Onna Doushi to ka Arienai deshou to Iiharu Onna no ko wo, Hyakunichi kan de Tetteiteki ni Otosu Yuri

Chapter 2.3

[I’m back~]

I came back to the apartment with Aya, who had come to pick me up at the station.

I quickly take off my shoes and open my arms to Aya, who comes behind me.

[And then… Welcome back, Aya!]

Aya was a little surprised, and then she mumbled shyly.

[I-I’m home… Marika]

[Yeah]

I’m really happy. Coming home to your loved ones… Ah~ This is bliss… Since we’re in this kind of situation… Do you want to kiss me or something?

But nothing happened. Aya walked past me and said, [Dinner’s ready], and went to the living room. Aya… You’re embarrassed, aren’t you? I have a lot of time on my hands right now, so that’s fine.

I was pleased to see a pair of black loafers neatly arranged at the entrance. So I lined up mine next to Aya’s, and went into the living room in a happy mood.

The living room was warm, and the scent of milk wafted through the air.

[Wow, what’s that? Cream Stew?]
[Correct. I’ll have it ready for you. So go ahead and change first.]
[Oka~ay]

I went into my cold room and changed into my loungewear. I put on a large sweater, border pants, and thick socks. And then, I came back to the living room finding cream stew, a baguette, and potato salad on the table.

[Wow, amazing. It’s Aya’s handmade cooking!]
[The baguette is bought from the store though.]
[It’s fine. We don’t have any bread machines either.]

I sat down in front of Aya. Ehehe, it looks delicious!

[It’s amazing huh… The fact that Aya can cook… I only help out my mom once in a while, but I can’t cook much, so I respect you.]

[I don’t have a lot of repertoire, I only make my own food once in a while]

[Ehehe… Anyway, without further ado, Itadakimasu~!] (TN: There’s no way that you don’t know this word, right?)

I took a spoonful of cream stew filled with vegetables and ate it. It was sweet and delicious. One thing I realized after eating Aya’s cream stew. She likes to have a lot of broccoli in her stew.

[Mhm~ It’s so good! I’m so hungry from my part-time job, so I can eat as much as I want!]

[There’s more than enough for tomorrow’s breakfast, so you can eat as much as you want.]

[Ya~y!]

I clapped my hands to show how happy I am towards Aya.

Aya had a softer smile on her face than usual when she saw me eating. I’m happy because Aya’s cooking is delicious while Aya is also happy to see me eat well. What a (convenient) win-win relationship!

That night, we were having a nice meal, eating stew with baguette, and picking at potato salad made from leftover potatoes.

And then, the doorbell rang.

[Oh, it’s your aunt. She said that she’d come to check on us today, so I’m going to greet her.]

[Ah yes, I should say hello as well.]

I don’t remember anything about this, but I think my mom was the one telling Aya about this. And then, I got up from my seat.

I checked the intercom. Just like Aya said, It was my aunt. I unlocked the auto-lock at the entrance of the apartment and waited for a while, then the doorbell rang once again.

When I opened the front door, my aunt raised her hand and said, “Hi”. She looked young and cute, wearing a khaki trench coat and her hair neatly done around her shoulders. She’s my mom’s sister, so she should be in her late thirties, but she looks like she’s in her twenties.

[Sorry for bothering you~]

[No, it’s okay, since you’re someone close to me. But my sister is too worried. I mean, Marika-chan, you’re already a high school student.]

[I know right~]

My aunt has always treated me like a grown-up woman, which makes me feel both happy and embarrassed.

And then, my aunt turned her eyes to the girl next to me.

[It’s nice to meet you. To have such a beautiful girl staying with you Marika, I’m happy for you.]

[I’m Fuwa Aya. I’m indebted to you.]

Aya bowed her head politely.

[Also, I’ve heard that you’re really strong, that’s great. When Marika was born, I kinda wanted her to learn some kind of martial arts, too. It’s cool, but she didn’t want to because Marika was afraid of getting hurt. But when I look at you, I think I should’ve made you done it, Marika,]

Well, that thing did happen in the past. But looking at Aya, her posture is always good and her body is well-developed as well, I think I should’ve done the same.

[You’re exaggerating it]

My aunt laughed at Aya and held out a plastic bag to me.

[Well then, I’m just going to leave for now. My place is 20 minutes away from here, so let me know if you need anything. Here’s some souvenirs]

Inside the bags, there were calorie mates and weider in Jelly in it. Auntie, I appreciate your concern but… aren’t these foods meant for writers or mangaka near the deadline?

Aya stopped my aunt when my aunt was about to leave. I think Aya wonders if she really came only to check on me.

[Wait]

[Hm?]

The atmosphere was as serious as a confession in the confession room.

[I’ll definitely protect Marika. So be rest assured, I’ll definitely protect her.]

