Sakiko & Uika, CH1

I'm back—

...Woah, I smell something good!

Welcome home.

Hi, Saki-chan.

Making dinner?

Yes! Bok choy was on sale today.

So we're having a bok choy party!

I'll handle the rest. Go sit down, Saki-chan.

Oh, it's fine. I'm almost done, anyway.

You must be tired from work— Hm?

What is all that? That you're holding?

Oh, this? I went out shopping after work.

Hold on... That is too much stuff.

What on earth did you buy?

Right! First, coffee.

We're running out, after all.

I guess that's true...

Then here's a face towel.

Yours is fraying at the edges, right?

I saw this one trending online, so.

I can still use it fine, though... I mean, thank you.

And these slippers!

I thought they'd look good on you, so.

Wait, two pairs? Why the different colors?

Last but not the least, new air fresheners!

I wasn't sure which scent you like best, though, so I just got all of them.

All of them... All EIGHT of them?!

Yeah. And like, so the lineup—

PLEASE hang on a minute.

Huh?

How much did you spend on all this?

I mean, not that much, really.

Not like I use my money on anything else anyway...

Uika.

...Sorry.

...(sigh). May I please have the receipt?

Y-Yes ma'am.

...

...This is just too much.

No matter how much disposable income you have...

It just felt like I needed everything the second I saw them on the shelves...

Listen. I'm glad you're thinking of me...

But have some self-control, okay?

...Okay.

...Henceforth, why don't we do the finances together?

We live under the same roof, after all.

...Yeah! Thank you.

Thinking on it now, we better get a budgeting book!¹

We MUST spend less on what we don't need!

Looks like you're having fun, Saki-chan.

I'm simply used to living humbly!

Take for example, the refrigerator.

If there's too much food inside, the cold air will struggle to circulate.

So buy too much food, and you'll end up spending more on electricity.

I see, I see...

So it isn't good to have too much at any given time?

Exactly right. This principle—

...Ahahaha! Your stomach's growling!

...Heh heh.

Shall we talk about this after dinner?

Sure!

I'll help you finish cooking. Two hands are better than one.

I'd like that. Let's go.