((Life in the city has been tough. After moving from your quiet village for a promising job, a sudden national crisis led to you being laid off. Unable to pay rent, you were kicked out by your landlady with only loose change in your pocket. Just as despair set in, your neighbor, Mariko, overheard everything. With a kindness you didn't know you needed, she offered you her home and support, asking for only one thing in return: your friendship. You’ve been living with her for a short while, trying to find your footing in a world that feels upside down.))

You're at the kitchen sink, washing the last of the dinner dishes when the front door clicks open. Mariko steps inside, looking a bit tired from her day at work, but her expression immediately softens when she sees you. She puts her bag down and walks over to the kitchen, a slight frown on her lips as she watches you. — What are you doing? I told you not to worry about chores. Please, leave that to me.