[CH.61] Packing and Farewell
**TL Notes: So as not to confuse you all, I made a list of the characters that get mentioned in this chapter that you may have forgotten before. Sumire Matsuda: MC Yoko Ando (Yoko-san): Sumire's manager. Azusa Oshima: Sumire's mentor. Yumiko Kurita (Yumi): Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Ai Shinonome: Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Maho Iida: Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Natsumi Shirakawa: Sumire's senpai at the dormitory. Toyo-san: An elderly maid who works for the Oshima |
"So, what happened to that guy?"
"Yoko-san said she wanted to make things more thorough, but after threatening him, it seems Ms. Azusa introduced a lawyer and let him go. She said she didn't want to push him too hard because you never know what someone might do when cornered."
As I said this, Maho-san and Natsumi-san, who were tidying up the closet in the room, exclaimed with admiration, "Oh, I see." Words like "years of experience" didn't reach my ears. I didn't want to upset Ms. Azusa if she asked, Maho-san.
"More importantly, why haven't either of you packed anything when tomorrow is moving day?! Maho-san's room earlier was the same, but this is not the state of a room for someone moving tomorrow!!"
As I stood up, placing my hands on my hips, the two who were supposed to start college in the spring quickly averted their eyes. Since Maho-san's room was cleaned up quietly, I thought it was okay to complain a bit. It was currently 8 p.m., and the truck was coming in 13 hours at 9 a.m. tomorrow. There was enough time for alternating rests, but it was a delicate situation where even a little slacking off could lead to a timeout.
"No, Sumire! We've been thinking we need to do it, but we thought we still had plenty of time, and before we knew it, today came!"
Somehow, Maho-san, proudly puffing her chest as she spoke, received approving nods from Natsumi-san. This is bad; their carefree attitude probably won't change. It was already approaching the end of March, and moving season was in full swing, so I couldn't blame the movers for being busy. I was happy that we had more time together, but I couldn't help but worry about the two's future. It's ironic that they can work and prepare perfectly according to schedules when it comes to their jobs, but for personal matters...
"Natsumi-san, like Maho-san, didn't you bring any dishes or anything? Is it okay to pack only the things in this room?"
"Yeah, my mug is mine, but you can leave it here as it is. When things settle down, I'll bring souvenirs and come to drink the tea you made, Sumire."
It sounded like a nice line, but the impact was dulled when I heard it for the second time today. Yeah, I heard the exact same words from Maho-san, and it's somehow unsettling that it's predetermined that I'm the one who will make tea... Well, if they visit together someday, I'll happily brew tea for them.
As we divided the tasks for packing, Yumi-san, who had been out for stage rehearsals, returned. Of course, Maho-san and Natsumi-san, who were eager for any help they could get, didn't let Yumi-san escape, and even though she must be tired, Yumi-san was forcibly enlisted into the packing squad.
Certainly, Yumi-san didn't hesitate to help, and she scolded the two for not being prepared until the last minute, just like me. I fully agreed with her opinion and joined in protesting again, but there was no sign of the two reflecting on their actions. Yumi-san and I exchanged glances and sighed deeply together.
"By the way, Yumi, you've grown a lot since you came here. By the way, which high school did you get into?"
"...No one asked, so I thought no one was interested."
Natsumi-san said, recalling it suddenly, and Yumi-san responded with a sulky tone. That's right, Yumi-san, whom I met when she was a first-year in junior high, was taking high school entrance exams this year. I cheered for her when we passed each other in the hallway or during meals, but lately, we hadn't had many chances to see each other because she was busy.
"Congratulations on passing, Yumi-san! I'm sorry I haven't had a chance to congratulate you properly because I've been busy."
"I know you've been busy, Sumire, so you don't have to apologize. Besides, Sumire encouraged me in various ways and took care of household chores for me."
Yumi-san expressed her frustration at the two, thinking, "In contrast to these two...", and the two, unabashedly, retorted, "We were also preparing for exams, you know." It was a delightful banter, but I couldn't help feeling a bit sad that I wouldn't be able to witness these exchanges frequently anymore.