After a brief moment, my aunt’s laughter burst out.

Eh, what is this situation? I’m totally embarrassed right now.

[You don’t have to be nervous around me. But thank you for convincing me. That line was something like you’re asking “can I take your daughter?”, wasn’t it? High school girls are really close, huh~]

After laughing for a while, my aunt bid farewell to us and left…

[Hmm… Aya…]

When I looked at Aya in embarrassment, her cheeks were also red.

[Yeah, I’ll do my best… I will]

I turned on my heel and followed Aya as she hurriedly returned to the living room.

[But like my aunt said, you don’t have to get too worked up. I’m having a lot of fun with Aya coming to stay with us.]

[…]

Eh, why are you quiet now?

When we returned to the dining table and faced each other, Aya’s expression was stiff.

[Hey, Aya, what’s wrong?]

[What is?]

[No, what’s more, the air is chilly… Do you have a stomachache?]

[No, I’m fine.]

Your face doesn’t really show that you’re fine. I put my hand on the dining table and extend it towards Aya.

[Here, Aya. Hand.]

[…No, we can’t do that, Marika.]

A straightforward rejection. Eh!?

[Why!? What did I do!?]

[Y-Yeah, that’s not what I meant. But I swore to her mother. I have to do it right.]

Aya speaks up with the seriousness of a desperate commander whose city has been surrounded by enemy soldiers.

[I have to protect Marika. It’s not good for me to have thoughts like that. That’s why I’m not going to have any evil thoughts.]

[O-Oh.]

[That’s why.]

[…Ummm…No sorry, I don’t get it.]

Aya clenched her fist tightly, like she was squeezing an apple.

[No matter what kind of villainous, violent, or atrocious people appear, I will protect you with all my might. That’s what my power is for. For today, for this day.]

[This is modern Japan!]

I shake the passionate Aya. Wake up!

According to my talk with Sae, Aya is feeling guilty.

But this is totally different. It’s not like I’m overreacting. How did this happen?

[Aya is not like this! It’s more like she lives her life at her own pace, unhurriedly! She has no sense of responsibility, no sense of duty… and so…]

My tone of voice became weaker and weaker.

Aya cares about me in a special way. I understand that. And Aya is the kind of person who wouldn’t mind paying a million yen for a special someone. She’s always been like this when she’s turned on.

[So, you’re saying, you’re not going to do anything with me for the rest of the week?]

Aya nodded deeply, heavily and quietly.

[Because I swore to your mother. I will never touch you. During this week, I will only be a weapon to protect you.]

How could this be! I was so excited to be living with my girlfriend for a week, but it turns out she was actually a weapon…

I-I’m really disappointed…

The dream life I had drawn in the sky was crumbling into a heap.

I don’t know what to do, I don’t know what to do.

[So you don’t have to worry about anything. Just go on as usual. I will make every effort to maintain the rhythm of your life. That’s my pledge to you.]

[Eh…]

A small, thin scream escaped from my mouth.

[Spoiling, couldn’t you be more relaxed…?]

[If just moderate.]

I’m not on the public morals committee…

Once we took the dishes down and washed them, we faced each other again at the table.

Because I can’t give up… I will unilaterally ring the bell for a lover’s quarrel!

[If Aya is so distant, no one will benefit from it! It’s not like Aya wants to do it, right!?]

[As long as I’ve come to stay here as Marika’s bodyguard, I think it’s my sincerity to your mother to abide by it.]

[You’re too stubborn! It’s okay!　It’s not every day we get a chance like this. This could be our last chance to spend a week together in high school, and all you want to do is be a guardian!?]

When I said this, Aya nodded, keeping her various emotions bottled up deep in her eyes.

[It’s okay. I won’t regret it. I love you so much.]

[I-I don’t get it…]

[It’s fine, you don’t have to understand.]

Aya, who speaks with logic, and I, who speaks with emotion, clash with each other.

Well, that is the ‘right’ thing to do for Aya. But I’m not convinced… That is not really important…

The referee, Karen-san, is not here. I have to persuade Aya to make me happy. But it’s infinitely more difficult to persuade Aya when she’s like this. In the first place, I usually can’t beat Aya with my words…

So what do I do? It’s obvious. I’m going to attack her weak points!

[…Heh, I see, fum… So Aya doesn’t want to make out with me.]

When I stared at her with half-lidded eyes, Aya’s brow furrowed as if she was in a bit of trouble.

[No one said anything about that.]

[It means that the promise you made to my mother is more important than my feelings. If that’s the case, then one side takes more importance than the other, don’t you think?]

[Marika, that’s a sly way of putting it.]

She accuses me, and I look away. I know, but! But in order for me to win over Aya, I have no choice but to tweak her emotional side…

[I was so happy when Aya said she was coming to stay with me…]

[I’m happy to be with Marika, too.]

