Totally Normal Life, Pt. 4

By the time I walked out of the shower, the scent of something sweet and savory had already filled the entire dorm.

"Hey, Shohei. You out yet?" Megumi called from the kitchen, her voice muffled by whatever she had in her mouth. "Dinner's ready. Come admire my creation."

"Coming."

I trudged over and peeked past her shoulder. The tray of chicken from earlier was now perfectly cooked — glazed in a glossy reddish sauce, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and garnished with chopped green onions like it had just stepped out of a food commercial.

"Whoa. Honestly, I'm impressed."

"Right?! Hehe, I am too, and I'm the one who made it. Well? How's that?  You falling for me yet?"

"Falling for the food," I said as I took a seat. "Still undecided about the chef part."

"Hmph. Typical tsundere behavior."

"...The hell did you just call me?"

"Nothing, you freak."

"Oh, so I'm a freak now?"

"You've been a freak, agreeing to let a total stranger into your home. But I guess it worked out, eh? Cuz now, you get to try my cooking for the very first time!"

"Oh boy. I'm so~ excited..."

She shot me an annoyed glare.

"Just tell me you hate me and get on with it."

"Pfft..."

Megumi scooped a generous serving onto my plate, then plopped down across from me with her own. For a moment, we just ate in peace.

Honestly, it wasn't bad. The chicken had this sweet heat to it that caught me off guard, but in a good way.

"So?" she asked, watching me chew.

"Hmm... Well, I'm not dying, so that's a start."

"What the... That wasn't an answer..."

"Haha, I'm joking. It's actually really good. You didn't burn anything, and my taste buds are still functioning. You win.”

She gave a satisfied little huff, then leaned over and nudged a small porcelain bowl toward me. It had a single clove of garlic sitting in the middle, now completely roasted and looking strangely... smug.

We kept eating after that, with the occasional clink of chopsticks and absurd side comment from her.

Somehow, the conversation drifted from food to video games to whether ghosts would prefer elevators or stairs. 

I sighed.

"This is dumb."

"It's a legitimate question!" Megumi huffed. "When you're dead, you don't really get tired, right? But that doesn't mean you'd wanna climb stairs over relaxing in an elevator. So I still think they'd use the elevator."

"Depending on the elevator, stairs might actually be faster. Also, they probably don't get tired, so they can go on forever."

"That doesn't mean they'll choose to. Even if I had infinite stamina, I'd still pick the lazier option because why the hell not?"

"Yeah, but... Hold on, pause. They're ghosts, aren't they? Can't they just float up?"

At that moment, Megumi dropped her chopsticks. Her mouth was wide open as if she had come to a divine revelation.

By the end of dinner, I wasn't even sure what we had talked about anymore.

The dishes clinked softly in the sink as I rolled up my sleeves and got to work. Warm water, a faint citrusy smell from the soap, and the rhythmic swish of the sponge—it was almost relaxing, if not for the girl next to me humming off-key like a banshee.

"You know," I said, handing her a rinsed plate, "you're kind of tone-deaf."

"I like to think of it as creative freedom," Megumi replied, taking the plate with a grin. "Besides, you're lucky I didn't turn on the speaker and blast my playlist. I was this close."

"Please never do that."

"Aw, come on! Just this once. Wait— hey! Maybe we can have a karaoke session! You mentioned that you went to a karaoke bar with your friends a while ago. How about we—"

"No. Absolutely not. I'm not gonna risk you blowing up my eardrums."

"Tch... It was just a suggestion."

She dried each dish with a towel and stacked them with zero concern for symmetry. I resisted the urge to fix them. Barely.

Megumi, still in her hoodie, was swaying lightly to a melody only she could hear. There was a stray curl of hair sticking out near her forehead. I wanted to tell her to fix it, but I didn't. Not because I was scared or anything. Just… it felt wrong to mess with the scene.

"What are you smiling at?" she asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

"I wasn't smiling."

"You were totally smiling."

"No, I wasn't."

"You were gazing into the distance with the expression of a man who's just realized he let a total stranger into his home."

"Well, that's exactly the case, isn't it?"

She smirked, then gently nudged me with her elbow.

"Admit it. This isn't so bad, huh?"

I glanced over. She was looking down at the bowl she was drying, lips curled up — soft and content.

"…No. Not bad at all."

And for once, there was no punchline. No sarcastic comeback or absurd question about garlic ghosts.

Just her, beside me, in a quiet kitchen with warm lights and clean dishes.

After drying the last dish, Megumi tossed the towel over her shoulder like a sports towel and marched over to the living room.

"Ahh~" she sighed. "Now for my favorite time of the day: lazing around with my favorite person ever."

"W-what the... Quit being weird."

"Aww, you getting embarrassed?"

"Yes. Immensely."

"Tch. Here I am, trying to be nice, and you're shooting me down faster than that photoshoot director after he saw my new style. Can't a girl be grateful every now and then?"

"You wanna be grateful? Start by letting me rest."

"Hmph. Fine."

While she was doom-scrolling, I leaned back on the couch with my eyes shut.

It was peaceful again. Quiet. I thought I'd gotten used to it, but not anymore. This time, it's different... because of her.

Then, an intrusive thought came to mind, but just like always, I shut it out.

Megumi is attractive. Never once have I thought otherwise. She's kind, funny — maybe a little too unpredictable for her own good — but she's also in a league of her own.

That's why, for as long as she stays here, this will be the extent of our relationship. Even if I might start imagining the impossible... even if my heart starts beating for her, I won't accept it.

I'll keep her at a distance. I'll make sure that nothing ever happens. She has her own life, just as I have mine.

Once she's back on her feet, she'll forget all about me.

And I'll... have to do the same.

"Hey, Megumi."

"Hmm? What's up?"

"It's been almost a month since you came here. I was wondering... What's your plan? How long are you gonna take a break for?"

Suddenly, her expression fell.

"Why do you ask? Am I... becoming too much to handle?"

"W-what? No, that's not... That's not what I meant at all. I guess I'm just curious. I mean, you're a model and an actress. Don't you miss the spotlight — even just a little?"

"Oh. That's what you meant. Phew~ Had me worried."

She poked her chin and pondered.

"Hmm... A part of me does miss it. A part of me doesn't. It's a fun job, for sure. I just have to get used to things I really wouldn't wanna get used to. You already know what those things are."

"Yeah, I do. Still, you get to keep this appearance, and the public is starting to recognize its worth. Wouldn't hurt to pick up those gigs. Ride the momentum while you can, you know?"

"Do I have to...?"

"I'm only offering a suggestion. I'm not your manager. Just think about."

Megumi threw her head on the backrest and stared at the ceiling for a while.

"If I go, will you come with me?" she asked.

"...Huh?" 

She's asking me to come with her? Again? Why? We're not even that close. At least... We're not supposed to be, and yet, she keeps doing things — saying things — out of the blue that make me question...

"W-well, that depends. If they happen during my classes, then I can't for sure."

"Send me your schedule. I'll only accept the ones that happen when you're free."

"You don't have to do that."

"I don't, but I'm going to anyway. And before you ask... Yes, you have to be there. No, you don't get a say. As for why — hehe... because that's what I want. And surely you wouldn't say no after I practically begged you, hmm?"

...Is this really all just an act?