Chapter 121 - Thinking of You (EP)

When you open the door of the room, the first thing you see is a decorative houseplant that my dear wife had grown.

It’s a cactus, so it will grow on its own even if left alone, but it’s something that Kaori, who doesn’t really want things, was strangely fond of and pestered me for.

It was two years before we got married.

It was when I had just gotten the job I have now, and I was frustrated and pissed off.

I had been working in the fight business until I met Kaori, so I hadn’t really gotten used to the idea of a normal job, and I was pretending to be calm, even though I was frustrated by the fact that things weren’t going well.

At that time, I was still just a laborer, living on a daily wage.

“Kouhei-kun is not green enough!”

She said that as she picked up a cactus at a flower shop in Tokyo’s beastman district.

“You’re surrounded by nothing by concrete buildings and ruins, so you’re going to get annoyed like that. Hey, why don’t we buy this?”

That was when we were still quite poor.

I disagreed, dumbfounded.

Let’s buy edible vegetable plants instead of that inedible stuff.

But she laughed and pointed at me.

“Fufu, there’s no way you can grow vegetables, is there, Kouhei? Basically, I’ll take care of it, but maybe I won’t be able to water it for a day or two, right?”

Well, she was right.

There was no way I, a wild and reckless person, could grow flowers properly.

If it weren’t for her, I think even this cactus would have died.

“Look, you see that?”

I’m talking about Kaori.

I’m sure she would grin and act haughty, saying, you’re no match for me.

She’s been like that since the day we met.

You were in high school, and I was a delinquent.

How nostalgic.

“What’s the matter with you? You’re still young, so go and work hard! See, that’s what Kunpei says too.”

“Dada”

“Fufu, that’s the only thing that Kunpei can say well.”

Ah what was it again?

As I recall, it was when I was moved out of Tokyo after being selected for sales from the field.

I was lost in thought in the empty room of my memory after moving all my belongings out of my first wooden apartment, and then she said to me.

The pay would be a little less, but it would be more stable, unlike the sites that had to be cancelled due to rain.

I’m the start-up staff of a new sales office, so I’m moving to the countryside.

I really want to thank my boss and my manager.

Even though I didn’t have an academic background, they took me under their wing and took into account the fact that I had a child.

It’s thanks to them that I got the job I have now.

“It’s nice and manly to earn money with a bang, but it’s also cool to take your time and work your way up, isn’t it? Sho-kun?”

“Dah!”

“Play with me, dad!”

I remember when Shouhei was born and we were discussing whether or not to change jobs for more money.

Shouhei, who was a bit frail by nature, was frequently in hospital care.

It wasn’t a problem for me in terms of income, but it was a suggestion to increase my savings for the future.

But Kaori laughed and said —–.

“You like where you work now, don’t you? Then you don’t have to quit.”

Kunpei was also in a troublesome period, but I remember how happy I was that he even cared about my work.

“You don’t have to force yourself to change your job. It’s okay. Shouhei is a strong boy, and Kunpei has been a great big brother. Kunpei is a great kid. He’s the one who carried the bags when we went shopping! And I’m also doing my best too! You’re happy to have such a capable wife, aren’t you Kouhei-kun.”

You’re right.

I’m a lucky man.

I’m really happy to have met you.

Because I met you, I have a lot of happiness in my arms —–

“Dad, dad! Dad!”

“O-oh?”

Someone shook me, and I woke up.

This is my room, my bed.

Huh?

“How long are you going to keep sleeping? You have to get up. You’re working today, aren’t you?”

“Ah…? O-oh! Is it that time already?”

When I looked at the clock on the wall, it was a little after 6 o’clock.

That was close.

It’s about forty minutes from our house to the office by car.

It’s only a short drive if you take the highway, but our wallet is not so abundant that we can afford such a luxury.

That’s why I leave early in case anything happens.

“Shou! Where’s my tie?”

“I ironed it yesterday and it’s ready in the living room! The shirt is over there!”

Wow, what a kid!

I can’t believe it’s my kid!

A shirt and slacks I don’t remember preparing that was hanging on the hanger.

They’re ironed and look like new.

“Oh, thank you!”

“Breakfast is already ready, okay? Can you change quietly so you don’t wake up the kids?”

I know, I know!

My youngest son walked out of the room in a huff.

I hurriedly took off my pajamas and changed into a shirt.

I slipped into my slacks and glanced at the picture of Kaori hanging on the wall in my room.

“He’s starting to become more and more like you. That guy.”

“It’s because Kouhei-kun is sloppy, isn’t it? Good grief.”

I chuckled at the sound of a voice that couldn’t be heard.

I’m sure that’s what she would have said.

I keep all of Kaori’s photos in my room.

For a while after she died, both Kunpei and Shouhei would burst into tears whenever they saw them.

But I didn’t want to put them in the closet, so I keep them all in my bedroom.

I kept them all in my bedroom so that I could look at them whenever I wanted to.

I buttoned up my shirt.

I also put on the socks Shouhei had prepared for me.

Once I was dressed like this, I felt like I was ready for work.

This is the battle clothes of a working father.

This is the proof of being the provider for the family, and I am proud of that.

Now, let’s give it my all today.

I looked at the cactus on the drawers next to my bed.

I was a little worried because I neglected it for a month because of the Tusk Crag incident, but it’s still here in good health.

Was this also within Kaori calculations?

I looked at Kaori’s picture again.

Kaori was there, smiling like the sun.

“I’m off.”

My daily routine, which I try to do without fail.

Whenever I leave the house, I report it without fail to Kaori.

I opened the curtains and windows and turned off the air conditioner.

Later, Shouhei will hang up the bedding.

I head to the entrance of the room and turn off the light switch on the wall.

I slowly closed the door.

My grandchildren would be sleeping in my oldest son’s room.

So as not to wake up my son and his wife.

Babies are so sensitive to noises, aren’t they?

The door closed with a slight click.

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I headed to the stairs and stopped for a moment and looked back at the door to my room.

“Have a good day. Do your best, Kouhei-kun.”

“Oh.”

Because I thought I heard Kaori’s voice.