[I wonder if that’s true. You don’t want to do anything like that with me, do you? I was so happy for you to…]

If Aya really said, “No, I don’t want to,” I would have spent the night crying and wetting my face with emptiness, but that didn’t happen. I’m glad.

[There’s never a moment when I don’t want to.]

Isn’t that a little scary!?

I gave Aya an exaggerated sigh when she said it with a bit of annoyance.

[But words alone are not enough. In fact, you’ve decided not to do anything for a week, right? I feel like that’s really sad…]

[I’ve learned patience and the will to do what I set my mind to from martial arts.]

Seriously? I wish she wasn’t doing martial arts… But then Aya wouldn’t be able to come stay at my house. Goodness.

[It’s more like.]

Aya stared at me intently.

[Marika, are you anticipating something to happen?]

[What?]

It caught me off guard and made me nervous.

[W-Well, I guess? Yeah, it’s like I was expecting it or anything. I’m not really sure what you mean by that, though?]

[You sound a little suspicious.]

I turned my head away, my face burning.

[Well, I guess… I thought that if Aya was coming to stay with me, it would naturally turn out that way. Then, I guess I can’t help it. If Aya had asked for it, it’s my duty as her lover to give it to her.]

[Is that what you think? Marika.]

Aya’s gaze caught me and wouldn’t let me go. In fact, if I shake my head at this point, will Aya do it with me…? I’ve got a feeling she’s going to do it…!

It’s not like Aya promised my mom that she wouldn’t ‘have s*x with Marika.’ It was Aya who made the ban on her own accord.

And that, Aya has a soft spot for me for some reason! All right, I coughed and cleared my throat.

[Y-Yes, I did. Well, I guess I did. I wanted to, didn’t I?]

[Hmm. I see.]

I felt the sweat on the back of my neck as I listened to her cold, nonchalant banter.

Wasn’t that enough?

Eh, oh no, I want you to do it… My impatient feelings flowed out of my mouth in the form of words.

[B-But? Aya doesn’t have much courage, surprisingly. You get nervous just because you’re at your girlfriend’s house, and you can’t act like you normally do.]

That’s enough. I had said what I needed to say.

When I’ve come this far, it’s more embarrassing to end up halfway there.

That’s when I heard the humidifier beeping. It was the sound of the humidifier running out of water that I had filled it with in the morning. But it sounded like the sound of my shame bursting out.

[I think you’re just trying to be cool by saying you swore to my mother that you’d be too nervous to attack me anyway. I’m always okay with it. Of course, if there was such a cute girl in front of me, I could understand why you would be scared. You’re so pathetic.]

I can hear the mysterious “Who’s the cute girl?’ Quiet! It’s all for the sake of getting Aya to get mad!

[In the end, Aya was just a little pervert who always went to her room to have s*x and was useless unless it was in her own room. You only got off on it because it was in her territory. Well, isn’t that pathetic, how shameful. Don’t you feel bad that I’ve told you so much? If you’re so frustrated, go ahead and attack me. Oh, that’s impossible, because Aya is a mental fool, you know? I’ll always accept you, though. Oh, I’m still okay with the hentai, but not the small fry. Lame!]

Look, a lure! That’s what a lure is. See?

I’m gonna provoke you as hard as I can! I know you’re getting mad!

I was too scared to look at her, so I pretended to be unaffected and continued.

[Ahh, I want to do it… I want to do it so badly right now. I want to hug and feel so good that my head goes blank. Will someone please do something naughty with me? I wouldn’t mind taking a bath with you, or sleeping in bed with you. Isn’t there a girl out there who likes me and is willing to bend her ways a little bit for my sake? If such a girl appeared within five minutes, I’d do anything for her!]

I sigh heavily.

Then.

[Marika.]

I shuddered exaggeratedly. Scary!

Without turning my head to look at Aya, I provoked her further.

[What is it? Small fry Aya-san. I didn’t call for a small fry who won’t touch me at all, did I? Ah, I’m letting my young body run wild. I’m starting to feel like I don’t care who it is as long as they attack me, so I might as well call Sae from now on!]

Aya chuckled.

She said.

[You’re so cute when you want to be messed up by me.]

It was as powerful as a whale coming down from the sky with a bang.

The water in my body almost boiled over, and I grabbed onto Aya.

[Just attack me!]

I didn’t know that. Sometimes people cry because they are embarrassed.

I pushed Aya down to the living room floor with all my might.

I got on my horse and grabbed Aya by the chest. I’m really starting to cry.

[It seemed obvious that I’m the one being attacked though.]

[Shut up! That’s what I want to do! Aya’s staying at my house, so it’s only natural that I want to do it!]

I shouted such a crazy embarrassing thing while I was covered up.