My Girlfriend Who Is Older Than Me Teases Me When I’m Working At A Bar, But Maybe Because Of Alcohol

Eight Years Later, Christmas (3)

“Toma-kun, isn’t the luggage heavy?”

“You are carrying one bag for me, so it’s okay, Mio.”

“N-No, I didn’t mean that. It’s just that your stuff seems to be filled with heavy drinks and things.”

Mio spoke, showing a surprised expression, and then regained her composure to explain more clearly.

“Oh, I see. It’s about that. Well, it’s not that it’s not heavy, but it’s not a problem for me.”

“After eight years, that part of you hasn’t changed. You’re good at caring for others, but when it comes to being cared for, you become completely oblivious. Isn’t it exhausting to be overly considerate to someone like me, your girlfriend?”

“It’s only natural to carry heavy luggage. If you were into bodybuilding or something, I would let her handle the luggage, Mio.”

The only reason Toma had was simple. He had more strength than Mio.

To give the weaker person the burden and make them bear the load. Making her do such a thing was the worst of the worst.

“In that case, maybe I should start bodybuilding. It won’t do for me, the older one, to rely on Toma-kun all the time, right?”

“You’re already carrying the luggage for me and you do the cooking and household chores. That’s enough for me.”

“But what about sharing these burdens and household chores?”

“We’re both working, so we shouldn’t leave everything to one person. Besides, saying that I, who is always with Mio, the elder one, has a presence is definitely not wrong.”

“Hehe, you have a convincing argument. …I truly am a lucky person.”

“W-What’s wrong all of a sudden!?”

Mio spoke with her mouth full, swaying the bag containing pizza and cake.

They had to be carried parallel to prevent them from getting deformed… but she must have forgotten. Her smiling face was telling a story of happiness.

“Nurses are in a profession close to a female-dominated society, right? So, I often hear about complaints and badmouthing of husbands.”

“U-Um… Can I ask for an example?”

This was also a part of learning. Just in case, for when she becomes a wife. It wouldn’t hurt to listen.

“To put it briefly, he doesn’t help with household chores. My husband is lazy. I’m unhappy with how he spends money. He’s not supportive in raising the children. Those kinds of things. By the way, the top complaint is the first thing I mentioned.”

“W-Well… I mean, there may be days when work is incredibly busy and he can’t do household chores… but it’s a bit pitiful if the wife doesn’t get any help, you know…”

“My… Toma-kun is popular at work, you know? They even ask me to bring you along.”

“Huh? Why would that happen?”

Toma wasn’t feigning ignorance. It was the first time he heard about it.

“It’s because I brag about you, but I feel embarrassed to tell you… I won’t mention the details, though.”

“I feel like something incredibly exaggerated is being swept under the rug…”

“Hehe, who knows? That’s why I have few complaints. Toma-kun, you help with household chores, you are not entirely lazy, and we don’t have children at the moment.”

“W-Wait! If you say you have few complaints, that means… there are some complaints, right…?”

Those were words that he couldn’t simply ignore as her boyfriend. While he was caught up in that, another word that he, as her boyfriend, should have noticed slipped out.

“‘We don’t have children at the moment’… It’s like implying that things might change with time.”

‘I do have complaints, you know? We’re living together, so it’s only natural.”

“O-Can you tell me about those complaints…? If there’s something I can fix, I will.”

“Are those words true?”

“They are, but…”

“Then let me tell you.”

…

With bated breath, Toma waits for Mio’s confession.

Depending on the severity of her complaints, their plans for the future might be dashed. Christmas would be the least of their worries.

“Well… One is that we have limited time together at night because we lead a healthy lifestyle. And also, your cooking tastes better than mine. I want to welcome you home from work, but you always come back earlier. The limited time we have at night…”

“Well, those complaints can’t really be fixed…”

However, it turned out to be a needless worry. Considering that she boasts about him at her workplace, it was a typical Mio-like thing to say.

“But there are things that can be improved, right? Like buying high-nutrition drinks to extend our nighttime hours or even gambling if you want.”

“The healthiest thing to do is not to drink those nutrition drinks… And besides, you skipped over the cooking issue, and you don’t have to go to such lengths to make me come home late…”

“On the contrary, Toma-kun, do you have any complaints… about me?”

