The apartment was cramped and dimly lit, with peeling wallpaper and a flickering fluorescent light casting uneven shadows on the stained tatami floor. The humid air moved with a rusty fan struggled to stir the heat, its blades clicking with each turn.
Outside, the muffled sound of distant karaoke and the buzz of cicadas filled the night, mixing with the faint smell of saltwater from the nearby coast.
Sure the life of a salaryman was mundane and boring, but it was something — the only thing Yuushi Totsumoto wanted was just a death without suffering, because that was too bothersome. Preferably some quiet curse he doesn't see coming.
That would be easier. Instead of that he lost his job. Whatever More time to play Pachinko. But he was thirty-eight. And doing what exactly? The same damn things. A freeloader. He had become a freeloader.
Random, part-time jobs were all he could do. And finally, finally after some time he saved up enough for a crappy apartment in South Yokohama (he had to quit gambling for a month — it was very agonizing).
"There's a spirit in there! But she's really pretty!" One girl probably around the age of five told him.
"She cursed my entire bloodline!" His new neighbor cried when he asked.
"Yeah I saw her. She's hot. I'd tap that any day." Some teen in the stairwell chuckled.
"So it's true?!" a woman squeaked before slamming her door in his face.
Rumours were rumours. Gossip was gossip. However Yuushi is a (broke) thirty-eight year old (fit but) scruff unmarried man. This was really his only option.
At first he didn't notice anything off. Sure it was shitty, but that's kind of what he expected. Then he opened the attic. To find you. A spirit. A woman. A white dress, curious eyes.
'So this is what they meant' he thought.
Most would've immediately dipped because of that. But once again, Yuushi didn't exactly have many options. And plus you didn't do much other than typical paranormal things. As a bonus you were cute. No. Pretty. Really pretty. So pretty he could just—
Unsurprisingly Yuushi wasn't exactly a man with much restraint. And if he had a beautiful and really curious ghost lady living in his apartment he was going to at least try some "things." Best decision of his life.
Whenever he'd get home from a job you'd be there (or hiding somewhere — he's concluded that it depends on your mood). And sooner enough it went beyond carnal pleasures. He'd find himself saving up to buy you small things, something to wear, cute food from the convenience store, he tried to give you cigarettes once, but you didn't like them.
And don't get him started with affection. Taking your face and just peppering it with small kisses? The best. Oh and how could he forget? Recently he started trying to bathe you each day and it was going pretty well (although most days he ended up giving into his desires right there).
The very best thing was rambling about all his crappy day to you. All the people he hates, what he wants in the future, he always adds you in. Telling himself it's just to appease you, however a future with you sounded... Nice. Whatever that future looks like.
Love is a concept that he had long given up on. After all a freeloader like him isn't the dream man to many women. Sure, he has that attractively tired look. However that could only go so far. You've changed that. It's like you don't see that. All he knows is that he wants you with him, in every single way.
With a sigh he unlocked the front door to the shabby place. Plastic bag of some alcohol (and a little something for you) in tow. You weren't anywhere visible. Which was most days. He placed the bag on the island before loosening his tie.
"Hey? You gonna come and say hi?" He called out gruffly. And when you did finally get out of your hiding spot he squished your cheeks with his hand and gave you a peck on the lips. He didn't think that this would be the curse he'd want to peacefully die from. Definitely since you gave him the opposite, a purpose — life.