
At that time, Shuuya realized there was something budding from the way Hisaki and Heisuke acted whenever they met each other. If not for his insistence, neither of them would have had the courage to take the first step.
Should she get him to help her again?
"Then..." Hisaki coughed once. Ignoring how hot her cheeks felt, she stared directly at Shuuya's still smiling face, "If your prediction is correct, what would you do?"
Stunned, Shuuya's eyes widened. He blinked a few times, looking so confused as if he actually didn't anticipate the answer.
"What? You really... toward my friend, Heisuke... you... like him?" asked Shuuya frantically. He was still shocked by Hisaki's indirect confirmation.
The maiden's face turned even redder. The sunlight was reflected in her round and watery eyes, showing the look of someone who had to hold back her love.
Now he was questioning her? Wasn't he the one asking her that?
Hisaki was annoyed by the surprised look on his face.
In a split second, Hisaki put away her blushing face. It was replaced with a calm and polite demeanor.
"Mr. Kawata, it's just a joke. I'm sorry to joke like that. I only met Mr. Saeki three days ago. You've misinterpreted things."
Sigh, maybe this was still not a suitable time to recruit his help.
Although Shuuya was taken aback, he still thought he didn't mistake things.
Did he?
"Ah, I'm sorry, Miss Chisaka," Shuuya also stopped teasing Hisaki. He put on an apologetic face, "I was just too excited because my friend isn't too sociable. Well, you could say I just want to look out for my friend."
"It's fine. It's good that you care for your friend," replied Hisaki. She was relieved that Shuuya dropped the subject.
Since she was supposed to only meet Heisuke three days ago, Hisaki was afraid that Shuuya would think she had an ulterior motive or be easily infatuated with a man if she told him the truth.
In this era where a man and a woman's relationship was still so conservative, she really had to mind her steps in courting her old man.
"Right, you said that you came to check on your new tenant," Hisaki changed the subject altogether, "Do you have things to say to me?"
Earlier, Shuuya mentioned he was here to check on her. Did he have any important matters to discuss with her?
Shuuya pursed his lips at the sight of Hisaki's calm face. The blush on her cheeks had already receded as if what he saw earlier was just an imagination of his.
After a moment of thinking, Shuuya answered, "I just want to ask if there's anything you find unpleasant at the apartment. You can immediately contact me if you need something to be fixed. I'll arrange that."
It was really Shuuya's true intention. He would always spend time regularly checking on his tenants and the apartment building, moreover if the tenant was still new here.
As the landlord, the tenants' well-being was his responsibility. It was the most important thing his father instilled in him thus preventing Shuuya to grow crook like some of the other landlords.
Hisaki didn't immediately answer him. She thought back on everything, trying to remember if there was anything going amiss.
"Ah, you know the windows at the back where we hang laundry? I found that the window panel is quite loose."
Hisaki only realized it last night. She washed some clothes and brought them to the back. In the kitchen, there was a small separated section where she could dry her laundry. Through the windows was the view of the backyard.
Whenever a harsh gust of wind pushed against the windows, a creaking sound would echo. Hisaki was disturbed by the sound as well as the possibility of someone might be breaking in.
Living by herself as a female made her had to be extremely wary of her surroundings.
"I can fix it myself using a screwdriver though," Hisaki commented sometime later, "I just need to find one first. Do you have the tools? Could I borrow them?"
Hisaki didn't intend to tell Shuuya of this trivial matter but, since he had asked, she brought up the subject.
"No, it's fine," Shuuya quickly shook his head, "You'd just stay home today, right? I'll send someone to fix it for you in a few hours."
"Is that alright? I can wait until later."
"No, no, it's totally fine," Shuuya grinned. His eyes shone mischievously, "We can't have a young woman as you live in an unsecured place. How about at five?"
"Sure," Hisaki agreed.
Five o'clock wasn't too late for an unknown man to come to her apartment. She could even stay outside the unit if needed.
"I'll ask the handyman to check on other things as well."