Now it’s Mio’s turn.

Her tone changes completely from before, and she looks at him with a concerned expression, speaking in a humble voice.

“Well, since we’re living together, there must be at least one.”

“Oh, please tell me. I’ll fix it.”

“Haha, it’s the same as before.”

“I-I’m not casually saying that! Hurry up and tell me… My complaint…”

Her face turns sullen from the anticipation.

If he continues to tease her, it seems like she might flip over the bag containing the pizza and cake.

Toma determines the limit and expresses his thoughts.

“…Right now, it’s that one of my hands feels lonely…”

“That has nothing to do with living together…”

It’s an immediate logical response.

Both Toma and Mio are carrying bags, and while one hand is empty for each of them, their hands are not held together.

“I know no one would believe me, but I truly have no complaints. I mean, I have such a wonderful girlfriend.”

“W-What’s that supposed to mean? Is making me happy your Christmas present for today?”

“Well, it might be, or it might not be…”

“What do you mean by that?”

Mio, who seemed sulky just a moment ago, is now blushing.

This line, said to her countless times, still manages to make her happy coming from the person she loves. It makes her shy.

“Well, let’s forget about it… Since it seems like my boyfriend’s hand is feeling lonely, I’ll help with that.”

“Thank you.”

“N-No, thank you…”

They finally hold hands, as if they had been longing for it. Their intertwined fingers exert a reassuring grip

“I didn’t hold hands because I thought it would be dangerous if we fell… So, please don’t fall, okay?”

“Isn’t that like a flag?”

“We don’t have to discuss that. So, where are we going now? You mentioned a place you wanted to go, Toma-kun.”

Toma hasn’t mentioned their destination yet. He thought that if he mentioned it first, their plans would be revealed.

“It might not be the most exciting place for Christmas today… But I want you to come with me.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“I appreciate it.”

They continue walking for several tens of minutes and arrive at a familiar… or rather, unforgettable, destination.

“Wait, is it Shine…?”

“Yes. I really wanted to stop by here today.”

“H-Hey, Toma-kun. I hope this doesn’t make you uncomfortable, but Shine is closed for temporary holidays today.”

“I know… It’s because of the owner’s kind gesture, specifically for me.”

“Huh? Kind gesture…?”

“Well, well.”

As if avoiding the topic, Toma takes Mio’s hand and they reach the entrance door of Shine Shine.

Since it’s closed for temporary holidays, the inside of the shop is not illuminated.

“Shall we go inside?”

“Inside… but the door is locked.”

“I have the key with me, don’t worry.”

He takes out a silver key from his left pocket and smiles as he inserts it into the keyhole.

Lending the key to the shop requires a significant level of trust. After all, it wouldn’t be strange for someone to tamper with important goods or documents.

And today, which was supposed to be a regular business day, they prioritized Toma’s business by closing for temporary holidays.

Toma can never fully express his gratitude to the owner, who has lent him such a helping hand.

The only way to express his gratitude is to make that “thing” a success.

He had decided to say that “thing” at this shop, where he first met Mio.

After the sound of a “click,” Toma opens the door.

At that moment, for some reason, warm air enters the shop.

The fact that the owner had set the heating on a timer will be revealed later.

“Huh? W-Why do you have that key, Toma-kun…?”

“Never mind that, just come inside quickly. It’s still too early to be surprised.”

“Too early…? Huh?”

After guiding Mio into the store, Toma slowly closed the door from the inside. With that, no one would be able to enter and disturb them. It became a completely private space for just the two of them.

“For now, let’s put our bags in the back. I’ll make your favorite drink at the counter… But before that, I’ll go change.”

“Huh, ah…”

Mio still hadn’t fully grasped the situation, but there was no choice but to make her understand. Toma lit the candles that had been set up and stepped back behind the counter.

Though no one could see him, it was a habit of his. He closed the curtains and changed into his familiar bartender’s outfit: black pants, a white shirt, a navy vest, and a black bowtie. Finally, he placed that box in his pocket, and his preparations were complete.

“…Eight years, huh?”

Toma looked up at the ceiling and took a deep breath. His heartbeat was pounding so intensely that it seemed audible even to Mio, who was inside the store.