After I Rescued a Beautiful Woman From a Stalker, She Started Spoiling Me and Turning Me Into a No-Good Freeloader - Chapter 23 - My Confession

Chapter 23 – My Confession

I spent three days obsessing over the details and completing one painting. It took an additional five days before I was satisfied with the second one.

It took a total of ten days to finish both paintings.

After I drew the first picture, colored it, and showed it to Sumire-san…

Sumire-san just cried tears of joy without saying anything.

Then, after her tears stopped, she…

“It’s amazing. I was so moved that I was speechless.”

“Haha.”

I was also moved because I never thought that there would be someone outside of my family who would praise my finished work.

When I was a child, when I drew pictures for my mother, she praised me and said that I was a genius.

When I was in high school, I told my father that I wanted to pursue a career in painting. He didn’t object, even though maybe he wished I would get a more conventional job.

“Live as you like. It’s your life. We’ll support you.”

With that said, he paid for my art school expenses.

The amount was quite large, so I had to take out a student loan, but I was still very happy that he agreed to support me.

My parents were somewhat hands-off, but they were kind and respectable people. I found out about their death in an accident when I was too busy with work to even check my phone. All I received were their remains.

What an idiot I was!

I couldn’t even attend the funeral of my parents, who loved me so much.

I couldn’t become their guarantor, and I had to return the rented house to the landlord.

I truly couldn’t do anything to repay them.

“Youichi-san?”

“Ah, sorry. I was so happy that Sumire-san complimented me, and it just reminded me of my parents.”

It’s pathetic that I cry when I remember my parents.

“Youichi-san’s parents must’ve been wonderful people.”

Sitting on a chair, I showed Sumire the picture, and she leaned her head against my chest, embracing me.

“S-Sumire-san!”

“I think it’s okay to cry when you want to cry. Youichi-san said he had various emotions, regrets, and were overwhelmed with work. I think all of these are his feelings. If tears come, I believe Youichi-san’s parents would be happy.”

With her words, I was enveloped in Sumire-san’s large chest and shed a few tears.

With such warmth and comfort, I couldn’t help but feel trapped.

“Come to think of it, I hadn’t told my parents about moving, so I told my mother yesterday.”

“Huh?!”

After my tears had finished flowing and I was stunned for a while, I took a bath. Then, during dinner, Sumire-san talked to me about her parents.

“My mother told me that she wanted to meet Youichi-san, so she’s coming this weekend. Is that okay?”

“O-of course! If anything, I feel like I’m indebted to you. I’ve relied on Sumire-san who’s much younger than me for everything, leaving the household chores and all to her. I feel like I’m just a pathetic old man who’ll only disillusion Sumire-san’s parents.”

“That’s not true. My mother isn’t someone who judges people based on their circumstances.”

“In that case, it’s fine.”‘

No matter how many drawings I make, I can’t get a single job, so I’m still unemployed.

Even if I say that I can live off my savings now, I’m not in a position to confidently meet Sumire-san’s parents.

At least, if I could receive even one DM…

“Huh?”

“What’s wrong?”

A notification informing me of a DM had arrived on the smartphone linked to my account.

“Looks like I got a DM.”

I had received three DMs, and when I opened them all, they were all messages requesting illustrations.

Moreover, one of them is Ijichi-’s old editor! Since I’m using a pen name, I don’t think she’s aware of my existence, but I’m happy to think that someone I know found me.

However, I am not happy with the content at all.

“Ijichi’s assistant…”

“Is there something wrong?”

“Oh no, it’s nothing. I received a DM from my previous workplace, asking if I wanted to become an assistant, so I was disillusioned.”

“Oh, from that hysterical manga artist?”

“Yes. It seems like they’re in need of a good assistant.”

An assistant probably wouldn’t stay long because Ijichi gets hysterical easily and starts firing them.

“Are you going to accept it?”

“Of course not! I absolutely hate that place. Besides, I received two other DMs.”

One is a request to draw illustrations for a novel.

I heard that the number of illustrations for light novels has been increasing recently, so it might be that kind of request.

The other one was a greeting message like a reservation for future work, saying they would like to work with me if there’s an opportunity.

“Fufufu, it seems like Youichi-san’s work is being recognized.”

“Well, if that’s the case, I’m happy, but I can’t be sure about that.”

“I’m sure your work is being recognized. It’s great!”

Just having Sumire-san, who rejoices as if it were her own achievement, makes me feel a bit more confident.

That’s why I decided to talk about what I had decided before moving.

“U-um…!”

“Yes?”

“Sumire-san, do you see me as a man?”

“What do you mean?”

“From Sumire-san’s point of view, I know I’m just an old man. I’m a generation older than her.”

“……”

“Still, I’d like to be with Sumire-san if she sees me as a man.”

It’s my way of confessing.

I don’t feel like I can go back to life without Sumire-san.

Even though I’m being dependent and selfish, I want to continue living with her.

With fear, I looked at Sumire-san’s face.