Ever since I confessed, she has been acting strange. - CHAPTER 5: SUMMER VACATION ARC

Episode 33: What’s the next part-time job?

Let’s take a moment to clarify the situation.

Lately, Ojō-sama has been expanding her world more and more.

Seeing this, I didn’t want my own inexperience to hold her back. So I asked Danna-sama for a summer break and decided to use this time to improve myself.

At some point, Yukimichi had told me, “Living alone will improve you as a person. That might have played a role in my decision.

But despite my intentions, Ojō-sama completely ignored all of that and for some reason decided to move into the apartment next door.

…Why?

It’s no use. Even after trying to sort things out, I still have no idea what’s going on.

Human beings are completely powerless in the face of the overwhelming power of chaos.

With my mind still in turmoil, I took a bath and then ate the curry that Ojō-sama had prepared. It was delicious. She said she bought the ingredients from a nearby supermarket, but it tasted like something a professional chef would make.

“Is it good?”

“Yes. It’s delicious. Very much so.”

“I’m glad. Would you like some more?”

“Yes, please.”

“Here you go.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. It makes me happy to see you enjoying it.”

“That being said… why did you move into the apartment next door?”

“To have a nice, sweet summer vacation… I mean, because I was interested in living alone.”

What the heck? Just now-what was Ojō-sama going to say!?

“B-but… you didn’t have to move right next to my apartment…”

“Well, it’s summer vacation, so I thought I’d take on a new challenge. It’s definitely not like I was looking for the apartment next to yours. It was just a total coincidence, an unexpected stroke of fate. I certainly didn’t shake down Kazami to get him to reveal the details of the room or anything.”

She explained everything with such fluency, as if she was reading from a prepared script!

“Or… did you not want me to be your neighbor?”

“That could never happen, not even if heaven and earth were turned upside down. There is no greater happiness in all three thousand worlds than to have Ojō-sama by my side.”

I can answer this immediately. I can say it with absolute certainty – without the slightest hesitation or doubt.

“I-I see? In that case… yes. I’m relieved.”

Ojō-sama looked truly relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from her heart.

I thought I heard phantom echoes of Yukimichi and Danna-sama groaning or screaming in despair, but that was probably just my imagination.

“Thank you for the food.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

Somehow, I ended up enjoying every last bite of the curry Ojō-sama had prepared.

No matter what dish she prepares, it’s always flawless. Even if this curry were served in a three-star restaurant, no one would question it. It’s so good that I’m beginning to think of curry as a high-class delicacy.

“Oh, don’t worry about the dishes. I’ll clean them right away-I’d rather have them washed quickly.”

“I can’t let you wash the dishes, Ojō-sama. This is my…”

“No way. You’re tired from work, aren’t you? Just take it easy and rest.”

“But…”

“Eito.”

Ojō-sama gently placed her hand over mine as I started to clean up.

“Right now, we are both living on our own, away from the Tendou household, aren’t we? This means that I am not your mistress during the summer vacation. And you are not the Kagehito who serves me.

We are simply ‘Tendou Hoshine’ and ‘Yogiri Kagehito’ here. Isn’t that right?”

The reason I decided to spend this summer break improving myself was because my lady was expanding her own world – because Tendou Hoshine was beginning to move forward as an individual, as a single girl.

That’s right. If I were to cling to our “master-servant relationship” here, I would only be holding her back. That is the one thing I must avoid at all costs.

“You’re right. As you say, my lady.”

I let go of the plates I was about to clear away.

“All right then, I’ll go ahead and wash these dishes.”

“Please do.”

The young lady began to wash the dishes with a look so cheerful that she seemed ready to hum a tune at any moment.

I couldn’t quite understand what was so pleasant about it, but for her it was probably something fresh and new.

After finishing the dishes, the young lady returned to her room, took a bath, and then visited my room again.

“Being alone… I’m not quite used to it.”

She spoke with a hint of embarrassment, looking absolutely adorable – a side of her I rarely got to see in our usual daily routine.

Well, it wasn’t like we had anything special to do.

If anything, ever since I started living alone, I found myself with more free time than I knew what to do with – and it seemed the young lady felt the same way.

Without any real purpose, we just sat together and watched TV lazily.

Now that I think about it, we never really had many opportunities to just sit next to each other and spend time like that.

“…♪”

“You seem to be in a good mood, my lady.”

“Am I? Fufu. Maybe it’s because I get to spend time alone with you like this, without interruptions.”

“Interruptions?”

“Yes. Or, you might call them pesky little thieves with sticky fingers.”

“I don’t remember the Tendou estate ever having a cat.”

“Hey, Kagehito. What do you want to eat tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes. I’ll cook for you again.”

“I couldn’t possibly let you do that, my lady…”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“Understood.”

“Good.”

The young lady looked completely satisfied. Her smile was dazzling, captivating, and so mesmerizing that just looking at her was like being drawn into her world.

“Is there anything you want me to make for you? I’ll cook anything for you.”

“That’s a very tempting offer, but unfortunately I don’t think I’ll be home for dinner tomorrow. I’m sorry.”

“Are you going somewhere?”

“There’s a meal provided at my part-time job.”

“Your part-time job… is it in a restaurant or something?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then what kind of job is it?”

“I’m Otoba-san’s manager.”

“Huh??”

The young lady looks completely shocked. Well, that’s only natural. When someone who’s always served you suddenly says, “I’m going to be your boyfriend’s manager,” you’re naturally surprised. I probably should have explained it better. I have to think about it.

“Please don’t worry, my lady. When I say ‘manager’, I’m just assisting the actual manager.”

“Assistant work… like running errands and stuff?”

“Yes. I’ll be doing various tasks.”

“I-I see. Then I guess there’s nothing to worry about…”

“Rest assured. I won’t do anything disgraceful that would bring shame to the name of Tendou… no, to you, my lady.”

“That part doesn’t really matter, but oh well. Kageto, do your best. I’m cheering for you.”

“Thank you very much.”

“By the way, what exactly are these ‘errands’?”

“I’m helping with Otoha-san’s personal needs.”

“Quit this job immediately.”

“Ojou!? You just said you were cheering for me!”

“Cheering? As if I’d support such a job.”

“Ojou!?”

She says something completely different from before!

“Otoha… you really did it now! Launching an attack using this method…!”

For some reason, Ojou was sulking all by herself.

Now that I think about it, did she not get a chance to hang out with Otoha-san this summer?

…Ah, I see.

Ojou must be feeling lonely because she hasn’t seen Otoha-san. Maybe s(Ojou really isn’t being honest with herself…)

This side of her is what makes her so charming.

He is also frustrated by the fact that I get to meet Otoha-san and she doesn’t.