The Carnivorous Maidens Living with Me - Chapter 78: The Singing Kurokami

Chapter 78: The Singing Kurokami

Mutsuki and I decided to use this day off to practice singing.

It’s to keep her skills sharp for the cultural festival.

So, here we are, back at the karaoke place.

But unlike last time, today the whole household crew is here.

“Mutsuki, you’re crazy good!”

“Yup, yup!”

Praised by Sofia and Hazuki, Mutsuki beams with a big smile.

Why are they here?

To cheer Mutsuki on and, well, because they wanted to sing too.

(The second reason feels like the real one…)

“Gonna hit the bathroom real quick~”

“Alright, see ya.”

I’m sitting near the exit, so I shrink back to let Mutsuki pass easily, but…

Mu ni…

“Fugu…”

“Sorry, my bad~”

Mutsuki’s soft butt brushes against my face.

“You… did that on purpose.”

“Hehehe…”

With a mischievous grin, Mutsuki heads out.

“I see, that’s the move… Shoma!

I’m going to the bathroom too!”

“President, just wet yourself.”

“Harsh!

You’re so mean to me.

But I like that.”

“She never wavers, does she, Satsuki-chan?

Oh, my turn’s next.”

Yayoi-san stands gracefully and heads to the stage.

(I’ve never really heard everyone sing before.

What’ll Yayoi-san pick?)

Yayoi-san lets her hair fall forward, looking down, then suddenly kicks off her shoes.

The stage isn’t exactly shoes-off, but whatever.

As the intro starts…

“You ready, you bastards?!”

““““!!?””””

Artist: Maximum ○ Hormone

Song: Despair ○ lly

…

…

…

We’re in despair until the song ends.

In that moment, we all share one thought:

Never cross Yayoi-san.

“Man, Mutsuki’s taking forever.

I’ll go check on her.”

“See ya~”

“Yep, later~”

She didn’t come back after the song, so I’m a bit worried she might be feeling sick.

I walk toward the women’s bathroom and hear…

“Hey, c’mon, babe, what do ya say?”

“Please, stop!”

“Heh, dressed like that, alone?

You’re asking for it, right?”

“No!

I’m with someone!”

“Then how ‘bout your friend joins us?

Let’s have some fun.”

Well, with her taking this long, I figured this might happen.

I’ve been so overwhelmed by the girls that I forgot—they’re women.

There’s only one thing for me to do.

“Hey, keep your hands off my girlfriend.”

“Huh?”

“What’s that, punk?”

“Some shrimp like you is her boyfriend?”

“““Hahahaha!”””

Yeah, figures.

Why do all the girls around me like me?

Even I think these guys look cooler than me.

“Too bad, this shrimp’s her boyfriend.

And you’re just losers who got beat by a shrimp.”

My cheap taunt predictably pisses off the three guys.

“Don’t get cocky, asshole!”

Guys who gang up on one girl are total cowards.

Mutsuki, Sofia, and the others are amazing in comparison—they keep pursuing me despite all the competition.

Bang!

“Ouch…”

“Shoma!”

“I’m fine.

Don’t step in.”

I shield Mutsuki, taking the hits from the three guys.

(Ugh, this’ll slow my recovery again.

But as long as Mutsuki’s safe, it’s fine.)

“Customers!”

“Tch… let’s go.”

A staff member shows up just in time, and the three guys scram.

“Shoma…”

Mutsuki crouches to my eye level, her face on the verge of tears.

“I’m fine.

Your daily training’s tougher than this.”

“That’s… not the point.”

She buries her face in my chest, sobbing.

“Sorry I didn’t get here sooner.

They didn’t do anything, right?”

“Yeah… sniff… I’m okay.

They didn’t do anything.”

Afterward, the police, called by the staff, question me.

Turns out, those idiots showed ID when they arrived and skipped out without paying, so they’ll face charges for assaulting me and dine-and-dashing.

“Man, modern security cameras are wild.”

“When you didn’t come back, I had no idea this was happening…”

“Sorry, I was too busy belting out ‘Live ○ Revenge.’”

Apparently, Yayoi-san’s performance was a one-woman show while we were gone.

“Hahaha!

Yayoi-san, you’re the best.

Sing it again sometime, yeah?

Right, Mutsuki?”

“…Yeah, let us hear it next time, Yayoi-san.”

“Of course, Mutsuki-chan.”

“Yayoi-onee-chan’s singing pumps me up!

And Mutsuki-onee-chan’s makes my heart feel cleansed!”

Hazuki’s trying so hard to cheer Mutsuki up.

Her thoughtfulness is something I should learn from, even as her senior.

“Shoma, we need to talk when we get home.”

“If you’re dressed, I’ll listen.”

“Let’s compromise with half-naked.”

“That’s not a compromise…”

Luckily, I only got bruises and scrapes, so it’s not too bad.

The police suggested getting a hospital diagnosis, so I’ll follow that advice.

“Alright, how ‘bout we all hit up some yakiniku tonight?”

“Ooh!

Yakiniku~♪ Yakiniku~”

“Yayoi-onee-chan, let’s have a food fight!”

“Oh my, sounds fun~”

“Mutsuki, tell me about Smofeni.”

“What!

You like them too, President?”

“Hehe… behold.”

The President pulls a card from her wallet.

“…This is!”

“Smofeni Official Fan Club ‘Phoenix Rebirth,’ Member No. 006.”

“No way… a single-digit member?”

After that, we all gorge on yakiniku, chatting and laughing as we walk home together.