Chapter 102
Yaeko and her family lived in an apartment unit within a not-too-large complex building, yet it was comfortable enough for a small family to reside in.
From the atmosphere of the living room alone, it was clear that this was not merely an ordinary place to stay, but a home carefully maintained with genuine dedication by those who lived there.
The apartment consisted of three bedrooms, one bathroom, and a small kitchen directly connected to the living room.
The layout was simple, yet efficiently arranged, making use of every available space without making it feel cramped.
Although the unit was not large, its arrangement gave off a sense of openness and comfort, as if every corner had been thoughtfully considered to remain functional while still warm to live in.
The living room served as the center of activity in the house. A low table was placed in the middle of the room, surrounded by several simple chairs that looked frequently used.
The surface of the table was clean and well-maintained, without even a trace of dust, indicating that the residents were accustomed to keeping things neat with discipline.
On one side of the room, the small kitchen appeared clean and neatly organized. The wall shelves were filled with plates, bowls, glasses, and various cooking utensils arranged properly in their places.
A small pot still hung from an iron hook, while a kettle was neatly placed on the stove, as if it had just been used not long ago.
Not far from there, a small bucket and a kitchen cloth hung neatly near the sink, adding to the impression that the kitchen was not only clean, but also actively used every day.
Nothing was placed carelessly; everything seemed to be exactly where it belonged.
Despite its modest size, the space felt alive. There was a warm, homely atmosphere—an intimacy born from daily togetherness, from simple conversations during meals, from the aroma of cooking that likely filled the air every morning and night, and from the peaceful silence shared under the same roof.
The walls were plain and simple, without much decoration, yet they brought a sense of security that was difficult to put into words.
There was no luxury there, but the place radiated something far more important: a sense of home, a tranquility that could not be replaced by anything.
"Is there no one at your place?" I asked, glancing around the apartment unit that felt so quiet.
There were no sounds of footsteps, conversations, or any other household activity. Only a soft silence filled the room, giving the impression that the other residents were indeed not around.
Even the sounds from outside the apartment were faint, making the atmosphere inside feel even more still and calm.
"I think my mother and Shoko went out for a while. They should be back soon," Yaeko replied briefly.
While speaking, Yaeko bent slightly to remove the high heels she was wearing. Her movements were calm, orderly, and natural, like a habit she had repeated countless times every day.
After that, she placed the pair neatly near the entrance, aligned without the slightest shift.
I quickly followed her. I took off my sandals and placed them neatly by the entrance, trying to adapt to the orderly habit that was clearly well maintained in that home.
Afterward, we walked back to the living room, our footsteps sounding soft against the clean apartment floor.
The sound of our steps was faint, almost swallowed by the silence that enveloped the room.
Yet it was not an awkward silence. Instead, there was a gentle sense of peace flowing within it, making the small apartment feel even more comfortable to stay in.
When we arrived at the living room, we sat together, letting the warm atmosphere of the small apartment embrace us.
The soft glow of the lamp faintly reflected across the surface of the table, while time seemed to pass slowly within a calming stillness.
The atmosphere in the living room of Yaeko's apartment unit felt quiet and peaceful, as if time itself moved more slowly inside it.
Gentle daylight streamed in through the large window at the side of the room, slipping past the thin curtains and casting a warm golden hue across the clean wooden floor, revealing the subtle sheen of each grain.
Warm air filled the room without feeling stuffy, moving slowly and almost silently, faintly mixed with the scent of aged yet well-maintained wooden furniture, along with the lingering fragrance of tea that seemed to have been brewed not long ago.
The aroma of tea still hung lightly in the air, giving off a soothing sense of comfort, as though this room had long been a place of peaceful rest.
The silence there was not the awkward or oppressive kind, but rather the kind of calm that naturally exists in a simple home filled with life.
There was a warmth that was difficult to describe, as if every corner of the room held traces of daily activities that shaped a familiar and comforting atmosphere.
I sat casually, my body slightly leaning back, allowing myself to sink into that atmosphere. My gaze slowly swept around the room once more, this time more carefully.
I noticed the low table in the center of the room, which seemed to be used often—its surface neat, though showing signs of regular use. Then there was a small shelf in the corner of the wall, holding a few simple items arranged neatly.
My gaze then shifted to the window, where sunlight entered unobstructed, illuminating the room in a natural and unexaggerated way.
For some reason, seeing their tidy yet simple living conditions caused a thought to suddenly emerge in my mind, without warning, without having truly considered it beforehand.
"Hm... if I were to give you a house located near the shop, would you want it?" I finally asked while still looking around the room, as if the question was merely part of my casual observation.
The question came out without long planning or deep consideration, yet I still delivered it in a light tone, as though it were just a simple suggestion that naturally came up in a situation like this.
"Ah?" Yaeko, who heard it, was immediately startled. Her eyes widened at once, and her body stiffened slightly in her seat, like someone suddenly pulled out of a daze.
The reaction was clear and spontaneous, showing that she had not expected to hear such an offer so suddenly.
Yaeko's lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to respond, yet no words came out right away. For a moment, she seemed completely at a loss.
"Why?" I asked while looking at her with a confused expression, my brows slightly furrowed. To me, the offer was neither strange nor excessive.
If living somewhere closer could make Yaeko's work and daily life easier, then in my view, it was simply a reasonable choice.
After all, a shorter commute meant less time wasted on the road, and of course, less exhaustion to bear each day.
"I think, for now, that isn't necessary. Besides, I'm still thinking about how to explain to my mother the way to cure Shoko," Yaeko said with a confused expression, her gaze lowering slightly, as if her thoughts were occupied by something else.
Her tone sounded hesitant and unsteady, showing that her mind was being pulled in many directions at once. It was clear that the offer of a house, no matter how valuable, was not the most important thing for her at the moment.
From the way she lowered her head slightly after speaking, along with the small breath she let out, it was evident that the greatest burden in Yaeko's heart right now was not about where she lived.
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