Gimai Seikatsu's
Vol 1 Chapter 1
“Welcome to our home! … No, not so. —Starting today, we'll live under one roof, okay! … Hmm, it sounds a bit too cringe .. ”
With countless cardboard boxes and new furniture in the corner of my eye, I looked at myself in the mirror reflection, and repeated the same sentence to myself.
It's now around 5pm. I stood in a single room in the flat we rented on the third floor, located in the area where the largest deviation value in all of Japan (slightly exaggerated). Aparetermen of 3 LDK. Just for me and my parents, it must have been too big, but now it would definitely be too small. (TN: LDK words combined from Living room, Dining, Kitchen. So 3LDK means 3 rooms, living room, dining, and kitchen)
For the past five minutes, I've been practicing the expressions and sentences I'm going to show to welcome the new family. You know, this whole premise is ridiculous. I understand how my father bothered to clean and prepare the room that will be used by him and Akiko-san. But why did he send me, a teenager, to prepare the room of a stranger who would be my younger sister from today. It was the only decision I could not understand clearly.
“Anneh... Where do I put it, huh?”
“What's wrong?”
My father was pacing the hallway in a panic, so I called out to him.
“Ah, fitting once. Did you see any room-scenting spray? ”
“It should be in the living room. I used it for curtains yesterday.”
“Ah, there, yes! Thank you!”
I heard the sound of sandals walking down the hall, then towards the living room.
“Why Dad so panicked so?”
“I was looking around the room again, but when I started cleaning up, the smell was very bothersome to me ... I don't want them to think I stink, you know ..."
“Absolutely this father is a SMA girl?”
“When you reach my age, it's a critical blow, okay! You'll understand what I mean when you grow up, Yuuta!”
“I'd appreciate if you had more faith in your own son, you shitty old man.”
Seeing her walk back to her bedroom carrying the room scented spray, her back curled up like a depressed cat, I sighed. If you feel disturbed, why don't you clean it every day? Then again, it might be an overly cruel request against an always busy employee like himself.
“My room is fine... ‘kan?” Thanks to my father's words, I started to feel a little worried.
I made an appointment with Ayase-san that we would not expect anything from each other, but I still did not want her to immediately suffer from the pungent smell from the High School children's room. Therefore, I regularly take care of the sheets, clean, and kiss, so as long as my nose is still normal, everything will be fine.
Since I was satisfied with my daily work, I woke up from my daydream when the doorbell rang.
—So they're already here, yeah.
“Yuuta ~ Can you welcome them first?”
“Ya yes.”
Because my father was still busy removing the possibility of foul smells from his room, so I greeted them at the entrance.
“Sorry for waiting... gu?”
“We are here~”
I try to be as friendly as possible. With a gentle smile, I opened the front door, but in an instant it instantly froze beautifully. The one greeting me was Akiko-san, both of her hands carrying some plastic bags from the convenience store. I could see the groceries and other daily necessities that were about to fall out of the bag, the amount made me quite shocked.
“Um, Akiko-san, what is this.”.
“We will be a family, so I bought all kinds of goods ~”
“But, up to this much…? You really don't need.. ”.
“No need to thank everyone, that's not what happened.”
I heard a slightly upset voice. Standing behind Akiko-san is Saki — Ayase-san (her hands are full of plastic bags as well).
“Mother is the kind of person who hesitates to say no, so she buys all the recommended items from employees.”
“Ah, so that's the reason..”
“Hey, it makes it sound like I'm a useless adult ~”
“Am I wrong?”
“Ehh! That's not true at all, right Yuuta-kun ~ ”
He threw the conversation at me. To be honest, I didn't really appreciate her being so easy to resist being proactive, but when she showed a childish pouting expression to me, then all those complaints immediately sank into my head. That said, just lying about it would weigh heavily on my consciousness. Especially since Ayase-san was looking at me sharply, as if she was telling me not to spoil her mother. It's hard to be on both sides.
“Don't just stand there, come in. I will help bring some stuff too.”
So I decided to ignore it. Wise people once said that to achieve happiness as a single man, sometimes you need the ability to ignore things. Akiko-san didn't even look bothered, and just smiled at me, as she handed over her plastic bag.
