After I Started Living Alone, My Place Turned Into a Hangout Spot for Beautiful Girls

Chapter 35: The Ieyiri Residence (Part 2)

We wrapped up the test review after a while, and Teruaki and Sakuya began preparing for Uncle’s birthday party.

It was not anything overly elaborate.

There was no decorating the room; they simply arranged a lavish meal on the table.

As they proceeded with the preparations, Uncle, the man of the hour, came home.

“I’m home. Sakuya.”

Uncle had a gentle demeanor, but he was frightening when angry.

He noticed Teruaki too and called out to him.

“It’s been a while, Teruaki. With your parents overseas, I’m your guardian now, so you should show your face once in a while.”

“Ahaha… Sorry.”

“Well, I get that as a teenage boy, you don’t want to deal with tedious stuff.”

Uncle did not assume things unilaterally; he always considered the other person’s position too.

It was clear why Sakuya had turned out so well, Teruaki thought at that moment.

Sakuya, who was arranging department store prepared foods on the dishes, said to Uncle,

“Dad, why don’t you take a bath first?”

“Yeah, that’s a good idea.”

“Once you’re out of the bath, we can go straight into the birthday party, right?”

“Sure, that’s fine. In that case, I’ll head to the bath…”

Uncle said that and went off to the bathroom.

In the meantime, Teruaki and Sakuya continued with the birthday party preparations.

※

A short time after they finished preparing for the birthday party, Uncle appeared in casual loungewear.

Uncle took a seat and picked up a glass filled with a drink.

Teruaki and Sakuya did the same.

They clinked their glasses together with a light tap, and Teruaki and Sakuya wished Uncle a happy birthday.

“Happy birthday.”

Uncle smiled, delighted to be celebrated by his beloved daughter.

He thanked Sakuya, a few tears welling up in his eyes.

“Thank you. It’s always a joy to be celebrated like this.”

“We’re family. Of course it’s natural.”

“Yeah, you’re right. Thank you for joining in the celebration too, Teruaki.”

“No, no—sorry for intruding, actually.”

“Not at all; I invited you because I wanted to see how you’re doing. Don’t worry about it.”

As they exchanged such words, they began eating their meal slowly, savoring it.

During the meal, Uncle asked Teruaki,

“It’s been quite a while since you started living alone—have you gotten used to it?”

“Yes, I’ve gotten pretty accustomed to it.”

“Good, that’s what matters. But still, running short on money by overspending your allowance isn’t ideal, is it?”

“Ahahaha…”

“Ah, let’s save that talk for after the meal.”

This was it.

Teruaki had figured there might be some reason beyond just the party for inviting him, and it seemed one purpose was to lecture him about going broke despite receiving a generous allowance.

Uncle’s lectures were incredibly logical and hit hard…

As Teruaki thought how scary the lecture would be, Uncle asked them both,

“With exams over and summer vacation approaching, do either of you have any special plans?”

“I’m planning to go to the beach with friends.”

“Hm— the sea can be pretty dangerous, so be careful. Well, as high school girls, you probably won’t swim out too far. What about you, Teruaki?”

“I’m thinking of going to the pool with friends and out for cake.”

“From the sound of that, it’s not a girlfriend. And it doesn’t seem like a boy either… so, a outing with a close female friend?”

Uncle, with his sharp intuition, asked Teruaki with a teasing grin.

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“You two really take after each other. Your dad was super popular in high school and college.”

“But now he’s so devoted to Mom?”

“It’s a bit awkward to say in front of you, Teruaki, but he was so popular that a girl once tried to stab him…”

“H-Huh…”

Teruaki could not help but give a wry smile at the thought that his dad had such a phase.

But unusually, Sakuya defended Teruaki.

“Teruaki will be fine. He’s such a coward.”

“I see—so even that’s just like him… Yeah, actually, your dad was a coward too. But sometimes you need to push people away, yet he tried to get along with everyone and let relationships drag on ambiguously… and that’s how he nearly got stabbed. It was like, ‘Come on, just pick someone already?'”

“…I-I see.”

“By the way, the one who tried to stab him at the time was Yurika—your mom, Teruaki.”

Uncle seemed to enjoy reminiscing and spoke at great length.

By the time he finished to his satisfaction, the feast on the table had vanished completely.

Seeing that, Sakuya began clearing up and said to Uncle,

“We can have the cake after a little break, right?”

“Yeah, let’s do that. Now then, I invited you today, Teruaki, because I wanted to check if you’re doing well, and also because I have one important request.”

“A request?”

Teruaki’s heart raced a bit, wondering what it could be.

Uncle started explaining, looking somewhat apologetic.

“During summer vacation, I have to go overseas for work. I plan to come back to Japan whenever I can, but I’ll be away a lot more. Even with the security company contract, leaving Sakuya alone in this house feels risky. There are times when shady relatives or business owners show up demanding loans…”

“If they found out a lone girl lives in this big house, some unsavory types might plot something…”

“Exactly. That’s what worries me… So, while I’m gone, I’d like Sakuya to stay at your place as a lodger. I considered renting a secure apartment for her, but with this sudden overseas assignment, I doubt I can handle the arrangements in time…”

Teruaki had suspected there might be something since Uncle had gone out of his way to discuss it at the birthday party, but he never imagined it would be this.

A bit surprised, Teruaki replied to Uncle.

“If Sakuya’s okay with it, that’s fine by me.”

At that, Uncle gave an apologetic wry smile.

Sakuya, who had been listening from the side, said…

“Well, that’s no problem for me either. I used to stay over at Teruaki’s quite often back in the day, though it’s less now. Even if we’re suddenly asked to live together, I have no qualms about it.”

She accepted living at Teruaki’s house without a hint of unease.