The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 34 & 45

Chapter 34: I’d Rather Care About My Girlfriend’s Reputation Than My Own

Monday means school’s back in session.

For those looking forward to it, it’s probably an exciting vibe.

But if there’s some kind of shadow hanging over you, it can feel pretty depressing.

Honestly, I don’t regret what I pulled off before getting hospitalized.

I don’t care about my own reputation.

But if Sofia’s reputation takes a hit because of it, what am I supposed to do?

“Haa, so depressing~”

“What’s depressing?”

“Uh… nah, nothing.”

No way I can ask her directly.

“Well, I get to go to school with Sofia, so it’s all good!”

“You’re getting more honest, Shoma. Does that mean tonight’s the night? We doing it?”

I was just muttering to myself, but it’s totally spilling out.

A chill runs down my spine, but I’ll just ignore it.

“Alright, let’s head to school!”

“Let’s go!”

We leave my house together.

I used to cut it close getting to school, but now I’m aiming to arrive a bit early.

“Going to school together feels kinda fresh!”

“Right? It’s super fun with my darling!”

“Yeah, yeah.”

On the way, students in the same uniform see us and either make way, stare with sparkling eyes, or fidget nervously.

Guess my plan worked, huh.

Thinking that, we reach school and step into the classroom… and that’s when it happens.

“There he is! The Demon King’s triumphant return!”

“Arriving with the princess!”

“Prepare the throne, minions!”

“…What’s this?”

My brain just shuts down.

“Yo, Shoma! No, Demon King! Hahaha. How’s the injury?”

“Haruki, what’s going on?”

I demand an explanation from Haruki.

“After that whole thing, the class—no, the whole school—thinks messing with you is a bad idea.”

“And that leads to this?”

The guys are kneeling on one knee, bowing to me.

The girls are staring at me with dreamy eyes.

“They finally noticed your charm, I guess?”

“Nah, I just got beat up.”

“Maybe for the guys, but the girls seem to think that’s a big deal.”

“…Huh?”

“You fought for your girlfriend, putting your body on the line. That hit the girls right in the heart—boom.”

“Boom…?”

“Point is, you and your girls are safe now. The student council president even said at the assembly that she won’t show mercy after what happened!”

My reputation aside, if Sofia and the others can go to school without worry, I’m cool with that.

My mood lightens up a bit.

After that, the girls swarm Sofia with questions, and the guys bombard me with “How do I get popular?”—total chaos.

By lunch break, I’m sick of dealing with my classmates, so I try to leave the classroom with Sofia when someone calls out.

“S-Senpai! Um, um…”

“Oh, Hazuki! Been a while!”

“Congrats on getting out of the hospital. And thank you for the other day. I’ve been able to talk to my classmates a bit more since then.”

“That’s awesome! If anything comes up, just drop my name. Apparently, I’m the Demon King now!”

I laugh as I say that.

“Sofi… Onee-chan, are you guys heading to lunch now?”

“Yup, Hazuki. But going to the store or cafeteria might be tough in this chaos… haha.”

No way we’re stepping into that minefield right now…

“Um… how about eating together then? Maybe… in the prep kitchen?”

“Oh! That’s a great idea. But we don’t have anything.”

“Perfect timing! I made a ton of bento!”

She must’ve planned for this.

What an amazing junior.

“Thanks, Hazuki! We’ll take you up on that!”

“You’re a lifesaver!”

We decide to eat lunch in the prep kitchen.

Hazuki’s bento… well, it’s packed in a huge tiered box.

It’s like she’s heading to a cherry blossom viewing party.

“Hazuki… you made all this by yourself?”

“Y-Yes… I wanted to eat with you two.”

“Hazuki!”

Gyuu

Sofia hugs her tight.

Chilling with the two of them, we dig into lunch.

I thought it was a lot, but they both love eating, so it disappears fast.

Along the way, they both feed me with “ahh”s and even force some mouth-to-mouth bites.

Having them team up is terrifying, I’m realizing.