“Thank you. You really are a reliable man.”
“Ahaha.” I just laughed dryly at his words of thanks, and turned around.
I offered them both the slippers of the new house I bought lately, and invited them in. When we reached the living room, Akiko-san raised a voice of admiration.
“Mmmm, citrus fruits, they smell great."
“Huh, you actually keep it clean.” Ayase-san looked at the floor and the furniture, and sighed with appreciation.
“Well, we just cleared it in a panic. Usually we don't— "
“This is really as Taichi-san told me. You like to clean. ”
“—The saying that a clean living room produces a healthy mind.” I swallowed my previous words that I was about to say.
Just barely. Judging from the effect, it seems like my idiot father was acting like a saint in order to seduce Akiko-san more easily. Knowing what he had previously experienced with women, and realizing that this could cause destruction very quickly, I instead decided to act for the sake of my father's happiness, and remained silent if my father was berbhing at him.
However, Ayase-san looked at me with a dubious look at the same time.
“Do you always keep it this clean?”
“Of course. Every dust particle deserves to be destroyed, that's our family's motto. ”
“It was a family motto that interfered.”
I'm not lying at all. I just changed a few words from the motto my grandmother always talked about in the countryside. I remember him grinning when he told me.
“Taichi-san is great.” Akiko-san giggles. “He always looks stylish and attractive, but unexpectedly He even keeps his house clean.”
“Stylish... My dad?”
“Accurate once. The first time he came to the store with his boss, he looked a bit plain and not classy, but the second time we met, he was wearing some cologne, he was wearing some cologne, and his tie brand makes him look like a high-end businessman. ”
“Ahhhh.”
It reminds me, there were times when he spent a lot of money on clothes and perfume. I think He bought it all to better fit the adult world, but unexpectedly all his efforts were just for the sake of being able to PDKT with the woman he likes.
“H-Hey, Akiko-san, Saki-chan!”
Just been talked to, my dad just came out of his bedroom. To my surprise, he still held the room-scenting spray in his hand.
“Wah, you..”.
Get rid of what is in your hands now! I'm doing my best here to give you some proper support, but you're ruining it yourself! —I'm trying to convey this with just eye contact. However, it didn't work at all, as my father only showed a smile like he was practicing in front of a mirror, and said the following.
“Welcome to our home! Ki-Ki-Ki-Kita will stay under one roof from here on out! ”
Horrifically. All my life, I've never seen an act that feels worse and fake than this. His choice of words was very bad, He even bit his tongue, and his arrogant face was too pitiful to look at.
“I'm very happy for her warm welcome ~ Here, I brought some gifts!”
“Isn't that raw ham? Great, let's have a ham party later! ”
… Well, after all they are a good match. Akiko-san did not even bother to take the room scented spray in her hands, and my father naturally received a mountain of such items as it was nothing.
“Hei, Asamura-kun.”
“Hm?”
“I want to see my room. Can you take me there? ”
“A-Ah, sure.”
Ayase-san and I left the grocery bag in the living room and headed to her new room.
“This is it, here.”
“Hah, so here..”.
“I've prepared the curtains and bedding, but I don't know what color you like for the sheets, so if you want to replace them, please. I set the table on the side of the window but if you want to move it, let me know. ”
“Thank you. You really prepared everything. ” He quickly walked past me and walked to the middle of the room.
His tone was somewhat indifferent, but his eyes were filled with curiosity, like a cat walking around at night. In front of me stood a normal girl now. Coupled with her hairstyle and clothes, I couldn't help but admire her beauty anymore. Whether it was shampoo, perfume, pheromones, or even the imagination of a virgin man like myself, sweet scents filled the room like never before.
“It's huge once.” The girl turned around.
“Maybe. I think it's pretty normal.”
“We previously lived in a small apartment. One room is six tatami mats, and I don't even have my own room.”
“So you have a futon, and sleep in the same room... right?”
It makes sense why their furniture is fairly new.
“Not really. When I sleep, I can monopolize the room for myself. At that time, Mom was busy with work at night, so our lifestyle rhythms were practically reversed. ”
“I think it's much easier than suddenly living with two men .. forgive me.”
