「Well then, I’ll be going back now. Oh. I forgot. Here are the keys」
As I was leaving the bedroom, and returning to the living room, Ryo handed me two things.
I accept it, wondering what it is, and I find an electronic key car and a slightly thicker card.
「This is?」
「The keys to the car. You can use them」
「Huh? What do you mean?」
「It’s a present from the Boss. You can use the car as much as you want. If things go south, you’re fine to abandon the vehicle」
「That sounds suspicious」
「Don’t worry. It’s not a stolen car or anything, it’s just taken back from an idiot who didn’t pay their debt. The name is in the boss’ company so it’s legal. If it gets into an accident, the insurance will cover it, so it’s not a problem either」
Ryo smiles and gives a thumbs-up.
It’s a fine line, where you don’t know if it’s a crime or not.
But still, if it has a name on the papers, then it should be fine.
Honestly, it helps to have a car, but I was wondering if I should use it, and then Mirai spoke to me.
「If Father says that it’s okay, then I think you can trust him. He always says that he owes Kotori-san a debt of gratitude, and he won’t do anything to betray that. If anything happens, I’ll complain to Father」
「If Mirai says so, then I’ll accept it」
「Yes, that’s right, believe in me」
Hmm, I’m not sure about what Mirai says, but she’s cute when she speaks so it’s hard to say no.
I also came inside her multiple times, so I tend to be a bit lenient with her.
When my eyes met with Mirai, I smiled wryly, and her expression changed as if she noticed something.
「Hey, Kotori-san. I just noticed, why do you speak informally with Father, yet formally with Ryo?」
「Huh? I mean, he’s older」
「Huh? But Ryo, aren’t you in your twenties?」
「Right. Oh, so that’s why. I thought it was strange too…」
Hmm?
Huh? Do you mean he’s in his 20’s?
That’s seven years younger!
「Huh?! No, you clearly look like you’re in your thirties!」
「True, Ryo looks too old. How about you stop putting that swept-back hair? You don’t look young with that」
「That’s cruel. My bros said that it looks good」
With his hair slicked back and flashy open-collared shirt with black pants, it does look like something Yakuza would wear.
Plus, the harshness on his face makes him look older.
「To think that you’re younger. Say that sooner!」
「I thought that you were just like that because you were also polite to others」
「Oh well. I’ll be talking normally from now on」
「Got it! Please do that!」
I’m not the type to use honorifics with everyone just because they’re younger than me, but still, I don’t want to use it on this guy.
Let’s get back on track and speak normally now that we know he’s younger.
「So, back on topic. What’s your plan with Mirai?」
「I’ll go fetch another cat, so can you watch over our lady while I do? I’ll be back soon enough」
「Okay. I’m here for the time being anyway. But, Mirai’s not the type who’d want to be watched, right?」
I knew that it would be offensive if I treated her like a child, so I turned to Mirai, and instead of replying, she faced Ryo.
「I haven’t been outside in a long time so I’d like to stay here a little longer. I want to see the equipment here and talk to Kotori-san, so you can come back a little later and that’s fine with me? Why don’t you go play pachinko or something? You like those, don’t you?」
Mirai’s clearly younger, but she’s superior because her father is his boss.
Well, it’s not my place to say, since this is normal for girls and their relationship wasn’t established recently.
I see Euphy and her knights in their daily lives, so I don’t feel uncomfortable with it.
Ryo seemed troubled by Mirai’s request, but after a few moments, he came up with an answer.
「Right. But it’s only for two hours today, nothing more than that. Nee-san’s coming」
「Yeah, got it. Thanks, Ryo」
「It’s fine. You’ve been holed up in the headquarters since coming back, and you always talk to Bro the entire time. Well then, I’ll spend some time at work, I’ll be back later. Bro, I’ll be back」
「Yeah, I got this. Keep at it」
She’s treated politely because she is his boss’ daughter, but Ryo finds Mirai a selfish little sister.
But, he won’t give up on his job because Mirai told him, right?
On the contrary, he might balance it with being a Yakuza.
When Ryo left the warehouse, it was just the two of us left, and suddenly, it was silent.
We’ve been in this atmosphere before.
Well, compared to back then, this is still much better.
「Let’s get inside for now」
「Yeah」
I sat on the living room sofa and Mirai sat next to me.
That’s close.
Although I had a total of four rounds of sex with her, it was for the sake of bringing her back to Japan, and without that, I wasn’t sure how to respond.
I feel like we had a good conversation so far, but I’m not sure how to treat her normally.
Oh yeah, I had something to do.
Oh man, I should’ve brought in my laptop.
I mean, do we have internet here?
If we don’t I’ll just tether.
I took out my phone and started searching.
Err, “100 yen shop”
I see. Do they have a site for the store?
Then we can stock up here.
「What are you looking for?」
Mirai looked at my phone while I was doing my search.
I don’t mind being seen, so I turn over the phone and she leans closer.
「I’m looking for suppliers for what I’m selling in the other world. I take stuff from the hundred yen stores, but it’s cheaper to buy it direct from wholesale so I like to get it in bulk.」
「I see. So you make profits from that?」
「I don’t know yet. We’re just about to start the business. Well, I don’t expect to make much money from this. Simply put, I’m just diversifying」
「Hmmm」
There’s no diversification without primary business, but there’s no better way to have many sources of income.
