*Beep, beep, beep…* “Mm…” I hear an unfamiliar sound and wake up slightly, but the room is still dark. “What is that noise…?” I check the time and see that it’s already five in the morning. I look at the sofa and see Takao sitting there, already dressed to go.

“Takao...?”

“Ahh, I woke you up. Sorry.”

“That noise…”

“It’s an emergency call.” He pulls a square object from his pocket as he speaks. He presses a small button and the sound stops.

“At this time… Did you even get any sleep?”

“It’s always like this. Being a police officer isn’t easy.” He smiles bitterly, his eyes sleepy.

“Okay then, I’ll make breakfast…”

“No, that’s not necessary. I’ll eat at work.”

“Really…?” Takao worked from the early morning until late at night yesterday too. Seeing how little sleep he actually gets makes me feel worried “Are you…alright?”

“Haha, I’m fine. How’s your memory?”

“Ah, nothing yet…”

“Yeah? Well, actually…”

“Actually…?”

“I was thinking you should go to the hospital.”

“The hospital…”

“There has to be something more effective than just waiting for it to return.”

“Hmm…”

“But, if you go alone, I imagine it’d be complicated, what with not knowing your identity. So when you go, I’ll go with you.”

“Okay….”

“Just think it over.”

Alone in the apartment, I lie down on the couch and think over what Takao said to me. I’ll probably get my memory back if I go to the hospital, but… Really thinking about it, my chances of getting it back are much higher there. However, I feel weirdly resistant to the idea of leaving here. It’d be great to have my memory back… There’s this undeniable, yet vague, fear and anxiety in my head. I know that it definitely has to do with my memory coming back. Opening a door that has been so firmly shut until now sounds frightening.

“…Huh?” Takao’s apartment looks tidied up. However, I can clearly tell by how few things there are that he never spends time at home. Looking closely, I can see that quite a bit of dust has accumulated “I can’t help but just think…”

I decide to clean for a change of pace.

“Phew… I think that’s it.” I breathe a sigh as I overlook the cleaned room apartment. I rest for a moment, and then I begin to prepare dinner. There’s something comforting in these household chores. I wonder if I was married…I glance at my left hand. There’s no ring, nor is there a sign that one’s been there. “Is it my imagination… Anyway, for today…” I open the refrigerator and see yesterday’s groceries. However, there’s not much left. “Ah, beer…!” I forgot to buy beer yesterday when I ran into that fancy woman. I feel like I have to buy beer for Takao, as he’s completely worn out when he gets home. “I should make note of the type and the brand…” There’s plenty left of the money Takao gave me. After checking the amount, I head for the entrance to go out shopping.

“Whaa!?”

“Huh?” I head to the front door to see a woman in a fancy dress standing there. She’s holding an identical key to mine and trying to get in.

“W-Who are you…?”

“The supermarket…” There was no mistaking that she was the woman I bumped into. For some reason, this woman was trying to enter Takao’s apartment.

“H-Hold up a second! Just what are you doing in Takao’s apartment!?”

“I…” Oh crap!

“Are you his girlfriend, perhaps?”

“No, I’m not. Takao is actually taking care of me…”

“Taking care of you…? Are you some sort of criminal?”

“What…?”

“…You don’t look like one. What’s your name?”

“My name…”

“I’m Fumika. I’ve come to clean Takao’s apartment.”

“Have you…?”

“Well, I’ve identified myself. Now you.”

“Umm…”

“Oh? Not going to tell me your name, are you? You’re awful.”

“…”

“Out of my way. I’m going to clean.”

“I’ve already done it.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“Don’t do such unnecessary things!”

“Sorry…”

“Ugh, you’re so irritating! I’m leaving early!” Without entering, she turns around and leaves.

“If she comes to clean the house…” This girl known as Fumika is plenty beautiful, even without makeup. It wouldn’t be strange if she had a close relationship with Takao “That’s right. He probably has a lover…”

Takao comes home at around eight in the evening.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome home! You’re back early today.”

“I somehow managed to give my boss the slip. Hm? Did you make something today too?”

“Yes! I made a meat and potato stew!”

“Stew! Great! I should probably take a bath before I eat.”

“Okay! In the meantime, I’ll fix you a plate.” Takao heads for the bathroom and I start preparing the dinner.

He takes his bath quickly. By the time I’ve set out the plates, he’s already out.

“Phew! I’m hungry!”

“Hehe, of course. Have a beer.”

“Oh! How’d you know?”

“You worked hard today.” After I pour his beer, Takao drinks it all down at once.

“Ahhh! A beer is always delicious after a bath.”

“Hehe, have some of the stew as well.”

“Let’s see…” Takao takes a single bite of the stew and his face lights up with surprise “It’s so delicious! This is the best stew I’ve ever had!”

“Ahaha, you’re exaggerating.”

“No way! Seriously, it’s amazing!” He happily tackles his meal. Watching him, I find myself feeling happy too “Is it okay to be this happy, I wonder? It kind of feels like we’ve become a couple.”

“Huh…?”

“Ah, sorry. That was weird thing to say…”

“I feel the same way.”

“Huh?”

“I cleaned the apartment this afternoon and I felt like a housewife…” I’m embarrassed over what I said, but when I look at Takao, he’s looking back at me.

“Miyu…” The distance between us slowly closes. Then I hear a loud noise.

“Wha!?”

“Ah, the beer…” I hurriedly make my way to the kitchen to clean up. When I brought the beer to the table, I had been thinking about that woman, Fumika.

“Umm… a woman came by this afternoon…”

“Huh? Really…?”