“... It's okay, but one thing..”.
“What?”
“Itu.”
“Eh?”
“Why is your way of speaking always formal? Of course, if it is because of personality or religious beliefs, then it does not matter.”
I'm not part of a suspicious sect, okay. I have just accepted the rule of society to use formal speech against people I have hardly met, as this has been etched into my mind unconsciously at birth.
“Even if you ask my reason..”.
“We are the same age, so why not make it more relaxing? I don't want you to be too considerate or anything.”
“I did it exactly because we are the same age.”.
“Hah? Isn't it weird being so polite to your classmates or close friends? ”
“It's just the logic of the strong, it doesn't work for me.”
You have to remember that, in my 17 years of life, I rarely interacted with a girl. Especially with a flashy type like Ayase-san. He made it sound very simple, but for someone with a prerequisite like myself, it was not an easy hurdle to overcome.
“Really? Well, I don't want to force what you're doing, Asamura-kun. I just don't want you to think too much of me.”
“Actually I do not plan to do so ... Ahh." In the middle of the sentence, I thought of something.
We promised each other not to expect too much. It happened on the first day that Ayase-san and I met. I thought about the meaning, and asked the girl.
“I think it would be better to confirm that soon, but... Would you rather I stop talking so formally?”
“To be honest, this will make me more relaxed. I am also not an important person worthy of respect.”
“Alright, then I'll stop it.” I shrugged my shoulders, like I said.
Ayase-san opened wide in surprise.
“Your attitude changes quickly.”
“Well, treating you like a friend for years is still impossible, but because you asked for it. Not to mention it's more convenient for me too.”
“So yes. Just like I thought. " Ayase-san smiled. Normally, her tone and expression were always flat and quite cold, but for the first time I felt like I could see her soft side.
“It is very helpful if we can 'customize' easily.”
“' adjust , yes. That's one way to express it.”
That's what Ayase-san and I just did. First, Ayase-san considered the idea that I might be part of a religious group that only uses polite language, and offered me to cancel it because she didn't need it. Then, I realized that it was his wish that I would not speak so politely, and when I gave YA, he looked relieved and happy.
Is this a normal conversation and communication you can find anywhere? I don't know. But for me, from a personal point of view, this is the first time such 'adjustments' have happened. In most cases, the person you are talking to asks for understanding and sympathy.
If you don't explain it, then I can't understand how you feel! Why can't you understand that when you say this, you make me angry! —And so on. Even though you can't peek into other people's brains, they're all asking for the impossible. So why not be more honest from the start?
If you say this and that, you'll make me angry. I appreciate this and that. I see, then let's do it like this — Don't expect others to understand you, and look for information that can solve the problem.
“If only all of humanity could be this honest and forthright with others. Just like you and me, Asamura-kun. ”
“You can say it again.”
I don't understand why he doesn't like formal language. But, as long as I know she feels that way, I can adjust, and make her more comfortable. It is very impersonal, and mechanical. If all of humanity were to honestly adjust their feelings for each other, the world would be a better place, but unfortunately society does not work that easily.
“When I approached my friends at school with such an attitude, they just laughed at me with 'What the fuck, nawarin a work agreement?', and ignored him.”
“It sounds rough.”
“Yes. That's why I cut all ties with all of them.”
“Ohh... passable also your action.”.
Can't judge whether he's brave or just indifferent, really. But, seeing him tell me with a smile so gave off a strange impression of credibility.
“I just cut off the relationship with the person who really deserves it, or is not important. Wasting time dealing with people who don't know when I can step on landmines, and make them mad at me.”
“Indeed.. Speaking of wasting time, just standing here won't solve anything. Do I need to help you transport your things? ”
“You are indeed very good”.
“Making debt early will help me in the long run. It's equally beneficial for me.”
“Good thinking path.”
“Do not tease me like that, do you want..”.
“I try to praise you. Well, what should I ask of you to help me. ”Ayase-san looked around the room, looking for something. “First of all, I want to save some stuff. Do you have a cutter? ”
“Ada.” I immediately went back to my own room, picked up the cutter, and walked towards the carton box he had pointed at.
