Kotoko Strikes Back!

Chapter 7: There's Always a First Time

Dear Diary,

Finally, that baka is gone! But her father is still living with us. Anyway, it's okay since he is always not in the house.

However, dinner seems so quiet without her...only niichan and I were having dinner.

Yuki drew out a happy face of himself and a Naoki with very sad expression.

"...Don't worry about me, I will be fine. I will come back after I have sorted out my feelings for Irie-kun. Gomen nasai...Kotoko." Sai crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it into the dustbin. What is she trying to do? Sai thought angrily. Where would she be? She doesn't carry much money.

"Kotoko..." Machiko stared hard at the newly taken photos of Kotoko and Naoki (she kept it a secret so that Naoki would not confiscate them again) while blowing her nose. She had been crying a lot after discovering Kotoko hadn't been back after going out during that afternoon. Surprisingly, it was Naoki who suggested checking out Kotoko's room and discovered that all her clothing is gone.

"Don't cry." Papa comforted. He was feeling very sad too.

I should have noticed it earlier when I saw her carrying such a big bag. What was I doing? Naoki kept turning and tossing about on his bed. I've underestimated her. I am such a baka! That was the first time Naoki called himself a baka.

Kotoko was unpacking her stuff in the room when someone knocked on the door. "Konbawa!" Mrs. Kurozawa greeted as she stepped into the room.

"Konbawa!" Kotoko greeted back.

"I hope you are comfortable staying in this room." Mrs. Kurozawa asked.

"It's beautiful. I don't think I can afford to rent such a beautiful room if you had not offered me this job." Kotoko smiled.

"This room used to be my daughter's, but she married a gaijin and migrated to Canada." Mrs. Kurozawa explained, frowning a little.

"Why are you looking so sad?" Kotoko asked.

"Hmm...it has been so long. Initially, I have strongly opposed their marriage because I wanted her to marry a Japanese. However, she is just so madly in love that that guy." Mrs. Kurozawa continued. Hmmm...just like me... Kotoko thought of her own love saga.

"In the end, I was touched by their love and persistence, and I gave in." Mrs. Kurozawa ended her story with a sigh.

"Wow, that's so sweet of you to do that." Kotoko exclaimed. How good it would be if Irie-kun would be touched by my love for him. Haiz~~ he already has a Reiko. Kotoko thought sadly.

"Well, I just hope my son would not bring a gaijin back when he returns from America." Mrs. Kurozawa joked.

"So, you have not tell me about my job scope." Kotoko asked.

"Hmm...in fact, nothing much. All you need to do is to keep the place clean. Well, you can use the kitchen and the facilities in this apartment. I just need someone to look after it since now we don't live here anymore." Mrs. Kurozawa replied.

"Why don't you just sell it off?" Kotoko asked again.

"That's because this is the last present my husband gave it to me before he passed away, so I want to keep it. We used to stay here for a period of time, but since both my children are not in Japan, I started to feel lonely, so I decided to move back to my old house where all my siblings are living close by, then I won't be feeling too lonely." Mrs. Kurozawa explained.

"But...why me?" Kotoko asked.

"Why you? Hmmm...perhaps it's fated. When you first stepped into my office, I found myself liking you. That's why I had purposely raised the rental so that you would give up renting the other room." Mrs. Kurozawa started giggling as she recalled how the comical expression on Kotoko's face when she had told Kotoko about the actual rental amount of the room that Kotoko wanted to rent initially.

"Huh?" Kotoko's eyes turn dotted.

"I've been looking for someone suitable to look after this house during the past few years, but I just couldn't find myself trusting those people who wanted to rent it. But when I saw you during that day, you gave me a sense of security. I don't know why. I have a feeling that I can leave my apartment in your care." Mrs. Kurozawa explained further.

"Arigatou Gozaimasu." Kotoko bowed to show her appreciation.

"It's nothing. Okay, I better leave you alone to unpack you stuff. Here are your keys." Mrs. Kurozawa passed the keys to Kotoko before walking out of the room.

"Hoosh! My first day without Irie-kun!" Kotoko stepped out of the apartment with an empty stomach because she had burnt the only two eggs found in the fridge.

I must get myself another job by today, a job where I can settle all my meals there. Kotoko thought.

A while later...

"You may start work tomorrow." The manager informed.

"Hai." Kotoko stepped out of the office, and proceeded to the exit of the fast food restaurant.

"Hahaha...oh Kotoko...you are such a genius!" That was the first time Kotoko called herself a genius.