Tokyo: Oreimo

......

On the night Ling Nai received the data entry book, Takashiro Yuu kept his promise and took his whole family to Ginza.

He specially booked a sushi restaurant that he had only ever seen on TV. The seating was at the counter, and the chef was making sushi right across from him.

Ryosuke sat to his right, while Ryono sat next to Mieko. Several pieces of sushi were already laid out on a small plate in front of them.

Takashiro Isao raised his glass, his eyes slightly red, and gestured to Ryosuke.

"Ryosuke, thank you for your hard work these past few days. Thank you for tutoring Ayano."

It's so amazing that my daughter got into Waseda University just like Ryosuke.

It felt like a dream.

All of this is thanks to Ryosuke. It was this kid who changed Ryo. Aside from academic tutoring, in the final stage, Ryo's transformation was visible to his father.

Ryosuke picked up his teacup and clinked it against his. "She works very hard too."

"Ling Nai! Study hard in college too! Dad is waiting to see the day you make something of yourself!"

"Okay, okay." Ling Nai's eyes welled up with tears when he called her that, but she still retorted, "Dad, you should drink less too. Don't you have to go to work tomorrow?"

Takashiro Isamu didn't answer her, but just took another sip of his drink.

"Time flies so fast. Ling Nai has grown so much. When I first held you in my arms, you were just this tiny little thing."

"Dad! Don't say these things in the store!"

Ling Nai blushed, and Ryosuke laughed out loud beside her.

Mieko picked up a piece of salmon with her chopsticks and placed it on Ryouna's plate, a smile curving her lips.

Takashiro Isamu put down his wine glass and glanced back and forth between Ryosuke and Ayano.

"You'll be studying together in Tokyo from now on, so please look after each other."

Ryosuke nodded. "I will."

Ling Nai didn't say anything, but just lowered her head and ate the salmon on her plate.

......

After receiving the acceptance letter, moving was officially put on the agenda.

"The commute from Tokyo to Chiba is still too far. Ryosuke has worked hard all year. Since Ayano has also been admitted to Waseda University, we might as well share an apartment nearby."

According to Takashiro Isao's original idea, it would be more cost-effective for the two children to rent a two-bedroom apartment together in Tokyo, which would also be convenient for commuting.

Ling Nai wholeheartedly approved of this move.

The plan was accomplished; all her hard work had paid off.

Ryosuke smirked. He could probably guess that Saori would be angry if he told her about this.

Living with my sister or something...

But he doesn’t seem to have the right to refuse.

At Ling Nai's urging, Takashiro Yuu had already made his decision, and there was no reason for him to refuse rashly.

You can't just say things like "men and women are different" or "it's not good to live under the same roof."

After all, we've been living together for over three years, so bringing up this now will definitely make our parents overthink things.

After the meal, Mieko pulled Takashiro Isamu aside and whispered a few words to him.

Ryosuke didn't know exactly what his mother said, but when Takashiro Isao returned the next day, he brought three real estate agency flyers.

"Your aunt and I have discussed it, and it's better for the two of you to live separately. It's inconvenient for adults to get too involved in young people's affairs."

This means that the two of them can choose for themselves, and Takashiro Isao will take care of the rent issue.

Ryosuke glanced at his mother.

Mihoko held her teacup, a subtle smile on her face, and said nothing more.

He looked away and spread the three flyers out on the coffee table.

All three sets of buildings are located within a two-kilometer radius of Waseda University.

The first apartment is on the fifth floor of a newly built apartment building, with two bedrooms and a living room. The monthly rent is relatively high, but the facilities are complete. The second apartment is on the first floor of an old detached house with a small yard, but the building is quite old. The third apartment is on the third floor of a renovated apartment building. The layout is square, and the two bedrooms are almost the same size. The monthly rent is within the budget.

"This one." Ling Nai pointed directly to the third flyer.

Ryosuke glanced in the direction she was pointing. The two bedrooms were the same size, which was indeed important. If it were a larger apartment with one smaller bedroom, the allocation would be somewhat awkward.

"I also think this one is better."

Takashiro Isamu picked up the flyer and carefully looked at the address. "It's only a ten-minute walk from Waseda University, and there's a convenience store downstairs. Not bad, I'll contact the agent tomorrow."

......

The day we moved was a bright, sunny day, a rare sunny day during the rainy season.

