Volume 2 - CH 13

As it was already getting dark, Yuzuru decided to walk Arisa to her house.

The two of them walked side by side.

It was hot in the daytime, but it was a little chilly at night, as it was already the beginning of autumn.

Perhaps it was because the difference in temperature between day and night was surprising to them, and perhaps it was because they were wearing cool summer clothes.

“Are you okay, Arisa.?”

It felt a little cooler for Yuzuru, but Arisa looked a little chilly.

When he called out to her, Arisa showed him her arms holding her body.

“I’m not very good with cold weather, you know.”

“Even though you’re in Yukishiro.” (TN: Yukishiro means Snow Castle)

“It is just that I have snow in my last name, isn’t it?”

Arisa then gave a small laugh.

However, she was not lying when she said she is not good with it, because she really looks a little frigid.

Maybe it was the fact that Arisa was wearing clothes that seemed to have a lower cold tolerance than Yuzuru’s.

Whatever it is, it would be bad to catch a cold by getting her body cold.

After thinking about it for a while, Yuzuru grabbed his jacket with both hands and lightly tugged on it as he asked Arisa,

“Shall I lend it to you?”

“Eh?　…… But isn’t it cold for you as well, Yuzuru-san?”

“Allow me to be a little cool here.”

When Yuzuru answered that, Arisa replied, “Then let me take your word for it.”

He took off his jacket and handed it to Arisa.

She carefully slipped the sleeves on, trying not to crease them.

The jacket completely covered Arisa’s body.

“It’s warm……. Are you okay Yuzuru-san?”

“Better than you were just now, yes.”

He felt as if the temperature he was experiencing had changed from cool to slightly cold.

But it was not unbearable.

“Really…..Thank you so much “

Arisa squinted her eyes.

Then she turned her gaze to her feet.

“I don’t like winter.”

“Because it’s cold?”

“Yeah… And there was no one to lend me a jacket when I was shivering.”

Does that mean that there was no one to help her?

Or did it mean something else?

Yuzuru didn’t know.

“But this winter, I might be able to like it a little……. I have a feeling.”

“Okay, then let’s try to make you like winter……. but there’s still over two months to go.”

It’s only the middle of September.　

So it’s a little early to be talking about winter.

“Speaking of which, Yuzuru-san. I know, it’s probably not a good idea to ask these things, but ……”

“Three sizes?”

“Not that!!…… You see, you paid for my coat. So, I was wondering how your financial situation is …… Are you not straining? Yuzuru-san’s allowance is also limited, and if it is your parents’ money, then that is a regrettable thing.”

“I see.”

Although he wanted to say that she didn’t need to worry about it, Arisa is a girl who cares about these things.

Yuzuru has never talked about his finances before. But if they are going to continue their relationship, it would be best to let her know.

“My parents pay for my utilities. They also pay for my clothes, because they don’t want me to look shabby”

As for the clothes, he keeps the receipts and claims them later.

However, since Yuzuru’s parents tend to be a little bit lax in their spending, the bill is a little bit of a loose end. 

“What about food?”

“Fifteen thousand yen, at least, to make sure I don’t starve to death. In addition to that, I have 5,000 yen for spending.”

“…… That’s surprisingly less.”

“Well, I can’t complain since I’m being allowed to live alone out of selfishness.”

However, it is a little difficult to cover the cost of food and recreation with 20,000 yen.

So……

“The rest is part-time money.”

“Oh, you’ve been working?”

“Ah, ……, I never mentioned it before.”

Yuzuru only goes to club activities once a week.

Aside from Saturdays for Arisa, he is off five times a week.

He doesn’t have any hobbies that he’s particularly passionate about, so he spends his free time working part-time.

“It’s admirable that you earn your own money.”

Arisa said in a voice that sounded like she was honestly impressed.

As for Yuzuru, he was happy to be praised by Arisa, but at the same time, he had some mixed feelings …….

“Hmm, no, well ……”

“What is it?”

“I was thinking, maybe that wasn’t quite right what you said just now.”

When Yuzuru stammered, Arisa tilted her head.

“I don’t work out of necessity, I do it because I have time. It’s a hobby. I can quit anytime I want.”

In the first place, living alone is selfish on Yuzuru’s part.

He is allowed to do so because his family is reasonably wealthy.

“The main purpose of a student is to study, right?　That’s why I think that …… part-time jobs and club activities should be secondary unless it’s out of necessity or to make a living in that field as a professional. If the parents are alive and well, the child should study properly.”

“…… But you’re managing to balance your studies, aren’t you?”

Indeed, Yuzuru’s grades are not bad.

