The Case of Me, a Guy With Zero Dating Experience, Getting Mistaken for a Stalker by the Angel I Fell for at First Sight, Only to End Up Living Together With Her in a Harem Share House With a 1:9 Gender Ratio - Chapter 14: Snack Akane (1)

Chapter 14: Snack Akane (1)

The karaoke session wrapped up past 10 p.m.

“Alright, time for the third round~ Yuuki-kun, you’re required to join!”

“Ugh, please, have mercy~ I don’t have that much cash…”

Yuuki desperately wanted to skip the third round, but with Riona gripping his right arm, Mizuki his left, and Reina firmly behind him, escape was impossible.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. It’s on us big sisters~”

“Yuuki-kun, don’t worry about Sakura-chan. Have a good time drinking with us.”

With Asuna saying that, Yuuki’s retreat was completely cut off.

In the end, Sakura and four others were led back to the share house by Asuna.

Yuuki was dragged by the three older women to a neon-lit alley off the main street near the station.

The shop, glowing with flashy neon, was called “Snack Akane.”

The narrow, eel-bed-like interior had only one customer, a regular-looking man drinking alone.

As they entered, Mizuki and Riona said in unison,

“Akane-mama~ We brought a lively guy~”

A figure, presumably the mama, approached from the back.

“Thanks, Mizuki-chan, Riona-chan. Oh my, what a handsome guy. This one’s my type.”

The one called Akane-mama was a muscular, gorilla-like transgender woman.

“I’m Akane-mama. May I have your name?”

Yuuki, his face twitching, greeted her.

“Sh-Shinomiya Yuuki, nice to meet you.”

“Oh~ Yuuki-kun, huh? Nice name~”

Meanwhile, Mizuki and Riona disappeared to the back.

“Yuuki-kun, Reina-chan, what’ll you drink?”

“I’ll have a highball, I think~”

Reina answered cheerfully.

“I’ll have a highball too, please.”

“Got it, hang on a sec.”

Akane-mama winked and placed two tall glasses in front of them.

Filling the glasses with ice, a karan clinking sound rang out.

She grabbed a bottle of Scotch whisky from the shelf, measured it with a jigger, and poured it into the glasses.

Stirring the ice a few times with a bar spoon, she gently poured chilled soda, avoiding the ice.

With a final light stir and a squeeze of lemon, it was done.

“Here you go… Snack Akane’s signature highball.”

The two glasses were set on coasters.

Fine bubbles rose quietly in the amber liquid.

“As expected of Akane-mama.”

Reina happily picked up her glass.

“Impressive technique.”

Yuuki praised Akane-mama’s efficient movements.

“Oh, flattery? Maybe I’ll throw in a little something extra.”

Akane-mama seemed pleased by the compliment.

“Yuuki-kun, Akane-mama used to be a bartender.”

“Really? No wonder she’s so skilled.”

“Heh, Akane-mama’s not just any ordinary gal…”

Reina said something cryptic.

Yuuki would learn the meaning of her words shortly.

Just then, the back door opened, and Riona and Mizuki appeared in the shop’s uniform.

It was a wine-red short dress with thin, sexy shoulder straps.

So this was the snack bar where Riona and Mizuki worked…

They’d brought Yuuki here today as a new customer.

“Sorry for the wait, Yuuki-kun. What do you think of this uniform? Pretty hot, right?”

Riona struck a pose in front of Yuuki.

“Uh, y-yeah, it suits you really well.”

Riona’s dress had a deep neckline, her G-cup chest boldly on display, leaving Yuuki unsure where to look.

“Oh, that reaction’s cute, Yuuki-kun. Could it be… you’re still a virgin?”

Akane-mama picked up on Yuuki’s behavior.

“Huh? Y-Yeah, but… what about it?”

Yuuki was flustered by Akane-mama’s words.

“Really? Then someone’s gotta take care of that first time. I guess I’d be a bit much for you, huh?”

“Hey, Riona-chan, Mizuki-chan, Yuuki-kun’s a virgin. Wanna take him for a spin?”

“Yuuki-kun, if I’m good enough, I’ll break you in anytime♡”

Riona laughed as she said it.

“N-No, I’m good. I want to decide that kind of thing on my own terms…”

Unsure if Riona was serious or joking, Yuuki politely declined.

“Yuuki-kun, you’re adorable~ I could just make you my pet.”

The weather presenter Reina chimed in.

“Yuuki-kun, you gotta be careful. These big sisters might sound like they’re joking, but they’re half-serious…”

Akane-mama warned Yuuki.

“What’re you talking about, Mama? No way we’re serious, just kidding, totally joking.”

Riona and Mizuki laughed, but their eyes weren’t smiling.

Reina said to Yuuki,

“By the way, just between us… Don’t you think Asuna-san wanted you in that room from the start?”

“Yeah, I thought so too~ That Room 0 was empty for over a year, right?”

Riona said, and Reina nodded deeply.

“Yup, even when there were applicants, Asuna-san said Room 0 was reserved and turned them away.”

Mizuki seemed to agree.

“Maybe she knew Yuuki-kun was going to Seijo University.”

“Huh, is that true?”

Yuuki had told his brother Daiki that Seijo University was his top choice, and maybe Asuna too.

Since his enrollment was delayed a year due to the flu, it’s possible she lost the chance to mention it.

T/N: More fun facts! The mama part is deliberate. The “mama” in these bars/cafes are usually those with the position of owner/co-owner/manager. The mama term came from a kind of culture in japanese hostess clubs, the “mamas” take care of the hostesses, maintains the atmosphere of the bar and properly manages complains and requests of customers, basically being a “maternal” figure, therefore “mama”.