I Started a Lover-for-Hire Service, And For Some Reason, Only Beautiful Girls Are Requesting Me - Chapter 28: Aira in Front of Her House

The time was 10:20 PM.

Because of Aira’s selfish request, Ryoma had ended up escorting her home—now, they stood in front of her house.

A large, standalone home surrounded by a natural stone-tiled wall. At the entrance, a shutter gate made it clear that this was the residence of a wealthy family.

“Thanks a lot for today… Onii-chan.”

“Just saying it isn’t enough. You made me spend ten thousand yen in just half a day…”

“I didn’t do anything wrong, though.”

Aira stood with her back against the shutter gate, the lights from her home casting a glow over her as she spoke with Ryoma.

She wore her usual expression, making sure not to show any reluctance about parting ways.

“Stacking up forty plates at a conveyor belt sushi place is definitely a crime. Even if you didn’t pick any of the 150-yen plates, the total still went over 4,000 yen before tax.”

“It’s a good thing I’m the type who values quantity over quality, right? Well, since I had five plates of 200-yen desserts, that bumps it up to 5,000 yen. Five K. But honestly, it’s so nice having someone who understands how much I eat!”

“It’s still too much… How the hell do you end up spending over 5,000 yen at a place that’s supposed to be cheap? Even the staff were shocked.”

Buffet for lunch. Conveyor belt sushi for dinner. A whole day filled with eating out and having fun.

Aira hadn’t spent a single yen. Ryoma had covered it all.

“By the way, why did you treat me to sushi? I was totally planning to pay for myself.”

“It’d be lame. Treating you for lunch but not for dinner.”

“What kind of pride is that? I wouldn’t care about something like that.”

“But I would.”

“Y’know, I was thinking—maybe that kind of pride is why you never have any savings? If you hadn’t treated me, you’d still have five K left.”

“I know that.”

Anyone with common sense knew that if you wanted to save money, you should let people treat you when they offered. Even a grade schooler would understand that.

But Ryoma just couldn’t bring himself to accept a meal from a junior.

That was the one thing he refused to compromise on as a man.

“Then why don’t you just throw it away?”

“If it were something I could throw away so easily, I would’ve done it already.”

“Hmm. Well, I plan on paying you back in my own way for today, so just think of it as an investment and let it slide.”

“Sigh… What the hell are you even saying?”

Ryoma let out a deep breath, the cold air turning it into a faint white mist. He scratched his head, a crease forming between his brows.

“Huh? Did I say something that made you lose faith in me?”

“Listen, I didn’t treat you today expecting to get something in return. I spent my own hard-earned money, so hearing you talk about it like an investment is annoying.”

“Ugh, stop trying to act all cool… I bet if someone dangled money in front of you, you’d snatch it up in an instant.”

“Of course I would. Dangling it like that is basically a provocation. If you lose it, you’ve got no right to complain.”

For a university student, Ryoma’s logic was surprisingly childish.

“That’s literally theft, you know.”

“Anyone who runs their mouth like that, I’d make sure they stay quiet. Then there’d be no one to accuse me of anything.”

“That’s an actual criminal mindset… I can’t believe this guy is my senpai. Seriously, what the hell.”

“Yeah, yeah. Then just go home already.”

Ryoma waved his hand in a dismissive shoo motion, but he wasn’t actually annoyed. His breath was turning white, his fingers stiff from the cold.

The temperature was six degrees Celsius.

Though he didn’t say it out loud, Ryoma wanted her to go inside before she got too cold.

“Oh, but before that—give me back my scarf.”

“…I was this close to making off with it.”

“That’s also an actual criminal mindset. I can’t believe this is my kouhai. Seriously, what the hell.”

“Don’t copy me. You sound nothing like me.”

Aira grumbled as she unraveled the scarf, carefully folding it before handing it over with both hands.

There was only one reason she was returning it so willingly.

She had already received something far more valuable—a pill bug from Ryoma, full of sentiment.

That’s right. In Aira’s mind, the priority of the pill bug had surpassed that of the scarf.

For those unaware of Aira’s family situation, no one would ever understand.

Why she would value a capsule toy pill bug over a scarf.

“Also, don’t use that scarf for anything weird just because it has my scent on it, okay? …I cried on it too, so wash it right away.”

“Weird? What exactly do you think I’d use it for?”

“Making a high school girl spell it out for you when you already know? That’s sexual harassment. I seriously can’t believe this guy is my senpai! That’s twice now!”

They had a bond that allowed for these kinds of jokes.

—And they knew how to joke without hurting each other.

“For the record, do you really think I’d get excited over your scent? If anything, it’d have to smell nice first.”

“Wait, are you saying I stink!? That’s so rude!”

“Who knows?”

“Ugh, you’re so annoying! Seriously annoying!”

“Alright, now that you’re all worked up, get inside already. It’s cold out, and you’ll catch a cold.”

“Stop treating me like a nuisance!”

Ryoma shooed her away again, and as expected, Aira bit back.

“One last thing—take good care of my pill bug.”

“It’s mine now, dummy! I was already planning to take good care of it!”

“That’s fine, then. I spent 500 yen on it, after all.”

“And also, you know… the sentiment behind it? You could just say it instead of acting all embarrassed.”

“I just wasn’t in the mood… Anyway, see you next week, Aira.”

“Mm… see you.”

They exchanged their goodbyes.

A small car passed by. A cold wind cut through the air.

“……”
“…”

They stood there, looking at each other—ten whole seconds.

“What are you even doing? Get inside already.”

“Isn’t it obvious? I should be seeing you off right now. I’m not doing anything wrong here.”

Their words bounced off each other without missing a beat.

“I don’t exactly feel honored being seen off by some kid of a high schooler.”

“You totally said that on purpose just to piss me off, didn’t you? So I’d go inside quicker…And besides, you already slipped up earlier, remember? ‘It’s cold out, and you’ll catch a cold’. That was your real reason, wasn’t it?”

“…I never slipped up. You’re just hearing things.”

Ryoma truly had no recollection of it.

But the fact that she’d hit the nail on the head meant he had let something slip.

Even as he kept a blank, expressionless face—like a stiff passport photo—inside, his thoughts were—

(Oh crap, no way!? Did I actually say that out loud!? Ughhh, this is so embarrassing!)

An utterly juvenile wave of emotions exploded inside Ryoma.

“But, you see… I can’t just back down here. I really had fun today, and I’m grateful. Even though you had work, you still hung out with me this late, you know? I know just saying thanks isn’t enough. So… um… please let me see you off.”

“…!”

For the first time, Aira spoke with careful, formal words.

Her green eyes were locked onto Ryoma.

She was going to see him off—no matter what. That unwavering determination radiated off her like an aura, pressing against him.

“Fine… whatever. But don’t expect me to turn around dramatically like in a TV drama.”

“You’re so rude, Senpai. Of course I know that…Well, I’ll take your feelings into account and head inside soon. See? ‘It’s cold out, so you should hurry home before you catch a cold.’”

“Still talking down to me to the very end, huh…?”

“Heh heh.”

“What’s with that weird laugh?”

The goodbye was near.

They both knew it from the way their conversation flowed, yet—Aira’s smile was brighter than ever.

And just from that, Ryoma knew—he was glad he had spent the day with her.

“Alright, for real this time. See you later, Aira.”

“Yeah… see you—”

Raising a hand in a small wave, Ryoma turned his back to Aira, wrapping his scarf around his neck as he walked away.

“—Ryoma… Senpai.”

That voice—soft, almost hesitant—wouldn’t reach him until the next time they met.