The rented van was parked downstairs at the apartment building. Ryosuke had thought his father could just drive it, but he didn't expect he would need to call a professional moving company.

Ryosuke stared in disbelief as the moving company carried boxes out of Ling Nai's room.

Just how big is that small room? How could it hold so much stuff?

Do you have any issues with my clothes?

"That's too much..."

"Isn't it normal for girls to have more clothes?"

Is it normal?

Ryosuke's luggage consisted of only two cardboard boxes besides his computer, but Ayano had a full fifteen cardboard boxes.

Takashiro Yuu carried Ryou's computer tower upstairs, while Mieko put away the pots and pans one by one in the kitchen.

As evening fell, the taillights of my parents' car disappeared around the street corner.

Ryosuke stood in the entryway, looking at the space that would soon become his and Ling Nai's new home.

The living room isn't big, but it's very well lit. The sofa was left by the landlord; the fabric is a bit old but it's clean. The TV cabinet is still empty.

Ling Nai walked barefoot on the wooden floor from her bedroom to the balcony, and then from the balcony back to the living room.

After confirming that this space truly belongs to me.

"It's actually quite decent."

Ryosuke leaned against the kitchen door frame and watched as she touched the texture of the curtains and then squatted down to check the baseboards at the joints between the floor and the walls.

“Hmm, this house is indeed nice,” he said. “But what are you looking for?”

“Traces of termites.” Ling Nai stood up and casually brushed off non-existent dust from her knees. “My mother always said that you should always check a place before renting it.”

"So what did you find in the test?"

"The floor is in good condition, with no termites or signs of mold, so it's acceptable for now."

As she spoke, she walked up to Ryosuke, put her hands on her hips, and looked up at him.

"I have something to announce."

Ryosuke blinked, looking at her posture.

"This apartment is now my, Takashiro Ryōno's, territory."

Ryosuke looked at her.

"Therefore, we must agree on three rules: I will decide the rules for living here, and you will be responsible for abiding by and enforcing them."

"Heh." Ryosuke was amused by her.

Even though she's already an adult, she's still the same as before.

"What are you laughing at!"

Ling Nai pouted, showing no embarrassment at being ridiculed. Instead, she took a half-step forward and stuck a finger into Ryosuke's chest.

"Listen carefully, first rule: I will arrange the division of household chores. You will be responsible for cleaning and cooking, and I will be responsible for sorting the garbage and doing the laundry."

"Ok?"

Ryosuke has never shown his cooking skills to his family, although he does know how to cook because of his memories from his past life.

"What? You expect me to cook? I'm terrified of oil splattering, so you'll have to do it." Ling Nai counted on her fingers. "Second rule: you have to report if you work all night on a manuscript, and you're not allowed to fall asleep on the living room sofa. You have to sleep in your own room."

"Article 3: No bringing girls home casually, no bringing girls home casually, no bringing girls home casually! I'll say it three times because it's important! Especially that woman, she's not allowed to come to my house without my permission."

Ryosuke was silent for a few seconds, then chuckled, "You mean even friends coming over occasionally isn't allowed?"

"That's different, friends are friends."

"So it's only for your girlfriend?"

Ling Nai glared at him, a hint of dissatisfaction flashing in her dark pupils.

"She is a key person under close monitoring."

“Okay.” Ryosuke nodded.

"And one more thing!" Ling Nai took a deep breath, "Supplementary regulations..."

Before she could finish speaking, Ryosuke reached out and patted her head.

"Understood, landlord."

Ling Nai's momentum was abruptly interrupted by his head pat, and her ears quickly turned red. "I haven't finished yet! The supplementary clause is..."

"I'll add more later." Ryosuke withdrew his hand, turned around and walked towards the kitchen. "What do you want to eat tonight? It's the first meal after moving, and there are still some ingredients in the fridge."

Ling Nai opened her mouth, but the words she wanted to say got stuck in her throat for a few seconds before finally turning into an extremely faint whisper.

"curry."

"Ok?"

"Curry! Chicken thigh curry! Add lots of carrots!"

With a flushed face, she shouted those words towards the kitchen, then quickly walked back to her room, adding as she closed the door, "Don't forget to open the window; the range hood in this apartment isn't very reliable!"

Ryosuke stood in front of the stove, and when he heard the door behind him slam shut with a deafening bang, a smile curved his lips.