You are Toyokawa Shoko, then who am I?

Not only do you have to wash the endless dishes, but you also have to find time to carry the heavy buckets and help mop the floor; if the front desk is too busy, you have to lend a hand. If you don't help, the store manager will scold you for being inconsiderate, even if you are already too busy; sometimes when you encounter some difficult customers, you have to keep bowing and apologizing, even if it is not your fault and the other party is just deliberately looking for trouble.

Shoko Toyokawa lived for fifteen years.

There has never been a moment in my life that was so difficult.

In the past, she would only pick stars and flowers to decorate her life, but now she has to sacrifice her youth for a job that pays less than 100,000 yuan a month.

If only these were the case, it would be fine.

Shoko Toyokawa can get through it by gritting her teeth.

But what she couldn't accept was that her colleagues would secretly make fun of her behind her back.

They said she was not good at this or that, that she was clumsy and not serious at all, and that she had a smug look on her face all day long.

They also said that since she was so beautiful, she must be a father in private, and might be a bitch who was fucked by thousands of people.

Shoko Toyokawa didn't understand the dirty talk, but she could tell the other party was swearing very dirty. At first, she clenched her fists tightly and tried hard not to get angry. She was no longer a young lady and needed to consider the price of all her actions.

But the further it went on, the harsher the words became, even scolding her family.

Then, patience reached its limit and hands could no longer restrain the anger in their hearts.

She filled the pot with water, then walked over to the gossipers and poured it over them.

She didn't think she had done anything wrong.

But the store manager got furious and deducted 10,000 yen from her salary.

On the way home, Shoko Toyokawa was still reviewing her actions at that time. She still didn't think she had done anything wrong. If she was bullied, she would retaliate. If someone insulted her, she would make the other person understand their mistake deeply.

These are the education she received and the principles she has always adhered to.

Obviously I did nothing wrong.

But why isn't the truth on my side?

Shoko Toyokawa couldn't understand this, she just felt indescribable grievances and endless fatigue.

Her nose began to feel sore and her eyes began to redden.

Crouching in the corner of the carriage.

She buried her head in her knees, trying to hide the tears she was trying so hard to suppress.

After a while, she left the station.

Dragging his tired body, he staggered along the dim street.

Looking up, I could see some lighted windows shouting:

"How many times have I told you to wash your hands before eating?"

"Oh, Mom...I'm eating with chopsticks anyway, so it doesn't matter whether I wash my hands or not—"

"You're the only one who talks too much nonsense. Go wash your hands quickly and call your younger brother and sister down."

"it is good--"

Shoko Toyokawa stood blankly downstairs of the building that was emitting warm light, her pretty but thin face showing a momentary confusion.

How many days has it been since you had a meal at home?

She asked herself this.

But I found that I couldn't answer this question.

She couldn't even call that cramped rental home.

She felt like a thief who was burned by other people's happiness. She didn't even have the courage to stay where she was and ran away in shame, as if if she continued listening, her heart would be torn into a hole that could not be mended.

So, she lowered her head and quickened her pace, and finally she started running, wanting to escape from reality and run to a place where no one could catch her.

But a stone tripped her and she fell to the ground.

The delicate skin was scratched with bloody wounds.

She silently looked at her scraped knees and her slightly twisted ankle. The huge tears finally broke through the layers of defense and rolled down her cheeks unconsciously.

She tilted her head in confusion. When had she ever been so fragile that she would cry over such a minor injury?

She held onto the electric pole, stood up with some reluctance, and continued walking a few steps.

She realized it belatedly.

She wasn't crying because she was hurt.

………………

Walk to the door of your home.

Shoko Toyokawa looked at the door in front of her.

It felt like there was a heavy stone in my heart.

You don’t have to think about what you will see when you open it.

Piles of wine bottles.

The ground is full of garbage.

A room where the lights are never turned on.

It seems that as long as you step in, your mood will inevitably fall to the extreme, and you will be embraced by the white bones reaching out from the abyss nightmare and plunged into the boundless darkness.

If possible, she didn't want to face this.

But if she lets it go, who can save her from the dire straits?

So she took a deep breath, stood in front of the door and quietly escaped reality for a few seconds, then inserted the key and gripped the door handle firmly.

The bright and dazzling lights embraced her in an instant.

"...?"