“Ah, just give it to me, I will do it myself.”
“Do not worry, I told you I would help.”
“No, that's not the problem. There—”
I heard Ayase-san's voice behind me, but my hand had already moved to open the tape. Soon, the cardboard box opened slowly, revealing a white cloth. Right then, I regret not listening to Ayase-san's words.
“—It was my outfit.”
“I really wish you'd told me sooner!” I turned my back on the object I had seen, and frantically moved away.
Of course, Ayase-san immediately laughed at the reaction of such a virgin.
“Ahaha, you don't have to treat it like a cursed object. It hurts my heart, you know?”
“The saying is poison for the eyes, ‘kan? For a teenage boy my age, this is tantamount to poison, in the sense of many things.”
“Only if I wore it a moment ago. After washing, this is basically the same as a handkerchief, really. ”
“Stop showing them like that, I beg you.”
Even though I knew that the thing he was waving was only a white cloth, it still made me feel strange. I think we're both relatively on the same level in terms of our values in human relationships, but I think there's a rift that differentiates between us.
“I'll take care of my underwear, so can you put my uniform on the hanger?”
“I feel uniform it is also quite stimulating.”
“Don't get too passionate, yeah. There's nothing more you can help. Ignore that, and work. ”
“Y-Yes. I'm calm. Calm and calm.” I kept telling myself, and grabbed her uniform.
Shirts, skirts, cardigans, and all this felt soft to a degree that made me more self-conscious.
“Hah?” Hand stopped.
The green-leafed school uniform tie entered my field of view, and I felt a sense of deja-vu.
“This... Ayase-san, are you a student of Suisei High School?”
“Yup, correct. Are you surprised to see a gyaru girl like me attending such a prestigious school? ”
“That's not what surprised me ... I also entered at Suisei.” High School
Suisei High School. One of the many departmental schools in the Shibuya district, as well as the school with the highest success rate towards higher universities, is filled with high-achieving students. Strict in learning, as long as you manage to keep your grades high enough, you receive permission even to work part-time, and because of these flexible rules, I chose the school.
It was unexpected that the half-sister I happened to get after my father remarried turned out to be the same age as me, and even went to the same school. How coincidentally does this destiny work? The only blessing in all of that is the fact that he is not my class. It would be very awkward if that was the case.
I wondered what Ayase-san was reacting to, and as it turned out, she seemed to be daydreaming about something.
“So Asamura-kun is from Suisei as well.. Hmm..”.
“... I feel bad. My dad never really checked anything.”
“It's okay. My mother is the same. No need to apologize. ”
“But it must be awkward, right? I'll try to act like we don't know each other in school.”
“Hah? No, I don't mind that. I mean, if you're more comfortable with that, so be it. ”
“What are you—”
My words were interrupted by a phone call buzzing in my pocket. I want to know who will call me at a time like this, but the screen shows the inscription ‘Kerja’.
“Please, just lift. I don't want to keep you here or anything. I also don't mind if it's in front of me. "
“We really get along well, yes.” I said so, appreciating his words from the bottom of my heart, and stepped out of the room, accepting the call.
Because at a time like this, I think it's because there's a gap in our shift work schedule, and they need me to help. In fact, it was like that, so I just answered “ya, yes, yes”, and agreed.
“What do they say?” He asked, indifferently.
“They need me at work. Sorry, I can't stay long and help you.”
“It's okay, from the beginning it was my job.”
Since this is an urgent situation, Ayase-san shows no signs of being upset. Even though she was a girl my age, beautiful, and glamorous, someone that would definitely be hard for me to talk to, she said, the reason why I was able to keep the conversation so quiet right now was probably because of her calm atmosphere, and sensitive attitude. She doesn't feel like a girl my age, but more like an adult.
“Then, I go first.”
“Yup, be careful.”
With a flat farewell, he resumed his duties. The scenery could not be far from what people imagined when they heard the 'sister woman'. However, to me, this was a reason to feel relieved, allowing me to leave the room without any complicated feelings.
The bookshop I work at is located near Shibuya train station. Stepping out of the Hachikou exit, walk across the junction scrambling with various tourists and YouTube users who record themselves and take your picture. With all the mobile game ads ringing in your ears, once you get inside the eight-story building, that's where I work, as a bookstore employee.
