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 41: Akane-mama’s Secret

Chapter 41: Akane-mama’s Secret

Snack Akane is a renowned snack bar near Hakurindai Station.

Five members joining the second round—Reina, Riona, Mizuki, Yuuki, and Miku—passed through the shop’s door.

“Akane-mama~ We brought customers~”

Mizuki and Riona said in unison.

Then, Akane-mama came over from the back of the shop.

“Welcome~

Oh, it’s Yuuki-kun!

Thanks for coming~”

Akane-mama hugged Yuuki, pressing her bearded face against his cheek.

“W-Wait, Mama, give me a break!”

Akane-mama widened her eyes upon seeing Miku next to him.

“Oh my, what a stunning beauty!

Yuuki-kun’s girlfriend?”

Miku was thrilled to be called his girlfriend.

“N-No, she’s a housemate from the same share house.”

Yuuki waved his hands in denial.

“Y-Yuuki-san, you don’t have to deny it so hard…”

Miku pouted.

“Oh, that pout is adorable.

I’m Akane, nice to meet you, twin-tail miss.

May I have your name…?”

“Yes, I’m Miku Yuuki from the same share house.

Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, such a polite, good girl!

My likability meter’s off the charts!”

While talking with Akane-mama, Riona and Mizuki, who work part-time here, went to change.

Reina, Yuuki, and Miku sat at the end of the counter.

As their ordered drinks arrived, Riona and Mizuki returned in the shop’s uniform: wine-red short dresses with deep necklines.

Looking at the counter’s far end, Yuuki saw a man coolly sipping a drink.

His profile looked familiar.

“That guy… I’ve seen him somewhere… Who is he?”

Hearing this, Akane-mama said,

“Oh, Yuuki-kun, you know Kurahashi?”

“Huh, his name’s Kurahashi?”

At that moment, Yuuki’s synapses connected, and he recalled the man’s identity.

“Oh, he’s the officer from the station police box!”

Hearing this, Kurahashi turned toward them.

“Oh, you’re… the stalker victim’s boyfriend, right?”

“N-No, not her boyfriend, her bodyguard.”

“Right, what a coincidence meeting here.”

Off-duty Officer Kurahashi was stylish and quite handsome.

“Yuuki-kun, you know Kurahashi?”

Akane-mama asked.

“Yeah, a housemate was a stalker victim…

We went to the station police box to file a report.

Kurahashi-san handled it.”

“Wow, really?”

“But he’s hard to recognize in plain clothes.”

“I guess… I only hang out around here at my senior’s shop, not usually.”

“Huh, your senior’s shop?”

“Oh, right, you wouldn’t know.

The story about Akane-mama being a former detective…”

“What?”

Yuuki and Miku looked at Akane-mama in shock.

“Hey, Kurahashi!

I told you not to talk about that here.

You’re banned!”

“S-Sorry, Captain!”

Later, they learned Akane-mama’s real name is Kyotaro Gondo. Before transitioning, she was a detective in the Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Organized Crime Division.

A judo fifth-dan master, she was called the “Demon of Full Defense” and feared in those circles.

Kurahashi was assigned under her and rigorously trained in detective basics.

“How’s the stalker situation since then?”

Officer Kurahashi asked Yuuki.

“Lately, maybe because I’ve been escorting her, I haven’t seen anyone.”

“Good… But stay cautious.

Due to confidentiality, I can’t say much, but it seems her stalker isn’t just one person…”

“Huh, really?”

“Yes, analyzing security cameras at the convenience store, there are at least two.”

“What, that’s bad, isn’t it, Kurahashi?”

Akane-mama said with an unusually stern expression.

“Yes, the stalkers seem quite fixated on her, so don’t let your guard down.”

“Got it, I’ll be extra careful.”

“Well, I’ll head out now.”

Kurahashi greeted Akane-mama, said, “See you,” and left.

※

Three other groups of customers were in the shop, with Akane-mama, Mizuki, and Riona serving them.

Mizuki went to buy yakitori ordered by a customer.

Next door is a yakitori shop run by Akane-mama’s father.

Yuuki was asking about Reina’s job.

“Reina-san, what’s it like being a weather presenter?”

“Well, where to start… I have a meteorologist certification.

So, I create all the weather forecasts myself.”

“Really?”

Reina explained that she analyzes data, weather maps, and satellite images from the Japan Meteorological Agency to make her own forecasts.

Then, she writes scripts to convey it to viewers, orders CGs for the show, and it’s very busy.

“Live streaming online shows gets hectic before airing.”

“Wow, sounds tough.”

Miku listened vaguely to Reina’s talk, her mind consumed with how to date Yuuki.

Small tricks wouldn’t work on him anymore, she thought.

She’d have to take direct action.

Miku decided to execute a plan she’d been thinking about.

“Um, I’m feeling ill, so I’ll head back.

Yuuki-san, can you walk me home?”

Miku asked Yuuki.

The clock showed past midnight.

“Miku-chan, you okay?

Yuuki-kun, please walk Miku-chan home.”

Reina said to Yuuki.

“Yeah, let’s go, Miku.”

“Please.”

“Thank you for the treat, Reina-san. Good night~”

Yuuki and Miku said goodbye to Akane-mama and the others at the counter and left.

Today’s drinks were on Reina.

After walking about 50 meters, Miku stopped.

“Yuuki-san, I feel sick.”

Miku crouched on the roadside, looking pained.

“Miku, you okay?”

“No, I don’t think so…

I want to rest somewhere…”

To Yuuki, Miku looked genuinely distressed.

“Even if you say that… this area’s just bars.”

“Yuuki-san, let’s rest there.”

Miku pointed to a love hotel with dazzlingly bright neon lights.

“Huh, Miku, that’s a love hotel.”

“I don’t care, I just want to lie down.”

Miku looked limp, as if unwell.

“Hmm, can’t be helped.

Can you walk that far, Miku?”

Yuuki decided to let Miku rest at the love hotel.

“I can’t walk anymore. Yuuki-san, carry me.”

“Seriously? Okay, Miku, hold onto my shoulders.”

Yuuki crouched in front of Miku, and as he carried her, she was lighter than expected.

The swell of Miku’s chest pressed against his back, and its soft sensation quickened Yuuki’s pulse.

Yuuki-san’s back is so broad and warm.

Surprised by the breadth of Yuuki’s back, Miku wrapped her arms around his neck and clung tightly.

The two passed through the gate of the love hotel Aventure.

※

Meanwhile, Mizuki returned from the yakitori shop.

“Reina-san, Yuuki and Miku-chan went home, right?”

“Yeah, Miku-chan wasn’t feeling well, so they left a bit ago.”

Reina said.

“Those two went into that love hotel. Are they like that?”

“What, seriously?”

Neither knew Mizuki had seen Yuuki and Miku enter the love hotel.