Just 5,000 yen.
That was the monthly rent for Corona House room 106.
Corona House was a wooden, two story apartment building built twenty-five years ago. Being all the way on the outskirts of the city meant the rent would be cheap to begin with, but even then, 5,000 yen a month for a six tatami1 mat room with a kitchen, bathroom and toilet was exceptionally low. In fact, the rent for the other rooms at Corona House was at least ten times higher. On top of that, room 106 was completely deposit free.
However, there was a reason for its extreme cheapness. Every single person who had moved in had, without exception, moved out just as quickly. The record was just three hours, but even the longest tenant had only stayed three months. About three days was the average. As a result, the going rent continued to get slashed, and the 10,000 yen rent had already been cut in half before spring.
“Don’t treat that box carelessly, Mackenzie. Its contents are more valuable than your life.”
“That’s rich coming from you, Kou. Compared to you, I’m always careful.”
“As long as you understand. Now keep up the hard work, Mackenzie-kun.”
“Yeah, yeah. Who’s helping who move again? Jeez.”
Today—Saturday, April 4th—a new tenant was moving in to that super cheap residence. His name was Satomi Koutarou, but his childhood friend, Matsudaira Kenji, called him Kou. In return, Koutarou called him Mackenzie. The two fifteen year old boys would both officially be high school students as of the school’s opening ceremony on Monday.
Because of his father’s sudden job transfer, Koutarou would be living alone starting this spring. Having grown up with just his father, Koutarou didn’t want to burden him now. When the real estate agent introduced Koutarou to Corona House’s room 106, he’d jumped on the offer before even hearing the reason why the rent was so low.
“Anyways, Kou, it’s a good thing you managed to find such a great place with this kind of timing, huh?”
“I was lucky. When my old man told me about his transfer the other day, I seriously panicked.”
His father’s relocation was decided in late February, just as Koutarou had finished his high school entrance exams and was waiting for the results.
“That said, there wasn’t anything we could do about it. I mean, his coworker that was supposed to get the transfer got hurt and couldn’t do it anymore.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Originally, the transfer was intended for a colleague of Koutarou’s father. When he was seriously injured in an accident, however, Koutarou’s father ended up having to go instead.
“I was surprised by the suddenness of it all, but I figured it was as good a chance as any for me to become independent. I’m a high school student now, after all.”
“How positive of you.”
“Yeah, so how about you celebrate the start of my journey into manhood?”
“What are you going on about?”
Koutarou and Kenji were working together to carry a suitcase full of clothes. They’d been carrying luggage back and forth between the apartment and the moving van for a while now.
“Should I put the fridge next to the sink?” asked a middle-aged man in work clothes as he poked his head out of room 106. He was the driver of the moving van that had been helping out Koutarou and Kenji.
“Yes, please!”
“Got it.”
Hearing Koutarou’s answer, the man went back inside, and Koutarou and Kenji soon followed suit.
“So this place is really 5,000 yen a month? It’s just too good to be true...”
The boys passed through the open doorway, and Kenji let out yet another sigh.
“Jealous, aren’t you?”
“If I had known it was just 5,000 yen, I would have rented it myself.”
The room was of a somewhat older Japanese style. Entering through the front door, there was a boarded floor hallway leading into the inner, six tatami mat room. On the left side of the hall was the kitchen unit, and to the right was the bath and toilet. While it looked old-fashioned, the apartment was clean and well maintained.
“Look out, Kou. The suitcase is about to hit the wall.”
“I know, I know.”
“I wonder sometimes... We’re coming through, mister.”
“Oh, sorry about that, Glasses-kun.”
Passing behind the man installing the kitchenette, Koutarou and Kenji headed to the inner room. They weaved past the boxes and furniture scattered about.
“So what do we do with this suitcase?”
“Hmm... Let’s put it in the wardrobe.”
“Okay.”
The boys worked together to cram the suitcase inside the wardrobe. As they finished, the mover entered the room.
“That was the last of the luggage, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah, that was all of it.”
“Okay, then I’ll be taking my leave.”
“Thank you very much.”
Koutarou was raised to be respectful of his elders, so he naturally bowed to the man.
“I’m the one that should be bowing. Thank you for your patronage.”
The man flashed a gentle smile and deeply bowed in return. Leaving some papers behind, he exited the room.
“All right, the first part’s over with,” said Kenji.
“Mackenzie, catch.”
Just as Kenji was adjusting his glasses, Koutarou threw a plastic bottle of tea to him.
“Whoa, thanks.”
Kenji caught the bottle without difficulty. Having known each other for a long time, he was used to this kind of surprise.
“It’s lukewarm, but you’ll have to give me a break for that one. The fridge was only just installed,” Koutarou said as he reached into a plastic bag for his own bottle. He’d gotten the drinks a little while ago from the nearby convenience store.
“I know.”
The two boys opened their bottles at the same time and both took a sip.
“Ahh... I feel alive again.”
