I can die.

　I'll turn 26 this year, and if I were to describe in one word the current me, who secretly despises myself for finally seeing my "Alaska" in action, I would definitely have no other choice but to express my feelings in one word: WA SAGAWA, Yamato.

　After graduating from high school and not going to college, he took the opportunity to change his mind and live by himself in a place far from his hometown, which was good, but now he is regretting his decision to work for a different company.

I don't know why I chose to work for a shipping company of all places...

　It's a simple job of storing goods requested to be delivered for various reasons in cardboard boxes and transporting them to the specified address... I was already wrong from that perception.

　I thought it was a great idea to get a driver's license and a large driver's license as well, so I thought it was a vicious circle.
　Until I got my driver's license, I had to do a lot of paperwork, which included the basics such as coordinating the delivery schedule, and even after I got my license, I had to run around the city in every direction to deliver packages.

　Staying overnight in the car is an everyday occurrence, and it's better if he can get home once every three days.
　The salary he gets after all this hard work is not very high.

　Isn't this a black company?
　This is what a transportation company would do (note: somewhat prejudiced).

　In addition, the other day, a senior colleague of mine, who has been with me since I was a rookie, decided to retire due to back pain.
　I'll miss him and it's a shame for personnel reasons, but it's better than whipping his injured body into an unnecessary mess, and he's also married, so I can't force him to quit and ask him not to quit considering his family.

　Anyway, if that happens, someone will come in to fill the hole that was left out...and what came was a thankless wrinkle.

　All the delivery workers were to share the area that the senior staff member was in charge of, and the area of responsibility per person became larger.

　As soon as the bosses told them this, they all thought the same thing: "We're not going to get paid more.

　The pay wasn't going to increase, but the amount of work was going to increase," he said.

　When I suggested that I too should quit, the faces of my colleagues and juniors began to wince, so I continued to work there until today.

　But I've reached the end of my rope.
　I was seriously thinking that it would be much better to quit the job and help my parents with the farming, when I arrived at my next delivery address.

"Well, it's on the first floor of the Avery Smile apartment building, room 184, isn't it?

　I'm thankful for this.
　I had been depressed about having to go upstairs when I found out it was an apartment building, but the fact that the ground floor was relatively better is a bit of a relief.

　Before I could get lost in the emotion of the April breeze blowing softly and comfortably, I took out the luggage in the back of the truck.

''Come to think of it.......this apartment building is where my seniors said it was, right?

　I suddenly remembered something.
　It was a conversation I had at a farewell party for a retiring senior staff member when I told him I was going to be in charge of a certain area of the apartment building.

"Oh, Hayakawa is in charge of the area where the condo is located?
What's going on?
"Hey. Well, I'll find out when I get there.
"Well...

　I had to come without being able to hear any details from the strangely deserving senior........
　At first glance, an 11-story apartment building that could be found anywhere in the city.......I've heard that the entrance is fully secured.

　What in the world is there to do...?
　With these questions in mind, I head to my destination, room 184, with my bags in my arms.

　This house uses a 'foodstuff delivery service' every Tuesday and Friday with an assortment of vegetables, meat and other foodstuffs, so as long as I'm in charge of this area, I'll be coming to deliver like this twice a week.

　To be honest, it's a pain in the ass........but the meaningful words of my senior staff members bothered me here.
　The result of my prediction - perhaps there is a beautiful woman or a beautiful girl in room 184?

　It's not fair.

　You're married with a child, you've built a smooth sailing family, and yet you're an acquaintance of such a person, which is nothing short of unfair.
　But now, the person who delivers the food to room 184 is me.
　You may be confused by the fact that the delivery person has been replaced, but you will be seeing each other many times in the future.
　This means that even though it's my job, we naturally have opportunities for skin-to-skin contact.

　I'm already 26 years old and I've never had a girlfriend, so this would be a great opportunity for me.

　With that expectation in mind, I finally arrive at the front door of room 184.
　I pressed the intercom and heard the already familiar sound of a pin drop from inside.

''Yes!''
Hi, this is Umineko Transport. I've got a package for you.
"Yes, I'll be right there!

　The voice that came through the intercom speaker sounded awfully energetic and somehow lispy.

　Is this more of a beautiful girl's side?
　It wasn't long before there was a sound of a door being unlocked, and then it was slowly opened.

　Now, at last we meet...!

　I was looking straight ahead, expecting to meet face to face as much as I could, but behind the open door, I could see no human faces, only the corridor at the back.

''Huh...?''

　A small voice escaped me.

　Oh, no one!
　No, I'm sure it was a proper human voice that responded to me earlier... then it was the Invisible Man!

