Chapter 23: Dating in a General Sense Part 3
It turns out that such a huge workload is an impossible task for two people, even if they just "do it casually".
In fact, half an hour after starting work, after inspecting the rooms on the second floor, Kurosaki Utsuki had already decided to give up.
If the ground hadn't been so dirty and she wasn't wearing a white dress, she would have probably found a place to sit down in the sun.
...And in fact, she did find a windowsill that could get some sun, cleaned it, and sat down.
On the other hand, although the boy teased Hagiwara Kenji after seeing her sitting down and taking out her cell phone, he still diligently carried the bucket and broom to another room to continue cleaning, and did not seem to have any complaints about her slacking off.
While staring out the window in a daze, she couldn't help but suspect that the other party had already guessed that this so-called "part-time job" was just a compensation she came up with on the spur of the moment.
Besides the premise that the store manager was sent to jail because of the truth she uncovered, and thus lost his part-time job, how should I put it, as the assistant of "Hagiwara Kaki", he also refused the compensation she wanted to pay.
Although she thought that treating the other party to a meal was a way of returning the favor at the time, after receiving the reward from the Metropolitan Police Department and actually confirming the high amount, she felt that she should still pay some money.
After all, she was able to receive the bounty from the Metropolitan Police Department in part because he provided her with moral support, which gave her the motivation to solve the case... Anyway, that's what he meant.
And taking her to the infirmary once or twice a day...
Although she felt that he didn't need to worry about her at all, every time she returned to the health room to collect her body, she could always see the young man staying closely beside her, staring at the wall clock, calculating the time for her to leave, as nervous as a new father waiting for his wife outside the operating room.
...This metaphor doesn't seem to be appropriate.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard not far away, getting closer and closer. Kurosaki Utsuki shuddered and looked out the door quickly. It was not until the footsteps entered the next room that she carefully raised her hand and held her cheeks, which had become red and hot without her knowing when.
“Really…”
After the heat on her cheeks subsided a little, the orange-haired girl jumped down from the windowsill, stretched, glanced at her phone with two missed calls, shrugged without any psychological burden, and then walked out of the room while raising her voice.
"Stop it, Hagiwara-san. Help me find the photos, and then I'll go back." She stopped at the door of Hagiwara Kenji's room and put her hand on her stomach. "I'm hungry."
The boy didn't object to her perfunctory part-time job and nodded immediately: "Okay, then I'll put the cleaning tools back."
·
He really knew it.
Kurosaki Utsuki stuck out her tongue in her heart but didn't show it on her face.
It was at the family restaurant at the station. A few minutes ago, she had handed the salary for this "part-time job" to the boy sitting across from her in an envelope. The boy once again refused, then said that if she really wanted to hire him, she would pay him the market rate.
The employer, Kurosaki Utsuki, cupped her hands over her cheeks. "But part-time jobs for non-professional photographers and couriers don't pay much."
Hagiwara Kenji smiled and said, "There should still be a minimum wage, right?"
"Well, that's definitely the case..." She struggled distressedly, "Is that really okay? The salary I want to pay also includes a hush money component."
Really, she couldn't understand why anyone would argue with their boss just to lower their salary!
"That level is fine." The boy confirmed seriously, "Besides, my parents have decided to buy the auto repair shop where I used to work part-time. From now on, I will go to the shop to help out after school. It can be considered a job. Kurosaki-chan, don't worry about me."
That would be great, of course, but...
"I'm not worried!"
What the hell is this guy talking about!
"Besides," Hagiwara Kenji changed the subject, "I don't want my relationship with Kurosaki-chan to be just that of boss and employee."
Eh? Eh hey hey?
If it wasn't just that kind of relationship, what else did he want to say—
"At least, we can be friends, right?" The boy looked into her eyes, his eyes sparkling. "Can I be Kurosaki-chan's friend?"
His breathing stagnated, and then he blurted out the answer -
"Of course, of course not!"
He was so flustered that he almost spoke without thinking.
"You are a human, and I am the god of death. How can a human be friends with the god of death?"
...Of course humans can be friends with the god of death.
Kurosaki Utsuki covered her face, which had turned red and hot again, in great sorrow.
Not only can they be friends, they can even fall in love and get married, just like her father and mother. Although her mother is a special human, she is not a pure-blooded reaper.
Damn it, why was she so nervous?! She was just being stared at by her classmates, and just... being asked if they could be friends...
She actually refused, she actually... is she still an elementary school student!
But the boy opposite him didn't seem to be discouraged at all, his smile still bright: "I understand." He said seriously, "I will keep working hard."
“…What are you working hard for?”