I've always loved books since I was a kid, be it children's literature or something from abroad, I tried almost every genre. Not only did I read it, I also spent a lot of books. I bit him, until I digested him. That was why, working in such a place, with all kinds of new book exodus around me, felt like heaven.
Books are good. Books show you all kinds of other people's lives. The book offers an experience that Asamura Yuuta would normally never be able to feel. Of course, this is not just a story. There are autobiographies, and business books as well. By reading many books, knowledge and experience fills your head, making an impact on it.
Narrow thinking, excessive arrogance and arrogance, narcissism. By reading books, and the meta-knowledge you gain, you can avoid suffering from these shameful personality traits, and maybe that's how I do it too; all thanks to books.
The average adult brain weighs about 1,400 grams. You'd think that this was enough to make room for common sense, but it didn't happen to a lot of people, which honestly scared me to think about it.
If I don't read books, I could end up like them too.
8 O'clock at night. I started working around 6pm, and these two hours passed very quickly after facing the usual weekend customer storm. By the time the number of customers started to decrease slightly, and while thinking I could finally take a breath, just focusing on fixing the book cover at the cashier, I was interrupted by the sight of 'that kind of thing'.
“Woah, Miss, you really are my type. I fell in love with you at first sight.”
“What are you happy to search for books?”
“Eh, why are you so sweet? How about we go eat after your work is done? When are you done? ”
“I don't want to at a name like that, can you tell me more some details?
“What are you talking about, lol. You're so funny, haha. ”
The flashy hoodlum man tried very hard to seduce the female employee. He did not even respond to the irony of the girl, not shrinking at all. This was a familiar sight in Shibuya, but seeing it happen in a real store, not to mention insistent so, was a rare sight.
The seduced girl is the perfect model of the image of a Yamato Nadeshiko with long black hair. A literary, innocent and polite girl — adds the idea of it to her beautiful appearance and the sweet fragrance that floats around her, she is obviously on a different level than girls in general. Even during this (to be honest very bad) meray effort, he still smiled gently, not looking annoyed or disgusted in the slightest. It is a way of serving the customer perfectly. However, his eyes did not smile at all.
I really don't want any trouble, but…
With that thought in mind, I headed to the source of the commotion, while carrying a list of items in.
“Yomiuri-san, there is something I need to ask.”
“Ah, yes! What is it?”
“About a list of new items. I don't know how to check it with information from PC.”
“…! Okay, I'll be there soon.”
“What, hey!”
The girl seemed to understand what I meant, and walked away from the place, leaving behind a confused man. The man tried to grab her slender wrist, but only hit the stack of lists I had in my hand.
“Do you have any more business with my Yomiuri-san?”
“Eh?”
Of course, we're not in that kind of relationship. It was just an act of making the man give up. After freezing with his mouth open, the man clapped his hands, and suddenly looked down apologetically.
“I'm not so good when it comes to reading moods, so so it seems! It makes sense that a beautiful woman like her already has a boyfriend, okay.”
“Eh. Ah, alright.”
To be honest, I was dumbfounded. Judging from all the types of delinquents I've read, I thought He'd be aggressive, insulting us, or something, but actually He pulled away pretty easily. Then again, maybe only he behaves that way.
“Bro, you better appreciate it. Be happy!” He left behind a few words of encouragement, and walked out of the store.
Now that the commotion was gone, silence returned to the store. Realizing that we had attracted the attention of other customers, I tried to hide my reddened ears, lowered my head, and returned to the cash register.
“Thank you, Kouhai-kun. I was really helped earlier. Also, if the man is going to give up this easily, why is he even insistent on it to seduce me... Right ‘kan, my dear boyfriend? ”
“Please stop it.”
“Don't last night, our love only lasts a minute? Sadness.”
When it was just the two of us again, his customer service smile had disappeared, and he just stuck out his tongue with a teasing grin. He bit the signboard between his teeth, only now putting it on the right side of his uniform. There, I can read the name 'Yomiuri Shiori'.
“Are we not supposed to keep putting up that signboard during our working hours?”
