Chapter 5

It has been a week since I was headhunted, or rather, physically hunted by Mio-san.

Even in such a short period, I have come to understand a few things about Mio-san, my employer and the older sister next door.

"That matter has been entrusted to Oshiyama. Yes, I have checked the emails you CC'd me, so I am aware of the progress. Oshiyama is a capable subordinate who led a major project last year. Please rest assured and leave it to her."

Her real name is Saotome Mio. She is twenty-eight years old and works in marketing at some company. The company is small but dynamic and has a solid track record, having undertaken several large-scale projects involving major clients.

Given her success at such a company, she even looks the part when speaking into her smartphone while drinking her morning coffee. After ending a call with a client who had called her unexpectedly, Mio put down her mug and shrugged.

"The coffee has gone cold."

"I have a fresh one ready for you."

"Of course. Thank you."

Mio, who usually wears light makeup, applies a bit more to her eye makeup. She says it's a "blade" to prevent older superiors and clients from underestimating her in the battlefield of marketing.

The way she accepts the coffee with a gaze as sharp as a blade makes her look like a modern female knight.

"Well, I'd better get going if I want to finish everything today."

"Yes, have a good day."

"See you later!"

I watched Mio leave, her heels clicking down the hallway of the apartment building, and took a moment to relax. Preparing coffee for Mio, who skips breakfast, and saying "have a good day" are part of my job.

Isn't it strange to welcome someone you didn't see off? I remember Mio's bright, cheerful face when I mentioned this a week ago.

"Alright, floor, I'm coming for you!"

I washed the two mugs and put them back in the now fuller cupboard, then headed to the living room. I never thought I would say "floor, I'm coming for you" out loud, but I can honestly say I am a man in love, eagerly awaiting the moment to meet the floor hidden beneath the clutter.

"It took me until yesterday to wash and crush the plastic bottle I found. Today, I'll tackle the boxes of books."

The second thing I learned about Mio is that her sense of hygiene is a bit off.

The room, which I thought was a garbage dump that night, turned out to have no mold or foul odor upon closer inspection. She had been disposing of bento boxes and other perishables frequently because they were "unhygienic."

On the other hand, she left empty and capped plastic bottles, unwanted direct mail, and unopened moving boxes on the floor because they were "not dirty."

"Because, you see, the 'pet' in 'pet bottle' stands for polyethylene terephthalate. It's harmless to the human body, doesn't grow mold on the surface, and it's fine to leave it for a while..."

That's what she said. Thinking about it now, my brain still protests at the contrast between this and the Mio I saw earlier.

Regardless of Mio's arguments, there's no reason for the owner of the room to live in the gaps between boxes and plastic bottles.

I started cleaning the vast amount of free time created by Mio's forced hunting five days ago, after a conversation like this.

"Y-You're very kind, Matsutomo-kun, but shouldn't we keep work and personal life separate? After all, there are things men don't want to touch."

"Mio-san, this is your home, but it's also my workplace, right?"

"Eh? Y-Yes, I suppose so?"

"I am an employee under a contract, right?"

"Yes."

"Improving the work environment is both a right and a duty of an employee."

"Abaaba..."

The third thing I learned is that Mio makes a strange "abaaba" sound, which even she doesn't fully understand.

"Fortunately, the movers wrote the contents on the boxes. I won't touch anything that seems personal."

"Alright..."

This is how I began my efforts to create a more open and comfortable workplace.

The fourth thing I learned, which is already quite evident, but I'll state it for the record.

"Hmm, it's about time for her to come back."

*Ring*

After unsealing the floor, I returned home and was scheduled to 'go to work' at the Saotome residence at 5 PM. Mio's regular working hours end at 5, so waiting for her at that time ensures I don't miss her.

After a week, I have a good idea of her usual return time. I prepared dinner at 6 PM, and just as I finished, the doorbell rang.

"I'm h-home...?"

"Welcome back."

"T-Today! I'm home!"

"Welcome back. You worked hard today."

"Matsutomo-kun is here...!"

"Of course I am. It's my job."

"Right! It's a job, so you're here! It's a good thing it's a job!"

"Ha ha ha..."

Reiterating, the fourth thing I learned is that in her private life, Mio is bad at communication, gets lonely easily, and is a bit negative.

Every time she comes home and stands at the door, she seems anxious that no one might be there today, and we've had this exchange for seven days in a row.

"There are a lot of couples who live together before getting married, you know."

And when she's tired from work, her mental age drops a bit.

"Yes, yes, cohabitation, right?"

I don't have much experience with it, so I don't really understand.

"Why can people just let someone into their home just because they say 'I love you'... It's so strange..."

"Let in..."

"If they disappear when you come back, you can't complain. You can't win a lawsuit either."

Even though she regresses, her thinking doesn't change, which is confusing. Her constitution is even more mysterious.

"Isn't it about trust?"

"Trust..."

"Right, trust."

"Trust... Trust...! Today, the section chief of XX Trading... He's been coming on to me for half a year!!"

Oh no, I stepped on a landmine.

"Let's not stand and chat at the door. How about we eat while you tell me more?"

"Food!"

"Today, we have pork ginger stir-fry."

"What about the miso soup?"

"It's tofu and fried tofu, soybeans with soybeans with soybeans."

"Yay!"

I had stayed away from the kitchen due to my previous job, but I used to cook for myself when I was a student. With time and budget, I can manage regular home-cooked meals.

Mio really looks forward to the meals I prepare, which gives me a sense of purpose.

"I'm going to change!"

"Sure, sure."

"Help me!"

"No way."

One of the challenges is that she suddenly becomes clingy, which is unpredictable. No matter how young her mind may be, her estimated D or E cup chest doesn't regress. If my rationality fails, it's all over.

I don't completely disagree with the saying "A man who refuses a prepared meal is a devil."

But if the meal is a kid's meal, the one who eats it is the devil.

"Come on, it'll get cold if you don't hurry."

"Okay..."

I watched Mio head to her bedroom dejectedly and ladled the miso soup into a bowl.

We both thought it would be a peaceful dinner.

Until two shiny black devils simultaneously attacked the Saotome household.

On June 11th, I was surprisingly ranked 25th in the genre-specific daily rankings! Thank you so much!

I'm so happy! Even if I had been 24th, I would have been thrilled to be in the overall daily rankings!

...I'll work hard to write the next part.

[Correction]

This morning, I was ranked 149th overall... Thank you. It's disappointing not to make it, but once you do, it's scary.