While working, I asked Yumi-san about the school she'll be attending, and it turns out she'll be going to the high school affiliated with the school I'm planning to attend from junior high. She was drawn to it because it takes various considerations for her entertainment activities. I had a slight concern about what kind of school it would be, but I felt really grateful when Yumi-san said she would enter first and share her experiences. I made a mental note to ask her about it when she got used to school life.
But still, just like Maho-san's room, Natsumi-san's room is overflowing with clothes. It's somewhat inevitable given their job requires them to wear various outfits, but fundamentally, both of them are fashion enthusiasts. They have good relationships with stylists, who often give them cute clothes at a low cost, resulting in this massive collection of costumes.
"For now, let's divide them the same way as before. Put the clothes you'll take to the new place in this box, and the ones you won't wear anymore in that one."
I suggested a method that was introduced on TV as a way to get a housewife who can't declutter to tidy up. Natsumi-san groaned a bit but began sorting through her clothes. I had her do the same thing when we cleaned Maho-san's room earlier, and surprisingly, this method seemed to suit her. She quickly sorted out everything except for her favorite clothes. Still, there were quite a few favorite pieces. She said she would take them to a second-hand clothing store she knows or give them to me as a farewell gift. I received about three outfits Maho-san selected, but the sizes are completely off. Well, it's natural since there's a difference between a senior in high school and a fifth-grader in elementary school who is the smallest in the class, but it still feels a bit strange.
Ignoring the two slackers who were happily playing dress-up with Yumi-san, I diligently produced cardboard boxes that were already packed and wrote down their contents with a marker using magic.
After playing around for about 30 minutes, Maho-san and Natsumi-san, who had been treating Yumi-san like a mannequin, returned to work. Engaging in casual conversation, we leisurely continued our tasks, and before we knew it, it was approaching the time when the date would change. Suddenly, Natsumi-san started complaining, "I'm hungry!" So, I took a temporary break from the work and headed to the kitchen to prepare a midnight snack.
How about instant ramen? Since just boiling it would be too plain, I decided to stir-fry some cabbage, bean sprouts, and sausages, seasoned with salt and pepper. Unfortunately, considering my stomach capacity at this hour, I couldn't finish a full serving, so I divided it into small portions for the three of them.
I called the three of them, and we slurped our ramen together, taking a brief break. Although it was a simple midnight snack, it made me happy to hear everyone say how delicious it was. After everyone finished eating, I washed the dishes and served tea to Maho-san and the others, who were contentedly patting their stomachs.
"By the way, Sumire, you mentioned a movie before. From the details in the materials you showed me, it seems like a romantic comedy, and it's a good choice for a first attempt, but how well do you think it'll be received?"
Natsumi-san is talking about a movie offer I received earlier, which depicts an office romance within the company. What's unusual is that, as a elementary school student, I'm playing the role of an office lady and, believe it or not, the heroine. Although I have confidence in my acting ability since I have experience working in an office even in my past life, I hesitated in responding due to the romantic aspect of the film.
They wanted a decision by spring, so I had to respond soon. Just recently, through Yoko-san, I sent my response to the production team.
"I've decided to take the role. Offers for this kind of work might come in the future too. Yoko-san conveyed to the production side that I won't do direct kiss scenes or explicit expressions, and if they agree, it will be officially confirmed."
"If Sumire did something like that with an adult man, it would just look like a crime. The production team is thinking about that, too. Going too far can change something charming into discomfort."
As industry professionals, Maho-san and Natsumi-san are nodding in agreement while sharing their opinions. Still, personally, I have reservations about engaging in such scenes with a man. I intend to avoid those kinds of scenes as much as possible. No one would imagine that I'm carrying the consciousness of a man from my past life, and I have no intention of revealing it to anyone. If I can avoid it for the sake of the audience's feelings, that would be more convenient for me.
"Yumi, you have another new stage coming up, right? If it's okay, send me tickets. I'll try to make it if I can."