“This is one of the special strategies.” Yomiuri-senpai placed one finger on her lips, winking, as if she told me to keep it a secret. “Rules are there to keep the organization running smoothly, right? If He spreads my name to others, we will be visited by many of the types of people like him.”
“Caused, anyway.”
(behhh, steady) btw this Author:v
He was definitely not the type to let others play with him. To be honest, I think this creativity and wise thinking is his biggest attraction, but I think most men in this world seem to disagree with me.
“That was the third time this month, yes.”
“It's new date 7, so we are on speed every two days once.”
“Dan third time while working. How can I focus like this? ” Yomiuri-senpai hides from the eyes of the customer behind the cashier, sighs defeated.
“If only they stopped doing it in-store. Every time I try to help, you always tease me right after. But well, I'm used to.”.
“As usual, thank you very much. You are truly reliable, Kouhai-kun. ”
“... Sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel like you owe me something.”
“It's okay. You helped me a lot, so I'm the same. ” He laughed, and patted me on the shoulder.
Yomiuri-senpai may seem like Yamato Nadeshiko's ideal figure, but when it was just the two of us during the shift, she would often flirt like that, or use a fairly casual tone. At first, I was a bit confused to respond to her due to her vague distance, and frequent physical contact, but so understanding that that was how her character was at work, it was easy to get along with her.
“You are always popular as always. That's probably because you're so pretty, Senpai.”
“Kouhai-kun.. If you keep praising me like this so easily, you might end up like that person now.”
“Don't scare me like that, yeah.”
“Well, I don't think it's because of my appearance, isn't it just because I look sloppy with a little push?”
“Seeing haphazard ..” Because of her outspoken and forthright manner of expression, I was speechless.
She does look innocent, but she's mature enough, I guess. This Shibuya town has what you can call a perverted touch, making people like that man a misunderstanding. I can imagine a lot of men here aiming at a woman who has no experience with men, which they can get with a little push. Not to mention he never really held back his words ...
“Say, Kouhai-kun. I've been smelling a woman's scent from you all this time. Don't you have a boyfriend or something? ”
He even had a bit of a sadistic tendency.
“Do not joke like that, please.. But, does my smell really smell?”
“Filled with foul smell. How many hours do you spend gathering such a strong aroma?”
“Let me go home early. I'm going home and shower first.”
“Ahhh, I was just kidding doang. Don't leave me aloneaaaaaaaaaan ~ ”
I tried to inhale the scent from my clothes, and pretended to walk home, when Yomiuri-senpai hugged me. Right now, only he and I are working. Even though we made it through rush hour, asking him to do the rest was too cruel. Therefore, I was just playing around with him, and never really intended to go home.
“Only, you've told me before, so I'm a little curious.”
“Ahhh..”.
Now that he mentioned it, I actually asked him for some advice. After I found out that my step-sister was actually a girl of the same age, I wasn't sure how to treat her, and what kind of attitude I should take. Since Yomiuri-senpai was the only girl around me that I could talk to easily, I asked her for some tips. Of course, I was ridiculed, made fun of, and didn't get any useful information.
“I can't comment anything just because she's a girl. People have different personalities, hobbies, and values.”
That was his opinion, and it made a lot of sense, so I couldn't complain at all.
“Dan, how are you? Is she cute?”
“I mean, I feel uncomfortable seeing it that way.”
“I know you are not the aggressive type who would be happy with such a situation. I'm speaking from an objective point of view.”
“... I think she's beautiful.” I answered honestly.
I have trouble saying that. After all, she will be my family from today, so when I look at her in an objective way, guilt fills my chest, making me feel uneasy. In terms of human relationships, he was someone who shared a lot of thoughts with me, but he was a member of the world that never came into contact with me.
She is quite fashionable, has a cute yet charming face, beautiful blonde hair, and the clothes and accessories she wears perfectly complement her appearance. He was clearly different from a side character like myself, someone standing in the sun. Rather than being pleased with the compliments I could say to her, she might just find it disgusting.
“Fiuh, live together with such a beautiful girl, you are very lucky.”
“Nothing will happen.”
“Not going to happen?”
