Track 5 - Temp Job

It was the day after work. I’d spent the night at “my parents’” sushi restaurant, killed some time, got paid, went back to the dorm, and—she wasn’t there.

Standing alone in my room, I felt my heart drop.

I immediately took my phone out and checked her location.

Feeling a bit relieved she wasn’t too far away, I left the room. The chief peeked their head out from the living room and said, “Oh, Ten-kun. There’s some leftover shumai from yesterday in the fridge, want some?”

“Oh sure, thanks… By the way, do you happen to know…”

The chief tilts their head curiously. When I told them what I was looking for, I got an answer right away.

On the dorm’s spacious balcony, there’s several outdoor sofas for lounging.

Bathed in the golden light of the setting sun, a stray dog was napping with a dumb look on his face, and in his hands was my potted plant.

“...Renga-san, what are you doing?”

To be honest, I really wanted to smack him upside the head, but it’d bite me in the ass if I did.

I had no choice but to wake him up nice and easy. The dog rubbed his eyes and sleepily greeted me, “Huuh? Ten? Welcome hooome,” in the most idiotic voice imaginable.

“Oh! I had the day off today! So I thought I’d bask in the sun with your precious plant. If it only gets sunlight from the window, it might get sick, right?” The stupid dog said proudly, holding the plant up in both hands.

I felt a tingling sensation in my head.

Are you a fucking idiot? You want me to ███ you?

“...I appreciate it, but Aglaonema is a plant that’s weak to direct sunlight and can wither if it’s not taken care of properly. Don’t do this again.”

My tone might have been too cold, considering I usually go along with whatever he says.

But the dog’s an idiot, so he doesn’t notice.

Instead he turns pale and looks worriedly at the plant.

“I-I’m sorry…! I didn’t know…! Is it hurt anywhere!?”

He frantically checks the plant before giving it back to me.

Vivid green. A faint, calming scent.

My silent “companion.”

“I…I had no idea there were plants that didn’t like the sun…, I’m r-really sorry.”

I sighed, turning to face the thoroughly dejected dog.

“...Some things are like that.”

Dazzling light, honesty.

Purity, innocence.

…All the nice things people like to praise.

Some people just can’t stand them.

Those who can only survive in the dark, the murk, and the dirt.

“W-What should I do? Buy supplements for it?”

“I’ve already bought them.”

I already got her a gift with my pay. I don’t need one from the dog.

“Aga…Agaonema? …I should look it up next time… Oh yeah, I’ll ask Nagi how to take care of it…”

The dog is muttering to himself.

This guy’s a real idiot, why the hell does he still want to take care of it? 

But then, I remembered.

He’s living a fake life too, isn’t he?

…In the dark, the murk, and the dirt.

You know what it’s like, so how can you stay so pure?

I ponder quietly.

―― If I were as stupid as you, would I be able to live in the light too?

But if that were true, I’d probably be dead a long time ago.

I wonder how this dog would answer if I were to ask him what the backbone of his life was.

The thought makes me a bit uncomfortable.

Well, whatever. I still have work left to do. I have to stay here for now.

Ten Murakumo will have to keep living his life for a little while longer.

So it’s probably a good idea to get along with this stupid dog in front of me.

“...I’ll study up on it, okay? So I can take care of your precious plant when you’re not home…”

No one asked you to do that, I thought.

What a pure heart. How admirable, I thought.

The poor dog was looking me straight in the eye, pouring out his honest feelings. So I smiled.

“Thanks, Renga-san.”

Were those feelings a lie, or the truth? Well, I wonder?