Thus, Hisaki parted ways with Shuuya without knowing what he had been scheming inside his mind. Her popsicles had melted completely by now. She poured the liquid into a glass and let it freeze inside the refrigerator.
Hisaki changed out of her outfit. With only wearing her underdress, she let the table fan cool her while she sat in front of the open refrigerator.
"Oh, I really hope AC would be more affordable soon," sighed Hisaki.
After cooling herself down, Hisaki went to take a nap. She lay the futon in the living room. The bedroom was too hot at this time of the day.
Before Hisaki drifted out of consciousness, she saw the unfinished tote bag lying on the low table. She still had time to complete it before starting her new job tomorrow.
'I miss our daffodils.'
Hisaki noticed the yard surrounding the apartment building was bare except for a vegetable garden on the left side of the yard. From afar, she saw there were carrots, chillies, tomatoes, bell peppers and cucumbers planted there.
The vegetables were tended by Mrs. Saeki and Heisuke. The middle-aged lady told Hisaki once that she was welcome to pick anything whenever she needed.
At four, Hisaki woke up. She made herself a plate of omelet fried rice as late lunch. While waiting for the handyman to arrive, Hisaki sat at the low table, trying to finish the tote bag.
Knock! Knock!
"Miss Chisaka, are you inside?"
Hisaki was taken aback. She abruptly looked in the direction of the door.
Was that her old man's voice?
"Miss Chisaka?"
"...coming!"
Hisaki quickly discarded whatever was in her hands. The tote bag, yarn threads and hooks fell on the table. She anxiously smoothened her hair and clothes before she opened the door.
Heisuke stood outside with a toolbox in his right hand. He peered at Hisaki who was a lot shorter than him.
"En, Shuuya... I mean, the landlord Mr. Kawata asked me to check your apartment," explained Heisuke.
"Oh, yes, I reported something to him," Hisaki smiled nervously. She opened the door as wide as she could, "Please come inside, Mr. Saeki."
"Sorry for the intrusion."
Heisuke left his flip-flops at the entryway. He slowly walked inside the living room.
"Oh, are you crocheting the bag earlier?"
The purple crochet tote bag was left on the table sitting in the middle of the living room. Heisuke estimated it could be finished in another half an hour.
And... the small yellow flower patterns attracted his attention more than anything else.
"I wanna bring it to work tomorrow," Hisaki answered while walking away from the front door. She let it stay open, "What do you think? En... does it look bad?"
The initial surprise she felt had faded. A calm Hisaki couldn't help but think if Shuuya had purposely told Heisuke to come or if Heisuke was indeed the handyman of this building.
Either way, Hisaki was pleased with this arrangement as long as she could see her old man often. Fortunately, her apartment wasn't in a messy state.
"No, it looks good. I can see that you're quite skilled," Heisuke glanced at Hisaki who stood at an appropriate distance from him. He asked hesitantly, "The flowers..."
Hisaki's face brightened. She grinned happily, "They are daffodils! Aren't they cute?"
Heisuke's eyelids trembled. He quietly stared at the radiant smiling face.
For a second, the image of the woman in his dreams flashed in his mind the moment he saw Miss Chisaka's smile.
"Well... where's the loose window panel? I'll check on other things too."
"Oh, it's one in the back."
Heisuke didn't talk much when working. He just diligently did his job.
Although Hisaki wanted to stay close, she might just bother him considering the size of the laundry-hanging space. It was also inappropriate. Thus, she just watched him from the kitchen entrance.
"Mr. Saeki, are you in charge of the maintenance of this place?"
After racking up her brain, Hisaki could only think of asking this question.
"No, the handyman is someone else," replied Heisuke without looking back, "Mr. Kawata asked me to do it today. He said the handyman couldn't come."
Tilting her head, Hisaki thought of Shuuya's annoying smiling face.
Hurm, it seemed like she already got her answer.
I didn't even finish writing a chapter today. My toothache bother me a lot :/
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