The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me

Chapter 44: The One Back from the Trip

A journey needs a companion, and the world needs kindness.

I wanna go on a trip somewhere.

Is that urge to escape a boring routine… or just fed up with a stressful world, chasing a heart’s oasis?

Who knows?

One thing’s for sure: going somewhere new makes your heart race!

I’m in my living room, eyes closed, munching on souvenir snacks, imagining the place they came from.

Why?

To avoid the gaze of the girl in front of me.

“Hey~ hey~ Shoma-kun! What’s the deal with this?”

Her smile’s dazzling, but her eyes aren’t laughing.

Sitting before me is my part-time job senior, Yayoi Kujo.

“What do you mean… they’re my… uh, my girlfriends.”

I always get tongue-tied around Yayoi-san, slipping into awkward formal speech.

Cold sweat’s pouring, but how’d we end up here? Quick rundown:

Yayoi-san, who got back from her trip.

Bringing souvenirs and a get-well gift.

Storms my house, hardline style.

Runs into Sofia and Hazuki.

I move like lightning—dash in, then bolt.

Sofia catches me.

Hazuki ties me down.

I self-destruct.

And now, here we are.

“Hmm. Shoma-kun, who never gave in no matter how much I pushed, has girlfriends? And even two of them?”

Okay, maybe her “pushing” counts, but it was physical!

“Did you say something?”

“Nothing at all.”

The sweat won’t stop!

Yayoi-san’s usually got this gentle big-sister vibe (mostly), so seeing her this mad is a first.

Quiet people are terrifying when they snap.

“U-Um… K-Kujo-san… me and Onee… Kisaragi-senpai kinda forced our way into Senpai’s house… and, like, we’re leaning on his kindness… we’re in love with him. But, but… it’s kinda about his body… so, please… don’t bully him too much…”

Hazuki lands a preemptive strike! Thanks!

That’s gotta be her longest speech ever.

And she casually slipped in the body thing… still not giving up, huh?

“Hazuki-chan, was it? I’m not mad at you two. If I’m mad, it’s at Shoma-kun for hiding this.”

Sofia jumps in with a lifeline… maybe?

“Um, Kujo-san, don’t be mad. We actually stopped by the shop during the holiday, but you weren’t there.”

Sofia spills the truth, a bit eagerly.

“For real?”

“Yeah… honestly, I didn’t wanna tell Yayoi-san. But I should’ve said something sooner to avoid this.”

Sofia and Hazuki look puzzled, not quite getting it.

I whisper so only they can hear.

“I don’t think she’s mad because I got girlfriends.”

““?””

“Remember when we went to the shop? I mentioned something…”

“What was it?”

Yayoi-san cuts me off.

“Shoma-kun!! Why didn’t you introduce me to these adorable girls? And living together? That’s not fair! I wanna live here too~!”

Yayoi-san’s character’s starting to crack…

“You’re having all sorts of giggly, flirty fun every day, right? With Sofia-chan’s snowy skin! Or Hazuki-chan’s bouncy, poyoyo fruits sandwiching you? So unfair~!”

She’s screaming.

And acting like a spoiled kid.

The usual Yayoi-san’s gone… that outburst confirms it! Yayoi-san, you’re into girls!

“And Shoma-kun! Ever since you started hitting the gym, your body’s gotten all solid…”

Oh! I am getting closer to my ideal physique.

I thought Yayoi-san had weird tastes, but she’s finally recognizing my hard work—

“I’m… so sad.”

Yayoi-san yanks me off my chair, pinning me to the floor.

Her expression and actions don’t match.

Sofia and Hazuki freeze, stunned by the scene.

“Yayoi-san! I’m injured!!”

She slips her hands under my shirt, touching me all over.

“Higu… where’d that squishy tummy go? Sniff… what about those soft arms? Ohhh, come back to meee!”

Yayoi-san’s genuinely crying.

How many times have I seen a woman’s tears?

But this feels… different.

“Yayoi-san… I’ve been wondering for a while.”

“Sniff… What?”

“Do you have some kind of weird fetish?”

I finally ask straight-up what’s been on my mind.

“No, that’s not it.”

“Huh?” “What?” “Hwe?”

Her answer catches not just me but Sofia and Hazuki off guard.

“But… with everything you’ve done, I thought…”

I stammer, and Yayoi-san, still crying, shouts:

“It’s because I love you, Shoma-kun, obviously!”

—Obviously!

—ly!

Déjà vu, huh?

Chapter 45: If It Happens Twice, It’ll Happen Thrice

Even when you know you’ll fail, there’s meaning in trying.

Haven’t you had that experience?

Like…

Trying to crack an egg one-handed, knowing it’ll flop.

Spinning a pen in a quiet classroom, knowing it’ll drop.

Tossing laundry into the machine like a basketball, knowing it’ll miss.

You’ve been there, right? Right? Come on!

※

Yayoi-san’s words as she straddled me:

“It’s because I love you, obviously!”

I’ve been mulling over those words.

I’m in my room now.

Sofia and Hazuki are in the living room, talking with Yayoi-san to smooth things over.

We’re taking a breather before diving back in, so I’m here, thinking.

“What do I do?”

I kinda, sorta knew.

I thought it was just a junior’s crush or some fetish thing, but to think she was serious…

“…”

I let my mind wander to my time with Yayoi-san.

“Shoma-kun! Nice to meet you!”

“Call me Yayoi!”

“Here’s how you make this.”

“The university festival was…”

“The manager’s out today, so it’s just us, huh?”

“This is delicious! My masterpiece!”

“Let’s check out a friend’s café to study their menu!”

“Shoma-kun, got someone you like?”

Every memory flashing through my head is Yayoi-san’s beaming smile.

“Yeah… she’s serious, isn’t she? And so are Sofia and Hazuki.”

A whirlwind of emotions echoes in my mind.

Then I recall what Bran-san told me:

“You’ve gotta meet ‘em head-on!”

I open my room’s door and head to the living room.

Konkon

No answer, but I slowly open the door.

There’s Yayoi-san, looking calm, sandwiched between Sofia and Hazuki on the sofa.

I walk over, sitting across from the three.

A long silence follows, but I finally speak.

“Yayoi-san, I—”

“Wait! Let me go first!”

Yayoi-san cuts me off, continuing with intensity.

“I love you, Shoma-kun! I really do! So… I decided to think like Sofia-chan and Hazuki-chan!”

Her gaze is fiercer than ever.

“Uh, think like them how?”

Here it comes. If it happens twice, it’ll happen thrice.

“I talked with Sofia-chan and Hazuki-chan and made up my mind! I’m after your body too! I loved your big, cuddly frame before… but I love the you now just as much!”

Yup, called it.

When I heard they were talking, I had a bad feeling.

I glance at Sofia and Hazuki—Sofia’s got a smug grin, and Hazuki’s giving a cute thumbs-up.

Girls’ conversations are terrifying.

My resolve’s gone out the window, but I push forward.

“Yayoi-san… I hear your feelings. Thank you! I’m a clumsy, messy guy, but please stick with me!”

“Shoma-kun…”

Yayoi-san covers her mouth, tears welling in her eyes.

“I don’t know what Sofia and Hazuki told you about me…”

I pause, then lay my heart bare.

“I’ll give my all to anyone who cares for me! Even if the world doesn’t approve.”

“…Sniff.”