CH 39

Summer vacation is just around the corner. Although I have memories of spending last year alone after becoming a high school student and being ignored at home during elementary and middle school, it makes me happy to think that I don’t have to experience that again this year.

It’s been a few days since I started living with the Hououin family… well, life is going too well and it’s making me anxious in the opposite way.

“…Because, you never know what life will bring.”

Even if you become someone who is abandoned by your family and called the bottom of society, miracles can happen and things can turn out like they are now… Although I am certainly an exception among exceptions.

“Since then, there has been no action from Yosuke or anything from my family. Well, my father probably didn’t say anything to the others either.”

I had the opportunity to ask Hisui in detail about what kind of threat she used, but although it is true that my father did something bad, if it were to become public, his head would undoubtedly roll and he would be looked down upon by those around him for a while – and furthermore, it’s questionable if there would still be a family left.

“Well, it doesn’t matter anymore.”

It’s already something that doesn’t matter to me.

Now that I’ve spent time with Shirayuki and Hisui and have learned everything there is to know about that family, it seems like there won’t be any trouble if we move.

“I wonder if it’s almost over?”

It’s after school and I’m on the rooftop.

I could have gone home right away, but today Shirayuki is on duty and I’m waiting for her to finish.

I was about to go back to the classroom, thinking that her work might be almost done, when the rooftop door opened with a loud noise.

“Huh?”

“Geh!”

The one who appeared on the rooftop was Saito.

It’s a hassle to meet his eyes while he’s still wearing his flashy clothes, but he hasn’t been bothering me much lately, so I don’t have any particular thoughts about him.

However, it seems that things are different when it’s just the two of us in this space.

“What, you were here, fatso?” 

“Is it bad for me to be here?”

When will this guy stop calling me fat… or rather, I think he should stop being so rude with his words for the sake of his future. 

I have no intention of talking to him, so I try to slip past him.

“Hey.” 

“What?”

I turn my gaze to him, wondering if he has something to say. 

Saito doesn’t look at my face, but continues to stare straight ahead as he speaks.

“I’ve been seeing you running around a lot lately.” 

“Yeah, that’s right.” 

“Is it because you’re upset about being called fat?” 

I nod at his words. 

“Well, of course it’s frustrating. But it’s not just that. My body is just too heavy. And considering the future, it’s better to lose weight.” 

“Well, I guess so.”

…What? 

Apart from calling me fat earlier, I feel like there’s less vigor in his voice than usual.

Curious, I gaze at him intently, and Saito continues speaking in a hushed voice.

“Shaking that hopeless mass of flesh, sweating embarrassingly… Honestly, I thought, ‘What the h**l are you pushing yourself so hard for?’ But… seeing you enjoy exercising like that, and looking satisfied, and Hououin-san laughing by your side… It made me realize that people see someone who’s desperately trying to do something… watching you and Hououin-san, I understood that.”

“…Are you okay in your head?” 

“Shut up.”

He hasn’t changed his spiteful tone, but it wasn’t as confrontational as before. 

Well, I don’t feel like saying anything to Saito, and I don’t think anything will change just because our relationship has improved. 

However, honestly, not saying anything back didn’t feel satisfying, so I responded with these words.

“…Well, you know, trying hard at something can be surprisingly interesting. Dieting is tough, but when you have people supporting you nearby… like you saw with me, it can help you keep going.”

“I already know that, you don’t have to tell me. And seriously, how did you and Hououin-san become such good friends anyway?”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“What’s wrong? It’s obvious. How can a fat guy like you be so close to such a beautiful woman… but, I can’t say anything. When Hououin-san was with you, she seemed really happy.”

“Oh, did it look that way?”

“What else could it be? Rather than someone who dresses flashy and acts tough, someone who’s trying to improve themselves is definitely cooler, you know… Ugh, how annoying.”

After parting ways with Saito without saying anything else, I went back to the classroom. 

Shirayuki was finishing up her work and packing her things, and the chubby male partner from earlier was also packing his things, though not as quickly as me.

“Oh… Tou- I mean, Arashi-kun.”

“Hey there. Good work today.”

I picked up my bag and walked alongside Shirayuki. 

In the meantime, the remaining male student called out to her.

“Well then, Hououin-san, see you tomorrow—” 

“Thanks for your hard work today.”

Shirayuki didn’t even look in his direction and just said a few words before walking away. 

For some reason, the male student glared at me, looking displeased, so I just averted my gaze and walked away without reacting.

“Were you on the roof again?” 

“Well, yeah. It’s still the most relaxing place.”

“Hehe, I can understand that. And nobody goes up there, so we could do all sorts of things up there, right?”

“This is school, Shirayuki-san.” 

“…Bu-bu.”

What a cute pouty face.

Shirayuki and I walk around the school without worrying about the stares of those around us, but our presence has probably become familiar to them in the past few days. 

Although Shirayuki and I don’t have the kind of relationship where we’re officially dating, it’s only natural that others don’t know or need to know what we are. However, it’s true that there have been various rumors circulating about us, especially since we started spending a lot of time together all of a sudden.

“There are various rumors going around, but it seems like the fact that I’m Hououin is the biggest thing.”

“Yeah. Hououin’s reputation is well-known, and it’s highly unlikely that I would do anything to Shirayuki.”

“That’s true, nothing like that has actually happened. If anything, it’s the other way around.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely the one on the receiving end.”

Even this morning… Ah, thank you for making me happy every single day! 

While avoiding Shirayuki’s gaze, which is filled with a mischievous smile, I suddenly became curious about something and decided to ask her.

“Shirayuki, I’ve been wanting to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“Arashi Gundo was supposed to leave the original story right away, right?”

“Yes.”

“What happened after that?”

“Um…”

I had actually been curious about this for a while. 

Although it’s mentioned that Arashi ended up relying on the police, there’s no further description of what happened after that. I thought that if anyone would know, it would be Shirayuki, who lived in that world, but it seems like even she doesn’t know.

“I don’t know the specifics, now that I think about it… Well, to be honest, it was something I truly didn’t care about at that time. Oh, but I have heard a few things about him being completely abandoned by his family.”

“I see… though it doesn’t seem to have changed much.”

Yeah, it doesn’t seem like anything has changed for Arashi… In the end, he probably just faded away without anyone knowing and that’s that… Well, there’s no use thinking about it anymore.

“Actually, I received a call earlier. It seems Mom will be coming home late again. So, it looks like it’s just the two of us for dinner?”

“She seems really busy lately.”

“As much as possible, Mom is allocating her work to ensure she has time to spend with you, Touma-kun. She even mentioned that she has sufficient savings until at least the next generation, without having to work at the top anymore. That’s how much she wants to have time with you.”

Sounds like something only wealthy people would say… However, Shirayuki muttered something under her breath.

“Well, actually, there are still a lot of financial issues that Mom has to deal with.”

“…”

The Hououin family… they’re just on a whole other level.