That Half-Finished Drink Was Lethal— What Happened When I Left My Bottle Behind in a 1:4 Male-to-Female World - 32

Chapter 32: That Apartment Is a Penthouse — The Top Floor Clean Room

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Morning light streaming through the window illuminated the cheap four-and-a-half-mat apartment in a pale glow. Yuu Yuuki stared fixedly at the smartphone sitting on the table.

From the neighboring room, he could hear a cheerful humming that had been going on since early morning. Miya Akutsu… She had been on the brink of despair at one point, but lately, she had become remarkably energetic, even bringing him expensive meals as gifts.

“……Miya-san is working hard, too. I can’t be the only one standing still forever.”

(Kujo-san. ……And Reika-san.)

Yuu gathered his resolve and opened his messaging app. The recipient was Chihiro Kujo. She was Reika Ootori’s private secretary. And now, she was the owner of Cafe “Les Ailes,” the woman who had offered Yuu a new place to belong.

His former workplace, Les Ailes. That place held the trauma of his debt, but it also held memories of his place as a home for regulars and colleagues alike. If Reika was trying to start over from scratch, the desire to believe in her just once outweighed his past fears by a slim margin.

“……”

Yuu moved his fingers and opened the RINE talk screen.

『Kujo-san. Regarding the matter the other day, I’d like to visit you in person now to give my answer about the part-time job. I should be able to arrive in about an hour. I look forward to seeing you.』

He decided to deliver his answer in person partly to show that this was a properly considered response. And above all, he intended to present conditions for this re-employment.

“I will not sign an unfair contract. I refuse servitude based on debt. If there is any treatment where I am not respected as a human being, I will resign immediately on the spot.”

For Yuu, this was a small but certain declaration of independence as he prepared to step back out into the wilderness called “society.”

“Alright…… that should do it.”

He pressed the send button, and without waiting for the “read” receipt to appear on the screen, Yuu stood up. Immediately after… As if to mock his determination, the doorbell rang.

Ding-dong.

Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong. Ding-dong.

The doorbell rang repeatedly, as if the switch were broken.

“……I wonder who it is. It couldn’t be… Kujo-san, right?”

With a bit of confusion, Yuu opened the door, only to find an unexpected person standing there.

“—Ugh, Yuu-kun…… thank goodness you were here……”

“……Rin-san!?”

Standing there was not the usual flawless career-woman ace, Rin Asami. Her hair was slightly disheveled, and her eyes were moist. Her shoulders were trembling so much it looked as if she might collapse on the spot.

“What’s wrong? You look so pale…… Did something happen?”

“…I’m sorry for coming so suddenly. I happened to be passing by nearby, and I thought maybe you’d be here, Yuu-kun.”

Rin grabbed the sleeve of Yuu’s clothes with a clinging touch. Her fingertips were cold as ice, but the moment they touched Yuu, they trembled as if they had taken on a faint heat.

“If you have the time, could you come see Yuki-chan? Lately, she seems to be looking for you all the time……”

“Yuki-chan…… Now that you mention it, I haven’t been able to see her at all lately.”

Yuki, the Ragdoll kitten he had rescued with Rin. To Yuu, that kitten was one of the few healing presences that soothed his exhausted heart. He had just contacted Kujo, but there was still plenty of time before their meeting. He should have enough time even if he stopped by Rin’s apartment first.

“I understand. If it’s just for a little bit, I’d be happy to visit. Is Yuki-chan doing well? I bet she’s gotten quite big, hasn’t she?”

“…Thank you, Yuu-kun. I’m so glad. I’m so glad you’re here.”

A faint sense of unease flickered through him at the disjointed conversation, but her haggard appearance dulled Yuu’s judgment. He couldn’t see her expression. The weakness from a moment ago had vanished from her eyes as if it were a lie.

(…Ah. …You really are kind, Yuu-kun. To believe my words like that, without any suspicion at all.)

In Rin’s mind, the image of Yuu typing a message to someone on his phone just moments ago was being replayed vividly. The observation was already complete. The fact that Yuu was trying to contact Chihiro Kujo. The fact that he was trying to return to that filthy world. The athlete girl, Hikari, who was actively making approaches. And the live stream by the neighbor, Miya, had been the final trigger.

Having grasped everything, she had designated this day, this very moment, as the day for the execution of his salvation.

(……It’s okay. I’ll protect you from all the vermin that swarm around you…… Me, and only me.)

“……Rin-san? Shall we go? Yuki-chan must be waiting.”

“Yes…Let’s go. To our home.”

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The luxury sedan Rin drove was eerily quiet. Inside the car, mixed with that sharp, piercing aroma Rin favored, there was a faint, inorganic scent, like disinfectant.

“……Rin-san. Did you change the car’s scent or something?”

“……Hehe. I just did a little care to keep the air clean. The outside air is full of bacteria, so I wanted to make sure nothing bad enters your body, Yuu-kun.”

Rin answered while staring straight ahead, wearing the smile of an ideal saint. Yuu watched the scenery flow past the car window, smiling wryly to himself about how she was as much of a clean-freak as ever. Eventually, the car slid into the ultra-luxury apartment complex where Rin lived, towering in a prime location in the city center.

They boarded the elevator directly from the underground parking lot. Normally, the button for the floor where Rin lived should have been pressed. However, Rin’s finger tapped without hesitation on “PH”—the button for the penthouse on the top floor.

“……Rin-san? You passed the floor. Wait, did you press the wrong button……?”

Yuu looked at the button curiously and then turned his gaze toward Rin. In that instant, an indescribable chill ran down Yuu’s spine.

“Yes, that’s right. I moved to the cleanest and safest place for her ……”

Rin’s profile was reflected in the mirror-finished wall of the elevator. Not a single spark of light resided in her eyes. Her gaze was unfocused, an inorganic look where the highlights had completely fallen away, leaving a mixture of ecstasy and obsession.

“And for you, too.”

“Eh?”

Rin pressed a handkerchief over Yuu’s mouth and buried her nose in his neck, breathing deeply and crazily over and over. A heated sound, like sipping air from the depths of her lungs, leaked from the back of Rin’s throat.

“……Ngh…… Yuu-kun, ……you smell so good.”

“……R-Rin-san? What are you……”

Yuu’s consciousness was gradually becoming hazy. He heard her heated, rough breathing—hah, hah.

“…It’s okay, Yuu-kun. …Just let go of your consciousness. …For Yuki-chan and for our future together. Let’s go to the safest sanctuary, the cleanest place where no one can disturb us.”

Yuu’s vision began to turn a cloudy white from the edges, and only Rin’s amber eyes looked like stars shining brilliantly in the darkness. His body sank heavily as if it no longer belonged to him.

Ding.

With an inorganic chime, the elevator doors opened. It was a secluded space where the entire floor served as a single residence.

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