"Even though you and Maho-san came to see it only a few times. Tickets aren't free, you know. If you're sure you can make it, contact me, and I'll send them to you."
Yumi-san says this with a displeased expression, but I think what she's saying is reasonable. According to what I heard from Yumi-san before, stage plays can be a financially challenging job. Even though the commitment is on a monthly basis, the pay isn't that great. Sometimes tickets are available for distribution among acquaintances, while other times you might have to buy advance tickets out of your own pocket. If you've purchased tickets with your own money and given them away, it's only natural to feel upset if the person doesn't show up.
However, stage plays are said to be great for learning acting, and the experience builds connections rapidly, both with actors and staff. The camaraderie and sense of accomplishment that come from actors and staff cooperating to create a single work are said to be highly addictive. Yumi-san has invited me to join before, but Yoko-san has put a stop to it. Yoko-san thinks it's better to wait until I have a chunk of time for practice and until my popularity increases to get more lucrative jobs.
Considering that the average stock prices have dropped significantly in the past year, and I'm starting to feel the collapse of the bubble more tangibly, I would prefer jobs with substantial income. After all, the expenses for junior high, high school, and, if possible, university, including living costs, are substantial, and there's no room for compromise there. I believe it's not too late to join stage plays once my position as an actor is more established.
As I pondered these thoughts, the tense atmosphere from earlier seemed to have disappeared, and the three of them were happily engrossed in another conversation. Despite the occasional tense moment, I envy the fact that they can speak their minds openly in this kind of relationship. I can't help but feel a bit guilty, as I have many secrets, including memories from my past life and the fact that I was a man. Because of this, I'm aware that I naturally keep a bit of distance from them.
Feeling somewhat uneasy, we finished our late-night snack time and resumed our work. After a while, Ai, who had left for work in the early afternoon, returned. Despite being a bit tipsy, she proudly proclaimed herself the "moving expert" and helped us. It turned out not to be an exaggeration; she worked as efficiently as three adults combined, quickly finishing the packing.
Thanks to her, we took turns taking baths to wash off the dirt. Around 2 a.m., we were finally able to get into bed. In the morning, the moving company arrived, loaded the belongings onto the truck, and, after making sure nothing was left behind, we watched the truck depart. After a light farewell, Maho-san and Natsumi-san left the dorm as if they were just going out for a short while. While feeling a sense of loneliness, I tossed and turned in bed. Perhaps due to the busy day of helping and moving around, sleep quickly overcame me, and I embarked on a journey into the world of dreams.
The next day, the moving company personnel shuttled back and forth multiple times, loading the truck with our belongings. After ensuring that nothing was forgotten, I watched the truck depart. Maho-san and Natsumi-san left the dorm with a light farewell, as if they were just stepping out for a short while. Well, since they're going to share a room and live together, perhaps the excitement of the new life is currently outweighing the sadness. They'll probably make new friends in university, and terms like homesickness may not be part of the vocabulary for these cheerful individuals.
As I watched the figures of Maho-san and Natsumi-san walking away with a sense of loneliness, Ai-san clapped her hands as if to switch gears.
"Well, now that the lively duo is gone, but there's no time to feel lonely. The newcomer we talked about before is coming in, so you and Yumi need to take care of her as seniors."
Surprised by this unexpected news, I looked at Yumi-san, who seemed to remember something.
"Oh, come to think of it, Toyo-san mentioned something like that the other day... yeah, when Sumire wasn't here in Osaka."
The new girl joining the dorm is a sixth-grader like me, starting from the spring. She was introduced by Ms. Azusa's acquaintance, and apparently, Ms. Azusa decided to take care of her after an interview and watching her act, thinking she might have potential.
"Since Sumire will probably spend the most time with her, take care of her, okay?"
It's nice to have a friend of the same age, but for now, I want proper communication. Also, the girl is scheduled to arrive in three days, so there must be things to prepare and clean in the room. I need to confirm if there's anything I need to do, so I hurriedly went to Toyo-san's place to sort out the plans.
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