Checking Out at 5:15 PM Chapter 22: The Sweet Sanuki Gold (Patreon)

What on earth am I thinking?

My heart was still thumping loudly against my ribs, a sensation that felt completely foreign to my normally calm, controlled nature. I had just resolved during my morning trail run that I wasn't ready for another relationship. I had promised myself I wouldn't drag anyone into a complicated situation until I fixed my own cowardly tendencies.

Yet, as a healthy, warm-blooded man, it was becoming physically impossible to deny Yui’s sheer charm. The way she had closed her eyes and parted her lips to let me feed her… and this smile of hers... was just too lethal.

If she cut her bangs just a little shorter, she would be downright devastating, I thought to myself.

I couldn’t help but wonder what she would look like if she finally pulled back the dark curtain of hair she used to hide her beautiful face. But I immediately decided not to say anything. Who was I to demand a woman change her appearance?

We were close, yes, but asking her to cut her hair felt entirely too intimate. And frankly, given her timid, obedient nature around me, I had a terrifying suspicion that if I casually suggested it, she might actually do it. I was a civil servant; I knew how to use subtle communication and gentle nudges to make people move according to my will. But Yui was a friend, a genuine person. She wasn't some difficult patron or a stubborn city official I needed to manipulate.

“Is that all of it?” Yui asked, her soft voice pulling me out of my thoughts.

“Yup. Thank you so much for helping me haul all this,” I said, hoisting the 10-kilogram sack of rice out of the market stall.

“No, no. I should be the one thanking you, Motoi-san.”

“Why? You literally chauffeured me here, and now you’re offering to drive me home. Shouldn’t I be the one on my knees thanking you?”

As I spoke, I carefully loaded the rice and the bags of fresh Kamakura vegetables into the spotless trunk of her luxury SUV. Having her here was incredibly convenient; I had managed to knock out two weeks' worth of grocery shopping in a single morning.

“...on your knees is too much, okay?

“Haha..”

“Well...” Yet, Yui also smiled before she ducked her head, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her thick cardigan. “My days are usually just... an endless routine. Every day is exactly the same. So, when I met you this morning... it finally changed.”

“...Is that a bad thing?” I asked gently.

“No, no! It’s the absolute best!” Yui quickly panicked, waving her hands to clear up any misunderstanding. “I am so glad I ran into you this morning, Motoi-san.”

She wasn't exaggerating. If she hadn't spotted him jogging on the seawall, what would her day have been? She would have returned to her dark, suffocating home, drowning in her own toxic overthinking. She would have desperately tried to force an idea out of her brain to break her slump, only to inevitably fail and hate herself even more.

But now?

As she stood in the bright Kamakura sun, smelling the fresh vegetables and the lingering scent of the French bakery, something miraculous had happened. She wasn't entirely sure what to write yet, but for the first time in years, she felt confident that she could write.

It was utterly absurd. She had been trapped in this miserable slump for years, yet just spending a few hours by Motoi’s side had completely cleared the agonizing fog in her brain.

Maybe... if I just stick with him...

If she could gain this much confidence and happiness just from a morning grocery run, what would happen if they stayed together forever?

“.....................”

Wait, wait! What are you thinking about, Yui?!

Her face instantly erupted into a fierce, burning blush. If they stayed together forever... wouldn’t that mean marriage? A family? Waking up next to him every morning?

As she stared at his broad, muscular back while he arranged the groceries in her trunk, she stood frozen in total silence. But inside, her heart was roaring like a jet engine. She was feeling emotions she had completely convinced herself a gloomy shut-in like her would never get to experience.

Was she confident enough to confess her feelings right now? Absolutely not. But she knew with absolute certainty that she wanted to stay by his side. She wanted to spend more time with him, to let this tiny, fragile bud of romance bloom into something undeniable. And when that day finally came, she hoped she would have the courage to reach out, hold him, and do all the wildly inappropriate, romantic things she had been daydreaming about.

But for now, just standing this close to him was enough.

“Should we head back?” I asked, closing the trunk with a soft thud.

“Yeah...”

