When I Started a Food Delivery Part-Time Job, I Ended up Being Invited to the Home of a Gloomy, Clumsy Beautiful Girl - Chapter 4: A Strange Relationship

Chapter 4: A Strange Relationship

Hiyori Yukishiro’s face was bright red.

…She must have been really embarrassed to be seen like that.

But no matter how I thought about it, her current skimpy clothes seemed way more embarrassing…

I couldn’t figure out her standards for being shy.

“Tch, this is… I was gonna clean it all up tomorrow. That’s why I piled it all in one place…”

“It totally looks like you just hid it carelessly.”

“Aiii!”

Hiyori flailed around like a small animal.

Her cool demeanor at school was unimaginable with these gestures, and I couldn’t help but think she was cute.

But this amount of mess was too much to ignore.

A week’s worth? Heck, maybe even two weeks’ worth of stuff piled up?

How had she been living like this…?

And then, the neat freak in me lit up.

Ever since I started living alone, cleaning had been so much fun.

“Hiyori… let me clean.”

“Huh?”

“No, I mean, I want to clean.”

“Au…”

“I’m gonna clean, okay!?”

“A, aiieeee!”

Her response made no sense, but I took it as a yes.

I tossed the gyudon aside and tackled the mountain of trash in front of me.

—And the first thing I grabbed was the worst.

“P-P… Panties!?”

A purple T-back was dangling in my hand.

I knew it was clothing, but to think there’d be underwear…

And such a skimpy, sexy pair…!

“I-I hope it doesn’t smell…”

“That’s not the issue here!?”

The real problem was me holding her panties.

Hiyori was seriously out of sync.

“A-Anyway! Can you at least take the underwear first?”

“It’s gyudon-eating time, so no way…”

“…”

In the end, I let out a big sigh, went back to the table, and ate gyudon with Hiyori.

“—Phew, somehow it’s done…”

Wiping the sweat from my forehead, I heard soft clapping behind me.

When I turned, Hiyori was smiling happily.

Seven 45-liter trash bags. Just for food waste.

The washing machine was running at full speed. Apparently, she was running out of clothes to wear.

“It’s already nine… I’m gonna head home.”

The moment I said that, unexpected words came back.

“…You’re leaving already?”

“Eh…?”

Hiyori looked somehow lonely.

Caught off guard, my heart skipped a beat.

“I mean… I can’t take out the laundry.”

“What do you mean, you can’t take it out?”

“W-Well, usually… my friends help me with all sorts of stuff…”

“How often do your friends come by?”

“Like, once every two weeks…”

What’s that supposed to mean?

So, her room was a trash dump the whole time?

She couldn’t even run the washing machine herself…?

“…For now, I’ll wait until it’s done…”

“Yay!”

Hiyori’s face lit up.

…That’s unfair. She’s just too cute no matter what she does.

“Hey, Aizawa… are you working tomorrow too?”

“Yeah. Pretty much every day.”

“Then… I’ll request you tomorrow too.”

“W-Wait, I’m not a housekeeper!?”

Despite my protest, my heart was racing.

The most beautiful girl in our grade was relying on me. A secret just between us.

I liked being depended on, and I didn’t mind taking care of people.

But being used one-sidedly didn’t feel fair.

“Then, how about hanging out… or playing games together? …Oh, I can share food like today if it’s just one portion.”

“Guh…”

That offer was cheating…

Playing games with Hiyori? If anyone at school found out, they’d lose it.

“…Also, I might be able to help with studying.”

“Studying? What rank were you in middle school?”

“Like, fifth out of three hundred.”

“No way!?”

That was a total surprise.

Hiyori was smart too?

“…So, how about it?”

Her eyes sparkled with uncertainty as she looked up at me, and I gave in with a nod.

Studying was important for future options, and above all—it was a reason to spend time with her.

“…Alright.”

“Yay…!”

Hiyori bounced up and down happily.

Like a cute snow rabbit…

“Let’s… exchange LINE.”

At the door, Hiyori held out her phone.

“Come on… in case something urgent comes up…”

“O-Okay…”

I took out my phone and exchanged contacts with Hiyori.

Hiyori Yukishiro’s contact… Probably no guy at school had it yet.

Her LINE icon was a cute snowman. Maybe she liked snow because of her name.

“See you… tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”

Waving at Hiyori as she saw me off at the door, I walked home in the night breeze.

And so began my strange relationship with Hiyori.

—Using delivery as an excuse, I started visiting her house.

She showed me her true self, and I got dragged along by her.

This was definitely turning into something more than just a part-time job.

I had a feeling that Hiyori Yukishiro was going to change my fate in a big way.