Just before lunch break ends, Hazuki says…

“Um… Senpai, please wait a bit longer, okay?”

“Huh? For what?”

“Just a little more… I’ll be ready soon.”

Her answer’s super vague.

Now that I think about it, Hazuki once mentioned…

“The ingredients for the sweets I want to make are hard to find.”

Must be about that.

“Alright! I’ll be waiting!”

Who could blame me for responding like that?

Chapter 35: Leaf Moon Arrives Suddenly

It’s been almost a week since I started living with Sofia.

What’s changed?

I’ve basically become putty in Sofia’s hands.

At first, I refused to bathe together with her, but now we’re in the hot spring buck naked.

She’s such a carnivorous girl that when I said, “At least cover your front!” she shot back, “No, look at it!”

Her excuse is that she wants me to get worked up and make things official ASAP.

But, honestly, I’m grateful.

With my injuries, I couldn’t properly wash my body or hair, so it’s a big help.

I said I’d wash my front myself, but she steamrolled me.

She was very excited and washed that part very carefully… I meditated like a Buddha to become one with the void.

Muni… muni.

School’s been going better too.

Sofia’s slowly starting to talk with our classmates and her royal guard members.

Lunch is still courtesy of Hazuki, which is a huge lifesaver.

“Just a bit longer.”

She’s been muttering that as the weekend approaches.

Maybe the ingredients are almost ready?

I didn’t think much of it and just went about my days.

I contacted my job and the gym, asking for shift adjustments and rehab once I’m more mobile.

The manager, Okama-mama, grilled me with a barrage of questions.

For some reason, Yayoi-san already knew everything and gave off a dark aura.

Bran-san at the gym also knew (how?) and promised to stick with me for rehab.

On cooking club day, the president showed up, which is rare.

The four of us—Hazuki, the president, Sofia, and me—cooked while chatting about school stuff.

I was the taste-tester, so by the time we left, my stomach was stuffed.

The president’s been feeling her cooking skills improve bit by bit.

Today’s the start of Golden Week!

A glorious ten-day break.

I woke up in a great mood, imagining noisy but fun days with Sofia, only to stumble into an unexpected scene.

Pinpon

Huh? A visitor?

Yayoi-san? Okama-mama?

Thinking that, I head to the door.

“Oh! They’re here!”

Sofia beats me to it, opening the door.

Gacha

“U-Um… I’m here…”

“Welcome, Hazuki!”

It’s Hazuki.

Normally, I’d think, cool, a friend’s visiting!

But the bizarre sight is impossible to ignore!

“Uh… Hazuki-san, what’s with all that luggage?”

A suitcase on her right.

A huge backpack on her back.

A carry-on bag on her left.

“Ehehe… I came!”

“What!?”

I freeze.

No matter how you look at it, that’s luggage for a long stay!

No, more than that!

“Come on, Shoma, don’t you remember? I told Hazuki we started our newlywed life.”

“Yeah, you mentioned that.”

“And I told her to come join us!”

“Okay, but that was a joke, right? Her parents wouldn’t allow it, right? That’s how it was, wasn’t it!?”

I didn’t take it seriously.

I might’ve even forgotten about it.

“Um, it took a week to convince my parents!”

“I told you at school to wait, that it’d be soon!”

Saa, the blood drains from my face.

This is bad…

“And you said, ‘Alright! I’ll be waiting!’ didn’t you, Senpai?”

Hazuki’s expression darkens, tears welling up in her eyes.

She hauled all this luggage to my house just for me.

Even if it was my mistake, I can’t back out after saying she could come…

This is bad.

“Hahaha! Welcome to Hazuki-sama! This is your home now, babe!☆”

I answer with a dazzling smile, stars practically sparkling.

I screwed up… I said yes on a whim, what do I do now?

No need to say I regretted it.

“Yes! Nice to meet you, Senpai, and Onee-chan!”

Hazuki’s smile was as beautiful as a moon reflected in a dewdrop on a leaf.

A girl’s smile is one hell of a weapon, Shoma thought.