After Picking up a Runaway Girl From the Same University on My Way Home From Work, We Started Living Together in Secret - Chapter 9

Sunday.

I had been working at the cafe “Hideout” since the morning.

It’s a place where the owner’s hobby is reflected—a cafe during the day and a bar at night. I usually work before the bar opens, up to that point.

According to the owner, they can’t have minors working during the alcohol-serving hours.

Since I have university, I also want to avoid working late into the night.

So, here I am, currently working a shift, but the place is quite empty. During the cafe hours, almost only regulars come, so I have enough time to chat while organizing supplies behind the counter.

“—So, really, what kind of relationship do you have with ‘Snow White’? If you’re not lovers, are you long-lost siblings or something?”

“Really, we’re not like that. The closest way to describe it is… acquaintances, I guess.”

“You don’t seem like that kind of relationship though.”

I thought my answer might have sounded a bit off, but I couldn’t think of a better way to describe my relationship with Kototori.

“…But, Senpai, can you please do your job?”

“Huh? But there’s only one customer, and if the owner is free, he said I can chat.”

“There’s a customer here, though.”

While it’s slow, it’s not like there’s no one here. There’s a regular older gentleman sitting by the window, reading a newspaper and enjoying his coffee.

I wasn’t trying to be loud, but I was trying to keep my voice down as much as possible.

“That guy always leaves before noon. Since there are no other customers, I can easily help him if needed. But if I keep walking around the tables without a reason, it might distract him.”

“…Well, I guess that’s true.”

“You look dissatisfied. Isn’t this the only chance you have to talk to a beautiful, busty older sister like me?”

“Do you usually call yourself beautiful?”

“Of course I do.”

With a proud smile, Senpai puffed out her large chest. Whether she’s beautiful or not, I can’t deny it, but if I said it out loud, she’d probably get carried away, so I kept quiet.

“I really think you’re a lucky guy, Yukimura-kun. You got invited to that welcome party right after entering, and you had a lot of fun, right?”

“…I was dragged there by you, Senpai, and then I spent the whole time being hit on by a drunk, clingy Senpai. I had to send you home after you clung to me while you were wasted, asking me to stay because you were ‘lonely.’ That’s what I remember.”

“But you had fun, right?”

“…Well, I’ll put that aside. But I do appreciate you introducing me to this place.”

I went to that welcome party to save on living expenses, but not turning it down was a smart decision. I met a few people from my year there, and Senpai introduced me to this part-time job to help cover my expenses.

In that sense, my university life got on track thanks to Senpai.

“Well, I think I’ve caused you just as much trouble as I’ve been grateful for, Senpai.”

“For example?”

“Forcing me to carry a drunk Senpai home, almost getting thrown up on in the process.”

“I don’t remember that. When I get drunk, I lose my memory.”

“There was that time you hugged me while saying, ‘Please, Yukimura-kun, don’t leave me. I’ll die from loneliness.’”

And that’s the truth.

While I wasn’t exactly happy about her large chest pressed against me, the overwhelming smell of alcohol and the fear of her throwing up on me made me more nauseous than anything.

I’m truly sorry, but I don’t trust her alcohol habits one bit.

“Because I’m a lonely girl? I haven’t had a boyfriend in my third year of university? Hmm, I wonder if there’s any cute underclassman willing to volunteer as my boyfriend.”

Senpai said that on purpose, glancing at me.

She’s really annoying…

“I think the reason you can’t get a boyfriend is because you go out drinking and embarrass yourself.”

“Ugh.”

“Why is it that when you try to hook up with a guy, you end up going to a bar first? Do you realize how bad your drinking habits are? Also, please stop calling me to help take care of you every time.”

“Wahhh, Yukimura-kun is bullying me!”

Senpai covered her face with her hands and pretended to cry. I sighed.

She’d be a good senior if she wasn’t like this.

I didn’t mind being dragged into drinking parties because there’s the advantage of saving on food costs, but it’s always a hassle. I think a little bit of complaining is acceptable.

“Damn it… just because I have a girlfriend!”

“I keep telling you, Kototori isn’t my girlfriend.”

“Plus, you were calling her by name.”

“…Well, now that you mention it, yeah.”

I hadn’t paid much attention to it, but Kototori had been calling me “Minato” from the moment we met that night. I hadn’t thought much of it, but is it strange for someone of the opposite sex you’ve only met once to call you by your first name?

“…Ah.”

That’s when I realized.

When Kototori called out to me at university, she also called me by my name.

In other words… the people there might have misunderstood, just like Senpai did.

…I suddenly don’t want to go to university.

If the fan club members, who are rumored to be extremists, hear about this—

“Huh? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“Oh, nothing.”

I snapped back to reality at Senpai’s voice and quickly covered it up.

I might have made an incredibly bad decision.

I absolutely need to keep the fact that Kototori is staying over at my place a secret.

Also, I need to figure out how to get her to leave soon.

If this gets out, my university life is going to be in real danger.

“Do you want to take your break first?”

“You can go first, with your senior privileges.”

“Of course, that’s the kind of person I am.”