After I Started Living Alone, My Place Turned Into a Hangout Spot for Beautiful Girls - Chapter 4: Shizuru Mizutani (Part 4)

Chapter 4: Shizuru Mizutani (Part 4)

I was playing a game on the big TV in the living room when it happened.

Someone came to my house.

Hearing the intercom, I opened the front door, and there was…

“Man, it’s not even peak summer, but it’s so hot!”

Mizutani-san stood there, smiling brightly with a bit of sweat on her forehead.

It seemed she planned to take a shower at my house again today.

I invited her in, handed her guest slippers, and said:

“Thanks for the tamagoyaki earlier today.”

“No problem. But seriously, are you okay with just the 2,000 yen I lent you?”

“Somehow… I’m managing.”

“I could lend you another 1,000 yen or so?”

“Nah, I need to learn my lesson, or I’ll mess up again, so I’ll tough it out.”

People don’t learn unless they face hardship.

If I relied on Mizutani-san here, I’d probably end up broke again, begging for another loan.

“I see. Well, if you’re in trouble, don’t hesitate to say so. I don’t want to see a friend die of malnutrition.”

“Alright, about that towel…”

Mizutani-san was about to take a shower.

As I started preparing a towel for her to dry off, she boldly pulled a large towel from her bag.

“I brought my own towel, shampoo, and stuff!”

Mizutani-san came fully prepared today.

Come to think of it, what did she do about soap and stuff yesterday?

“What did you use for soap yesterday?”

“Oh, sorry, I forgot to apologize. I used what was in your bathroom. Sorry for using it without asking.”

“No, it’s fine. I figured you’d use the soap and stuff when I lent you the shower, so don’t worry about it. Use whatever you want if it’s okay with you.”

“Thanks! But, uh, your shampoo? No way! Guys’ shampoo has menthol or something, and it’s super tingly.”

“I see. Oh, sorry for holding you up. You probably want to hop in the shower.”

“No worries, I’m not in a rush. Well, I’ll borrow it again today~!”

Mizutani-san must have memorized where the bathroom was.

She walked toward the changing room without me guiding her.

Alright, time to head back to the living room and continue my game.

※

Ten minutes after resuming my game in the living room.

In manga or anime, a shiny black cockroach might suddenly appear in the bathroom, followed by a scream, but reality wasn’t like that.

Mizutani-san, having finished her shower, appeared before me.

“Phew, I feel refreshed. Thanks so much.”

“No problem.”

“There we go.”

Fresh from the shower, Mizutani-san sat on the sofa where I was sitting.

We were a decent distance apart, but being aware of her sitting next to me made me nervous.

As I tensed up a bit, Mizutani-san spoke to me while drying her hair.

“Why don’t schools have shower rooms? In games or manga, schools almost always have them.”

It’d be rude to half-listen while playing a game.

I stopped playing and focused on talking with Mizutani-san.

“Oh, you can keep playing.”

“Nah, I’d end up giving half-hearted responses, so I’ll stop.”

“You’re surprisingly serious, Teruaki-kun.”

“Am I? If I was serious, I wouldn’t have spent my living expenses on a game and borrowed money from a classmate.”

“Haha, true. But seriously, why no shower rooms?”

Mizutani-san grumbled about the lack of shower rooms.

For someone who sweats during club activities, it’s natural to wonder why schools don’t have them.

“By the way, I’d appreciate it if you didn’t tell anyone I’m living alone.”

“Why?”

“If people like you start asking to use my shower, I’d be in trouble.”

“Of course. If your place got too popular, I wouldn’t be able to use it.”

“And definitely don’t tell the guys. My place is close to school, so it’d totally become a hangout spot.”

“But it’s okay if I make it my hangout spot?”

I gave Mizutani-san a wry smile and explained.

“You don’t make a ruckus, you’re polite, and most importantly, you’re cute.”

It sounded like I was flirting.

Yeah, a bit embarrassing.

It seemed Mizutani-san noticed.

“W-Wait… Am I being hit on by Teruaki-kun!?”

Her exaggerated reaction made me laugh.

This must be why Mizutani-san was so popular with everyone.

“No, no, I’m not.”

“Really~?”

“Yeah, really.”

“Well, if you ever feel like hitting on me, go ahead. I’m a nice girl who’ll take it head-on.”

Mizutani-san puffed out her modest chest as she said that.

She said it was okay to flirt, but I didn’t feel like it right now.

Sure, there were moments I found her cute or my heart skipped a beat, but I didn’t like her in that way yet.

Smiling a bit, I teased Mizutani-san, with whom I’d gotten much closer over the past few days.

“What would you do if I got serious?”

Mizutani-san tapped my shoulder and said:

“It’s very hard mode, but give it a shot!”

“Figured.”

“Want a hint for the strategy?”

“Might as well hear it.”

“100 yen!”

So, I’d have to pay for a hint.

Broke as I was, I gave Mizutani-san a wry smile and apologized.

“Sorry, I’m out of cash, so maybe next time.”

“That’s too bad. By the way, what kind of girl is your type, Teruaki-kun?”

“That’s embarrassing, so it’s a secret.”

“How about for 100 yen?”

“You’re that curious?”

“Girls love this kind of talk. So, tell me for 100 yen?”

I was struggling with food expenses.

Mizutani-san grinned at me, as if saying, “Don’t you want 100 yen?”

“…Someone kind.”

For the sake of 100 yen, I shyly revealed my type.

Feeling embarrassed and looking down, Mizutani-san pressed further.

“More details! I’ll give you another 100 yen!”

Living on just rice and salt was tough.

Already feeling my limit after just one day, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Someone who’s honest and open about everything. Even if she’s cute and pretty, if talking to her feels stifling, I don’t think I’d like that…”

“I see. So, you like kind and honest girls!”

“Alright, have mercy, this is embarrassing…”

I pleaded with Mizutani-san to stop.

The tease-savvy Mizutani-san knew when to back off and took out her wallet, handing me 200 yen.

“Fine, fine. But tell me more if you feel like it!”

What did she want with my taste in girls?

Mizutani-san was quite the character, I thought, as I accepted the 200 yen.

“Thanks.”

“No, no, I had fun, so don’t worry about it. Well, I’ve cooled off, so I’ll head out. I don’t want to interrupt your gaming.”

“Nah, I wouldn’t prioritize a game over a friend.”

“Then maybe I’ll stick around and chat a bit more?”

Yeah, she’s cute.

Mizutani-san had such a cute way of talking, I thought.