Chapter 2
“I’m leaving…”
I spoke into the quiet, empty house. A stark contrast to yesterday, I headed to school with a gloomy expression.
I had made a once-in-a-lifetime wish to God that when I woke up this morning, my right arm would be completely healed, and Shirasu Yuika’s name and contact information would not be in my phone. That yesterday’s events were all a dream, or perhaps my own painful delusion. But my wish was not granted.
As a result, I’m in the worst mood. Others might scold me, saying it’s a blessing in disguise, which only makes it worse.
“What am I going to do now…?”
If it’s true that sighing makes happiness flee, then my happiness index is currently on a downward trend. At this rate, it might hit rock bottom by the time I get to school.
The cause of this is none other than Shirasu Yuika—the princess, my school junior, and the girl who was made my fiancée by our parents without my consent.
Peerless. Angelic. This beautiful girl, whom no amount of flowery language can do justice, has declared that she will live with me and take care of me until I’m fully recovered, feeling responsible for my injury.
For a healthy high school boy in the throes of puberty, this is a dream come true. On top of that, being the fiancée of the daughter of a major corporation’s president means marrying into wealth and a secure future. If this were a manga or a light novel, I’d be welcoming it with open arms, but reality doesn’t work that way.
~ Start of Flashback ~
“Sorry, Shirasu. For today, just be a good girl and go home.”
Last night. While savoring the teriyaki chicken Shirasu had made from leftovers in the fridge, I nevertheless ordered my fiancée (provisional) to go home.
“Why!? Are you saying I’m not up to the task of taking care of you, Senpai!?”
“That’s the common misuse of that phrase, you know.”
“This isn’t the time for nitpicking! Please give me a proper reason!”
BANG! Shirasu slammed her hand on the table and leaned forward, her voice raised in protest. Frankly, I wanted to ask her why she ever thought I’d agree in the first place.
“I may not look it, but I can handle all the basic housework, you know? You could say I’m a prime piece of property!”
“Prime property deserving of a ‘super’ or three ‘S’s’ before the name, sure.”
She was on a level completely unattainable for a common citizen. Someone like me couldn’t even dream of reaching her. Though, finding a man who was actually a match for Shirasu would be a monumental task in itself.
“I’ve been taught all sorts of things by my personal maid and governess. I can do anything you want me to, Senpai!”
“…I see.”
It was a proposal that truly tantalized the baser instincts. If it were anyone but me, they would have already nodded in agreement. And as expected of the Shirasu conglomerate. She has a personal maid. I thought that kind of thing only existed in the world of manga.
“So, what I’m trying to say is, how about one Shirasu Yuika for every household?”
“That sounds like a shady sales pitch. I think even a salesman at the bottom of the ranks could come up with something better.”
As if there could be a door-to-door sales pitch where the price is whatever the seller decides. And since its price and value were rising with every passing second, it was too scary to even consider.
“You’re quick with the comebacks, Senpai… but this isn’t a comedy show! I want you to tell me why I can’t stay at your house!”
BANG! BANG! Shirasu slammed her fists on the table even more fiercely. If our table were made of glass, she would have shattered it with that force.
“For the sake of your honor, let me say that it’s not that I think you’re no good, and it’s definitely not that I dislike you. You can rest assured on that point.”
What is she supposed to be assured of? I retorted to myself internally. Besides, phrasing it like that didn’t even serve as a reason for her to go home.
“If it’s not that I’m no good, then it should be fine for me to stay here as a live-in! You’re so stubborn, Senpai. It would be easier if you just meekly accepted, so why are you refusing?”
“Well, it’s true that things will be inconvenient and difficult until my right arm heals, and if you say you’ll take care of things, it would certainly be a help. But living together is a different story, isn’t it?”
“Why? Won’t things be more efficient in many ways if I live with you?”
Far from efficient, things will grind to a halt, I almost said reflexively. This junior of mine has an odd choice of words sometimes. She likely hasn’t considered the deeper meaning, or more probably, doesn’t even understand it. If she did, a word like “serve” would never come out of her mouth.
“Even if you say you’ll take care of me, I don’t think it will be all that much trouble. At most, it would just be cooking and getting dressed.”
“Then it will be my duty to help you with those things.”
“You’re going to help me get dressed? Hahaha. Save the sleep talk for when you’re actually sleeping.”
It would be a problem even if she said it in her sleep, but it’s far better than her saying it with a completely straight face. Besides, does she have no reservations about helping someone get dressed? I don’t want to do it, and I don’t want it done to me. Well, maybe as an occasional reward.
“Rest assured, Senpai. I am well-versed in the art of helping someone dress.”
“This isn’t a matter of being well-versed or not. What if I said I’d help you get dressed, Shirasu? You wouldn’t like that, would you?”
