Knock knock knock!
On the second floor, Sato took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
This was the first neighbor he was visiting.
At first, everything inside was quiet, but soon he heard footsteps. With a click, the door opened to reveal a beautiful girl with soft, pinkish mid-length hair.
She had a calm, serene presence: very graceful.
Sato paused for a moment, then raised the gift box in his hands.
"Hello, I'm Nohara Sato, the new resident upstairs. I look forward to getting along with you."
He gave a slight bow, presenting the gift with both hands, classic Japanese etiquette.
"Ah… ah…"
But the girl didn't take the gift right away. Nor did she speak, just let out a few unclear sounds.
Huh?
Sato blinked, puzzled, and looked up at her again.
She appeared nervous, lightly pressing her lips together and shaking her hand gently. Her fingers were long, slender, and pale. Almost translucent like scallion stalks.
Thoroughly confused, Sato tilted his head.
Seeing this, the girl pointed to her mouth and the hearing aid in her ear, then turned and walked back inside. From the entryway, she returned holding a drawing board and began writing.
As she wrote, Sato began to understand.
A moment later, she turned the board around for him to read:
"Sorry, my name is Nishimiya Shouko. I can't speak."
Sorry?
Sato stared at the message, a little stunned. He suddenly remembered what the wagashi shop owner had said earlier:
"You're a gentle person..."
Sato felt a bit moved. Now this... this is what true gentleness looks like.
He bowed again, then raised his head with an apologetic smile. "I should be the one apologizing."
He extended the gift box again.
"Please accept this."
Shouko glanced between Sato and the box, then nodded softly and took it. She gestured with her hand.
Sato couldn't understand, but he figured it must be sign language, probably "thank you" or something similar.
"You're saying 'thank you'?"
"Ah… ah…"
Shouko looked a bit surprised and delighted. She tried to speak while continuing her hand signs but then seemed to remember Sato couldn't understand. A flicker of disappointment crossed her face, then bloomed into a dazzling, heartfelt smile as she nodded.
In that moment, Sato felt like all his worries melted away. Nishimiya-san's smile had a soothing, healing quality.
Just then, footsteps echoed from the stairwell. Before Sato could turn, they picked up speed, followed by a sharp, wary voice:
"Who are you?!"
A figure rushed forward, stepping protectively in front of Shouko and glaring at him with full suspicion.
Sato studied the newcomer.
It was a short girl, a bit shorter than him, with short black hair and deep blue eyes that locked onto him with a piercing intensity, like a wary little wolf.
Who is this?
He glanced at Shouko. She frantically signed toward the newcomer, trying to explain.
The tomboyish girl narrowed her eyes at Sato. "You're the new neighbor from upstairs?"
Then, without waiting for a reply, she turned, gently pushed Shouko back inside, and raised an eyebrow at Sato.
"Well, since you've done your greeting, bye now!"
Bang!
The door slammed shut, leaving Sato standing there, staring blankly at the door.
...Huh?
He barely processed what had just happened. That girl was seriously rude...
He rubbed his nose and sighed. Why did all his neighbors seem so strange? And he still had to visit that "martial arts household" upstairs, was it going to be just as troublesome?
Just as he was about to turn away, the door suddenly reopened.
Shouko bowed repeatedly with a deeply apologetic expression. The tomboy girl stood behind her, arms crossed and looking as annoyed as ever. When Sato looked at her, she shot him a vicious glare.
Shouko quickly scribbled on her board and nervously showed it to him:
"I'm very sorry. This is my sister, Nishimiya Yuzuru. She didn't mean any harm."
"I know," Sato smiled. "She was just trying to protect you."
He glanced at Yuzuru, who still looked annoyed, but in hindsight, her reaction made sense, she was simply looking out for her sister.
"Hmph!"
Yuzuru's cheeks reddened slightly. She huffed and turned away.
Shouko, however, smiled with warmth and grace, like sunlight filtering through leaves. A gentle, calming radiance that warmed the heart.
"I still have other neighbors to visit, so I won't disturb you any longer. See you!"
Sato waved goodbye. Shouko stood in the doorway, a little dazed, watching his back as he walked away.
Bang!
Yuzuru slammed the door and scowled at Shouko. "What's there to stare at?"
Shouko just smiled, then gently patted her sister's head, ignoring her protests.
…
Fourth floor.
Sato's face turned serious. This was the home of those "martial arts masters" from last night. Remembering the incident…
Yeah… I'm kind of scared.
Still, he mustered up his courage and rang the doorbell.
Knock knock knock!
He waited. No response.
No one home?
He knocked again.
Click!
A door opened but not the one he knocked on. It was the unit next door.
"The Takanashi sisters went out. They're not back yet. If you want to see them, try later."
"Oh, tha-thank you."
Sato turned toward the speaker and froze halfway through his thanks.
Poking out of the doorway was a shiny bald head, as smooth as a peeled egg. The man's expressionless, dead-fish eyes stared at him blankly.
A weirdo!
Sato blinked. What kind of residents live in this apartment complex?
Pulling himself together, he decided to greet the neighbor anyway.
"Hello, I'm Nohara Sato, just moved in downstairs. Pleased to meet you."
"Oh, the new guy downstairs. I'm Saitama!"
The bald man scratched his nonexistent hair, then extended a hand.
After shaking hands, Sato smiled and handed over the gift box.
"If you don't mind, please accept this."
"Oh... Homura's sweets? But… weren't these for the Takanashi sisters?"
Saitama asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll bring theirs next time."
"Well, in that case, I won't say no. Thanks."
"Please take care of me from now on."