Matsumoto Tomoko, who had been resting peacefully in bed, immediately perked up and sat upright the moment she heard my voice echoing through the apartment.
"Here, give this a try. It should make getting around much more convenient," I said, presenting the freshly purchased walking aid like I was offering her Excalibur itself.
Thank you so much, Sosuke-kun. I feel terrible that you had to make such a special trip in this heat," she replied, and I could see genuine guilt in her expression as she noticed the perspiration dotting my forehead.
The concern in her voice was palpable—she clearly felt responsible for sending me out into what could generously be described as Tokyo's attempt to recreate the surface of Mercury.
I helped her stand slowly, supporting her as she positioned the crutches under her arms and began attempting her first tentative steps.
Initially, there was definitely some awkwardness—the kind you'd expect from someone learning to navigate with assistive equipment for the first time. But within moments, her movements became noticeably smoother and more confident.
"How does it feel, Tomoko-san?" I asked, walking beside her like a concerned physical therapist.
"It feels perfect, actually. The height is exactly right, and walking doesn't feel strenuous at all," she replied with obvious relief.
"Excellent. I made sure to buy it specifically according to your height measurements."
The corners of Matsumoto Tomoko's mouth curved upward in a smile that seemed to radiate pure appreciation for my thoughtfulness.
"Oh, by the way, I received a call from your daughter while I was out. She's very concerned about your injury, so you should probably contact her as soon as possible, Tomoko-san."
"Eh? Sachiko called?" Her eyes widened with sudden realization.
"Ah, I completely forgot—today is the weekend! She always calls on weekends," she continued, pieces clearly falling into place.
I quickly handed over her phone, and she immediately began dialing her daughter's number with the urgency of someone making up for lost time.
I tactfully retreated to the living room, giving them space for what was undoubtedly going to be an intense discussion about maternal injuries and mysterious male tenants.
A few minutes later, the sound of careful footsteps announced her arrival in the living room, navigating confidently with her new walking aid.
"Finished with your call, Tomoko-san?"
"Yes, and Sachiko was absolutely beside herself when she heard about my ankle sprain. She kept insisting that she needed to come home immediately to check on me," she explained with the weary tone of someone who'd just talked a teenager out of a dramatic gesture.
"She felt much more reassured when she learned that you took me to the hospital and have been staying here to take care of me."
"It took considerable effort to convince her to stay where she is. Sachiko even said she absolutely must thank you properly when she comes back for summer vacation."
Meeting the daughter. That should be... interesting.
Matsumoto Tomoko conveyed her daughter's gratitude with the kind of maternal pride that made it clear this was a family that actually cared about each other.
"Ms. Sachiko and you really have a wonderful relationship. I'm genuinely envious," I observed.
"Sachiko is absolutely my greatest pride in life," she replied, and her entire face seemed to light up with pure maternal satisfaction.
Whenever the topic turned to her daughter, Matsumoto Tomoko transformed into this radiant version of herself, practically glowing with parental accomplishment.
"It's getting close to lunchtime—I should start preparing something," I said, checking the time on my phone before standing up from the sofa.
"Let me help too, Sosuke-kun!" she offered immediately, because of course she did.
"Absolutely not, Tomoko-san. Your only job right now is to rest properly and recover as quickly as possible," I said firmly, gently but decisively pushing her back down onto the sofa.
"I want to enjoy your delicious cooking again soon, so please just focus on healing."
I left her settled on the sofa and headed to the kitchen to tackle lunch preparation.
Matsumoto Tomoko had no choice but to accept my arrangement, though I could tell she was antsy about being idle.
She decided to use this time to take care of some personal hygiene—after all, she'd been sweating profusely the night before during our... activities ... followed by the injury and hospital adventure.
The lingering sensation of perspiration and general dishevelment was clearly making her uncomfortable.
Although mobility was still somewhat challenging, the crutches I'd purchased were making independent movement around the apartment much more feasible.
Soon, white steam began rising in the bathroom as warm water cascaded over her curvaceous form, droplets dancing playfully across every peak and valley of her figure...
After blow-drying her hair and wrapping herself in a fluffy bath towel, Matsumoto Tomoko emerged from the bathroom looking significantly refreshed. I had already finished setting the lunch spread on the dining table.
She was planning to head back to the bedroom to get properly dressed, but as she passed by me, disaster struck in the form of a carelessly placed garbage bag.
Her foot caught the obstacle, and I watched in slow motion as she began losing her balance, tilting forward in what was about to become a very ungraceful collision with the floor.
"Careful!" I shouted, my reflexes kicking in as I moved to prevent what could have been a serious secondary injury.