I'm in a Messed Up Situation that I Couldn't Care More. - Chapter 11 Am I Being Kept as a Gigolo?

Chapter 11: Am I Being Kept as a Gigolo?

Aoi-chan was her usual gentle self in front of Yamaguchi-san and Mamejiro.

“You weakling.”

Those words he spat out at me. That attitude…

What was that about?

I don’t know.

But every time I remember Aoi-chan’s gaze and tone of voice, my heart starts pounding.

After having dinner with Aoi-chan and Yamaguchi-san, we parted ways at the train station.

“Mamejiro, I live just around the corner, why don’t you come over? There’s something I want to talk to you about.”

I tugged at Mamejiro’s sleeve.

I wanted to tell Mamejiro about the ‘scary Aoi-chan.’

“Huh? Is this where you live, Koichi?”

As we entered the training studio, Mamejiro looked around the room.

“Yeah. There’s a bed in the small room at the back. That’s where I sleep and spend most of my time.”

“So, your family runs this place?”

“No, it’s not my family. It’s owned by a woman named Hiruma-san.

I was scouted by her in Shibuya. 

So now I live and work here.

But, to be honest, there’s absolutely no work for me to do here…”

“You were scouted in Shibuya? And you live and work here, even though there are no customers…?”

Mamejiro sighed and muttered,

“What’s going on?”

Mamejiro sat down on the bench part of the bench press.

“What do you mean, ‘what’s going on?’ That’s exactly what I just said.

I work and live here.”

As I answered Mamejiro’s questions, I told him everything that had happened up to that point.

How my father suddenly disappeared with all the family savings, leaving me unable to pay tuition and rent.

How I was struggling financially when Banya offered me a job.

How I was scouted by Hiruma-san in Shibuya.

The fact that no customers ever came to the gym, even though I lived there.

I even told him about how Hiruma-san would sometimes touch me inappropriately.

“Something about this doesn’t feel right.”

Mamejiro said, tilting his head in confusion.

“What do you mean? I’m not lying or hiding anything. I might have forgotten some details because I’m not that smart, but everything I said is true.”

Mamejiro rubbed his chin thoughtfully, still looking puzzled.

It seemed like he was deep in thought.

“… In fact, we might be getting involved in something quite dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

I wondered what Mamejiro meant.

“Think about it. Your father disappeared with your family’s savings, leaving you in a financial bind.

Then, just when you’re desperate for money, Hannya offers you a job.”

Mamejiro muttered softly.

“What if it was all orchestrated so that Koichi would have no choice but to accept Hannya’s offer?

What if Hannya was behind Koichi’s father’s disappearance?

Then, it starts to smell like a crime.”

“What!? Why would Hannya go to such lengths?”

“The timing is just too perfect.”

Mamejiro frowned and looked up at me.

“That Hiruma-san is also suspicious.

She provided you with a place to stay just when you were about to be kicked out of your apartment.

The timing of that is also a bit too convenient.

But it’s also possible that you’re simply being kept as a Gigolo.”

“A… Gigolo!?”

“Yeah, it’s not uncommon for people to buy apartments or mansions and keep Gigolos in them.

Your current situation might be something like that.

This training gym is owned by that woman, Hiruma-san, but in reality, there are no customers, and it’s just sitting here unused.

She offers young men a place to work and live, but it’s just an excuse to keep them as pets.

She was looking for a young, good-looking, and not-so-smart guy in Shibuya.

And that’s how she found you, Koichi.”

“No way, that’s ridiculous!”

I shook my head vigorously.

“But she touches you all the time, right?”

“Well, yes, but the other day when I tried to make a move on her, she pushed me away.

If I’m her lover, shouldn’t we be having sex?”

“The fact that it’s a woman and not an old man makes a difference.

It’s possible that she’s not interested in the sexual act itself and just wants to enjoy a romantic fantasy. Either way, that woman, Hiruma-san, is rich.

She can afford such unique entertainment.”

“Is that so? I don’t understand what’s enjoyable about it at all.

I’m only interested in Aoi-chan now, so I don’t want Hiruma-san touching me anymore.”

“If you don’t like it, you should get out of there as soon as possible.

This whole situation doesn’t feel right.”

Mamejiro said, his brow still furrowed as he looked around the studio.

“I want to leave, but I don’t have any money.”

I looked down at my feet.

Mamejiro was smart, but sometimes he overthinks things a little too much.

Is what I thought.

“Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about Aoi-chan. That’s why I brought you here.

I want to tell you about her…”