Shoko Toyokawa opened her eyes wide in surprise and saw an extremely tidy house.

Not only is the furniture neatly arranged, the floor is also clean and smooth. If you extend your sight forward, you can even see the clothes hanging on the balcony. The windows are well opened for ventilation, and there is no dust on the cabinets...

She stepped back from the threshold, looked up to check the room number, and thought that perhaps she had entered the wrong room.

But she rubbed her eyes several times and confirmed countless times that this was definitely her rental house.

but……

But the room shouldn't...

Is it that kind of sloppy feeling...?

"You're back? Welcome."

A figure came out of the kitchen and appeared before my eyes.

The man was wearing a pink apron with a huge white cat pattern on it. He held a spatula in one hand and a plate of steaming food in the other. He looked like a very unreliable chef.

"Just put your slippers in the shoe cabinet. I've put them in front for you." The man put the dishes on the table and walked over with his hands on his hips. "What are you standing there for? Why don't you wash your hands and eat?"

"...I, I brought food back." Hearing about washing hands and eating, Toyokawa Shoko felt it was a little unreal. She blinked, stammered a few times, and her voice sounded a little confused and at a loss.

"That's great. Put it in the refrigerator and have it for breakfast tomorrow. It saves me from getting up in the morning to fry eggs for you," the man said.

"Can you please stop looking down on me? I know how to fry an egg. I don't need to trouble you to do it for me." Shoko Toyokawa retorted subconsciously.

"So those two dark dishes similar to Shimura Tae's in the refrigerator are your masterpieces?_?... I'm amazed you can make them." The man looked disgusted.

(Shimura Tae, a character in Gintama, is good at making dark cuisine and can often fry fried eggs into charcoal.)

"..."

Toyokawa Shoko turned her head away silently.

Well, now I have to admit that she does seem to lack a little talent in cooking.

"Okay, come in quickly. It's cold outside. I fed your two fried eggs to the scumbag. It's just the two of us eating tonight."

The man's gaze lingered on her scraped knee for a moment, then he turned away.

"I bought some stuff at the pharmacy on my way out. I'll help you apply the iodine later."

"……Need not."

Shoko Toyokawa subconsciously shook her head to refuse.

She wants it, but doesn't want to accept other people's care.

In her eyes, she is the only one in the world who can lick her wounds.

And it was at this moment.

She came to her senses and raised her eyes.

He met that person's gaze.

Her mind finally became clear.

Today, an uninvited guest suddenly came to her home.

The man's name is Toyokawa Sho.

He is a sharp-tongued, unrestrained person who always rudely calls her a black history and is not likable at all.

Even though I don't want to admit it.

But this guy seems to be her from another parallel world.

In other words.

The person before her was a projection of her future, a possibility for her future...

It's herself.

"...But if you don't have anything to do later."

Toyokawa Shoko whispered this, took off her shoes and walked into the living room.

The bruised knee and sprained ankle made the whole process extremely difficult for her, but she managed to do it alone with all her strength.

The guy next to him is very sensible.

There was no helping her or anything during the process.

Instead, he stood by and watched her do everything like a supervisor.

Wait until she washes her hands and sits at the table.

She couldn't help but sigh again.

The house is so clean.

Although there is no movable furniture arrangement, many details have been modified.

Not only is it visually appealing, but it’s also very convenient…

Why didn’t I think of it before that some things have such wonderful uses?

And the light bulb seemed to have been replaced. The old light bulb given by the landlord was used before. Not only did it flicker occasionally, but the light it emitted was also very cold and white, giving a depressing feeling.

Now that we have changed to this warm and bright light, the visual experience is completely different.

As expected, he's someone who's lived ten years longer than me...

This experience of living alone... can really be seen with the naked eye.

It's still a cramped rental house.

But now, with the lights on, it really feels like home.

"What are we going to eat?" Shoko Toyokawa couldn't help but ask.

"Scrambled eggs with tomatoes, spicy and sour potato shreds, and—Toyokawa's special beef rice bowl that's a hundred times better than Yoshinoya's." The man answered proudly.

then.

Fragrant.

Colorful and delicious dishes are on the stage.

The scrambled eggs with tomatoes in front of me seemed to be emitting a dazzling light like the cooking of Chef Xiao. The delicious eggs were fried into uniform shapes, like shining golden pearls, and became more colorful and eye-catching after being seasoned with starch.