“You would help me get dressed, Senpai? I wouldn’t mind at all.”
“Wh-What… did you say?”
Her shocking reply left me speechless. What in the world is the Shirasu family’s chastity education like? It’s far too dangerous for a girl her age to have no resistance to a boy helping her get dressed. What does this princess think about the meaning of exposing her underwear and skin?
“My maid sometimes says, ‘Let me help you get dressed!’ so I’m used to it. Though, dressing each other would be a new experience…”
I genuinely held my head in my hands as Shirasu blushed and smiled shyly. What the hell is “dressing each other”? It’s better than undressing each other, I suppose, but it’s not something a man and a woman who aren’t in love should be doing. I’m not confident I could maintain my reason if I saw Shirasu in her underwear.
“Anyway! You don’t need to help me get dressed! And there’s no need for you to live here! When you’re done eating, go home. I’ll walk you.”
“Is it… is it really no good?”
My resolve wavered as Shirasu stared at me with her large, moist eyes. She looked like a puppy begging not to be abandoned, making me feel like I was the one doing something wrong, and a sense of guilt even began to sprout. Cuteness on this level is just unfair.
“Yeah, it’s no good. Give up on the live-in idea. In fact, you should give up on the idea of taking care of me altogether—”
“If living in is no good, then I’ll become a commuting wife.”
“—Excuse me?”
I stared at her blankly, repeating the term Shirasu used to cut me off.
“You said living in is no good, right? In that case, I’ll come to your house every day, make dinner, we’ll eat together, I’ll do the dishes, and then I’ll go home. Isn’t that perfect?”
Shirasu said with a smug look on her face. It’s frustrating, and I don’t want to admit it, but as a compromise from the live-in arrangement, the commuting wife idea was probably perfect. My mind was so exhausted that I was actually starting to think that.
“Wouldn’t that make you more of a housekeeper than a commuting wife?”
“No, this is a commuting wife. You and I are fiancés, so no matter what anyone says, I’m a commuting wife. And there are no other points of compromise. Please meekly accept this plan.”
I wanted to say, Weren’t you the one who wasn’t convinced about this whole arranged fiancé thing?, but that seemed like it would just complicate things, so I let out a sigh instead. It didn’t seem like Shirasu would back down no matter what I said from this point on, and more than anything, I was tired from the day and just wanted to rest.
“Fine. You win. I’ll meekly accept your care until my injury heals. I’ll be in your hands.”
“Yes! Please leave everything to me, like you’re on a great ship! Oh, and I’m always open to changing from a commuting wife to a live-in, so please don’t hesitate to let me know!”
“…Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and eat. And one last thing. This relationship is a secret, you hear? Don’t tell anyone. Even if you see me at school, you are absolutely not to talk to me.”
“Isn’t that three things instead of one? And besides, what’s wrong with just talking to me? I’m your fiancée and your commuting wife, you know? This is like an in-school separation.”
I was impressed by her clever turn of phrase, but the thought that I had to explain this to her brought tears to my eyes.
“Listen, you’ve only just enrolled, but you’re already famous as the ‘super cute new first-year.’ Imagine if a girl like that suddenly started acting friendly with an upperclassman. There’s no telling what kind of rumors would start.”
“Nothing will happen just because I talk to you, Senpai. You’re worrying way too much.”
“No, something will happen. It definitely will. So absolutely, no matter what, do not talk to me at school. Got it?”
I wish someone would tell this beautiful girl just how much of a dangerous, handle-with-care individual she is. Any guy who would casually approach Shirasu is either a fearless idiot or a fool with way too much confidence in himself.
It might be a different story for her classmates, but even then, it would require the resolve of a level 1 hero challenging the final boss.
“Senpai, is that a dare? Like how ‘don’t push, don’t push’ is a sign to push, is ‘don’t talk to me’ a sign that I can talk to you freely?”
“Shirasu, you’re surprisingly mischievous—as if! That’s not what it means at all! It’s not a dare or a joke!”
I suppressed the urge to slam the table and instead let out a heavy sigh, resuming my meal as if to say the conversation was over. It had gotten a little cold, but Shirasu’s home cooking was delicious, and the thought that I could eat this every day made me happy, until I realized I was already being won over, which made me sigh again.
Afterward, I was going to walk Shirasu, who had finished washing the dishes, home, but she politely yet firmly refused, saying, “I think you’re tired today, so it’s okay.” To be honest, I was at my limit in many ways, so I apologized, saw her off, and went to bed early.
~ End of Flashback ~
“Mornin’—whoa, whoa. What happened to you in the half-day I didn’t see you, Tomoya?”
As I was changing my shoes at the lockers, Koshiro, who had come up from behind, let out a cry of shock at the sight of my right arm.
“A lot of things happened. A lot.”
