Securing Water

I thought about dinner after this.

Even though I’d gathered daily necessities, I still hadn’t secured food and the like.

“Caro-san. What would you like to eat for dinner today?”

“If it’s something you prepare, Kent-san, I don’t mind anything.”

I appreciated her saying that, but even if she was wearing a red tracksuit right now, she was still a noble young lady. I felt like it needed to be a certain level of quality. Going out to buy something was an option, but I couldn’t drag her around after she’d wandered the city for two days without eating. So I decided on frozen food, which I could procure easily. In the kitchen, I’d also put in an induction cooker for cooking and a microwave, so heating things up was possible too.

For tonight, we’d get by with frozen food. From the long list, I chose a popular fried rice (250G). I transferred it to a plate, covered it with plastic wrap, and put it in the microwave. A few minutes later, I portioned the heated fried rice onto plates and made it tonight’s dinner.

“Caro-san. Sorry I could only prepare something like this today.”

“It’s fine. I’m grateful you prepared anything for me at all.”

As drinks, I set out bottled tea (100G) and placed it on the table with the food.

Then the two of us started eating.

“This is very delicious. I watched you cook earlier, and it seems you can make something tasty so easily.”

Caro ate with a satisfied look.

It was also my first proper meal since coming to this world, so I was very satisfied too.

After the meal, I drew water from the well in back and filled the bathtub. Once the water was full, I put in firewood, lit it, and heated the bathwater.

“Alright, I’ll teach you how to use it.”

“Yes. Please do.”

I taught Caro how to use the bath—though it was really just shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash. Then Caro went in first.

After a while, Caro came out of the bath. I’d prepared spare underwear too, but the home improvement store where I could source items didn’t put effort into clothing, so the design and fashion appeal were nonexistent. The size should fit (which meant I ended up knowing Caro’s measurements, but still), so it should be fine for living. I used the hair dryer and dried Caro’s hair.

“It feels like my hair became very silky. And that ‘body wash’ you used while washing also smells nice.”

Caro looked satisfied. By the way, I’d prepared separate shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and face wash for Caro.

After that, I took a bath too, and we both went to sleep in our own rooms.

The next morning, we ate breakfast with bread I bought through the terminal, and I started a certain task before school began. The bakery was closed today because it was the regular day off, so there was no shift. I had Caro stay in her room until it was time.

What I was going to do now was secure water. There was a well in the back yard, but my plan was to use a well pump to draw water up, run piping to the kitchen and bathroom, and install faucets so we could use it like running water and improve convenience. The well pump (100,000G), piping and faucets (50,000G), a fully automatic washing machine (40,000G), and a kerosene water heater (installation included, 200,000G)—plus the previous day’s food expenses and frozen food purchases—came out to a total expense of 400,000G. Then I selected a bath remodel plan (installation included, 1,000,000G), leaving the entrusted money at 3.3 million. Even I felt like I might have spent a bit too much.

Using frozen foods meant for bento lunches, I quickly made two lunch boxes for the two of us.

“Then it’s almost time for school—shall we go?”

I called to Caro.

“Yes.”

Caro followed behind me.

“Um…”

Caro spoke to me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Would it be alright if we held hands all the way to school?”

“Well, I don’t really mind?”

Caro and I headed to school holding hands. As we got closer, I felt like the other students were staring, but I didn’t mind and kept going until we reached the school gate.

“Kent-san. Thank you for everything. Then I’ll see you at lunch.”

“Yeah. See you later.”

Caro was a grade below me, so she headed to the first-year classroom. I headed to the second-year classroom.

Then the morning classes ended, and it was lunch break. I went behind the school building like always and sat on the bench. After a while, Caro came.

“Kent-san, sorry to keep you waiting. Then let’s eat lunch.”

Saying that, the two of us opened our wrapped lunches. The lunch boxes were different, but the contents were the same. I used chopsticks, but Caro wasn’t used to them, so she had a split-tipped spoon.

“Oh? Today you didn’t bring bread?”

As usual, before I knew it, Josette was sitting beside us.

“Ah, Josette-sama, good day. Thank you for all your help with everything.”

“You needn’t mind it, you know? I only did what was natural as a friend. Oh my, this is quite good.”

Josette was eating my lunch with her hands.

“Eating with your hands is a little ill-mannered, isn’t it?”

“I don’t know how to use those two sticks you’re holding.”

“There’s also what Caro-san is using, though?”

“Oh, what a strange spoon. I see—the split tip serves the role of a fork, doesn’t it?”

The three of us ate lunch together in good spirits. (More than half of my lunch got eaten by Josette.)

“Then I need to prepare for my next class, so I’ll go on ahead.”

With that, Caro headed back to the school building first.

Then Josette’s face turned red as she stared at me.

“Th-this is my thanks for lunch.”

Saying that, Josette stole my lips.

This time too, Josette’s tongue slipped in, making it an intense kiss.

“Ah, I forgot something.”

Caro, who had been about to return to the school building, realized she’d forgotten something and came back behind the building. There, she saw Josette and me with our lips pressed together.

“Huh? What? Lady Josette and Kent-san…?”

Caro was shocked by the sight, and a muddled feeling she’d never experienced before welled up inside her. And forgetting she’d even come back for something, she ran back to her classroom.