I found a supplier that looked useful and was looking through their website.
I feel Mirai’s gaze piercing through my profile.
I turned my head because I was curious, then I met her black pupils.
「What’s wrong, Mirai? Do you need something?」
「Yeah. Since coming to Japan, I’ve been thinking about Kotori-san」
「I see. Why?」
「Was I able to say my thanks right? So I wanted to」
What?
That heated gaze made me think that she would say that she couldn’t get me out of her head.
Mirai’s expression became serious, and she turned her body and face towards me.
「Kotori-san, thanks for helping me. I’m happy that I’m back with my family. I want to complain about the method, but if it weren’t for Kotori-san, I would’ve likely killed myself in that world. So I thank you」
「Looks like my hard work was worth it」
I knew that she was close to a mental breakdown, but I didn’t think it was that overwhelming.
I was happy that I helped her despite everything that happened.
When Mirai finished thanking me, she looked refreshed and spoke up again.
「So, I just want to ask. We used contraception magic, right? How do you fix that? I might not bear a child if I don’t take that off. Does it expire in time?」
「Oh yeah. Sorry, I completely forgot about that. Hmmm, I need to check it. It’s the same as the contraceptive magic that you have applied to you, so there has to be magic to break it. But then you’d need to get a scroll. If Mirai wants to go back to that world, then we can find someone who can work on that magic」
「Ugh. Do we have to go there again?」
Mirai’s rejection is clear.
Her face hates it to the heart.
「I’m not going to force you. All I have to do is get a scroll」
「Hmm, that’s still hard. I was scared that something happened to me and I couldn’t come back. Look, Kotori-san. There’s no need to hurry, right? Besides, I don’t want to have a baby yet」
「You say as if you plan to use it again. Did you get yourself a boyfriend?」
「N-No way! That’s not it」
Mirai looked flustered at what I said, but then she looked as if she thought of something.
「Ah! Yes, that’s right! Kotori-san, do you know Aoi?」
「Aoi? Oh, the dude in the summoning? I saw it on online news」
Ai suddenly talked about a girl named Aoi, who was a classmate of Mirai who was there when we were summoned to the other world and saw her.
When I returned to Japan and casually read articles on the internet about the disappearance. I learned that she’s the only one not summoned.
She was questioned by the police for suspicion when the three disappeared.
“I turned around because there was suddenly light behind me and when I looked back, the three of them were gone,” I would’ve felt something like that, but if a third party who knew nothing about the case heard her, they wouldn’t believe her no matter what, so she became suspicious that she might’ve been involved in the case.
So, there were a lot of slander comments on the internet and even leaking her personal information, which made it impossible for her to go to school.
However, it has calmed down soon enough.
It’s probably because of Aoi’s appearance.
She has a soft and lovely face, and the gestures that stir up your desire to protect her she shows during an interview have been well received by the men that she’s become a bit of an idol now. And she’s making a lot of money from live shows.
「I’m glad she wasn’t summoned, but she seems to have been pampered with the story. Looks like she’s earning money too, which made my worry feel a little complicated」
As for Mirai, she’s happy that Aoi’s safe and sound, but she seems to have complicated thoughts because of the situation.
I guess she doesn’t feel good because she’s used as a story, but she doesn’t feel angry because of the slander against Aoi.
A few hours quickly passed as we talked.
She’s been holed up in her home for so long that she’s probably depressed, and now she’s showing no signs of stopping.
「Haa, I talked a lot. I’m tired」
「Praise me for keeping up too」
「What? You sounded happy that I talked to you, didn’t you? Kotori-san?」
True, I enjoyed the conversation.
I mean, Mirai who’s engrossed in talking comes so close that our shoulders touch, and when I put my arm around her back on the sofa to make it easier, she grabs my arm and tries to hug me herself, and sometimes I feel her staring at me.
It makes me think that it’s an invitation to fuck.
How does it feel to be so accepting after I forcibly violated you before?
I couldn’t help but stare at Mirai as I held her shoulders, wondering what she was thinking, and when her downcast eyes met mine, she opened her lips.
「Uhm, why don’t we use this place sometimes?」
「What are you going to do? I’m going to use this place as my second home」
「What am I going to do? Nothing much. I just want to stay over. I mean, I’m already bored staying at home. That’s why I thought of coming here as a change of pace when Kotori-san isn’t here. Oh, I’ll clean the place when I use it, okay?!」
「Even if Mirai wants to come, your Dad won’t let you」
「If I say that I won’t leave the place, he’ll surely allow it, right?!」
「It can’t be helped then. If you’re willing to clean, then you can use the place. Although there will be times when I’ll bring in my companions, so I’ll be prioritizing them, okay?」
「I know. I won’t be in the way! Fufu, Kotori-san’s really kind」
「Really?」
Am I?
Somehow, I feel like Mirai’s seeing me as a different person…
Well, if she’s going to clean after herself, then that’s fine.
I’m curious to see how Euphy and Nia will react, but if that doesn’t work, we can just rethink it.