Vol 1 Chapter 7 – It Was Real

I didn’t think I’d ever wake up, but I did.

When I woke up, I was in Mitsuru-san’s arms. She was staring at my face.

She must have woken up before I did.

I felt a sudden chill spread through my head.

“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry! I’ll definitely take responsibility! I’ll do whatever it takes—earn real money and support our child!”

I sprang up and prostrated myself before Mitsuru-san.

“Huh? Huh? What do you mean?”

Mitsuru-san looked utterly bewildered.

“I got you pregnant, Mitsuru-san!”

I was on the verge of tears.

Now that I was awake, there was no denying it. That too-good-to-be-true dream from yesterday had been real. I’m not ready to be a dad yet. But since it happened, I have to take responsibility.

“So, uh, do you know how kids are made?”

I know at least that much.

“When an adult man and woman sleep together, a child is made, right?”

Yeah—sleeping together and making a baby always go hand in hand.

“Um, no, that’s not it… Do you know what it means to have sex?”

“Sleeping together, right?”

What I learned in school was a bit different, but there’s no way that could happen—because that thing… just doesn’t get hard for me.

“Huh? No, that’s not it… um…”

After that, Mitsuru-san gave me a private sex-ed lesson. Apparently everything I’d convinced myself was a lie turned out to be true. I never imagined someone could do something so incredible. The one thing I did understand was that my body really isn’t developed enough. I haven’t gone through puberty, so it seems I can’t do those things.

“Uh, um… I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”

I listened to that explanation about sex, my face burning bright red. It was way too overwhelming. What I’d imagined to be the height of eroticism wasn’t erotic at all… I only thought so because my body isn’t mature.

“Ah, Rin-kun, you’re too pure!”

With that, Mitsuru-san pulled me into a tight hug.

“But I… I thought it was a lie.”

I’d never experienced it, so that’s what I believed. I did realize the stork story was obviously wrong. After all, a woman’s belly really does get bigger.

“You’re so cute! But it makes it even harder to believe you’re an adult. So today, we’re going to the city office, got it?”

“What are we going to do at the city office?”

“Well, first we’ll get a copy of your certificate of residence to use as ID, then we’ll get other IDs—like your health insurance card.”

Without a health insurance card, even a hospital visit costs money. Until now, I was on my parents’ insurance. But that card is back at their house with my wallet. I really don’t have anything. Honestly, they barely ever took me to the hospital anyway.

“What about the health insurance card?”

When I asked, Mitsuru-san said confidently:

“We’ll enroll you in the national health insurance! Mama will pay for everything!”

“Um… that’s… I feel bad about that.”

Right now, I have no way to earn money. And besides, I only met Mitsuru-san yesterday, so I have no right to accept such help.

“Rin-kun, you have no right to refuse! Got it?”

But Mitsuru-san wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“But…”

“There’s no ‘but’! Your answer is ‘yes’ or ‘YES’! Understand?”

Hearing that, I couldn’t do anything. If I pushed back too much and got kicked out at this time of year, I’d die.

I’ve been given a second chance at life. I want to live if I can.

“…Okay.”

When I said that, Mitsuru-san beamed.

“Yeah! Perfect!”

But I can’t stay like this.

“I want to earn some money myself too.”

But nobody even believes my age. Even though I’m twenty-seven, they mistake me for an elementary schooler. So trying for a regular job won’t work. What am I supposed to do…

“Honestly, I think you’re limited to freelance work. You look like a kid no matter what. But that’s a story for later—first, breakfast, then off to the city office! We’ll talk after that! Sound good?”

When I heard that, there was nothing I could do.

“Yes…”

After that, I ate breakfast with Mitsuru-san.

Breakfast was nothing special—just toast and a fried egg. But both were fresh and warm, something I hadn’t tasted since I was a child.