"I'll try to make Kurosaki-chan accept me," he said, causing her heart to beat wildly. "I believe I'm a friend who doesn't need hush money and will definitely keep her secret."
...She already, no, she had believed it a long time ago.
Thursday, May 28th
A notice was posted on the wall announcing the upcoming demolition and reconstruction of the abandoned apartment building where the feral cats gathered.
With the construction crew coming and going that day, many stray cats seemed to have sensed something and spontaneously began to seek shelter elsewhere. Kurosaki Utsuki took two home that night—a recently born mother and her only cub, both black cats that are nearly impossible to spot at night.
Kenji Hagiwara saw her from the window of the room and then took the initiative to help. He accompanied her to take the two cats to a nearby pet hospital for examinations and vaccinations, and made an appointment for sterilization. He then went with her to send the cats home.
The girl's face, reflected in the sunset, was delicate and beautiful, and she was filled with joy. She had just filled out the form at the hospital and had written down the cat's name without a second thought. She had also prepared a complete set of cat bags, strips, and a large towel, clearly planning to bring the furry cat home for a long time.
"These two little guys aren't afraid of doctors at all," Hagiwara Kenji couldn't help but sigh. "They don't even struggle when Kurosaki-chan holds them."
"I'm quite popular with them." Although she said this, her smile became a little more proud.
Seeing that smile made him feel happy too. "So they gave them names related to 'night' because of the color?"
Just now, when I was filling out the form at the veterinary hospital, I named the female cat "Mayo" and the kitten "Sayo".
"Not really." Kurosaki Utsuki answered, "Because my favorite cat is called Yoruichi, a black cat with golden eyes."
"Eh—I see. Is it a friend's cat?"
"I guess so. Yoruichi is a tenant of my part-time boss's place."
So, a cat related to the god of death? Hagiwara Kenji nodded to himself and didn't ask any further questions.
·
It was night time, and Kenji Hagiwara returned to his room after taking a shower.
Because he didn't draw the curtains and wasn't wearing a shirt, he didn't turn on the light immediately. Instead, he used the moonlight outside the window to grab his pajamas by the bed out of habit.
However, a dark shadow suddenly flashed outside the window. He paused in taking the clothes and was stunned for a moment before realizing that someone had jumped onto the windowsill outside his room.
Thief?
No, that doesn't make sense. His family is not a wealthy one. The lights downstairs are on and there are obviously people moving around in the room. It is impossible that they are the target of thieves.
That would be...
He knew it was Kurosaki Utsuki.
Hagiwara Kenji rubbed his eyes.
But the figure that shouldn't be in sight is still there.
It's not particularly clear, but the outline can be recognized in the moonlight. It's estimated to be about 320P resolution - it's a girl with orange hair, a black kimono, a white belt, a katana on her waist, and she's in the state of a Shinigami agent.
He subconsciously glanced down at his chest, but didn't see the chains known as the "Chains of Karma." He was still alive, his soul intact within his body.
but……
He was able to see Kurosaki Utsuki in the Shinigami state.
When she left his body in the afternoon, he could only sense a little of her "existence". While waiting for her to come back from work, he was still thinking about what his worldview would be like if he had spiritual powers, could see her, see ghosts... As a result, this wish was realized after only a few hours.
Although, judging by her natural sitting posture, this shouldn't be her first time on his windowsill...
Oh, it was definitely not the first time. After all, she looked back at him more naturally for several seconds, without any awareness of inappropriateness.
Kenji Hagiwara sighed softly, unable to describe the complex emotions in his heart.
The Death Girl on the windowsill had her back to him and was sitting on the windowsill with her chin in her hand. He took a few steps forward and opened the window, but did not disturb her at all - she was concentrating on watching a few cats in the wild cat gathering area who had not yet moved out fighting.
After a brief hesitation, he let out a helpless smile and decided to speak to the girl to say hello. However, before he could utter half a syllable, the orange-haired girl's figure suddenly shook violently, and then she staggered and fell forward.
Kenji Hagiwara was quick-witted and grabbed her belt.
...It's a wonderful touch.
As he pulled the girl who had suddenly lost consciousness for unknown reasons down from the windowsill and skillfully placed her on his bed, Kenji Hagiwara couldn't help but think.
The fabric of the black kimono, which seemed to be called "Shihazō", felt a little different from real fabric. He didn't know whether to say it was flexible or had a lot of resistance. He couldn't describe it in words.
Kurosaki Utsuki in her Death God state was even thinner than usual, and felt light and fluttery when held...
"Uwaa ...
He came to his senses while muttering to himself, and suddenly noticed that a black cat with golden eyes had appeared on the windowsill where he had just rescued someone.
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