Koutarou sat down on a stack of cardboard boxes while drinking his tea, and Kenji leaned against the doorframe to the inner room. Kenji looked at the calendar hanging on the wall.
“Time sure flies... The entrance ceremony is the day after tomorrow.”
“That’s right. I have to unpack everything I need today.”
Koutarou looked at the calendar with Kenji, then glanced at the clock he’d put up alongside it.
“Hmm? Can’t you just do that tomorrow?”
“I’ve got my part-time job tomorrow.”
“You actually signed up for that shift? You could’ve at least taken off a couple of days to move.”
Kenji’s eyes opened wide behind his glasses as he looked at Koutarou in surprise.
“There are a lot of necessities in early spring. Don’t lump me in with someone living off their parents like you.”
“Your old man left you some money for that, didn’t he?”
“I’m trying my best not to go into it. That’s what living for yourself is all about.”
“I don’t care what you’re calling it, but don’t come crying to me if you collapse.”
“Unlike you intelligent types, I’m confident in my physical strength.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m sure you are.”
Kenji shrugged at Koutarou, who was puffing out his chest proudly.
“So, Kou, what time do you start tomorrow?”
“In the morning like always.”
“All right, then I’ll pick you up as usual.”
“I’m counting on you.”
The truth was that the two boys actually worked at the same place. After they had been accepted into high school, they applied for the job at the same time. As luck would have it, they were both hired on and began work last month.
“...Hey, Kou, will you be able to wake up in time for school when it starts?”
“Shouldn’t be a problem.”
“That doesn’t sound very convincing when I have to get you up every weekend to go to work.”
“Shut it.”
Weekend shifts started early, so it had become a regular occurrence for Kenji to come wake up Koutarou.
“Starting with living on my own, I’m going to join society as a functioning adult. I can’t act like a kid forever.”
“So I don’t have to come pick you up tomorrow?”
“Apples and oranges, Mackenzie-kun. You should still swing by in the morning.”
“This is what I get...”
Kenji’s shoulders slumped in amazement.
“Thanks as always, grandpa.”
“...I’ve suddenly lost all of my motivation.”
“Don’t be like that. You’re young.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the chime of the doorbell.
“Hmm?”
“A guest?”
But before Koutarou could answer, the visitor opened the door and stepped inside.
“Hello! Is Satomi-san here?” a girl’s voice asked from the doorway.
That voice...
Koutarou had heard that voice before.
“It’s the landlord.”
“Landlord?”
“Ah, yes, coming!” Koutarou called out as he jumped off the cardboard boxes he was sitting on. Likewise, Kenji stood up from leaning on the doorframe.
“Sounds pretty young,” Kenji said skeptically.
“Come on, Mackenzie, you’re in for a surprise.”
“All right...”
The boys headed towards the front door together.
“Hello, Landlord-san.”
“Hello, Satomi-san.”
Standing in the doorway was a girl about Koutarou and Kenji’s age, wearing an apron over her normal clothes. As she greeted the boys, she bowed gracefully. Her face retained a youthful charm, and her long hair was tied up with a large ribbon. By all appearances, she was a bright and healthy girl.
“Huh? Landlord? This girl?”
“Yeah. This is Corona House’s landlord. Surprised, aren’t you, Mackenzie?”
“Y-Yeah...”
Eyes wide open in surprise, Kenji nodded. The young girl in front of him didn’t exactly fit his mental image of landlord. He simply stared in astonishment.
“I was surprised too.”
“Everyone is at first. Teehee...” The girl smiled and turned to Kenji. “Nice to meet you. I’m the landlord of Corona House, Kasagi Shizuka.”
“P-Pleased to meet you. I’m Matsudaira Kenji.”
“I hope we’ll get along, Matsudaira-san.”
“Yeah, likewise.”
Kenji and Shizuka bowed to each other.
“Landlord-san, this guy’s a childhood friend of mine.”
“My, is that so?”
“I’m sure you’ll see him around from time to time, so feel free to just call him Mackenzie.”
Shizuka blinked a couple of times as she stared at Kenji.
“You’re Japanese, aren’t you? With a name like Matsudaira...”
“Oh, yeah, he’s definitely Japanese. Mackenzie is just an abbreviation of his full name, Matsudaira Kenji.”
“Oh, I see. ‘Ma’ and ‘Kenji’ together becomes ‘Mackenzie.’”
Satisfied, Shizuka put her hand over her mouth and giggled.
“That’s just what Kou calls me.”
“Then would you prefer it if I call you Matsudaira-san?”
“Mackenzie is fine. I’m already used to it.”
“All right then, Mackenzie-san.”
Seeing Kenji shrug his shoulders, Shizuka giggled again, causing her ribbon and long ponytail to bounce.
“Landlord-san is starting at Kisshouharukaze High School this year as well.”
“Oh, what a coincidence.”
“With a bit of luck, we could all end up in the same class.”
✦ ✦ ✦