“No, no, no. You can’t just explain away that slung arm with ‘a lot of things happened’! Did you get in an accident or something?”
“Hahaha. It wasn’t anything as dramatic as an accident.”
I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile at my overly perceptive friend. It’s a mystery why he can’t get a girlfriend when he’s able to notice such subtle changes.
“Even so, it’s no laughing matter. Did you break any bones?”
“There’s nothing wrong with the bone. I just took a pretty big fall and hit the ground hard.”
“I’m curious as to how you fell, but… the real question is how Mimasaka will react. You should probably brace yourself.”
“Don’t say such ominous things… Mimasaka won’t say anything when she sees this.”
I’m not sure what Koshiro is imagining, but knowing Mimasaka, she’ll probably point and laugh her head off when she sees me with my arm in a sling. In fact, it would be creepy if she showed any concern. If that happened, it would probably snow out of season tomorrow.
“W-Wait, Tomoya! What happened to your arm!?”
As soon as I entered the classroom, Mimasaka, who had spotted me immediately, rushed over with a surprised cry. Her voice drew the attention of the other students, who all turned to look at me in unison. Give me a break. I’m not some rare beast in a sideshow.
“I took a pretty spectacular fall and bruised it. It’s not a serious injury.”
“That’s some pretty dramatic treatment for a fall. And falling so spectacularly is pretty clumsy. Not like you, Tomoya.”
“Ah, uh… well, you see. I was fiddling with my phone while walking and tripped on a small stone. It’s a pathetic story, I know.”
I shrugged exaggeratedly and sat down. The trick to deceiving people is to mix in a moderate amount of truth with the lies. Well, in this case, it was almost entirely nonsense, so it wasn’t very convincing.
“Tripping while walking and using your phone… that’s even less like you. What were you looking at?”
“Nah, it wasn’t anything that….”
“I call bullshit. There’s no way that something that made you so engrossed in your phone that you’d trip over a pebble and fall spectacularly wasn’t a big deal.”
“True… now that you mention it, Mimasaka’s right. Tomoya, what were you looking at right before you fell?”
Impossible. How could my perfect lie be seen through so easily? And to have not only Mimasaka but also Koshiro doubt me was completely unexpected.
“You were probably looking at some lewd pictures, right? Or maybe a cosplayer? You saved them, didn’t you? Let me see too!”
Koshiro slung his arm around my shoulder as he spoke. I take back what I said. This guy doesn’t understand anything. The fact that he not only fails to show his perceptiveness at times like this but also lets his thoughts wander in the wrong direction might be the reason he’s not popular. And the fact that Mimasaka is right next to us scores him high on the no-tact scale.
“Is that so, Tomoya?”
“Hm? What is?”
“I mean… is it true that you were engrossed in looking at lewd pictures? What kind of pictures were you looking at? Tell me, for reference.”
What is this girl talking about all of a sudden? And unusually for the always-dignified Mimasaka, she was fidgeting with her fingers shyly, which made it all the more devastating. The impact was so great that even Koshiro was staring with his mouth wide open.
“N-No, it’s not like I was looking at those kinds of pictures…”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to be embarrassed. You’re a boy too, Tomoya. It’s normal to want to look at that kind of thing sometimes. It’s okay, I won’t be grossed out.”
“There is absolutely, positively, not one single element of this that is okay.”
Why, oh why, do I have to tell a classmate, and one of my few friends at that, about the lewd pictures I was looking at—which I wasn’t even looking at? Even a punishment game wouldn’t be this cruel.
“Stop beating around the bush and just tell us already! I’ll accept whatever kinky fetish you have!”
“What do you think I am!? And do you realize that while you think you’re supporting me, you’re actually putting me down!?”
“Eh… don’t tell me you were really looking at something you can’t tell anyone about?”
Ugh, Mimasaka covered her mouth with her hand and took a step back. I looked to Koshiro for help, but the friend who had caused this situation had already returned to his seat as if it had nothing to do with him.
“N-No… it wasn’t a picture I was looking at, but…”
“It wasn’t a picture, but it was something on your phone you couldn’t take your eyes off of? So… a video?”
Mimasaka tilted her head as she spoke. It had a different kind of cuteness than when Shirasu does it. In fact, the gap created by the mature Mimasaka doing a childish gesture was quite something. Not that I would ever say that to her face.
“Wrong. The correct answer is a message from my dad. I don’t know if he was drunk or what, but the content was outrageous.”
Setting aside the moe gap from Mimasaka for a moment, I attempted to get the derailed conversation back on track.
“Your dad, Tomoya… he’s working overseas right now, right? What kind of message did he send?”
“Prepare to be shocked. My dad sent me a message saying, ‘I’m thinking of remarrying.’ And it was completely out of the blue.”
