After Picking up a Runaway Girl From the Same University on My Way Home From Work, We Started Living Together in Secret - Chapter 18

“Risa, did something bad happen?”

On a holiday morning, right before my part-time job, I was preparing breakfast when I noticed Risa, who had just woken up, approaching. I could tell by her footsteps that something was off. Her face was unusually tense.

I wondered if something had happened.

While thinking this, I returned my attention to the frying pan, where I was making an omelet.

“…It seems I have to go back home to get something.”

“Something?”

“For work. I sent a prototype, and they want me to confirm it.”

She probably hadn’t written down the delivery address here.

Now I understood, and I felt relieved that Risa was just taking care of her work.

“A prototype? So, it’s clothes, right?”

“My job is mostly about final checks… but this time, I’m thinking of trying another job too.”

“Another job?”

“Modeling. Actually wearing clothes in a studio and taking pictures. I’ve been invited before, but I turned it down because I wasn’t confident.”

Ah, so this is the modeling offer she mentioned but turned down.

“You’re overthinking it. I think you’d look good in anything, and if you didn’t, they wouldn’t be scouting you.”

“I hope that’s true.”

“By the way, what made you want to take up the modeling job?”

“Because you said I’d look good, it gave me a little confidence. Also, I want to have more ways to earn money, to reduce the feeling of being in the way while I stay here.”

…What should I say to that?

I’m glad that something as simple as my comment gave Risa more confidence. But, at the same time, she’s basically saying she plans to stay here for the long run.

Normally, I’d be advising her to try to go home sooner. But then again, how rare is it for a guy to kick out a cute girl like Risa?

“Risa, I know you have your reasons, but do you still not want to go home?”

“If I go back, it’s just lonely. I don’t want to face my family, and they treat me like a nuisance, so it’s better for both of us if I’m not there.”

“So, I’m the one who ends up taking the hit, huh?”

“…Do you find me a nuisance, Minato?”

Hearing her say that with such a sad tone made me feel guilty.

She looked like a stray cat in a cardboard box… which is rude to think, but I couldn’t help it.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it like that. I wouldn’t say you’re a nuisance… I’m actually having fun. Are you not enjoying it?”

“…No, I’m enjoying it too. More than anything, it’s warm. Something I don’t have at home.”

Risa smiled gently and muttered those words. Her soft expression, showing that she was letting her guard down, unintentionally drew my gaze.

“…Minato.”

“Ah, what is it, Risa?”

“Isn’t the egg burning?”

“Huh?”

Her simple words made me snap back to reality, and before I could even look at the frying pan, I smelled the burnt eggs.

I hurriedly flipped the omelet, but the side that got burnt was now facing up.

Some people say that a bit of burnt food adds flavor, but this was a bit too much.

“…Sorry, I burnt it.”

Mistakes happen to everyone.

I knew that, but I couldn’t bring myself to say I got distracted because I was staring at Risa. It was a little too shocking.

“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have talked to you while you were cooking. It distracted you.”

“It’s not your fault. It was my own fault for getting distracted.”

“Are you tired? Haven’t been sleeping well or feeling sick…?”

“I’m fine, don’t worry.”

When Risa first started staying over, I was nervous, but recently I’d gotten used to it, and now I could sleep soundly like I did before.

It felt a little bittersweet thinking that maybe it was a form of trust.

As far as I knew, my health wasn’t an issue.

…Though, my body does feel a little warm, but I figured that’s just from feeling embarrassed about being distracted.

“This is the last egg, so I probably can’t make another one. If you don’t want to eat it, that’s fine. It probably won’t taste very good.”

Honestly, I didn’t want to serve my failure to anyone.

Since I had been doing fine before, it made it even more awkward.

“I was going to eat it anyway.”

“…You don’t have to force yourself.”

“A little burnt doesn’t change the taste that much, and it’s not completely black. This is a good level of burn.”

“…Is that so?”

“Also, it would feel bad not to eat something you made for me.”

…I was surprised. Risa is unexpectedly considerate.

She always greets before and after meals, never leaves food behind, and eats it happily. It makes me feel proud to cook for her.

I realized that when Risa eats something I made and says it’s good, it really makes me happy.

“Minato. When you have time, can you teach me how to cook?”

“…You want me to teach you how to cook?”

“I want to be able to do more things. I can only do the laundry, and that’s not really enough for dividing the chores.”

I was surprised at first, but when I heard her reason, it made sense.

She wants to learn new things… which, in other words, means she wants to lessen my burden.

Maybe she’s thinking about the talk we had about ‘payment’ earlier.

I’d be happy if Risa could take care of more chores besides laundry… But learning to cook will be a long road.

Still, I couldn’t bring myself to turn her down.

Rather than rejecting her, it would be better to let her try, and then we could figure it out.

“Well then, how about starting with helping out? I’ll teach you bit by bit.”

“…Is that okay?”

“That’s fine if it’s just helping. It’s always useful to know how to cook for yourself.”

Risa can’t stay here forever.

Maybe it’s fine while she’s in college, but eventually, a clear ending will come.

She’ll either go back home or live alone, away from her parents.

If possible, I don’t want her to end up staying at someone else’s house, but I can’t deny that it’s a possibility.

So, I want her to learn how to live on her own, so she won’t struggle when the time comes.

This isn’t exactly like aftercare, but it’s something I need to do to feel at peace.

Because, as long as I have concerns, I’ll keep thinking about Risa.

“Thanks, Minato… Should I call you ‘Sensei’?”

“Please don’t do that.”