　I couldn't hide my confusion and cringed wondering what was going on...


'Thank you for always being a very good sport!　Yes, stamp!
Ha...
'Huh?　Mister, how do you do?

　Suddenly, a lisping, energetic voice came from below, and I turned my gaze towards it fearfully....



　


　─ ─ There was a little girl.

　The light brown hair is in two pigtails, and the large lapis lazuli eyes are open to see the other person clearly.
　The nose that sticks out so far that you want to pluck it, the pudgy and soft cheeks, and the small body that you can tell from my height, which is only up to my waist, are unmistakable little girls no matter how you look at them.

　The cute outfit of a character shirt and checkered skirt also adds to her juvenile nature.

　
　After restraining myself from doing so, I decided to answer this kid's questions first.　

'I'm in charge of this area from today.
Okay.
Um, are you sure this is the right place, Mr. South's house?
'Yes, this is Minami-amana!　It's a gingerbreadth year!

　To my confirmation, the little girl - Amana-chan replied with a snippet of a smile.
　Yes, this carelessness is the very definition of a little girl.
　When a simple "yes" would have been enough, she not only introduced herself by name, but also introduced herself in a polite manner, giving her approximate age.

"Amana-chan?　It's polite to introduce yourself, but you shouldn't do it in front of strangers, you know?
'What?　But the schoolboy sensui told me that I had to do something about it.
'That's for people I know. You don't even have to tell me your name if you're new to it.
How did you do that?

　It's because I will be certified as a case and receive social erasure.

　

''It's because it's just like you can't get candy from a stranger or follow them around.
Okay!

　I'm relieved to hear a cheerful response, and I'm relieved that the school and parents seem to have been well educated in that area.
　All right, I've got to get to work now.

'Well then, can you stamp your seal here?
Yes!

　When I prompted her to stamp the receipt, Amana grabbed the seal in her familiar hand and pressed it with a snap.
　After confirming that the seal was properly stamped, I put it away in my pocket.

''Well then, where shall I put this?''
I'd like to come in here, please!

　I place the cardboard box containing the foodstuffs in the place Amana-chan pointed to, and when I'm finally released from the weight of the package, I giggle and stretch out.

''Huh~........''
Are you tired, man?

　The sigh that came out of my mouth was met with a worried look from Amana as she asked me about it.
　

　As she asked, I'm really tired to death, but I smile as if to appeal to her that it's nothing.

'I'm fine. Well then, let's get this over with...
Oh, wait a minute!
What?

　The moment I was about to walk away because I had the next delivery to make, Amana-chan huffed as if she remembered something and then ran with a patter towards the living room.
　The girl came back in about ten seconds, and with a nipple and an adorable smile, she held out her hands to me.

　On the palms of those two little hands were three chironore-chocolates.

According to Sensee, when you're tired, eat something sweet to make you happy.
...ah....

　With a big smile on her face, I felt a warmth deep in my heart at the kindness of Amana-chan, who gave me a 100% good-hearted consideration with no ulterior motive for our first meeting.

　With my dumbfounded mind at ease, I accept the three chocolates offered to me.

　What is this.....
　The thing that had been weighing me down until now seems to have floated away and disappeared.

'You know what, you know what, just bend over!
Hmm?　Yeah, good.

　I follow Amana-chan as she says that while bouncing around, and I bend my knees and make eye contact with her.
　Then..........

"Alright, you did your best~
...

　A small hand came to gently stroke my head.
　As I was speechless at this completely unexpected turn of events, Amana-chan smiled and laughed and said....

She smiled at me and said, "Mommy is going to stroke me like this when I'm done with my shukudai!　Then I'll stop being so tangled up and I'll give you a good one, Onii-san!

　Oh no, I'm going to cry.
　I wouldn't make the mistake of crying in front of a little girl, but that was the best I could do.
　 ...

　But at this moment, Amana's casual kindness has healed my heart.
　My eyes are clearer, my depressed thoughts have cleared up as if the clouds had dissipated, and my body seems to have become strangely light.

　Oh no, it's amazing what little girls do these days........

''Oh, thank you.......thanks to that, I feel less tired.
"Heh, thank God!

　When I told her that without exaggeration, Amana smiled shyly.
　Seeing that smile, I'm convinced.

　I'm not sure if she's the one that she was talking about.......

　Every time I make a delivery, I am healed by this kind-hearted girl, which is so precious nowadays.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends.

　In fact, I've experienced it myself, so I understand.
　It was the moment when a definite light was shone on my life, which had been so bleak at the time.