“Th-That would certainly be a surprise…”
“Right? Even I, who am not easily surprised, was shocked. And that’s why I took a spectacular fall.”
In contrast to my laughter, Mimasaka’s face twisted as if she had bitten into a bitter bug. She looked like Pandora, regretting having opened a box she shouldn’t have out of curiosity. I hadn’t expected this reaction.
“Remarriage… His new partner doesn’t have any kids, right? You’re not getting a stepsister or anything, are you?”
“Hmm? Mimasaka-san, what are you talking about?”
“A stepsister, a s-t-e-p-s-i-s-t-e-r! It’s a classic trope for the parent’s remarriage to result in a stepsister, isn’t it?”
You’ve been reading too much manga, I was about to retort, but Mimasaka’s expression was so serious that I was at a loss for words.
“You’re not about to start a heart-pounding, thrilling cohabitation life with a cute new stepsister, are you? You’re not related by blood, so you won’t fall in love or anything, right?”
She has a vivid imagination. We’ve known each other for a year, but I never knew Mimasaka had this side to her. The problem is that this delusion isn’t entirely off the mark. She’s not my stepsister, but a commuting wife (provisional) has been born into my life. I can’t say that out loud, so I decided to wrap up the conversation here.
“Calm down, Mimasaka. In the first place, my dad only said he might remarry, not that he actually is.”
“R-Really?”
“Yeah. And even if I did get a stepsister, once we became family, I wouldn’t see her as a romantic interest.”
“Hoh… so if, for example, Shirasu Yuika became your stepsister, she’d be off the table as a romantic interest, is that right?”
Koshiro jumped back into our conversation, bringing a troublesome name with him.
“…Why are you bringing up Shirasu’s name now?”
My heart skipped a beat. Even though I knew it was absolutely impossible, a part of me wondered if he had seen Shirasu coming to my house.
“It’s a hypothetical, a h-y-p-o-t-h-e-t-i-c-a-l! Even you, Tomoya-kun, wouldn’t be able to hold back if Shirasu Yuika became your stepsister and you started living together under one roof, right?”
“There’s nothing to hold back. That’s not a one-in-a-million… no, a one-in-a-billion chance. So there’s no need to even have a hypothetical conversation about it.”
As I stated this firmly, I sighed internally. After all, something even more troublesome than her becoming my stepsister was currently happening. I never imagined that the picture of pure and innocent grace would be so stubborn.
“Tomoya’s right. I thought you were an idiot, but to reach this level in just a few days… there’s no dealing with you anymore.”
“Hey, Mimasaka-san. Did I do something to you? Could you please stop stabbing me with a knife instead of the thorns of a rose?”
Mimasaka’s sharp words, delivered with a shrug, seemed to have dealt a heavy blow to Koshiro’s psyche. Good, give him more.
“You haven’t done anything. If I had to say, it’s because you’re saying stupid things, Tsumori.”
“…That’s strange. I feel like some salty water is about to come out of my eyes…”
“Tsumori, you’re being loud. Be quiet for a bit. Hey, Tomoya. Getting back to the topic… are you okay with that arm?”
I couldn’t help but feel sympathy for Koshiro’s harsh treatment, but since it was half his own fault and, more importantly, I was likely to get hit by the shrapnel if I tried to defend him, I hardened my heart and abandoned my best friend.
“I told you my arm is fine, didn’t I? It’ll heal eventually.”
“That’s not what I mean. Not with your arm, but because of your arm. you live alone, right? Isn’t it hard to do things when you can’t use your right hand?”
“Oh, is that what you meant? It’s certainly inconvenient, but I wouldn’t say it’s that difficult.”
“Really? But what about cooking with only one hand?”
She’s such a worrywart, I thought with a wry smile. In the first place, having my arm in a sling for a mere bruise is an overreaction. If it weren’t for this, I could move my arm freely, and not just cooking, but my entire daily life would be unaffected.
“Don’t you know, Mimasaka? Modern appliances are amazing. You just put the ingredients in a pot, and it does everything for you.”
Of course, we don’t have such a convenient thing in our house. This was just a complete copy of what I heard a home-appliance-loving comedian say on TV.
“Oh… I see.”
Mimasaka said in a somewhat disappointed tone, and with her shoulders slumped, she trudged back to her seat. Just then, the bell signaling the start of class rang. Ding-dong-dang-dong.
“Tomoya. You really have no delicacy, do you… That’s why you’re not popular.”
Koshiro placed a hand on my shoulder and offered words of pity. For some reason, I felt like I was being subtly mocked, and it pissed me off.
“…I’d rather not hear that from you, of all people.”
I mercilessly brought my left hand down on Koshiro’s head in a karate chop. THWACK! I wish he’d at least wait until he had a girlfriend of his own before saying things like that.