“Can't you make such a dirty joke? That's really your bad habit.”
“I always go in a girls' school, so how else.”
“My impression of a girls' school has decreased.”.
“That's the truth.”
“... Serious?”
“Well, that's up to you believe it or not.. okay?” He spoke as if he was talking about an urban legend and blinked at me.
In my head, I chose the latter. I want to keep my image of yuri romance growing up in a girls' school.
“Yes, I myself am also a man, so I had such thoughts. But, honestly, I don't even have time to think of all these evil thoughts.”
“Hmmm?”
“Try thinking about that. I live under one roof with members who are the same age, and different genders. It's too complicated for me, who's never had this kind of contact before.”
“So I'm not even a girl in your eyes?”
“After all, your heart is like a man.”
“Ahahah! Heeeey, it's not that it's too cruel! I mean, I can understand what you mean, but still! ”
“You are like a friend, or a reliable Senpai.”
He always makes dirty jokes too ...
“Ahahaha... haaaah. From the conversation just now, I found that your skills in dealing with women are very bad. ”
“... I won't comment anything.”
Not that I could comment on that from the beginning.
“To be honest, I'm confused. What kind of attitude is suitable for us as brothers? How much attention do I have on him? These worries filled my head, I didn't even have time to enjoy this situation.”
“Act as usual, Kouhai-kun.”
“Not later will I be hated for this?”
“Do you hate my natural behavior?”
“...Not too.”
“See!”
“But, you are a beautiful girl, Yomiuri-senpai..Your natural attitude and I cannot even compare.”.
“It was a terrible self-evaluation. I actually like you a lot, Kouhai-kun. ”
“But you are a freak, Yomiuri-senpai.”.
“Hey now, you used a completely opposite word in just an instant. But, I like that. Feels very artistic.”
“That's what I mean.”
Amidst the conversation, his face turned into a critic, as he nodded to himself. According to her, as a literary girl, she continues to seek out beautiful rhetoric in her everyday conversations. I don't understand how this relates to him trying a slovenly joke during the day, but I swallowed the doubt.
As I felt a little defeated at the thought of a middle-aged man sleeping inside a beautiful literary girl like her, Yomiruri-senpai stepped away with 'Alright', she said', and came back with a book in his hand.
“Here, I recommend this.”
“Your Men and Women'?”
“This is a psychological study that includes data and advice on how to get along with others — especially when they are of the opposite sex. That would be a good reference, right? ”
“It sounds interesting.”
I quickly flipped through the pages of the book, and said so. Just by looking at the contents, I realized that this book would definitely help me a lot.
According to the contents of this book, you need to understand others. After that, you need to understand yourself. To get to that stage, you need to get an objective view of yourself. I've read something similar in other books before. That's why I started trying to look at myself objectively, and this isn't something entirely new to me. However, there is one part of this book that really caught my attention.
“If you want to be better at looking at yourself objectively, start writing a diary!”
That's a method I can use right away. Just from reading that, I felt interested. Yomiuri-senpai apparently heard it, and showed a succubus-style grin.
“Let me tell you, I've already tested the effect of the book, and the boys are seriously doing it.”
“You ever used it before?”
“Much credibility, isn't it? I mean, you and I are fine. ”
“Ya, it's quite convincing.”
One proof means more than one hundred deductions. Rather than hearing the chatter of fat people about dieting, you prefer to trust former fat people who undergo rigorous training and often do fitness. So, I decided to buy the book.
After my shift ended, after I finished changing uniforms, I bought a book from Yomiuri-senpai, whose shift lasted until midnight. Unlike me, the high school boy who was only allowed to work until 10 p.m., he was still confined there. I took the book from him, put it in my bag, and just as I was about to leave, I turned around again.
“If someone like before tries to seduce you again, contact me anytime. My bike is always itching to roar.”
For a moment, Yomiuri-senpai looked puzzled. That expression however changed rapidly, as she showed a happy grin.
“Wahh male once ~ Then, I'll call you, then police.”
“Please make the opposite.”
If you're going to call the police in the first place, don't bother contacting your Kohai.
