I Won't Be a Loser

"I'll need to buy some curtains later. Leaving the windows bare like this feels unsettling."

Haruto glanced at the large floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the balcony and the smaller side window. Both were completely exposed, lacking the curtains that should have provided shade and privacy.

The bright, open environment of the apartment left Haruto feeling uneasy.

The absence of curtains on the large floor-to-ceiling windows leading to the balcony, as well as the smaller side windows, left everything exposed. What should have provided shade and privacy had been removed—likely taken by the previous tenants when they moved out.

From his current vantage point, anyone living in the opposite building could easily peer into the apartment, seeing everything without effort.

Having grown accustomed to living in dimly lit spaces, Haruto found it difficult to adjust to the stark brightness of this clean and orderly environment.

"I'll need to buy curtains later," he muttered, glancing at the bare windows. "And towels, cleaning supplies, and a few more tools. I picked up some smaller furniture this morning, but for the rest, I'll have to make a proper trip to a furniture store."

Haruto had little experience living on his own or renting a place. When he moved to Tokyo from Itomori, he brought only his clothes, basic necessities, and some scattered advice from his father, advice he mostly ignored out of convenience.

The apartment was practically a blank slate—completely empty. It had taken Haruto quite some time to adapt to the barren space when he first arrived in Tokyo. During that adjustment period, he relied heavily on convenience stores for meals and laundromats for his clothes.

"A rice cooker, an electric kettle, a refrigerator, a hair dryer, and a washing machine—those are the essentials," he listed out loud, pacing around the room. "I'll be living here for at least three years, so skipping out on these items will just lead to sky-high expenses later."

Although these appliances were expensive, they were ultimately more cost-effective than constantly relying on outside services.

"Probably about 100,000 yen for everything," Haruto estimated, scratching his head. "Smaller items might only cost around 10,000 yen each, but big appliances like the refrigerator and washing machine… those are pricey. I'll need to be mindful of space, though."

He glanced toward the entranceway. There was a designated spot near the door for a washing machine, which was a relief, but space for the refrigerator was much more limited—it couldn't be too large.

"I'll figure it out when I get to the electronics store," he reasoned. "For now, I need to make sure I actually have enough money."

Walking over to his desk, Haruto opened a drawer and retrieved a black wallet. Inside were his identification documents, bank cards, and some cash. Before leaving his hometown, his father had handed him 200,000 yen in cash, and there was roughly 350,000 yen in his bank account—intended to cover living expenses until the summer. School tuition and enrollment fees had already been paid in advance, so he didn't need to worry about those.

The rent for his apartment, 120,000 yen per month, had also been paid for the next six months. After that, however, Haruto would have to come up with the funds himself.

His father, Mayor Miyamizu Toshiki, had been very clear on the matter:

"I'll support you for six months to help you adjust to Tokyo. After that, you're on your own. If you can't even cover your own living expenses, come back to Itomori—Tokyo isn't the place for you."

Haruto couldn't help but smirk at the memory.

So, how did he manage to cover his expenses and rent after those six months?

The answer was: through an unconventional arrangement.

One year after moving to Tokyo, Haruto became acquainted with Sayuri Sawamura, a wealthy widow who managed her family's estate. Over time, their relationship deepened, and she took a liking to him. To give him more time to spend with her, she eventually bought out the very apartment he was renting, sparing him the burden of rent altogether.

That's right, he was kept by Sayuri.

By his second year in Tokyo, he no longer needed to worry about rent. He kept two part-time jobs to maintain some income for daily expenses but otherwise lived comfortably.

However, now that Haruto had resolved to distance himself from Sayuri.

He couldn't rely on anyone else to shoulder his rent now.

"Maybe I can resubmit some of my old magazine articles," he thought aloud, pacing back to his desk. "I could rewrite them if necessary. They're my own work, after all."

Though Haruto had once harbored grand ideas of replicating famous literary works from his past life, the reality was much bleaker. Decades had dulled his memory, leaving only faint recollections of titles and authors. Reproducing those masterpieces was out of the question.

But he wasn't entirely out of options. Haruto's own skill as a writer could still earn him a decent living.

He once wrote a novel titled The Literary Girl and Her Lost Reason, which had been well-received on a site called DNN. At its peak, it even ranked third on the sales charts.

When he first saw his name on DNN's leaderboard, Haruto couldn't help but marvel at the power of the internet.

"Publishing online really is something else," he had mused back then.

Serialized magazine pieces typically earned him between 10,000 and 20,000 yen per story, depending on the publication. But his 100,000-word novel on DNN had netted him a much higher income, freeing up a whole month where he didn't need to work.

Unfortunately, Haruto was now a 16-year-old high school student, and writing adult novels—let alone selling them—wasn't a realistic option anymore.

"I'll have to stick to something more… proper," he sighed.

Reaching for his pocket out of habit, Haruto almost went for a cigarette and lighter before realizing his current situation. He no longer smoked, but the instinct was ingrained in him. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to relax and smiled wryly.

"Well, I suppose that's one way of helping Mitsuha quit smoking, although ever she never seen me smoking yet."

With his wallet in his pocket, Haruto headed out the door, determined to purchase the appliances and supplies he needed before nightfall.