＊＊＊＊＊
Surprisingly, the day ended without me even catching a glimpse of Shirasu at school, let alone meeting her. To be honest, I was a little disappointed, but at the same time, I was relieved.
After all, Shirasu was the type to make the absurd statement that “‘Don’t talk to me’ is a sign to talk to me.” I had braced myself, fully expecting her to storm the classroom during lunch break, but my preparations were in vain.
“The real problem starts now…”
But the real battle begins now. Since she declared she would become a commuting wife, she would undoubtedly come to my house. Yesterday was hectic, so it was fine because she didn’t go anywhere but the living room, but there’s no guarantee that today will be the same. What’s more, she might even suggest coming over on a holiday to clean my room. If that happens, it’s game over.
“I need to clean my room when I get home. Where should I hide everything…?”
Let me say this in advance: there is nothing in my room that I would be embarrassed for Shirasu to see. It would be a lie to say there’s nothing at all, but the number is small enough to be counted on one hand. And it’s not something I bought myself, but a gift from Koshiro. It’s a rom-com manga that’s borderline R-18, and the heroine is cute, and—I won’t say where—large, and there are frequent classic lucky pervert scenes, so it’s truly wonderful.
“Come to think of it, the heroine in that manga looks a bit like Shirasu, doesn’t she…?”
The heroine is a junior, one year younger than the male protagonist, and his childhood friend who lives next door. She adores the protagonist, comes to wake him up every morning, and brings him a handmade lunch every day. On top of that, she has a clumsy side and often exposes her bare skin to the protagonist, a classic klutz attribute. She is the overwhelming winner who overturns the established theory that childhood friends tend to be the losing heroines.
“Well, Shirasu is just stubborn, not a klutz. She’s not… right?”
The moment I said it out loud, I started to feel anxious. We’ve only known each other and been talking for less than a day, so I can’t say for sure. I’ll probably find out as our relationship deepens, but I’m not sure if my reason will hold out until then.
“Yeah, let’s stop thinking about it. It’s a waste of time.”
This is a Zen koan with no answer. It’s better to use my brainpower to figure out where to hide the manga than to dwell on this. Anyway, the first thing to do when I get home is to put them all in a cardboard box.
“I hope nothing troublesome happens…”
As I walked along, lost in such rambling thoughts, I arrived home before I knew it. I let out a big sigh and opened the gate with a click.
Learning from yesterday’s mistake, I had put the key in my left pocket for easy access. This way, I can get into the house without fumbling. Just as I thought that, I heard footsteps from inside. Thump-thump-thump.
“…I have a bad feeling about this.”
I’m certain it’s impossible, that it’s a lie. But I have a strange sense of unease. Why is my heart suddenly beating so fast? Why is my vision starting to flash? It would be so much better if there were a burglar inside.
I prayed to God and waited for the moment. And then the door clicked open—
“—Welcome home, Senpai!”
Shirasu, dressed in casual clothes, greeted me with a beaming smile.
“…………You’ve got to be kidding me.”
My premonition came true, and my headache is hurting. My brain short-circuited to the point of thinking such a stupid phrase.
I mean, of course it would. I live alone because my parents have been away for a long time, and when I come home from school, I’m greeted by a cute girl. If there’s anyone who wouldn’t be surprised by this and would just be happy-go-lucky, their head is either in the clouds or they’re confusing reality with fiction. In that case, you should tell them to call 110 immediately.
And since I’m perfectly calm, instead of saying “I’m home,” I took out my phone and attempted to report an intruder.
“W-W-Wait a minute, Senpai! Why are you silently taking out your phone and trying to make a call!? Don’t tell me you’re planning to do the ‘Hello, police?’ thing!?”
“Hahahaha! As expected of you, Shirasu. You figured it out. That’s right.”
“Ehehe. Thank you—no, you can’t fool me with praise! I won’t be deceived!”
“I wasn’t praising you in the first place! And besides, why are you in my house!? Let’s start with that!”
“Senpai, are you perhaps suffering from memory loss in your teens? I think it’s a bit much to forget what happened just yesterday.”
It sounded like she was teasing me, but Shirasu herself was being completely serious, which made it all the worse. I scratched my head vigorously and then entered my house to avoid a repeat of yesterday.
“Unfortunately, I’m not senile yet, nor have I forgotten anything. What I want to know is why you’re inside my house.”
I may have some gaps in my childhood memories, but I’m confident enough to consistently get high scores in memorization-based subjects.
“I told you yesterday, didn’t I? As your fiancée, I’ll be your commuting wife until your arm heals. You agreed to it, didn’t you?”
“That’s fine. Well, it’s not exactly fine, but that’s not what I want to know. Why! Are you! In my house before I get home!?”