By the time I got home, the time was 10 p.m. On the way home, I balanced the bike with one hand, while looking for an app I could use to keep a diary, which is why downloading took longer than usual. I kept my beloved bike in the bike room, climbed to the third floor in an elevator, when I was attacked by guilt again.
Normally, I go home casually, but I don't remember telling Akiko-san or Ayase-san about how long I'm going to work. I wish my father had given them, but I cannot expect such support.
Given the possibility that my family was asleep, I carefully opened the door, and headed to the living room as slowly as possible. I could see the light burning through the glass door that was covered in clouds, so someone was still awake. Feeling my body tense, I headed inside. Apparently, Ayase-san was sitting alone on the sofa.
I thought it was hot chocolate or something, because a faint vapor came out of the cup he was holding. He was looking at his phone, expressionless, probably looking through social media. Or maybe send a message to some people. A fella? A boyfriend? With a pretty face and easy to talk to, it sounds very possible.
“I'm home.”
“Eh? Ah, ja. ” He looked up from his phone, giving me a slightly surprised reaction.
Rather than being vague, he seemed to be surprised, unsure of what to say. Like a stranger who had just asked for directions to an area he was not too familiar with.
“... Ayase-san?”
“Sorry, I'm not used to actually hearing it, so I'm not sure how to respond to it.”
“Ahh. Because you live a very different lifestyle. ”
She once mentioned that since Akiko-san always works at night, their sleep time is never the same, huh. When I first heard about it, I just thought 'I guess that kind of family exists too', but realizing what it really means now, I felt my chest tighten.
“What's with your serious expression?” Ayase-san showed a wry laugh.
It seemed like my inner thoughts were completely exposed clearly on my face.
“Take it easy. I wasn't treated badly or anything. He came home when I went to school, slept and finished whatever business he had, and when I got home, he was already off to work. For us, it is our normal routine. ”
“You seem pretty close even though your routine is so.”
“After all, we are mother and son. Today, we went shopping together after such a long time, it was a lot of fun. ” Or so he said, but his voice did not offer any special intonation, the expression on his face was still flat.
I only listened to her reason, as she spoke of the past in a very dry tone. The reason I don't feel a lonely feel from him is probably because he's used to it. We're talking about single parents, and high school girls. I know I'm not someone who can talk sweet, but I personally won't feel too unable to see my parents for a while.
More importantly, it seemed like I was bothering her when she was busy calling. Feeling miserable, and regretful, I wanted to go and hide in my own room.
“I thought to shower then go to sleep ..”
“Please. I'm fine being the last. I always stay up late. ”
“Alright, Gotcha.”
As I walked into my own room and prepared to take a bath, I thought of Ayase-san's last words. He doesn't mind the last shower. He also had no problem with sleeping in the middle of the night. I mean, it makes sense if you think about it. He wouldn't want the boy he just met, much less have to live together now, use the bath water he just used, and go to sleep first, he made himself helpless in the presence of a teenage boy. If so, then the longer I take a shower, the longer the night.
—I don't think you need to linger in the bathroom anymore.
Having decided on this, I only needed s10 minutes to bathe from the usual thirty minutes, and I used the remaining twenty minutes to empty the bathtub, he said, fill it with fresh warm water. I really don't know how to behave around her, but at the very least, I want to make her as comfortable as possible in her new home.
As a result, even though you may be expecting something after reading too many romcoms, no thrilling and exciting event happened on the first night we slept under one roof. As I have stated in the prologue to this story, everyday life with a stepbrother is very different from what is shown in manga, light novels, or games.
Even so, that doesn't mean I didn't realize that there was an opposite sex sleeping not far away a few meters away from me, which is why I had trouble sleeping.
When I woke up the next morning, Ayase-san had already prepared everything herself, sitting in the living room, so there were no thrilling exciting events to discover. However
“Pagi. Sleep well? ” He asked me.
“Thank you for your sleep I got pretty good.”
“Sama here. The warm water is perfect, thank you very much. ”
—I was able to capture the charm of Ayase-san as a normal human even through such a trivial conversation, and although it might not be the same as all the conversations in the fiction, it was, I found myself thinking that my relationship with my stepbrother was not that bad.
Chapter 1 End (^^)
