I Won't Be a Loser

"Did I cause you trouble?" Takasu Ryuuji asked, glancing at the retreating figure of Sekai, who appeared a little downcast. He felt uneasy, wondering if he had done something too much. He looked back at Haruto, asking in a slightly worried tone.

As he watched Sekai walk away, Haruto might have reconsidered his life choices. If it had been someone else, he would've likely thought about changing his approach and maybe starting to date someone from his age group.

But when it came to Sekai...

"No, not at all. In fact, you actually helped me out quite a bit. Did you just come back from the shopping street?"

Takasu Ryuuji, carrying several shopping bags of various sizes, was filled with ingredients and seasonings. Ken immediately thought about his own apartment, realizing he hadn't stocked the fridge enough.

It wasn't an issue right now, since school was on break. But once school started again, his free time would get much more limited, and having food prepped and stored would help lighten his load.

However, looking at the amount of groceries Ryuuji had bought, Haruto couldn't help but think it might be a bit too much...

"The shopping street had a sale today," Ryuuji explained. "It's a regular discount event at this time every month, and they usually only have small discounts on weekends."

Haruto, still a little confused, asked, "How long does it last?"

Ryuuji faltered for a second under Haruto's sharp gaze, realizing that Haruto's focus was a little more intimidating than he'd expected.

"It lasts the whole day," Ryuuji answered, a bit nervous.

Haruto's expression softened and he nodded. The timing wasn't an issue after all.

"Do you need help?" Haruto offered, noticing Ryuuji struggling with the shopping bags.

Ryuuji, slightly surprised, didn't refuse the offer and handed over a few bags.

"Sorry to trouble you. This should be enough," Takasu Ryuuji said as he handed over some of the lighter vegetables to Haruto, then pointed in the direction of his home.

"My house is that way, it's a bit far from yours."

"That's fine. I don't have anything to do right now. Let's go; I'll visit your place, if you don't mind?" Haruto replied.

"Of course not, you're very welcome!" Ryuuji said, his voice filled with happiness. It wasn't often that anyone visited his home; even his school friend, Kitamura Yuusaku, had never been there.

If haruto came over, it would be the first time someone his age had officially visited his home.

"By the way, that girl from earlier looked a bit familiar. She must live around here, right?" Haruto asked.

"Yes, her name is Sekai Saionji."

"Ah, she's from the Saionji family?"

As the two of them walked toward Ryuuji's house, they casually chatted about some local news and stories. Though Ryuuji didn't have many friends, he had lived in the area for over ten years, so he was much more familiar with it than Sekai Saionji.

Ryuuji shared details about some quirky people in the neighborhood and things to watch out for. Haruto, who had been living here for almost three years, realized that there were things he had never noticed before.

"Miyamizu, you..." Ryuuji began.

"Just call me Haruto," Haruto interrupted with a smile.

"Okay, Haruto, you seem to know this area just as well as someone who's lived here for a long time. Did Sekai tell you all this?"

"Yes, she told me quite a lot about the neighborhood."

During their conversation, Haruto unintentionally revealed his knowledge of the area, which puzzled Ryuuji at first. But before Haruto could explain, Ryuuji had already come to a conclusion and reassured himself, saving Haruto the trouble of explaining.

"It's just up ahead, my house. It's a bit humble, though..." Ryuuji said.

"No, it looks like a warm and cozy home. And the space seems much larger than my apartment," Haruto replied.

They arrived at the door of Ryuuji's house. It was an older-looking building, though it wasn't bad at all. On the outside, it looked quite ordinary.

"Please, come in," Ryuuji invited.

"Sorry for the intrusion," Haruto said politely as he stepped inside. Upon entering the hallway, Haruto's eyes immediately fell on a purple lace bra lying casually on the floor.

Haruto froze, his gaze shifting toward Ryuuji, but Ryuuji, unfazed, calmly placed the groceries in the fridge before turning to Haruto.

"Is something wrong?" Ryuuji asked.

"Uh... no, nothing. By the way, where is your mother?" Ken asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Mom? She's probably at work right now. She won't be back until early morning. Please, sit down while I take care of the food," Ryuuji replied.

"Okay," Haruto nodded.

Ryuuji invited him to the living room and set a glass of water on the table. He then asked, "So, what do you think? It' not that good right?"

"No, it's actually quite nice. Compared to my old house in Gifu, it's very similar, though my old home was a bit closer to nature and larger," Haruto explained.

Looking around, Harutocould tell that Ryuuji's house was much better than his old home in Gifu. At least when he was younger, his living environment was almost the same as Ryuuji's, except for the more natural setting and slightly bigger house.

"How about you and Mrs.Takasu ?" Haruto asked.

"Ah, don't call her 'Mrs.' That's too formal. Mom probably wouldn't like it either. Just call her Yasuko," Ryuuji corrected.

"Uh... then, Miss Yasuko, I suppose?" Ken asked.

"Yeah, she'd definitely prefer that," Ryuuji said with a nod, sitting down as well. It seemed like he wasn't in a hurry to put away the groceries. He was content to chat with Haruto for a while.

"Have you and Miss Yasuko always lived here?"Haruto asked.

"I've already mentioned this, right? My irresponsible old man seems to have died. Since I can remember, it's always been me and Mom living here," Ryuuji replied.

"Miss Yasuko is really impressive," Haruto said, unable to hide his admiration.

"Hm?" Ryuuji raised an eyebrow, confused by haruto's sudden remark.

"Raising her son alone for all these years and sticking with it in this environment... that's not something just anyone could do. She must have faced a lot of hardships but still didn't give up on you, Ryuuji. She's a truly amazing mother," Haruto said sincerely.

According to data from the National Living Basic Survey, the poverty rate for single-parent families was 50.8%, with 14.9% having no savings, and nearly 40% of single-mother families lived in poverty.

A survey in 2012 by the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare found that 57% of single-mother families were employed in irregular jobs, compared to 12.9% in single-father families.

Just comparing these numbers makes it clear how difficult it is for a single mother to raise her child.

For someone like Miss Yasuko who severed ties with her family and raised Ryuuji on her own, the hardships and struggles she faced were something only she truly understood.

Just as Yasuko had finished getting ready for work and was about to leave, she quietly leaned against the sliding door. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she gazed out thoughtfully, a subtle smile playing at the corner of her lips.

"Sorry, Ryuuji..." she whispered.

"I... I think I've really fallen for someone younger than me..."