I definitely locked the door when I left for school this morning, so there’s no way Shirasu could have gotten in. Unless she broke a window and came in through the garden like a burglar, it’s impossible. In other words, a matter for the police.
“Oh, is that all? You worry about the small stuff for someone who looks like you, Senpai.”
“Worrying about the small stuff is a bad habit of mine. No, it’s not! Anyone would be concerned! So answer me already. If you don’t, I’m really calling the police.”
“Yesterday, when I got home, an envelope with the key to your house had arrived. By the way, the sender was your father, Senpai.”
That damn old man! What a stupid thing to do. I’m going to have to punch him once the next time I see him, or I’ll never be satisfied. And the fact that it arrived yesterday means he sent it to Shirasu before he even told me about the fiancée arrangement.
“So I just came back to my own home; I’m not an intruder. Right, Senpai?”
“…It is extremely regrettable and infuriating, but yes.”
“By the way, I came straight to this house after school today and waited for you to come home while I was cleaning your room. This is what you call a perfect commuting wife!”
Shirasu puffed out her chest with a smug look on her face. Again, she looked like a child wanting to be praised by her parents, which was cute. It was truly regrettable, but her cuteness was so overwhelming that my anger deflated.
“Setting aside whether you’re a perfect commuting wife or not, I understand how you got into the house. On that note, may I ask you one question?”
“Not just one, ask as many as you like!”
“Then I won’t hold back. You said you cleaned the rooms, but which ones did you clean?”
I tried to sound calm as I asked, but my heart was pounding. What if she had gone into my room? What if she had found the manga on my shelf and, worse, picked it up and read it? If that happened, I wouldn’t be able to recover from the look of disgust Shirasu would give me. Now, what will Shirasu’s answer be?
“Mostly the living room. I just vacuumed a little. I’ll do a proper cleaning on the weekend, so you can leave it to me.”
“I-I see. I haven’t been able to do it recently, so that’s a big help. Thanks for going to the trouble.”
I let out a sigh of relief. Was I overthinking it? Even Shirasu, with her unpredictable behavior, wouldn’t just go into someone’s room without permission.
“And your room, Senpai. Oh, but it’s definitely not out of curiosity! As a commuting wife, I thought I had to clean your room…”
Ehehe, Shirasu smiled shyly, her cheeks slightly flushed. A cold sweat poured down my back like a waterfall. Her embarrassed face was cute, but more than that, I was dumbfounded by how meticulously she was collecting flags.
“Aside from my father, you’re the first man whose room I’ve ever been in, Senpai… I was surprised at how clean it was.”
“…………”
I glared at Shirasu with dead eyes. In that respect, she was truly a genuine princess. Well, since she had been attending an all-girls boarding school until recently, I guess it was to be expected. And to think I was Shirasu’s first. The thought made my heart stir in many ways. If Koshiro heard this, he’d probably grab me by the collar and throw me.
“Wow… cleaning is actually pretty hard. I ended up getting distracted by the books on your bookshelf, and my hands just stopped.”
As Shirasu laughed, a cold sweat wouldn’t stop pouring down my face. I could barely even process what she was saying. All I could do was pray that it was all a joke.
“I’ve never really read much manga before. So your bookshelf looked like a treasure trove, all sparkly and…!”
“Did you… did you read the manga?”
“I did feel bad for doing it without your permission. But I just couldn’t help being curious… I’m sorry!”
Shirasu bowed her head deeply. I was taken aback by her frankness, and at the same time, her apology left me unable to say anything. However, there was one thing I absolutely had to confirm.
“Y-You don’t have to apologize. Just tell me. Which manga did you read?”
“It was a manga about a boy and a girl falling in love. It was the first time I’d ever read one, and it was so fresh and interesting!”
It was over. Everything was over. I looked up at the heavens. Of all the manga on my bookshelf, she had picked up the one I least wanted her to.
“Before I knew it, I was completely absorbed in it, forgetting all about cleaning your room. And don’t you think the heroine of this manga looks a little like me?”
“…No comment.”
It was no use. At this point, it was too late for everything. I let out a deep, heavy sigh like the bottom of the ocean, then took off my shoes and stepped into the entryway. I felt like a ghost, my life force drained, wandering in search of a place to die. How am I supposed to live from tomorrow on? For now, I’ll dig a hole, get in up to my shoulders, and think.
“Ah! Senpai, wait. There’s something I haven’t told you yet. In fact, I was told to be absolutely sure to say this!”
“…What is it?”
“Welcome home, Senpai. Would you like dinner? A bath? Or… m—”
“STOOOOOOOOOOOP!! I’m not letting you say another word!”
I couldn’t help but shout, cutting off Shirasu’s line. Who was the great idiot who put such ideas into her head? I’ll find them and bring them to justice.
