Chapter 04: Monou-san Private House (Part 1)
Finally, Saturday came, the day we had planned to meet.
Sitting on the train at the station I had never been to before, I arrived at the designated place. Although Monou-san had suggested taking a taxi, I hesitated a bit and decided to take the train instead.
I held my cell phone in my hand as I walked through the residential area, where the houses were close together.
"I guess this is it..."
Although it couldn't be compared to the high-rise apartments or the expensive ones, this apartment was still quite upscale and located at a high position within the condominium.
This is Monou-san's apartment.
It's really hard to believe.
Not long ago, I never imagined that I would come to her private home.
Then I wondered what I would do in the room where she lived... Just thinking about these things made my head spin.
I decided to go to the front door. After the automatic lock opened, I entered her house.
"Thank you for coming."
Just as the front door opened, Monou-san stepped out to greet me.
She was wearing everyday clothes.
She had a short-sleeved sweater on the top of her shirt, and tight pants on the bottom.
Her clothes gave me the impression of a mature woman with a pure sense of fashion.
Maybe it was the first time I saw her in casual clothes.
Maybe because this outfit was completely different from the suit she usually wore, she looked very charming, but it also made me feel like I was seeing something I shouldn't have.
"I... I apologize for bothering you."
Feeling very tense, I took off my shoes and entered the room.
My first impression was that this room was quite clean.
It's a 1LDK house, so it's quite spacious for living alone.
The walls were painted white, with only a black sofa chair as a contrast.
A carpet was placed in the center of the room, with a table set on it.
The room was neat and tidy, as there weren't many things in it. There were a few of the latest electrical appliances, like an air purifier and a vacuum cleaner, but there weren't many items to express her personal style and preferences.
How should I describe it?
It felt like a showroom in an interior design magazine.
"You're really organized. Every corner of the room is carefully tidied."
"Since I live alone, I just don't want things to be messy. As soon as I enter the room, I just lie down and go to sleep without doing anything else. But personally, I can't stand to be in a dirty room."
Should I say that what she just said is very similar to my impression of her?
It seems that Monou-san is also a quite serious person in her private life.
"Well... Don't hesitate, please have a seat."
Monou-san didn't know how to start the conversation, and she spoke like that.
In any case, her intention was for me to sit on the sofa chair in front.
"Eh... I guess... Can I sit down, ma'am?"
"Please have a seat."
"Um... thank you."
Monou-san sat down next to me but kept a considerable distance.
Both of us felt very shy.
Uh, what should I do now?
The purpose of my visit today is quite clear... But if I dive straight into the topic without any introduction, it doesn't feel right. And even so, I feel embarrassed to suggest watching a movie or doing something else. Moreover, it would be a waste of her time.
This sofa chair seems to be of high quality, so I feel quite comfortable sitting on it. But in a situation like this, I can't relax. I start to feel anxious and look around—right at that moment, I notice a piece of paper in the gap of the sofa.
It seems to be a receipt.
"'Watanabe's visit for house cleaning'...? Eh, the date on the receipt is today—"
"——!"
Snap.
Monou-san quickly grabs the receipt.
"Don't look at random things anymore!"
"I... I'm really sorry."
"It's not... It's just that I want to be more careful, how should I put it... Even when I'm alone, the room can still get messy, don't you think!"
Monou-san hurriedly explains.
...Should I say that my impression of her has changed?
I feel guilty for noticing something I shouldn't have. Eh, so someone came to clean, that's why the room is unusually clean.
"No... It's not because Sanezawa-kun came here that I did that... It's just something I need to do when inviting someone. You'll come to my house often in the future."
"Eh..."
"If you keep going to hotels like before, someone might find out, don't you think? So, to control the risk, I thought and felt that my house was the best choice."
"...Yeah, you're right."
"After all, hotels are expensive. Comparing the prices, choosing my house is much better, that's for sure."
I feel both admiration and embarrassment towards her meticulous plan.
That's right.
This opportunity is not the only one today.
As long as she is not pregnant, this relationship will continue.
Monou-san must have considered this.
She has thought seriously and for a long time.
"..."
"..."
Awkwardness and tension envelop the entire room.
Based on the direction of the conversation, both of us realize:
The things we need to do next—
"...First, let's have a drink."
It seems that Monou-san couldn't bear the silence, so she proactively spoke and went into the kitchen.
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