It was a shame the morning was over, but Yui offered me a soft, genuinely happy smile.

We climbed into her car, the plush leather seats a stark contrast to the gritty farmers' market. The drive was quiet and comfortable, the coastal scenery rolling by the tinted windows.

“Are you planning to visit your parents today, Motoi-san?” Yui suddenly asked, keeping her eyes on the road.

“Hmm?”

“Well... you bought so much rice. Do you have plans after this?”

I turned my gaze toward the driver’s seat. It was incredibly hard to gauge Yui’s expression while she was driving. Her long, dark bangs hung like a curtain over the side of her face. The only way I could see her eyes would be to lean across the center console, reach out, and gently brush her hair behind her ear.

Which was, obviously, a wildly intimate gesture that would instantly get me labeled as a massive pervert.

I kept my hands firmly on my knees and nodded. “Yes, I actually have plans for lunch after this.”

“I see...”

So, our time together today really is over, Yui thought, a heavy pang of disappointment settling in her chest.

“But, I’ll see you again tomorrow, Amami-san,” I added smoothly, noticing her slight deflation. “The library is open for regular hours tomorrow, and I’ll be at the front desk waiting to welcome you.”

“....................”

Just like that, the dark, overthinking clouds that were threatening to swallow Yui’s mood were completely swept away.

Tomorrow.

The library would be open. She could sit in her usual, quiet spot in the reference section, protected by the tall shelves, and take sneaky, lingering glances at Motoi as he worked. Just having that simple, guaranteed routine to look forward to was enough to make her heart soar.

“Yeah...” Yui whispered, a radiant smile finally breaking through her bangs. “I can’t wait.”

I smiled back, though internally, I couldn't share her pure, unadulterated excitement. While she was looking forward to a peaceful day of writing and subtle glances, I was currently dreading what I was about to face in exactly two hours.

“Turn right up here, Amami-san. That’s my house.”

“Oh?”

Yui smoothly turned the steering wheel, but as she pulled up to the address, she couldn't help but stare in absolute awe.

She hadn't really formed a concrete image of where Motoi lived, but she had unconsciously assumed it would be a tiny, cramped 1LDK apartment typical for a young, single civil servant.

This was not a 1LDK.

It was a massive, historic, traditional Japanese estate. It was nestled right up against the lush, forested hills of Kamakura—known locally as the yato—meaning the property was incredibly quiet, secluded, and intensely private. The narrow alleyway leading to the house was flanked by old, moss-covered stone walls designed to keep wandering tourists out. And incredibly, it was only a five-minute walk from the library, which perfectly explained why Motoi’s uniform was always flawlessly crisp and unwrinkled by a long commute.

The estate was surrounded by a heavy stone wall with a massive, sliding wooden gate. Beside the gate, an old, beautifully weathered brass plaque still faintly read: Motoi Legal & Administrative Scrivener Office.

“This is your house?” Yui asked, her eyes wide.

“It’s my parents' house,” I corrected as I stepped out of the car.

“Your parents are scriveners, Motoi-san?”

“They are,” I nodded, grabbing the groceries from the trunk. “It’s an incredibly tough, demanding job. I honestly hope they take it easy in their old age.”

If there was one fundamental reason why I had firmly chosen the "boring" path of a civil servant, it was because I had grown up watching exactly how brutal elite, prestigious professions actually were.

To me, a job was simply a means of survival. It was a tool to fund my life, not the life itself. So instead of choosing the hardest, most stressful path, why not choose the easiest, most stable one?

I knew no job was truly "easy." Even working at a municipal library had its headaches. But civil service was beautifully predictable. I just had to follow the written procedures and stamp the forms. The boundaries were clear, unlike the volatile, high-stakes professions that promised immense wealth but demanded your entire soul and sanity in return.

But I didn't want to bore her with my cynical career philosophy.

“Do you want to come inside for a bit?” I asked, gesturing to the gate. “I can make you some tea or coffee to warm you up.”

“No, no! You have plans for lunch, right? I don't want to be a bother or make you late!”