“Why won’t you let me finish!? That was the most important part…! You’re so mean, Senpai!”
“It’s not mean or anything… Please, don’t say things like that, even as a joke.”
Mainly in the sense of not wanting my reason to collapse. I held my head in my hands and headed to the living room with a sigh. All the while, Shirasu was protesting loudly behind me, but I pretended not to hear.
“Ignoring me is so cruel, Senpai. Are you perhaps angry that I read your manga without permission?”
“…I’m not angry in the first place. Just exasperated.”
“Exasperated!? Why!? Did I say something to make you exasperated!?”
“Think about it by tomorrow—Oh… the atmosphere feels different.”
What I felt when I entered the living room was a sense of freshness. It was my own house, yet it had a strangely comfortable feeling that wasn’t my own. Just vacuuming wouldn’t have done this. Did she open the windows to air it out? It was as if the inside of the house had become a refreshing forest overflowing with negative ions.
“Do you like this scent?”
As I stood there dumbfounded, Shirasu came to stand beside me. She had a somewhat proud look on her face, which was vaguely irritating, but frustratingly, I couldn’t lie about my own feelings.
“Yeah… it’s really nice. It’s like being in a forest. What kind of magic did you use?”
“Eheheh. Magic is an exaggeration, Senpai. But I’m happy you’d say that.”
With a soft smile, Shirasu walked over and picked up a bottle with wooden sticks in it that was sitting by the window.
“This is the source of the magic. It’s a room fragrance I use in my room. I brought the one for the living room.”
“I see. So this is the scent of Shirasu’s room…”
“By the way, I put the same one in your room, Senpai. But judging from your reaction… it seems I made the right choice.”
My heart skipped a beat at Shirasu’s smile. I can’t take it if she keeps showing off her cuteness so unconsciously. I let out a breath to release the heat building up in my body.
“N-Normally, I’d be angry and ask what you think you’re doing without permission. But just this once, I’ll let it slide because of this scent. However, it would be helpful if you’d consult me first next time.”
“I understand. In that case, instead of consulting you, Senpai… why don’t we go shopping together? I think it’s best if you choose a scent you like!”
“No, you don’t have to go out of your way to change it. I’m fine with this one.”
The same scent as Shirasu’s room was wafting through my house. That fact alone was more than enough to fry my brain, and if I were to sell this information to Shirasu Yuika’s rabid fans, starting with Koshiro, it would probably fetch a high price.
“Don’t say that, let’s go shopping! Actually, there are a lot of other things I want to buy besides fragrances. How about we go together for those too?”
“Just out of curiosity, what do you want to buy?”
“When I say a lot of things, I mean a lot of things. A new pot to replace the old one, a new microwave, a new washing machine, and so on. They’re necessary expenses to improve our QOL.”
She knows some difficult words. I doubt most high school students are conscious of improving their Quality of Life.
“It’s true that those things are old since we’ve been using them since I was a kid, and I’d love to replace them, but… I don’t have the money, so it’s impossible.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’ve already secured a budget.”
“…And where did that come from?”
“My father, of course. I contacted him last night to discuss it, and he agreed to provide the funds immediately. My maid confirmed it, and the transfer is already complete.”
Is the Shirasu family a bunch of action-takers? Everything they do is too fast. Well, I guess you can’t be the head of a conglomerate that leads Japan without being like that. Should I be happy or sad that that blood has been passed down to his daughter?
“So, with that said, we’re going shopping together this weekend! And just so you know, I won’t be taking no for an answer, Senpai!”
“Could you at least present me with some options? I’m the master of this house, you know? What kind of commuting wife completely ignores his wishes!?”
“It is the duty of a commuting wife to enrich the life of her master! This is only natural!”
Shirasu puffed out her chest again. Her bountiful fruits swayed, but I had to stay strong. I won’t be shaken by that jiggle anymore.
“More importantly, Senpai. Could you please give me an answer soon?”
“An answer? An answer to what?”
“You really are forgetful, Senpai. I asked you at the entrance, didn’t I? Do you want dinner? A bath? Or… m-e?”
I barely managed to stop myself from clicking my tongue. I thought she had completely forgotten. And in the end, she said the last option so casually. At this rate, she probably still doesn’t understand the meaning.
“Well, please choose! Which one will it be? By the way, I’m ready for any of them!”
“…I see.”
What does she mean, ready? The first two are self-explanatory—though it’s still early evening, so it’s a bit soon to prepare—but what does she mean she’s “ready for me”? Does that mean she’s welcome to it at any time? Is it okay for me to think that it’s okay to do that kind of thing?
Even though we’re fiancés, the sun hasn’t completely set, and it’s only been two days since we met, but things are moving at the speed of an F1 car.
