"Sorry, this place is small."
Wakana apologized awkwardly after she let Nifuji inside her.
Yes, her place wasn't huge; it was small, as her place was mostly covered in her working tools for the laundry shop.
Still, regardless, while she had said that her place was small, it wasn't the smallest, and more or less, the homes in this country were so small, considering how limited the land was.
Moreover, when compared with another place, such as Hong Kong, the country's land area was much, much larger, and the home was more human.
Regardless, even if her place wasn't that huge, it was still clean and comfortable, with a Japandi (Japanese-Scandinavian) aesthetic—light wood, white walls, and neat storage—to make the industrial machines feel warm and domestic.
The ground level was dedicated to the business. It featured a wide glass storefront to attract passersby. Inside, rows of high-tech washers and dryers often have a "folding table" that serves as a social hub, and behind the shop were her living quarters.
Nifuji, who had come in, saw stairs leading to the 2nd floor, but he knew he shouldn't look at them too long, since they should be her sleeping space.
'But...'
Yes, it was too quiet.
Unlike his home, which was particularly noisy, either Mayuri watched an anime, or Eli played the Nintendo Switch, while Nifuji was being sandwiched by the two. Even by his side, his neighbor, Fuji, was also there along with her pet, but Wakana was alone.
Still, Nifuji didn't mean to judge her, but somehow, he thought that she would be living with her family, as it was quite rare for someone of her age to do business alone.
Yet, as she had decided to do this alone without anyone's help, and he also didn't even see the pictures of her family... he wondered whether she had a situation that couldn't be explained.
'Well, I am the same.'
Similar to Wakana, Nifuji knew that he had been avoiding his family, especially when he wasn't the real Nifuji. He took the body of someone who had passed away, so how should he handle this family?
While Nifuji's family was more or less quite chill, especially when they all knew how quiet and introverted he was, yet, even so, he would be lying if he wasn't nervous to face them.
Still, as he dared to face Fuji's father, he felt that it should be okay.
"No, it's fine."
Nifuji answered Wakana's worry first. "But, is it also okay for me to enter? I am quite sweaty from working out, you know?"
"It's fine. You smell rather nice, even if you sweat, you know, Nifuji-san?"
Yup, instead of the smelly scent from the sweat, Wakana smelled his scent, which was refreshing, like a morning dew in the early morning, relaxing, yet also warm like the sunlight.
Still, like the sun, while it felt comfortable when its light bathed her, if she dared to look upon it, she would become blind, and if she grew even closer, she would be burnt.
Yet somehow, she was like a moth that was attracted by a fire; even if she knew that it was dangerous, she kept coming toward him.
"However, if you feel uncomfortable, you can wash up here."
"...you want me to take a bath in your place?"
Even Nifuji had to admit that Wakana's suggestion was so weird, as he had never expected that a young lady like her would let a man like him take a bath in her home.
"Yes."
Wakana was as pure as ever, never thought of dirty things, or rather, those thoughts never crossed her mind at all.
If Nifuji felt that his clothes felt uncomfortable, she thought to wash them directly, as he was also her customer, and like any other customer, she would give the most comfortable clothes.
Her thought was clean, like the clothes that she washed, but Nifuji was the one who was dirty.
Only, when Nifuji felt worried, thinking that Wakana might see the world with her pure-like eyes, considering how he knew that the world was troublesome, she quickly realized something, which made him sigh in relief, but—
"Ah, if you are worried about changing clothes, then don't worry, since I still have your clothes here. Don't worry. I just washed it."
"....."
Nifuji felt that there were many things that he should say, but in the end, he could only sigh inwardly. Would he wash his body here?
"No, it's fine. I will take a bath later when I am home."
"Ah, really? I don't mind if you take a bath here, you know?"
Wakana didn't really mind Nifuji's presence. No, she enjoyed it since, for the first time, she felt how colorful her home was.
Yes, while her shop might appear clean and approachable, her home, the place where she lived, was just strangely quiet, simple, and even lonely.
It was as if there was truly nothing in this place, and it was as if she had given her everything for a laundry.
Was Wakana someone who gave her entire life to practice the art of laundry?
Nifuji didn't know, but he decided to keep shut about his findings, since even if they were close, there were still many things that he should say and shouldn't say.
Sighing inwardly, he said, "I am afraid to trouble you. I will leave after I eat breakfast."
"Ah, is that it? Okay."
While Wakana felt a bit disappointed, as Nifuji agreed to stay for breakfast, it was already good, so she decided to quickly prepare the breakfast, known as asagohan, which was less about a single "main dish" and more about a balanced set of small plates designed to provide steady energy and a sense of calm.
Yet even so, watching Wakana, who hummed an unfamiliar song in front of the kitchen as she smiled softly while cooking, gave Nifuji a strange feeling. It was as if she were his wife, and they were a newlywed couple.
"Fufu..."
Suddenly, Wakana laughed.
"What's wrong?" Nifuji asked with confusion.
"No, it's just I wonder whether this is how it feels to be a married couple..."
Wakana realized what she had said was a bit too embarrassing, and her face turned so red that it spread to her ears.
Naturally, Nifuji noticed it, even though Wakana turned away. After all, she tied her hair into a high ponytail, which made it possible for him to see her ears, and as he saw how red they were—
Why were you so cute?!
Nifuji screamed inwardly as he tried to control the beast within him, yet the more he resisted his nature, the more the world wished him to fall.