“Well...” I thought about the sheer panic I was going to experience at Misaki's apartment later. “Next time, then. When I’m completely free on a weekend, you’re welcome to come over anytime, Amami-san.”

“Then... It’s a promise.”

Hearing those words, Yui let out a soft sigh of relief. She desperately wanted to see the inside of his house, but she knew she needed time to mentally prepare her fragile heart. It would be her very first time visiting a single man’s private residence, and she definitely needed to calm down before crossing that massive threshold.

After I hauled the massive sack of rice to my front door, I walked back over to her open car window.

“Thank you again for the ride, Amami-san. You really saved me.”

“It’s perfectly fine. You don’t have to worry, Motoi-san. I actually... really enjoyed our outing today.”

Going to the chaotic farmers' market, eating warm French pastries on the street, and trying bizarre, sour tomatoes—it was the most fun she had had in years.

“Also, while it isn't much, please take this.”

“Eh?!”

Yui jumped slightly as I suddenly reached through the window and handed her a small, plastic produce bag. “You don’t have to give me anything, Motoi-san! Just letting me tag along was enough!”

“Don’t worry about it. I just wanted to share these with you. They looked incredible at the market. Please, enjoy them.”

“These are...?”

Yui curiously opened the bag, peering inside at the large, fuzzy brown fruits.

“Kiwis.”

“Kiwis?”

“They’re a special variety called Sanuki Gold. They’re incredibly sweet, almost like honey. I already washed them at the market, so you can actually bite right into them and eat the skin, too. Try one when you get home.”

“O-Okay. Thank you so much, Motoi-san.”

“No problem. I’ll see you tomorrow, Amami-san.”

I waved, and Yui offered me a bright, beautiful smile in return. She waved back before shifting the SUV into drive, pulling away down the narrow stone alleyway.

As she drove, she let out a long, happy sigh. She reached into the plastic bag, pulling out one of the massive golden kiwis. It felt heavy in her hand. Remembering that he had specifically washed it for her, she didn't hesitate. Compared to the bizarre, mutated tomato she had eaten earlier, this was nothing.

She took a gentle bite directly through the skin.

“Sweet~!”

The rich, vibrant, honey-like sweetness exploded on her tongue, instantly making her smile. Today was, without a doubt, a very good day.

Meanwhile, the moment the taillights of Yui’s car disappeared around the corner, my relaxed demeanor instantly vanished.

I rushed into my quiet, empty house and immediately jumped into the shower, scrubbing away the morning sweat from my trail run. My time with Yui had been genuinely fun and refreshing, but what I was about to face was a completely different beast.

I was about to go to my boss’s private apartment.

I let out a heavy sigh as the hot water beat down on my shoulders. I was absolutely terrified of what was going to happen. Was Misaki going to scold me for something I did at work? Was there some hidden, unwritten corporate etiquette for visiting your superior's home on a day off? It was incredibly troublesome, but I knew I couldn't possibly reject her direct invitation.

And, if I was being entirely honest with myself, a small part of me was incredibly curious to see what my strict, gorgeous boss was like in her private life, especially since she had stubbornly promised to cook for me.

I should probably buy a gift before I go over, right?

Showing up empty-handed at a superior’s home was a massive breach of manners. I quickly dried off, threw on a clean, casual weekend outfit, and headed out early to secure a polite hostess gift.

When everything was finally ready, I stood in the quiet hallway of an upscale Kamakura apartment building, staring nervously at the door with the nameplate Katsuragi.

I took a deep breath, steeling my nerves, and pressed the doorbell.

Ding-dong.

A few seconds later, the lock clicked, and the heavy metal door swung open.

“Sorry to make you wait, Motoi. Come on in.”

My jaw instantly dropped.

I had spent the entire morning mentally preparing myself to navigate a tense, formal lunch with my strict, imposing manager.

But as the door opened, I realized there was one thing I was absolutely, completely unprepared for.

Misaki was standing in the doorway, but she wasn't wearing her tailored blazers, her tight pencil skirts, or her crisp white button-downs.

She was dressed in her "usual" weekend home outfit. And looking at her, I felt my brain completely short-circuit.