That was a memory from four years ago.
Haruki smiled faintly, the image fading from his mind as he looked out the small window of his cheap apartment.
It wasn't much, but it was his home.
He was still working at the same company — Yamashita Corporation.
But now, things were different.
His schedule was flexible.
Whether it was design work, coding, or anything else his boss gave him, Haruki handled it easily.
Years of experience had made him good at his job, and his pay had gone up too.
Even with the big salary he now earned, Satomi still wanted to keep her own job.
She said she loved her work too much to quit.
At first, Haruki admired how passionate she was.
But over time... he started to notice.
Work was all she seemed to care about now.
Long nights. Endless meetings.
The moments they shared felt smaller and smaller, like fading pieces of a life they once dreamed of together.
And intimacy?
Haruki chuckled softly, without humor—kind of dry and self-deprecating.
Maybe once every six months, if he was lucky.
Whenever he tried to reach out to her, Satomi's answer was always the same.
"I'm tired," she'd say, turning away without anger, just plain exhausted.
Haruki believed her.
She really was tired — she had recently earned a promotion, a higher position, and a larger paycheck.
More responsibilities.
More distance between them.
He pressed his forehead against the cool glass of the windowpane.
Was this the life he saw in his dreams, that day four years ago?
When he bowed to her parents, swearing to love and care for her forever?
Lately, Satomi had been bringing it up more and more.
The idea of moving out to a better place.
Not that Haruki couldn't afford it — far from that.
After years of working hard, he had enough saved to get a nicer apartment, even in the city center.
But still...
He liked it here.
Yeah, it was a cheap apartment.
The walls were thin. The floors creaked when the wind blew hard.
But the view from his window was wide and quiet, a small piece of sky he could call his own.
The neighbors weren't nosy.
No one paid attention to who came or went.
It was peaceful — a kind of peace Haruki had learned to cherish in a world that never stopped moving.
And yet...
He sighed, leaning more against the window.
Maybe...
Maybe it was time to move somewhere better.
Not for himself.
But for Satomi.
If it would make her happy...
If it would bring back even a little of that warm feeling they once had...
Then maybe it was worth trying.
Haruki closed his eyes for a moment.
With a small sigh, he pushed himself away from the window and sat down on the edge of his futon.
He grabbed his old laptop, and the screen flickered weakly as it turned on.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating.
It wasn't excitement he felt.
It was duty.
He opened some real estate listings, scrolling through photos of fancy apartments with granite counters and rooftop gardens, but he looked half-heartedly.
None of them felt like home.
None of them had that wide, lonely view he loved.
None of them had the quiet comfort of this worn-out place.
But maybe... it wasn't about him anymore.
He clicked on a few listings and saved them in a new folder labeled "For Satomi."
After a while, he closed the laptop softly with a little click.
The room felt even quieter now.
Haruki leaned back, staring up at the cracked ceiling.
Maybe tomorrow, he'd talk to her about it.
Maybe they'd go look together.
And maybe... things could get a little better.
Haruki heard a car pull up outside.
He leaned toward the window, peeking through the glass.
Satomi's familiar silver car had just parked.
He saw her step out — shoulders slumped, moving slowly.
Haruki smiled and waved from the window.
But Satomi didn't seem to notice.
She gathered her things from the passenger seat and started walking toward the apartment with heavy steps.
Haruki quickly moved to the door, waiting.
A few moments later, he heard the lock turn from the outside.
The door opened softly, and there she was —
Satomi, still in her work suit, carrying a large stack of papers under one arm.
She looked tired.
That usual tiredness that never really left her anymore.
"Welcome home, honey," Haruki said gently.
"I'm home, Haruki," she replied casually, slipping off her heels without looking up.
Haruki stepped forward and offered to help with her files.
Satomi blinked at him in surprise, then smiled faintly.
"Thanks," she said, passing the papers to him.
Haruki carefully took the heavy files and set them on the small table near the door.
Satomi stretched her arms and let out a soft sigh.
"Have you eaten?" she asked, looking at him as she put her heels by the door.
Haruki nodded with a small smile.
"No, I was waiting for you," he said.
"I'll warm up the food now."
Satomi gave a tired laugh as she put her bag on the small shelf near the entrance.
"You didn't have to wait, you know."
Haruki smiled again and headed toward the kitchen.
He heard her footsteps behind him, slow and dragging.
"Go take a shower first," he said over his shoulder, already pulling out food from the fridge.
"Mm... thanks," Satomi murmured, her voice soft and distant.
He listened as she went to the bathroom, and the water started to run.
After her shower, Satomi stepped out of the bathroom, wearing a simple T-shirt and loose pants.
She saw Haruki sitting at the small dining table, carefully arranging the plates and bowls.
"Haruki..." she said, drying her hair with a towel.
"I already ate before I got home."
Haruki froze for a moment, still holding his chopsticks.
"Ah... okay," he said softly, giving her a small nod.
Satomi smiled sheepishly, squeezing the ends of her damp hair.
"Well... I can eat a little," she added.
Haruki returned her smile, his tone relaxed.
"Okay~."
Satomi looked at him while he slowly ate.
"Haruki?" she called softly.
"Hmm?" he answered without looking up, still chewing.
"You don't need to worry," Satomi said with a small laugh.
"I'm not out eating with another man or anything... Well—" she tilted her head playfully, "—Father is a man, so... tehe~"
Haruki blinked, pausing with his chopsticks in the air.
"Hmm? Father-in-law was around?"
"Yeah," Satomi nodded, twisting her towel between her fingers.
"He said he wanted to have dinner with me.
We talked a little... and then he said we should visit the old house sometime."
"Old house?" Haruki tilted his head slightly.
"You know, the one I grew up in," she smiled.
"Mom and Dad still live there. He said we should visit — maybe stay a few days."
Haruki set his chopsticks down slowly.
"I see... That sounds nice," he said.
( End Of Chapter )