"So, Golden Week is coming up soon, isn't it? I was thinking of going somewhere."
Dear Mom,
How are you?
I'm doing well, even in Tokyo.
I've gotten quite used to the crowds that initially overwhelmed me.
Oh, speaking of which, something very strange happened.
"Senpai, are you listening?"
In front of me, a girl is here, as if it's the most natural thing in the world.
Perhaps that itself isn't so strange, remembering my high school days.
Yes, I know it's a luxury.
Still, it's strange. Why, exactly—
"Senpai~?"
Why is Iroha Isshiki so nonchalantly in my room?
Discarding the casual, monologue-like narration in my head, I couldn't help but sigh.
Two weeks have passed since then, and the general public's long holiday is just around the corner. Leaning against the bed frame in my living room/bedroom, Isshiki asks me a question as a matter of course.
"Listen, Isshiki."
I moved my back away from the bed frame I was leaning against and turned to face Isshiki. Putting on a stern expression, I said in a flat voice.
"Holidays are for resting your body."
"Huh…"
"So I'm not going anywhere."
"Oh, really…"
"Also, why are you just casually in my house?"
"Huh?"
Isshiki's unadorned voice somehow sounded like I was being blamed.
No, what I'm saying shouldn't be strange. It shouldn't be acceptable for a young maiden to come to a man's room without a boyfriend.
"Senpai, how many times do you think I've been here?"
"…About ten times?"
"Too bad, it's only the ninth time."
Isshiki puffed out her chest proudly.
She was counting? This girl. She's surprisingly diligent.
"So it's too late to say anything now. Besides, do you know what this is called?"
"No, I don't know, but…"
As I answered in exasperation, Isshiki twirled her index finger in the air as if waving a magic wand. After such a theatrical gesture, she said as if casting a wonderful spell.
"A visiting wife, of course♪"
"..."
Pokupokupoku, Chiiin. (Sound of thinking, then a chime of realization)
"Go-home wife."
"Eh?! What a terrible reaction!"
It was a natural reaction.
What do you mean, "visiting wife"... Even as a joke, I think there are better options.
"Fine, I don't care anymore!"
Isshiki said that and stood up, heading towards the entrance… or so I thought, but she headed to the kitchen instead.
Which means today, too… she'll make dinner.
I wondered if this was really okay, but my own diet was a terrible mess of tasteless, unbalanced home cooking. I knew it wasn't particularly good and lacked nutrition.
Honestly, the meals Isshiki made were delicious and nutritionally balanced. So, just as my body craved them, I couldn't really kick her out, despite what I said. The three great desires are truly so deep-seated…
"Dinner's ready~"
As if her sulky behavior from before had never happened, Isshiki brought the finished dishes with a cheerful smile. Her appearance, still wearing an apron, certainly looked like a wife… Wait, what am I thinking?
"…Itadakimasu."
"Yes. Please enjoy."
I put my hands together, then picked up my chopsticks and looked at the small dining table.
Grilled mackerel with salt, nikujaga (meat and potato stew), miso soup, blanched spinach, cold tofu, and cucumber pickles that had somehow appeared in the refrigerator. Today was a full-on Japanese meal.
Isshiki's impression made me think she'd be better suited to Western cuisine, but surprisingly, she was good at these kinds of dishes too. Given that she makes dishes popular with men, like nikujaga, maybe it's not so surprising after all.
"How is it?"
"…It's good."
To Isshiki's prompting for my thoughts, I answered honestly, without any pretense. Isshiki's home cooking was so delicious that my usual sarcastic remarks had no place.
"That's good."
The smile on Isshiki's face as she said that exuded more innocence than cunning. Sometimes, when she makes an expression like that, I really think it's unfair.
"So, where should we go for Golden Week?"
"I told you, I'm not going…"
And for some reason, the conversation returned to square one. Is this like a conversation loop with a villager that continues until you agree to go somewhere?
"You have so much time off, you can rest your body, can't you?"
"Maybe, but I'm not going out unless there's a really important reason. Tokyo is expensive, you know."
In reality, if you go out in Tokyo, it's impossible to come back without spending a single penny, unless you're just taking a walk.
I don't have a car, so if I want to go anywhere, I have to take the train, and the city is overflowing with things that stimulate desire. So, unless there's an unavoidable reason, I shouldn't go out.
"Yes, I see. So, actually?"
"No, I'm not going…"
No, you're really persistent…
Halfway through, it became like "The North Wind and the Sun," and I just became stubborn.
"Oh, really? Then I understand."
After a back-and-forth, the conversation and meal ended without a conclusion. Isshiki placed her chopsticks down with a louder clatter than usual. The sound carried a hint of accusation.
"In that case, I'm going to a mixer."
"…Huh?"
That sound involuntarily escaped my mouth. Just a moment ago, she was pushing so hard, and now suddenly a mixer?
"I've been invited quite persistently, and I've been turning them down. Just now, I got a message saying they really need more people, so come."
Well, as a university student, such invitations and opportunities would probably come up. It wasn't hard to imagine Isshiki participating in such gatherings.
"If Senpai won't go with me, it's okay if I go, right?"
Her testing tone and eyes said that depending on my answer, she would really go.
Isshiki, despite everything, was the junior who acted most like a junior to me. Of course, I couldn't help but worry about her going to such a place, but—
"…It's fine, I guess."
I had no right to stop her. I didn't have a shred of qualification to tell her not to go.
Isshiki and I weren't in a relationship where we bound each other, nor was there any reason to stop her based on a quid pro quo. So, that was the only answer I could give.
"—!"
As soon as she heard my reply, Isshiki sprang to her feet.
She clenched her fists, and her moist eyes narrowed, fixed on me.
"I-I'm really going, you know!"
"Ah, yeah…"
"That's enough! Senpai, you idiot!"
Isshiki snatched her bag and stomped her way to the entrance, making loud thudding sounds with each step. She was about three times angrier than I had imagined.
"Ah, hey!"
"Do your own dishes!"
My hand, raised as I stood up, grasped at empty air, and the entrance door slammed shut with a loud patang!
I really should have stopped her just now. But even if I had stopped her, or if I were to chase after her and stop her now, what would I say to her?
"Haa…"
Because I couldn't say it.
Especially not to Isshiki right now.
That I was also going to a mixer, that was something I absolutely couldn't—
================
🚀 Want Early Access & Bonus Content?
"Loving this story so far? You can read ALL chapters RIGHT NOW by joining my Patreon!
✨ Unlock instant access to the full completed novel
✨ No waiting for daily updates
✨ Support your favorite degenerate author (that's me!)
Only $5.99 for the full experience!
🔗 Check my profile for the Link!!
Free readers - don't worry, I'll still be posting daily updates here. But Patreon members get the VIP treatment!
Your support helps me create more wild stories like this. See you on the dark side! 😈"