After Escaping from a Black Company, I Ended Up Being Pampered by Sexy Beautiful Women - Chapter 7

Chapter 7: A Gentle Invitation and Choice

When I was little, I thought becoming an adult was something vague and distant.

I knew I couldn’t keep playing forever, and that to live like my parents, I would have to work… I understood that much.

I casually imagined that as a working adult, I would meet someone special, get married, have kids, and raise them together with my wife… that kind of simple future.

But reality wasn’t nearly that kind.

My relationship with my parents had never been good, so I didn’t have many memories of being spoiled by them, but Grandma was incredibly kind to me… Naturally, I loved Grandma far more than my parents.

“Grandma…! …Uwaaaaaahhh!”

So when Grandma passed away, I cried so hard.

I broke down sobbing until my tears ran dry… But humans are creatures who look forward, and somehow that sadness faded after just a few days.

Of course, I was still sad that Grandma was gone, but maybe my instincts pushed me to move past the grief because I couldn’t keep crying forever.

“I never had a girlfriend in middle school, high school, or college… Haah.”

Lately it wasn’t unusual for someone to not have a partner.

Dating the opposite sex wasn’t some kind of status symbol, and hanging out with same-sex friends was plenty fun anyway.

Still… deep down I vaguely assumed that even someone like me would meet someone important after becoming a working adult and eventually get married.

“…Haah… Being a working adult sucks, doesn’t it?”

The period right after transitioning from student life to working life still felt okay.

I accepted that once you became an adult, you had to take on responsibility, and maybe getting verbally torn down like your whole personality was worthless was just normal… But when that kept going on endlessly, it was only natural for my heart to start screaming.

“…Haah… Damn it all.”

Living alone… there was no warmth anywhere.

I worked from morning till night, came home exhausted, sometimes skipped dinner and went straight to morning… Even when I did eat, it was always something quick and simple.

I didn’t know what I was aiming for or why I was even alive.

But I never blamed anyone else for it. I just told myself this was the path I chose and resigned myself to it.

“You should be grateful that we even hired trash like you.”

“Listen, all you have to do is what you’re told.”

“Don’t think someone like you has any human rights, you piece of shit.”

Really… I’m just a weak person.

I should have quit back then, but I was too scared of what would happen next, and so I dragged it out until the only option left was to run away.

With no one to rely on and nowhere to go, during that aimless journey… when I finally arrived at the warmth of the Anzai household, I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore.

There really are such kind people in this world… such gentle places exist. I had learned that now.

▼▽

“Sorry… for suddenly bursting into tears like that.”

Finally… finally my tears started to slow down.

But since I had cried so much, my eyes were probably bright red, and the area around them might even be swollen.

I nervously lifted my face and saw both of them looking at me with gentle eyes.

Their endlessly kind gazes made me feel that there wasn’t a single enemy in this room.

Maybe because that sense of safety washed over me, I honestly told them about myself again… and about how it had been so long since I last felt any real warmth.

“Mom, this is already… right?”

“Yes… we can’t just leave him like this.”

“Um… Mina-san? Reina-san?”

The two of them exchanged short words and nodded to each other.

With serious expressions peeking through their smiles, Mina-san was the first to speak.

“I said it in the bath too, but please stay here as long as you need. What you need right now, Takuya-san, is calm time to let your heart rest.”

She said that and gently wrapped both of her hands around mine.

Mina-san’s words melted my heart… They were so warm and comforting that I almost nodded without thinking.

But… I couldn’t nod to a suggestion like that.

Yet something inside me whispered to just go ahead and nod… I desperately fought back, telling myself I couldn’t keep imposing, that I couldn’t cause them any more trouble—and then even Reina-san joined in.

“Just like Mina said, stay here for a while. Now that we’ve heard your story, Takuya-kun, there’s no way we can possibly leave you alone anymore.”

“Ah…”

Mina-san held my hand tightly, and Reina-san looked at me gently with a soft smile.

“……”

What could I even say back to these two kind people?

The answer was obvious… Holding out like this was the right thing, and agreeing would be wrong.

And yet… and yet my heart gave in to their warmth.

“…Please let me stay.”

I… said it.

Mina-san and Reina-san nodded happily at my words, and so it was decided that I would stay at the Anzai house for a while.

It was decided… and yet my heart felt relieved.

It probably wasn’t just relief at having a place to belong, but also relief that I wouldn’t have to part from them yet.

I wanted to stay in touch with this kindness and warmth a little longer…

(I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stay… I don’t think I can stay forever… I can’t keep relying on such good people forever.)

Accepting their care meant burdening them.

Even if Mina-san and Reina-san didn’t see it that way, I couldn’t feel good about days where I just received everything… At the very least, while I was here, I wanted to do something—anything—to become useful to them and repay their kindness.

(I’ll have to leave here someday… It’ll be lonely, but it can’t be helped.)

Once I left, I probably wouldn’t see these wonderful people again.

The thought made my resolve waver… but for now, I would just soak in this kindness and warmth.

And when the time eventually came, I would leave with a smile that wouldn’t worry them, thank them properly, and say goodbye—that was surely the right choice.