I Won't Be a Loser

Haruto's apartment was situated near Hori Slope in Koishikawa. Just a short walk south would bring him to the Koishikawa Grand Shrine, and a bit east led to the bustling Koishikawa shopping district. It was convenient, as most of the appliances he needed could be purchased in this commercial area.

After paying for his household appliances and providing his address for delivery, Haruto's wallet felt considerably lighter.

After spending the afternoon running errands, Haruto returned to his apartment, carrying several shopping bags of various sizes, he trudged back to his apartment. Once he set everything down in the room, he sank to the floor, utterly exhausted, his mind blank.

"So tiring… hauling all that at once. Even if I've regained my youth, it's still a bit much," Haruto muttered to himself.

Among his purchases were sheer curtains for privacy, a compact broom, a mop for the bathroom, towels for drying off, and cloths for cleaning dishes and cookware. After taking a short break, he carefully placed each item in its proper spot.

Fortunately, the apartment's windows already had tracks installed, so hanging the curtains didn't require too much effort. He simply attached the purchased sheer curtains to the rollers, slid them into the track in sequence, and secured the ends with plastic fasteners to keep the rollers in place. The task was done in no time.

Standing at 175 centimeters tall at just sixteen years old, Haruto didn't even need a stool or ladder to complete the installation. A slight tiptoe and a reach of his arm were sufficient.

What Haruto didn't realize, however, was that during the process of hanging the curtains, his movements were spotted by Kiyoura Mai , a neighbor from the apartment across the way, who was about to head out for groceries.

_ _ _

It was nearing four in the afternoon, and with dinner preparation time approaching, Kiyoura Mai noticed her fridge was running low on supplies. She decided to head out to stock up before her daughter came home. But as she stepped out the door, a figure moving in the once-vacant apartment across the way caught her eye.

Having lived in the area for quite some time, Kiyoura Mai had a faint memory of the previous tenants—a pair of sisters who moved out about a year ago. Since then, the apartment had remained empty. Seeing a new resident now piqued her curiosity.

Peering carefully across, she saw a slender yet striking figure pressed against the window, adjusting the curtains. Though the sheer material of the curtain blurred her view, she could just make out his profile—delicate and handsome, like the idealized image of a first love in a girl's heart.

Her heartbeat quickened slightly as she watched the young man finish his work and step away from the window. Realizing she had been staring, Mai quickly pressed a hand to her chest, feeling her racing heart as a faint blush spread across her face.

"To think, after being single for so long, I'd find myself intrigued by a stranger... But he really is an exceptionally handsome boy. I wonder if Setsuna would like someone like him," she murmured to herself.

 Kiyoura Mai, being an adult, quickly composed herself after this fleeting moment of embarrassment. With a glance back at the opposite apartment, she resolved to find a moment to visit her new neighbor. Her figure disappeared down the hallway.

_ _ _

Installing the curtains, arranging the appliances, and placing cleaning supplies in their designated spots took longer than expected, but by the time he was done, the apartment felt more like home.

Having set up all his furniture and cleaned the place up, Haruto gazed around his tidy apartment. For a moment, he felt unsure of what to do next. After a brief silence, his eyes settled on the stack of writing paper and pen on his desk.

"Guess I should write something. Not having a computer is such a hassle. But even a decent one costs over 100,000 yen. I'll need to work hard," Haruto muttered, slapping his cheeks lightly to pep himself up.

He began recalling the serious articles he had written before, selecting suitable content to rework. Bit by bit, he started writing.

As the sun set and the room grew dim, Haruto's eyes began to feel strained. Staring at the thousands of words he had written, he let out a long sigh of relief and closed his eyes for a moment to rest them.

"Not being nearsighted anymore feels strange, like something's missing from my face," he mused.

Opening his eyes to the dim room, he felt a pang of familiarity. It reminded him of his past—those days of hopelessness, with only his writing desk and a dark room to accompany him.

He stood up, intending to turn on the light.

Ding-dong.

The doorbell's sudden ring caught him off guard just as he pushed his chair aside.

"A guest?" Haruto muttered, surprised.

In his memory, his first few weeks in Tokyo were spent in solitude. His relationships with neighbors were casual at best, consisting of polite greetings when passing by.

With a sense of curiosity, Haruto approached the door and opened it slightly.

"Hello, I'm—"

Bang.

The door slammed shut. Before the visitor could finish, Haruto instinctively closed the door.

Standing there, stunned, Haruto replayed the image of the fierce-looking young man he had just seen. After a moment of hesitation, he reopened the door a crack.

"Um…"

The sharp-eyed boy stood still at the doorway. His expression, though slightly troubled, was shadowed by his bangs, making his gaze seem even more intimidating. Despite Haruto's extensive life experience, he had reflexively closed the door out of a natural defensive response.

Forcing his trembling hands to stay steady, Haruto cautiously asked, "Hello, what's your business here?"

The boy, appearing to be about the same age as Haruto, seemed momentarily annoyed at being addressed as "young man." However, recalling how Haruto had just shut the door in his face, he decided against making a fuss to avoid further misunderstanding.

Instead, the boy introduced himself.

"Hello, please allow me to introduce myself properly."

The formal tone and awkward phrasing felt out of place coming from someone with such an intimidating aura. Haruto, already feeling secondhand embarrassment, listened.

"I'm Ryuuji Takasu, the son of Takasu Yasuko, whom you helped this morning. I've come to thank you on her behalf."

Haruto paused, finally connecting the boy with the woman he'd briefly assisted earlier. Feeling a little reassured, he opened the door wider.

"So you're Mrs. Takasu's son… Please, come in."