“Are you in a relationship?” When I finally manage to ask the question, Takao gives me a complicated look. A woman named Fumika had come by in the afternoon while Takao was gone. When I brought up the story, Takao’s expression grew clouded.

“I’m not in a relationship.”

“But she has a duplicate key to clean. I figured you guys were incredibly close.”

“...What was Fumika saying?”

“That she came to clean the apartment…”

“That so…? Well, that’s not the real reason why.”

“Really…?”

“She’ll probably come by again. If so, please try to get along with her for me.”

“Okay…” Takao ends the conversation there and returns to his food. There’s something harsh in his attitude that causes anxiety to flare within me.

“Thanks for cooking! It was great!”

“Want another beer?”

“No, I think it’s time for bed. I feel like I’ll sleep well.” He said. We decide to go to bed early after finishing dinner. Unsuprisingly, Takao tries to sleep on the sofa “Alright then, night.”

“U-Umm…”

“Hm?”

“If you sleep on the sofa, you won’t get very much rest, will you?”

“Ahh, it’s alright. I sleep on the sofa fairly often normally.”

“But…”

“It’s fine, really. Besides, you’re the one who needs to be sleeping well. So your memory will come back sooner, no?”

“Right…” Takao is making me top priority. That makes me glad, yet I find myself feeling very sad about it as well.

Even though I’m in bed, I find myself unable to sleep. Fumika’s sharp expression and Takao’s smile are flashing through my mind. I wonder if I’m causing a rift between the two by being here… Takao just happened to protect me because he’s such a kind person. I’m sure there are no feelings beyond that between us. Maybe if I got my memory back quicker, Takao could return to his everyday life. My presence is nothing but a nuisance to those two. But earlier… Takao said…

‘This is nice, isn’t it? It’s almost like we’re a couple.’

Were those his true feelings…?

After he said that, he flushed red with embarrassment. I feel warm just thinking about it. If we could continue on like this, with me never remembering anything… It’s a selfish thought, but I can’t help but to be drawn to the idea.Takao…

I slowly rise up and look over at the couch. Takao seems to be sleeping, not moving in the slightest. I get out of the bed and walk close to him. I find myself wondering just what I’m doing when I get there. All I do is quietly sit on the floor next to the couch.

“Hnn…”

“Ah…”

“Huh…? Miyu, what is it?”

“U-Umm…”

“Can you not sleep?”

“I can’t, but… it’s fine. Sorry.”

“…Want to talk a little?” Takao gets up and sits on the floor next to me. Then he places a blanket on me. It’s much warmer than the bed.

“Oh, how about we talk about why I decided to become a police officer?”

“Sure…”

“My original reason was that I lost my parents in an accident.”

“What? Your parents…?”

“When I was in middle school. We were on our way home when a car from the opposite lane came into our lane. My father swerved to avoid the car and crashed head on into a utility pole.”

“I’m sorry…”

“No, it’s okay... I was safe in the back seat, but the man that caused the accident was terrible. Even though he had caused the accident, he testified that he saw my father slam into the pole on his own.”

“That’s just awful…”

“However, the police officers that responded didn’t trust his testimony. Even though I was just a child, they listened to everything I had to say. Thanks to that, the insurance paid out and I was able to go to school.”

“So you chose to become a police officer…”

“Yeah. Having an occupation where I could save even a single life sounded wonderful. Knowing how things work on the inside now, I was being a bit altruistic, but…” Takao laughs helplessly in the dimly lit room.

“Are you happy that you became a police officer..?”

“I’m not entirely sure. I’ve seen more than enough of humanity’s capability for terrible things. I don’t think I would with another job.”

“Takao…”

“Even if you close a case, it’s usually not entirely neat. It’s hard to feel like you’ve ever succeeded.”

“I’m…I’m glad that you became a police officer.”

“Why?”

“Because that’s why you saved me.”

“This has nothing to do with my job. I would have saved you even if I wasn’t a police officer.”

“Your sense of justice saved me.”

“I wonder… I just…”

“You just…?”

“The moment I saw you, I knew I couldn’t just leave you alone…”

“What…?”

“Ah, I’m just… such a guy… I’ve said something weird yet again. Sorry.” Even though we’re wrapped up in the blanket together, Takao tries his hardest not to touch me. I know that he’s probably thinking of my best interest, but…

“Your kiss… made me feel calm…”

“What…?”

“I-It’s just…”

“I-I did that because I was unsure of what else to do in the moment…”

“But…I was glad…”

“U-Umm, your cooking is some of the best I’ve ever had! I’m fairly sure that when your memory comes back, you’ll have been 3 star restaurant chef.” Takao changes the subject to avoid talking about it any further. I find myself wondering what I can do to save his feelings. His sense of justice, ethics, his life as a police officer. Whatever he thinks of Fumika…

“Sorry, I’ve kept you up even longer…”

“No, I’m glad. Glad that I got to know how you feel.”

“I see.” Staying like this much longer seemed like it would be terrible for him. I get out from under the blanket and head back to the bed. A moment later, I hear Takao getting back onto the couch.

When I wake up the next day, there’s no sign of Takao. There’s just a note saying he’ll be back later.

“I wonder if he’s worried about yesterday night…” I can’t help but wonder what he thinks about me. And what I would have thought of him before. Without my memory, I’m not quite sure if my feelings are right or not “I’ll stay here and wait for him all day until I understand…”

Knowing I can’t avoid the constant thinking, I suddenly flip on the television. There’s a morning news program on. There had apparently been a murder. “…What the? That place….” There’s an ivy-covered apartment building on the television. Something about it hits me “I…know that place!”