And It’s not that he’s neglecting his schoolwork because of his part-time job. ……

“But I’m not putting all my energy into it. …… I think I should be taking my studies properly and seriously, just like you. Well, …… this is just my personal opinion.”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“What is it?”

“…. If you think so, why don’t you do it ……”

It was a natural question.

Unless you’re working part-time because you think it’s great to earn money for yourself, it would be weird to work part-time while thinking it’s not a good idea.

Of course, …… there’s a good reason for that, in a way.

“Because I’m not a good boy, you know. I am a bad kid…… Studying is a boring thing to do. And while the main purpose of a student may be academics……, I believe the main purpose of life is to enjoy hobbies.”

However ……., there is another reason why Yuzuru is working part-time.

This is because, for Yuzuru, his future is almost decided.

If things go in order, Yuzuru will inherit his parent’s job and the governorship of the Takasegawa family……. In other words, he has practically no freedom of choice in his profession.

The only time Yuzuru can be free is when he is a student.

This is the reason why the parents approved of Yuzuru’s part-time job as a hobby.

“You’re certainly not a good kid.”

Arisa replied when she heard Yuzuru’s answer.

Yuzuru couldn’t help but chuckle.

“I wish you had denied that part.”

“But ……”

“But?”

“I like that about you, you know?”

Arisa giggled.

Yuzuru’s heart skipped a beat.

While they were talking, they reached the vicinity of Arisa’s house.

“Should I accompany you home?”

Yuzuru asked.

Normally, Arisa would have replied, “I’ll be fine from here”.

But ……

“…… can you accompany me today, please?”

Somehow, she wanted him to take her to the front of the house.

Of course, it’s only a five-minute walk, so it’s no trouble at all.

Yuzuru followed her to the front of Arisa’s house.

“I’ve come all this way. Can I say a few words of greetings to your parents?”

“Sure. ……, but I don’t think my adoptive father is around at the moment.”

After Arisa said that, she rang the intercom.

Then, in a slightly apologetic voice, she spoke to the person on the other end of the intercom.

“It’s Arisa. I’ve just returned……. Could you please open the door for me?”

A few moments later, the door opened somewhat violently.

Arisa’s body trembled with fear.

The woman who came out was a middle-aged woman with a rather unhappy expression.

It was Emi Amagi, Arisa’s foster mother.

“Geez, neglecting the chores until this late at night!　You’ve been quite rebellious lately. ……”

“I’m sorry. It was me who dragged Arisa-san around until late.”

Yuzuru stepped forward as if to protect Arisa.

Then he gave a small bow.

And then he put a social smile on his face.

“This is …… Takasegawa-kun. Thank you very much for hanging out with our daughter.”

Emi Amagi seemed to falter for a moment.

And she said it to Yuzuru with a vexed look on her face.

(…… If you don’t like Arisa, why are you against marriage?)

It seems that Emi Amagi is not in favor of Yuzuru and Arisa’s marriage proposal.

But she seems to have a particular dislike for Arisa.

And she was the one who slapped Arisa on the cheek at the marriage meeting.

However, if she hates Arisa, she shouldn’t really care if Arisa marries Yuzuru or not.

Yuzuru couldn’t understand her at all.

But he didn’t even want to understand it.

“No, I enjoyed it too. I was the one who kept her up late ……. I’m really sorry. Please don’t blame Arisa-san for that.”

When Yuzuru said this to Emi Amagi, she frowned.

However, she could not continue to scold Arisa even after Yuzuru told her so.

“Arisa, come in.”

“Ye, yes.”

Emi did not respond to Yuzuru’s words, but let Arisa in.

Then she closed the door somewhat roughly.

“Will Arisa be okay?”

On the way home.

When he was a little worried about Arisa……, his phone rang.

There was a message from Arisa on the screen.

[Thank you for protecting me.]

[Can you please do it the next time as well?]

Yuzuru breathed a sigh of relief.

AN:

By the way, Yuzuru’s part-time job is

Customer service at a restaurant: 1,050 yen per hour

Private tutor (private contract): 2,000 yen per hour

Miscellaneous work at a lawyer’s office: 1,500 yen per hour

1,500 per hour. Well, I’ll describe the details a little later in the story.

By the way, the chores at the lawyer’s office were actually done by a friend of mine when he was a university student. When I asked him if high school students could do it, he said that it was just a job for a patsy, so as long as they understood the duty of confidentiality, they could do it. 

Since he works so hard, Yuzuru has a small amount of money for a high school student.

True Dere degree: 10 -> 20%.

It jumped up.

At the moment, she’s thinking, “If I marry this person, he’ll protect me.”

Marriage doesn’t seem to be a reality yet.

When it gets to a quarter (25%), it will change again.