Chapter 14 Arc 1 —- “A New Home”

He never imagined the day would come. After years of agony, Sasaki could finally lie on a lovely, comfy bed and relax in a hot tub at his new house. It felt like living in a five-star hotel.

“Well, isn’t life just great? I get to sleep in a comfortable bed, lie my stress away in a hot tub for hours, what else can I do?! ”

Sasaki grinned from ear to ear as he toured around Ryuji's apartment. The kitchen resembled something from a Western country; there were numerous plant pots, the sofa felt softer than Momo's rock-hard sofa, and there was a television.

Suddenly, he was filled with excitement after seeing the television placed on top of the shelves filled with DVDs. It wasn’t like he hadn’t seen a television before; he would always pass around them as he would walk by the streets; however, having one was a different question.

“Wah…”

He kneeled on the soft carpet, inspecting the DVDs on the shelves, seeing some familiar titles etched on them.

“Jason Vorrhess… The Shining… Freddy… wait, how do you pronounce this? Kruher? Kurger? Never mind.”

Sasaki took out the three DVDs and appraised them with a beaming smile on his face.

“Well then, let's have some fun, shall–”

Ding Dong…

He placed the DVDs on his sofa for a while, as he let out an irritated sigh.

“Ugh, what is it now… I just got here, let me rest! ”

Sasaki walked to the doorway, irritated by whoever was ruining his perfect moment. He placed his hand on the doorknob, opening the door-

“Jeez, can’t you let me–”

“Woah! ”

Sasaki was pushed back as the edge of the door struck his face. His head was twisted for a moment, holding his nose in pain,

“Hey, watch your– Huh?! Why are you here?! ”

Momo’s eyes were gleaming as she quickly looked around the apartment, paying no attention to Sasaki. He sighed in irritation, not knowing he would have some roommates staying over with him; nevertheless, it should’ve been expected since he didn’t even own the place.

Suddenly, after seeing Momo, he felt like he’d forgotten something, or… someone.

—Wait… if Momo’s here, where the hell is Miyuki?!

“Hey, skank! Where the hell is Miyuki?! ”

“Don’t worry, she’s with me.”

Ryuji smiled, carrying Miyuki in his arm, with a displeasing smile on his face, as if he’d done something bad. 

“What happened to her? ”

“She attacked me earlier, thinking I was with the one who kidnapped you. When we tried to de-escalate the situation, she tried to kill me, so I had to knock her out.”

“I see… well, I guess just let her lie on the couch for a while ‘til she wakes up.”

—Well then, let’s get back to business.

Sasaki dashed back to the sofa, attempting to resume what he was doing before. When he arrived, he looked at the sofa and noticed that the DVDs had vanished into thin air. He was speechless, turning to Momo, who was inspecting the fridge in the kitchen.

She was most definitely the culprit; no one else could have taken the DVDs except for her, especially since she was the one delving into things as if it were her own house.

“Hey you damn slob! Where did you hide the DVDs?! ”

Momo turned to him, confused as to why he was screaming at her like she’d done something terrible to him.

“Huh?! Can’t you see I’m looking at the fridge here! To hell with your DVDs, I didn’t take them! ”

“I’m not stupid unlike you dumbass! You were the first one walking in here after you bashed my head with the damn door! Don’t you have common courtesy?! ”

Momo slammed the fridge, pressing Sasaki against the back of the sofa.

“First of all, you’re the dumbass! You were standing on the edge! Second of all, I only headed to the kitchen! ”

“Huh?! Didn’t your mother teach you to wait for the owner to open the door for you?! ”

“Didn’t Hanae-san teach you not to declare ownership of everything you find?! ”

“Enough of this bullshit, where are my DVDs! ”

Ryuji stood by the edge, holding the three DVDs, as he was about to put them back in the drawer. He never thought cleaning the house would spark up a fight this wild, and maybe it would take him a while to get used to these two quarrelling like little children.

Krnng Krnng…

The phone rang on the desk at the door. Ryuji grumbled and walked over to the phone, answering whoever was calling.

—Who is it this time…

“Ryuji! It’s Yozo, I’m just checking on Sasaki.”

“I don’t know where your damn DVDs are, it’s not my fault you’re irresponsible! ”

“Me?! Irresponsible?! If I’m irresponsible, then what are you?! ”

“Yeah, he’s very lively right now. Currently, he’s in an argument with his lover or whatever that woman is to him.”

Momo and Sasaki overheard Ryuji’s wry complaints, as the two kneed his guts in irritation.

“We’re not lovers! ”

Ryuji felt a rush in his throat after Momo kneed him, curling up in anguish on the ground.

“Sounds like you’re doing just fine. I’ll hang up, see you tomorrow! ”

The phone went off, and Momo returned to her senses, realizing what she had done to Ryuji and becoming embarrassed as she hurried towards him, contrite and concerned about him.

“Ah! Ryuji-k– Ryuji-san, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it! ”

Sasaki stood there, perplexed. He had never seen Momo act this way before, and even when she was with her customers, he gave her a naughty glance, knowing exactly what this attitude meant. To think Momo had finally grown into a lady.

“Didn’t know you were that caring.”

Sasaki was beaming from both ears and felt the chills of romance. Swaying side by side, wryly emulating Momo's shy expression while nibbling on his finger. Momo saw this and threw a vacuous stare at Sasaki, emanating a malevolent presence while tending to Ryuji.

“Shut up or I’ll do the same to you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The day had passed, and Sasaki had awoken on the couch, lying next to Miyuki after they’d binge the entire night watching the horror films on Ryuji’s shelf.

As Sasaki rubbed his eyes, he noticed Ryuji was closely bending toward his face, as if he was admiring his appearance. He looked at him in confusion, wondering whether he had some strange hobby.

“You’re awake.”

“Can you please move back… I’m not willing to give you my first kiss.”

Ryuji went away, towards the kitchen. Sasaki sat up, turned to face him, drinking his coffee, and noticed Momo cooking breakfast behind him.

—Huh… I actually slept full on.

Sasaki turned to Miyuki, rubbing his face to see if everything wasn’t just another dream made by that ashen creature he fought two days ago.

“What’s wrong? You getting adjusted to the new life? ”

Ryuji grinned and drank another drink of his coffee. Sasaki approached him and sat awkwardly in front of him, briefly turning away from Ryuji before returning his gaze to him.

“Uh… Ryuji-san…”

“Hm? ”

“Are you really fine with us sleeping in here? Doesn’t it bother you to the slightest? ”

“Hey… look at you suddenly developing a conscience.”

Momo grinned cynically as she turned to Sasaki by her shoulder, as she was preparing some bacon.

“Jeez… don’t stir up another fight, it’s six in the morning.”

Ryuji let out a tired sigh, feeling a tingling sensation in his stomach, remembering what’d happened after their argument yesterday. He wouldn’t want another one to happen, especially after he’d just woken up.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m just saying.”

“Well, as for your question, Sasaki, I wouldn’t mind at all. I get lonely sometimes when I’m alone, so it’s fun to have some lively people as company. Either way, I see this as a great opportunity to befriend you.”

—Befriend?

Sasaki had not heard that word since he was a child. He gazed at Ryuji with admiration as a wave of nostalgia washed over him.

“This is for real? ”

“Yeah, I’m serious.”

Ryuji reached out his hand, with a delighted look, as Sasaki vacantly stared at it, not knowing what to do.

“Well, consider this a welcome from the Agency. I’m counting on you as my subordinate.”

“Ye-yeah, thanks for having me.”

Sasaki took his hand, firmly grasping it with a beaming look in his eyes.

—Don’t die so soon, friend.

To Be Continued...