Arriving at the family restaurant, the proprietress, who usually greeted guests, was quietly sitting behind the counter this time, calmly reading a book.
"Hello, Proprietress!"
Akira greeted her, walked over, and glanced at the book's cover. As expected, it was an account book disguised as a regular book.
"Ah, Akira-kun, good evening."
The proprietress replied spiritlessly. "How was your university life today?"
"The proprietress didn't even rush me to change."
Akira said in surprise. Usually, she would urge him to get into the kitchen immediately.
Did the sun rise from the west today?
The proprietress sighed. "Business hasn't been good lately. I feel like we might start losing money."
She looked at the account book in her hand and began reconciling the accounts.
"Last month's expenses totaled this many yen, and now eggplants have gone up by twenty yen per jin…"
Akira didn't listen to the proprietress's rambling and went straight to the changing room to put on his work uniform.
There were only a few days left until he resigned, and he felt a bit nostalgic.
Akira walked into the back kitchen, where Boss Shimamoto was still cooking dishes ordered by customers.
"Akira-kun, process those potatoes over there. A portion of them needs to be mashed!"
"Oh, got it!"
Akira rolled up his sleeves and started working.
After finishing the ingredient preparation, Akira found some free time and opened the small stove in the corner of the kitchen.
This was where the boss usually made his own meals.
Ever since Akira's cooking skills improved, Boss Shimamoto had started letting Akira make his own dinner.
After all, the boss was quite busy, and Akira's cooking was fast and tasted good. He couldn't complain about food he made himself, could he?
Akira made himself a pork cutlet rice bowl, accompanied by a bowl of yam miso soup, and took some mashed potatoes from the side.
"I'm going to eat!"
Akira clasped his hands together, picked up his chopsticks, and although unhurried, ate very quickly.
For someone like him, carefully savoring every bite didn't exist. Eating was simply about replenishing energy.
However, his future life with Sajuna would probably slowly change this habit.
Thinking this, Akira took a bite of rice, then a sip of miso soup.
He already wanted to slow down, but when he was alone, it was difficult to control.
Akira chose not to think about it for now. He didn't eat like this when he was with Sajuna.
After work, Akira returned home, and a sense of freedom spread through his body.
University life really felt pleasant.
Even after experiencing it twice, he wasn't tired of it at all.
He walked into the bathroom and took a refreshing cold shower, feeling that his body was even stronger now.
Sajuna would definitely like it even more if she knew.
Exercise still needed to be moderate. At the very least, he couldn't scare Sajuna in the end.
With nothing else to do, and having already sent out the light novel manuscript he had rushed, Akira did some stretching exercises in his room, experiencing the changes in his physique.
As his experience points increased, his control over his body gradually improved. His tireless efforts since transmigrating were finally beginning to give him continuous feedback.
The room was already clean, making it feel refreshing.
A clean room, a refreshed body, and a face so clean that not even stubble could be seen.
He was living such a life now.
Akira sighed. The qualities and talents he once dreamed of now felt within reach.
And his life seemed to have gained only an additional system that could quantify skill experience points.
Akira lay on the bed and thought for a long time, still believing that his own effort was indispensable.
After all, if he had truly been a slacker, he certainly wouldn't have grown into his current state in such a short time.
Most likely, he would still be that half-lying person from his previous life who always felt powerless to struggle.
Wanting to lie flat, yet unwilling to give up.
He had clearly worked hard, but it seemed nothing had changed.
With such thoughts, Akira gradually fell asleep, not even hearing the messages on his phone.
"Beep, beep!"
The smartphone beside his pillow rang with the alarm.
A fair arm stretched out from under the covers, fumbled around on the nightstand for a while, and finally grabbed the ringing phone.
She brought it to her face and looked at the time with half-closed eyes.
"It's already seven o'clock."
Sajuna gently rubbed her eyes and uncontrollably let out a yawn.
She still wanted to sleep for five more minutes, just five minutes.
But even Sajuna herself didn't believe that. By the time she woke up again, she wouldn't know what time it would be.
Sajuna slowly sat up, her slender arms supporting her petite body. The quilt slipped from her smooth white skin and fell onto the pristine bed.
Her bare upper body was exposed to the air. Sajuna seemed to remember something and quickly covered herself with the quilt.
She already had a boyfriend, yet she still had the habit of sleeping naked. It really felt unfamiliar.
If Aki-Kun really came into the room to wake her up and saw her like this, what would he think?
Sajuna couldn't help but wonder.
But she still had to make Aki-Kun's lunch bento. Sajuna got dressed and walked out of the bedroom, holding her phone with LINE open.
The "Good night, Aki-Kun." message was still unread.
Shinju looked at the darkened weather outside, pulled open the curtains, and glanced out.
"Sister, it seems to be raining outside."
She could faintly hear the soft rustle of rain.
No wonder she had wanted to go back to sleep just now.
Aki-Kun must also be the type who gets sleepy on rainy days.
Sajuna's thoughts began to wander.
"Is Akira-san still coming today?" Shinju asked worriedly. "I don't think today is very convenient."
"I don't know."
Sajuna looked down at her phone screen. For some reason, Akira still hadn't replied.
"Nothing bad happened, did it?"
The gloomy atmosphere outside the window fueled her worry, making Sajuna feel uneasy.
Perhaps it was the bad weather, or perhaps it was just one of those days.
Sajuna felt a strange mood settle in her chest.
Shinju, wearing an apron, looked curiously at her sister's changing expression.
Did something happen?
Why did her sister seem a little unhappy?
They hadn't argued, had they?
After thinking for a moment, Shinju remembered that today seemed to be her sister's uncomfortable day.
She must be feeling melancholic because of that.
Shinju smiled, finding it natural. Her sister was always like this on such days.
It truly seemed to be a change brought about by love.
"Sister, what are we making today?"
Shinju turned to ask, and as she did, she saw that Sajuna had already put on a coat and was taking an umbrella from the doorway.
"Eh?"
"I'm going out for a bit."
Sajuna's calm and composed voice sounded.
She truly was a sister who would go all out for love.