Chapter 4

The morning after the twin JKs spent the night.

When I got dressed and went to the living room... a delicious breakfast was laid out on the table.

"Ah, Okarin, good morning~♡"

"Akari..."

Akari, the twin sister in a sweatshirt and apron.

French toast and minestrone.

Salad, ham and eggs, and more...

An incredibly lavish breakfast was laid out from the morning.

"What's this... What's going on?"

"Hmm, I made it."

"Really...?"

Come to think of it, Akari has been good at making sweets and cooking since she was young.

She used to bring them to the cram school... or rather, to me.

"Akari, there was nothing in the fridge, you know. Thanks to that, I had to go to the supermarket in my pajamas."

"Eh, ah, really?"

"Really... Mrs... Ah... Could it be that... the cooking..."

Akari's expression seemed to realize something.

My wife, Misae, was never very good at cooking.

She used to make it for me when we first got married, but recently she stopped making meals altogether.

"Really the worst, that old lady. She doesn't cook for her husband, and she cheats. Seriously, the worst. As a wife, and as a human, she's finished."

Akari stuck out her tongue.

I was happy that she sympathized with me... but wait?

"Hey, how do you know Misae cheated?"

"Hmm... well, a little bit. Ahaha! Anyway, look, eat your breakfast!"

Although I was curious about what Akari said, since she didn't seem like she was going to tell me, I decided to let it go.

...The breakfast was incredibly delicious.

The French toast... the taste of butter and milk spread in my mouth.

The salty ham and eggs made the sweetness stand out even more.

"Here, Okarin, coffee. Iced, no sugar, extra milk."

Akari placed the coffee cup on the table.

"...You remember that well."

At the cram school, I often bought and drank coffee.

Akari remembered that.

"Of course, I remember everything about the person I love."

...Misae never remembered.

When I asked for coffee, she would just give me a hot, instant cup.

"I told you many times that I like cold coffee in the morning."

If she remembered the things about the person she loved, then maybe Misae didn't remember my preferences because she didn't love me.

"Akari, don't make such a sad face."

Akari, sitting across from me, reached out with both hands and cupped my cheeks.

She pulled up the corners of my mouth with her thumbs.

"You don't need to be sad because of that stupid woman. It's 100% her fault, and you haven't done anything wrong. Just forget it, okay? Such a person... right?"

...Akari smiled warmly, like the morning sun.

It was a beautiful smile. Just looking at it made the fog in my heart clear up.

"...Yeah. I'm not the one at fault."

"That's right! The one at fault is that stupid wife! Move on to the next love! For example, me? It's a great deal, you know?"

"Cut it out."

I poked Akari's forehead.

She seemed to be joking, as she giggled.

...I wonder.

I tend to hold on to things, but now I feel a bit lighter.

"Nee-chan is still sleeping! Ugh! She has low blood pressure! I'll go wake her up!"

"Ah, wait. I'm going to work, so give me the key."

I took the spare key from the keychain and threw it to Akari.

"Huh? But, today... it's Saturday. Work...?"

"...To the editor, weekends don't exist."

"Oh... black company..."

"Not just me, but working on weekends is normal in our company."

"That's not right. It's weird that Okarin, an office worker, doesn't get weekends off. You should quit that place."

"No... ...You're right."

To be honest, I feel very heavy about going to work today.

Because my wife's lover, Kiso River, is at the office.

I think it's wrong to mix personal feelings with work, but I don't want to see him.

...Maybe I should request a department transfer, or even change jobs.

"Okarin."

"Eh...?"

*chu*...♡

...I realized that Akari's face was very close to mine.

It took me a moment to realize that she had kissed my cheek.

"It's a charm to cheer you up. Have a good day♡"

Akari's face was as red as her neck.

She was smiling, but she seemed to get embarrassed and retreated to the kitchen.

"..."

She tried to cheer me up even though it made her embarrassed.

...As always, despite her flashy appearance, she is very considerate.

"I'm off. I'll come back early... wait for me until then."

"Sure thing! Have a good day!"

...I changed my shoes and was about to leave the entrance.

"Sen... she..."

From the bedroom, my sister, Nanako, came out with a very sleepy face.

"Have a good... day..."

...Have a good day.

I haven't heard that in a long time.

"Yeah, I'm off."

The steps to work are always heavy.

But today, I could walk out the door smoothly and descend the stairs in a light mood.

This hasn't happened since I got married.

"It's thanks to them..."