My Ex-Girlfriend’s Sister Ran Away to My Room, and We Can’t Stop Making Mistakes. - Chapter 16: I Want to Try.

I Want to Try.

Every time I have sex with Mii, I feel as though the sense of righteousness within me is slowly eroding away.

The words she whispers in my ear, pleading with me. Her desires. My body moves according to her whims. My heart is drifting further away from my reason, pulled along in the opposite direction.

Her hands, gripping the sheets, tighten their hold. Every time her composure breaks, the fabric bunches and wrinkles beneath her.

The warm air from the air conditioner felt stiflingly hot. Sweat clung damply to our skin. After we finished, Mii took a shower; when she emerged, she stood there in her underwear, water dripping from her long, damp hair.

She remained in that position for a while, head bowed.

“Mii?”

“Yeah.”

When I called her name, she gave a small, obedient nod. While I tidied up the clothes scattered across the floor, she dried her hair. She didn’t say a single word the entire time.

Eventually, we decided to eat the donuts we’d bought. I put the cold coffee in the microwave to reheat it.

Looking over at the low chabudai table, I saw Mii systematically pulling her Pon de Ring apart into individual pieces.

“What are you doing?”

“I thought it might be easier to eat this way.”

“I highly doubt that.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.”

She popped one of the detached dough-balls into her mouth and spoke with a hint of dissatisfaction.

“I feel like they used to taste better back in the day.”

“They’ve definitely gotten a bit smaller.”

“The flavor is different, too.”

Idly fumbling with the donut pieces, she put another one into her mouth.

“The ones I ate at your place, Saki-nii… they were way better.”

“They’re exactly the same thing.”

“I wonder why.”

“Nostalgia goggles.”

“Maybe that’s it.”

Mii finished the donuts in silence, her hands moving mechanically. She ate everything we had bought, yet her hunger didn’t seem satisfied.

“Eating donuts just made me hungrier,” I muttered.

“There was some rice left. I’ll make fried rice.”

“Was there still rice?”

“I bought some yesterday. I cooked a big batch and put it in the freezer. Just stay sitting, I’ll make it.”

She stood up heavily, turned on the stove, and began tearing up bacon on the cramped counter. She greased the pan and tossed the rice in. Soon, the sound of beaten eggs dancing in the frying pan filled the room.

“Here. It’s done.”

She set the egg fried rice down and took a seat beside me.

“Eat up.”

As I leaned in, the savory aroma of chicken stock wafted up.

“It’s good. Did you put consommé in this?”

“Yeah. I tried adding some ginger, too.”

“It’s well made. Aren’t you eating, Mii?”

“I’m already full.”

With that, she popped the tab on a can of beer.

“Drinking again?”

Ignoring my remark, she began gulping down the beer. She set the can on the table with an expression that didn’t look like she was enjoying it at all, then spoke abruptly.

“Hey, Saki-nii. I want to talk to you about something.”

“What is it?”

“I think… I want to work.”

She watched me as I ate.

“Why all of a sudden?”

“Going to Shibuya today made me realize… I have to do something. If I’m not going to school, I figured I should work.”

“I don’t know how that works for a minor. How would you get parental consent? Would you have to contact your parents?”

“I don’t want to do that. If they find out, they’ll drag me back.”

Mii shook her head vigorously.

“Can’t we figure something out? I brought my student ID with me.”

“If it were just paperwork, I could have forged it for you, but if they realize your school is far away, it’ll be a pain.”

“I see…”

“It’s tough.”

“Isn’t there… anywhere?”

She asked, looking down as if troubled.

“Like… for example, those adult entertainment shops you used to go to, Saki-nii. Places like that might…”

“Don’t be stupid. Don’t even think about it.”

“If I don’t have to go all the way… I might be able to handle it.”

“I said stop it.”

A chill ran down my spine.

“You’ll regret it. Definitely.”

The faces of the customers who occasionally came to the coffee shop flashed through my mind. One woman, a former sex worker, still sought out clients online. Her wrists were a mess of scars, and I had never seen her without dark circles under her eyes.

“But the girls at the shop you went to weren’t like that, were they?” Mii argued, sounding frustrated by my warning. “There are girls who can do it normally.”

“You couldn’t. I just know.”

“That’s so selfish.”

“It’s fine. I’ll support you for a while.”

“That’s not the point. If I’m not doing something… I’ll rot away like this.”

Sipping her beer, she looked away with hollow, distant eyes.

“I suppose you’re right.”

While I’m away at my part-time job, Mii is always home alone, waiting. I knew that wasn’t good for her current state of mind. A place that was trustworthy, safe, and might actually hire her…

“There might be one place.”

Vanilla, standing in the back alley with a cigarette, crossed my mind.

“I might be able to ask someone.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. It’s a cosplay cafe, though.”

“A cosplay cafe?”

“Actually, maybe I should forget it.”

I told her she’d have to wear a maid outfit and serve customers. It wasn’t sexual, but it wasn’t exactly a suitable environment for a high school girl either.

“What? I want to try it!”

Contrary to my intentions, the explanation had the opposite effect. Mii leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement.