The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 76 & 77

Chapter 76: The Talking Kurokami

Being ignored is the worst kind of rejection because it denies your very existence.

Not being acknowledged, not being recognized—it’s cruel enough to shake the core of who you are.

“Everyone… sorry, but Mutsuki and I are skipping school today.”

At the breakfast table, I tell the others we’re taking the day off.

They’re all stunned, but seeing Mutsuki’s state, they probably get the gist… especially Sofia.

“If there’s anything I can do, just say so.”

“Yup, yup!

Anyone bullying my big sis is done!”

“Hazuki… your ‘yup’ usage is getting weird lately.”

“Hm… Mutsuki’s in the light music club, right?

I’ll look into things there.”

The President whispers in my ear, just for me to hear.

In moments like this, she’s incredibly reliable and cool.

“President… if you were always this cool, I might’ve fallen for you.”

“I’m a woman too, you know?!”

My comment seems to shock the naked maiden a bit, and for once, she forgets her habit of stripping everywhere.

After breakfast, I watch them get ready for school…

(It’s weird, seeing everyone off to school while I stay behind…)

As I’m thinking this, Yayoi-san comes over and hands me two pieces of paper.

“What’s this…”

“Hehe… I really wanted to go with you, Sho-kun…”

Inside the envelope… are aquarium tickets.

“Yayoi-san, this is…”

Before I can finish, she puts a finger to her lips, stopping me.

“You owe me double next time, okay?”

With a cute wink, she heads to the door, leaving behind a mature charm mixed with an innocent smile.

…

…

…

“Shoma… I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine.

Everyone needs a break sometimes.”

“…Yeah.”

After seeing everyone off, Mutsuki and I sit on the living room sofa.

It’s still too early to head out, so we decide to take it easy for a bit.

Hopefully, I can get Mutsuki to open up about what’s going on…

“Nyaow.”

A slightly hoarse meow comes closer—it’s our boss, Zenzai.

She approaches Mutsuki and stares at her.

“She wants to be held.”

“Eh?”

Zenzai’s tail swishes as she gazes—it’s her sign for wanting to be picked up.

She doesn’t do it much anymore, though.

“…Here we go.”

Mutsuki, who’s been low on energy, seems to relax a bit with Zenzai’s arrival.

As she picks her up and gently strokes her, a faint smile peeks through.

“Is the club… not going so well?”

I might be a bit too direct, but I figure it’s better than beating around the bush, so I ask.

“Yeah… it’s like… everyone’s kind of keeping their distance.

Not like they’re doing anything physical, not bullying or anything, but it just feels… uncomfortable…”

Hugging Zenzai, Mutsuki speaks slowly, bit by bit.

It started with small conflicts, but gradually, everyone lost motivation, and fewer people showed up to the club… even with the cultural festival coming up.

“And… I overheard them planning to do a band for the festival without me…

That’s when… ugh…”

“…”

How shocked must Mutsuki have felt hearing that…

She loves singing, loves her sisters, loves her family, and understands loneliness more than anyone, which makes her so kind to others.

And now she’s hurting.

(What… can I do?)

No, it’s not about what I can do!

I have to do something!

As her childhood friend, as her housemate, no… as a guy who wants to see this girl smile!

“Hey, Mutsuki.”

She’s been crying for a while, but I wait until she calms down before speaking.

“Like I said at karaoke, show them what you’ve got with your singing.”

“But I can’t sing alone…”

“You’re not alone.”

“…What?”

I stand up and look at Mutsuki.

Her eyes are blazing with determination.

“I’m here… no, we’re here.”

“…Shoma.”

Mutsuki looks at me, her eyes tearing up again.

“I can’t do anything on my own.”

“…”

“When I was little, you and the others helped me survive.

Those are precious memories, and I’m grateful.”

“…Yeah.”

“So now it’s my turn to help you.”

“…Shoma.”

All I can do is rely on others…

“And, you know, I got picked as the cultural festival’s neighborhood committee rep.”

“Neighborhood committee?”

“Yup!

The President and some locals asked me to.

Basically, it’s about working with the community to make the festival awesome.”

“Wow, that’s cool…”

Mutsuki doesn’t seem interested at all.

“No, don’t just say ‘wow’!

That’s where you’ll sing!”

“Huh?

Me?”

What’s she surprised about after all this…

“Yup!

You’re gonna sing!”

“No, no, no… that’s impossible~”

“Impossible or not, you’re doing it!

Where’s that fierce Mutsuki I know?”

“But… practice…”

“Well, we’ll find people and stuff starting now!

Hahaha!”

“Ugh!

You’re so reckless, Shoma!”

I’m one to talk, living a life of stumbling into walls, tripping over stones, and falling into holes…

But that’s what makes it fun.

“Wanna do something totally mind-blowing, right?”

“My heart’s already hurting…”

“Heh, feeling a bit better?”

“Thanks to your insane plan, maybe a little…

Um… thanks.”

“Yeah, we’re old pals!”

“Who’s the one who forgot about me until recently~?”

“Harsh…”

“Hehe…”

“Haha…”

Mutsuki’s trying to overcome this.

Facing overwhelming challenges, she’s trying to change.

Then it’s my job as her self-proclaimed boyfriend to help her!

“Mutsuki!”

“Wha~t, Shoma?”

“Let’s go to the aquarium!”

“Wha~t?”

Yayoi-san’s gift…

I take Mutsuki’s hand and head to the door.

Today, for a change of pace… it’s a date.

Chapter 77: The Swaying Kurokami

“Feels kinda… you know…”

“What?”

“Skipping school to go out like this—it’s kinda thrilling.”

“What are you saying now, after dragging me out with all that energy…”

Mutsuki and I are on a train, heading to the aquarium.

It’s after the weekday morning rush, so the train is relatively empty.

We’re sitting in a two-seater, gazing leisurely at the scenery.

The aquarium, about an hour away by train, is today’s date spot.

Maybe because of everything with Sofia, I’m hyper-aware of the girls now.

“Mutsuki… by the way.”

“Hm?”

“Do you like aquariums?”

“I do!

I go with Aoi and Kanade a lot.”

“I see…”

“Why?”

“Uh… embarrassing, but… I’ve never been to an aquarium.”

“…”

I’m the one who suggested it, and this is my sorry state.

Laugh if you want.

I mean, come on!

Moving around, living alone—I haven’t had many chances to go far!

Hearing this, Mutsuki…

“Pfft, hahahahaha!

What’s that?

You invited me so confidently!”

“Yeah… I feel bad about that part.”

“It’s fine.

I’ll teach you how to have fun.”

“…Please do.”

This date’s off to a shaky start.

※

“Whoa!

This is…”

“I’ve never been here either…

It’s huge.”

We’ve arrived at the aquarium!

It’s way bigger than I imagined.

“Let’s go!

…Shoma… your hand.”

“…Right.

It’s a date.”

I take Mutsuki’s outstretched right hand with my left.

It’s soft and warm.

I look at her again.

I dragged her out in a rush, and she said she wasn’t prepared, but that’s not true at all.

She’s dressed for summer in a light blue camisole and white cardigan, with three-quarter denim pants for mobility.

The cat-patterned hems are a cute touch.

Her sandals reveal toes painted with light pink polish.

“Mutsuki…”

“What’s up, Shoma?

Bathroom?”

“No, that’s not it…”

“?”

“Your outfit… I really like it…”

“Wha!”

The words slip out, and Mutsuki blushes, letting go of my hand.

“Come on, your hand!”

“…That’s unfair, Shoma.”

“Unfair’s fine!

I’ve been taking physical attacks lately, so I’m hitting back with mental ones.”

“That was devastating…”

Muttering with a red face, Mutsuki lets me pull her hand, and we pass through the gate.

“Welcome~”

“Here you go.”

I hand the tickets to the receptionist lady.

She smiles brightly, gives us the ticket stubs, and adds…

“Here you are!

Couple-exclusive tickets, right?

Show these stubs at the food corner for a special perk!”

“Eh…”

Not understanding, I glance between the tickets and the lady.

“Oh!

Shoma, look, it does say couple-exclusive.”

“Yayoi-san… what a strategist…”

Wished well as we go, we finally make it inside.

“Wow!

Mutsuki, look, there’s a shark!”

“…There is.”

“And over here, a manta ray’s swimming!”

“…It’s swimming.”

“Look!

That thing sleeping over there… what is it?”

“…What is it?”

Oh no… there’s a guy enjoying himself way too much, ignoring Mutsuki.

It’s me.

“…Sorry, I got carried away.”

“It’s okay.

It’s your first time, right?

I’m glad you’re having fun.”

“No… I brought you here to cheer you up.”

“Your excitement’s plenty fun for me.”

We’re standing in front of a huge tank, but since I got too hyped, we head to a smaller tank for a break.

“Oh, look, Shoma!

Jellyfish!”

“Whoa, you’re right!

They’re floating all fluffy-like.”

“Hehe!

You know, Shoma, you don’t usually start with negativity, do you?”

“Hm?

What do you mean?”

I don’t get it and ask her to clarify.

“Just what I said.

I’ve thought so since we were kids, but living together now, seeing you with Sofia and the others, that feeling hasn’t changed…”

Mutsuki recalls the past, her glossy black eyes reflecting the transparent jellyfish.

Her black hair, tied in a bun, seems to sway with the jellyfish’s movements.

“I push back sometimes, you know…”

“Like when?”

“Like… protecting my chastity from you guys’ daily attacks.”

“…Hahahaha.”

“That’s not funny…

It’s a serious issue for me.”

“You’re so weird, Shoma.”

“How so?”

“Normally, guys would be thrilled with a harem, right?

Doing whatever they want every night.”

“No way…

I don’t know about you all, but I just want to be sincere.”

“Is that so…

Maybe that’s why Sofia was so anxious…”

I don’t catch the last bit Mutsuki mutters, so I let it slide.

“I think you’re a rare type of girl these days, too.”

“Me?

How?”

“Well, watching Sofia, I noticed you don’t take many photos.”

“Oh… photos, huh.”

“Is there some deep reason?”

I thought maybe I should avoid this topic, but I was curious and asked anyway.

“No deep meaning…

Just…”

“Just?”

“I decided… not to look back at the past.”

“The past…”

Those words must be like a curse she’s repeated to herself.

Looking at memories might trap her, make it impossible to move forward.

That’s probably why Yuriko-san and Mutsuki moved away from that place.

“I see…”

Still, I make a suggestion.

“Then let’s take a photo!”

“After that talk, how do you get there…”

Mutsuki looks exasperated.

“It’s just my take, but I think photos are like footprints.”

“…Footprints?”

“When I started training at the gym, my trainer, Bran, told me something.”

“…”

“The only thing that truly witnesses your effort is a camera, and those efforts become footprints in photos.”

Mutsuki listens quietly, so I get to the point.

“So… the Mutsuki who’s struggling now will definitely lead to a future Mutsuki who’s smiling.”

“…Yeah.”

“So…”

“You mean let’s keep photos.”

“Yeah… a day will come when it pays off.

So let’s save this moment for a future smile.”

A brief silence…

Only the jellyfish float on, never stopping.

Mutsuki approaches them, as if steeling herself.

“You’re… nice, just floating and swaying…”

Her murmur carries layers of conflict and past pain.

Then, she glances at me…

“…I want to take a picture with the jellyfish.”

I’m a bit of a weirdo, but Mutsuki’s pretty out there too.

“Sure… sounds good.”

I ask a staff member to take the photo.

“Here we go~ Cheese!”

Chu…

At the shutter’s snap, Mutsuki grabs my face with both hands and kisses me forcefully.

“Wow…”

The staff lady’s shocked…

“Mutsuki… you…”

“Hehe… thanks, Shoma!”

Mutsuki clings to my arm with a light, playful smile, like when we were kids.

Her bun sways happily.

By the way, we took another proper photo afterward, just so you know.