The Kansai Villain’s Rebirth: I Accidentally Ended Up With a Harem. - Chapter 40: Natsume Shina Learns What Warmth Truly Is.

Natsume Shina Learns What Warmth Truly Is.

Natsume Shina’s POV.

Today… today I learned what it means for warm, homemade food to be so delicious that it brings you to tears. I learned how joyful it is to eat together with someone. How comforting it feels.

I learned that warmth—and now, I don’t think I can live without it anymore.
That’s why I cried. In front of everyone. Letting the tears fall and fall.

Dai-chan was the one who suggested this little “good work, everyone” dinner. I never imagined it would be so much fun… so warm…

Mio-chan held me the whole time. Rin-chan stayed right beside me. Dai-chan gently patted my head.

I was so happy—so unbelievably happy—that I ended up bawling.
Ehehe.

I haven’t eaten together with my family since I was in elementary school.

Meals were always from McDonald’s, Washinoya, or delivery pizza. I was lonely.

When my friends talked about how “Mom’s curry is the best!” or “Dad’s homemade hamburg steak is unbeatable!”

I never understood what any of that felt like. All I could do was smile and say, “Oh, really? That’s nice.”

“Shina-chan, what food does your mom make that you like?”

Even when they asked me that, I had no answer. So I lied and said I liked omurice.

I didn’t even really know what omurice tasted like—but I’d heard the word before, so I said it.

***

“Shina-chan, is there anything you want to eat next?”

After dinner, Dai-chan asked me that.
What do I want?
I didn’t know.
Curry? Omurice? Udon?
There were so many things I wanted to try.

“From now on, let’s figure it out together. What you like—me and you.”

“Eh…?”

“I don’t think you know what your favorites are yet, Shina-chan.
So I’ll make all sorts of things.
And together, we’ll find the ones you love.”

Discovering the things I love… together with Dai-chan. Just that thought made my chest grow even warmer.

Not deciding, but discovering. Exploring together. Doing that with Dai-chan, with Mio-chan, with Rin-chan…

It already sounds like the most wonderful thing in the world.

“Yeah!!!”

Dai-chan patted my head. That alone made me tear up again.

I realized just how blessed I was to have such wonderful friends.

***

One time, when I went to buy groceries, I saw a couple sharing their shopping bags between them. I felt so jealous.

That—that’s what parents are supposed to be like, I thought. I wondered if I’d ever be able to have a boyfriend like that someday… but I don’t even understand what “husband and wife” are supposed to be.

But today, when I tried helping Dai-chan, I realized how fun it could be.
I don’t want to leave everything to him.
Husbands and wives—the couple I saw—they were splitting the heavy bags evenly, right?
So I don’t want Dai-chan doing everything.

I want to carry half too.
That thought alone filled me with a warm, happy feeling.

Someday… I want Mio-chan to teach me how to cook.

And then I want to cook together with Dai-chan. I know that would make me so happy. We’d go shopping together, cook together, and take a bath together—

…Bath!?

W-wait, Dai-chan… and me… taking a bath!? T-that’s… that’s way too embarrassing!!

But imagining it made my heart pound… and there was this strange tingling low in my stomach, down near my hips…

and this warm, electric feeling… It wasn’t unpleasant.

Just… really, really flustering.

If only I could live with Dai-chan, Mio-chan, and Rin-chan forever. That would be so much happier than living in this house.

Once you know happiness… being without it hurts so, so much. But right now, that warm feeling in my chest, and the heat low in my stomach… they kept the pain away.

“Nihehehe♪”

No good. I keep grinning. But I can’t help it—it really was that happy. They said I could come over anytime!

Hyaaaa—!
Kyaaaa—!
Dai-chan!!

I’m gonna want to visit every single dayyy!!! No, no—that’d just bother him! Calm down!!

I rolled around on my bed, kicking, flailing, squealing…
Ugh… I’m tired…
Time for a shower…

***

After showering, I was spacing out in the living room when I heard the front door open. In that instant, all the warmth I’d been feeling just… vanished.

I thought it was Mom, but it was Dad.

I hate Dad. He always brings home heavy-perfume women, and he ignores me completely.

Sometimes I wonder why he even bothered having me.

“Oh my, Shina-chan! How are you~?”

Ugh. Gross.
She talked to me again.
I hate Dad’s mistress.
The mix of perfume and makeup is disgusting.

Even now—it stinks. I’d been savoring the smell of today’s hamburg steak and karaage lingering in my nose…but it all evaporated because of her.

Like she wiped away my memories of today.

“Yes, I’m fine. Since exams are over, I’m relaxing.”

“Oh really? Did you get good grades?”

“Yes, thanks to my efforts.”

“That’s wonderful! You’re such a good girl!”

She patted my head.

Don’t touch me.

Don’t touch me don’t touch me don’t touch me— Don’t lay those filthy hands on me. But I can’t afford to leave a bad impression.

Still, I can’t bear the idea of her hands overwriting the warmth Rin-chan and Dai-chan gave me. I’ll wash my hair again later.

Ugh. I can’t stand it.

“Hehe, you’re so cute, Shina-chan. Here—pocket money!”

“……Eh, but…”

“It’s fine! Don’t worry about it. Your mom doesn’t give you much, right?”

“……”

She was trying way too hard to get on my good side. She handed me thirty thousand yen—but that’s Dad’s money, isn’t it?

“Hey! You—That’s my money!”

“Oh, who cares~? Just think of it as pocket money from Papa♪”

“You—!”

Ah.
I almost said “gross” out loud.

She only gives it because it’s not her money. Whatever. I’ll save it.

When I graduate high school, I’m getting out of this house—no matter what. So I’m saving every yen they give me, planning to spend it all at once later.

I don’t want to keep a single coin from these disgusting people.

“Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah, let’s get moving.”

“Okay~. Bye, Shina-chan. See you later♪”

“Yes. Goodbye.”

They left. I heard her say, “What an unfriendly kid,” at the door.

Yeah, I heard you, old lady. Seriously disgusting.

You should be grateful I was even pretending to be polite to someone like you. Don’t come back.

I showered again.
I wanted to scrub that awful, clinging smell off me.
I scrubbed so hard my skin felt like it might bleed.
I washed my hair so roughly it made snapping sounds as strands came out.

Smelly. Smelly smelly smelly smelly smelly—

Disgusting disgusting disgusting disgusting—
GROSS GROSS GROSS GROSS!!!!!

I don’t want to stay in this house anymore. I ran into my room—my last safe place, free from that woman’s stench— and curled up.

I wanted to run away. But I can’t live alone yet. So I have to endure it.

I want to go back to school.
I want to see everyone.

“…Dai-chan…”

Inside me, I’d already become dependent on Dai-chan.
I need Rin-chan and Mio-chan too.
But more than that…

I’m sorry, Dai-chan— I think I can’t live without you anymore. My heart… my body… I want to give them to you.

Please… accept me.

Ping.

Daiki: Shina-chan, you came to mind so I messaged you. Are you okay?

Just thinking about Dai-chan… and then getting a message from him— I convinced myself our hearts were connected somehow. That made me feel a little better.

Yeah… I’m okay. Because Dai-chan is here.

si-na: Yeah! I’m okay! Thank you, Dai-chan!