After about three seconds of high-speed thinking, I came to a conclusion. It was time to teach this ignorant princess, who was waiting for my answer with a gleeful look on her face, a lesson about the horrors of adolescent boys.
“Then I’ll take you up on your offer. I think I’ll have Shirasu.”
“Right. Dinner it is. The prep is done, so you just need to get changed and—wait. What did you say?”
“What, you didn’t hear me? Then I’ll say it again. The one I choose is—”
Perhaps my answer was unexpected. As Shirasu stared at me in surprise, I deliberately cut myself off and closed the distance.
“—you, Shirasu.”
“U-Um… what does that… mean?”
“You read the manga in my room, didn’t you? If so… then you should have some idea of what I mean, right?”
I brought my face even closer. Long eyelashes and eyes that sparkled like jewels. Plump, cherry-pink lips that I knew were soft without even touching them. The citrus scent wafting from her golden-sand hair, different from the room fragrance, made me feel as if my reason was melting.
“Th-That is to say… b-but! Isn’t it still too early for us, Senpai!? I think it would be better to do this kind of thing after we get to know each other better!”
“Isn’t it a bit late to say that after you were the one who invited me?”
I deliberately lowered my voice and brought my face even closer to the flustered Shirasu. So close that our noses were almost touching. However, this was a gamble for me too, a double-edged sword. One wrong move and a major accident could occur.
“Or what? Did you say ‘m-e’ just to tease me, Shirasu? If so, that makes me sad.”
“N-No… this is, you see… Nanase-san told me, ‘Gentlemen will be pleased if you say this,’ so I just said it as she told me to…”
“Who’s Nanase-san?”
“She’s the one I mentioned before, my personal maid and governess. She’s also like a very reliable older sister to me.”
I see. So the one who’s been putting all these bad ideas into Shirasu’s head is this maid named Nanase-san. I’d like to meet her someday.
“B-But… if you really, r-really want to… with me… then… um…”
Her face and even her ears turned bright red as Shirasu looked down and muttered in a small, yet somehow excited and feverish voice. The moment she glanced up at me with her moist eyes, time was up. I gently brought my left hand down on Shirasu’s head in a soft chop. Thwack.
“Ouch!? What was that for, Senpai!?”
“That’s enough of this foolishness. I’m not the kind of scumbag who would force himself on a girl who’s trembling with fear.”
At my words, Shirasu seemed to realize that her own shoulders were trembling slightly. I let out a grand sigh, then placed my hand on her head and gently patted it.
“Let this be a lesson to you. Don’t say things like that so casually again. Got it?”
“Y-Yes…”
“Good. Well then, I’m going to get changed, so wait for me in the living room. Then, it’s a little early, but let’s have dinner.”
The time was just past 6:30. It was about thirty minutes earlier than my usual dinner time, but if it got any later, it would interfere with Shirasu’s commute home, so it couldn’t be helped.
“Okay. Then I’ll get everything ready so we can eat right away!”
“Thanks, Shirasu.”
Shirasu, who had recovered her energy in an instant, smiled and puffed out her chest as if to say, “Leave it to me.” She was either simple-minded or quick to switch gears. Well, it was better than her cowering in fear, but I should probably teach her a little more about the beast that resides within men before something fatal happens.
“By the way, Senpai. Are you sure you’ll be okay on your own?”
“Hm? With what?”
“With getting changed, of course! It must be a struggle to take off your shirt with that arm, right?”
If you ask me if it’s a struggle or not, it’s definitely the former, but if I just take off the sling, it’s only a little difficult to move, so it’s not a big deal.
“As your commuting wife, I will assist you with your changing! Now, let’s go!”
“I don’t need your assistance! Don’t follow me! Just stay here and get dinner ready!”
I somehow managed to shake off Shirasu, who was clinging to my sleeve like a burr, and ran to my room as if escaping.
“Senpai, please open the door! Don’t try to act tough, don’t be embarrassed, just leave everything to me! I won’t do anything bad!”
THUMP! THUMP! Shirasu shouted as she pounded on the door. Unfortunately, there was no lock, so I had to use all my strength to hold the door shut to prevent her from entering.
“Shut up! And did you already forget what I just warned you about!? Don’t just casually offer to help a guy get dressed!”
“I can’t help you get dressed either!? Then what am I supposed to help you with!? At this rate, I won’t be able to repay my debt to you!”
“You don’t have to help me! That’s the best way you can repay me!”
I argued desperately, convinced that this was also probably the doing of that maid, Nanase. If I don’t do something soon, she might just barge in on me while I’m taking a bath next. If that happens, my chastity will be in danger.
“I need to do something about this soon…”
Isn’t it usually the other way around? I muttered to myself, and began to think of a way to turn this tomboyish junior into a proper lady.
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