CH 11

“Hey, don’t move.”

When I tried to move away out of concern, Tohsaka immediately leaned in closer.

“Hey, there’s no need to hold hands, is there? My hands are pretty dirty from searching all over the pond…”

“Just come… If I let you go, you might leave on your own, right?”

“But still, I don’t feel comfortable using your shower…”

“You should wash off the dirt as soon as possible. I am a doctor’s daughter, you must obey me.”

Tohsaka walked away with a firm grip on my hand and started to talk.

Until a few minutes ago, she was acting all demure, but she’s the kind of person who could say to that group of girls, “Let’s not be bullies.”

Maybe her spirit is pretty strong to the core.

“And my name is Chieri. When you come to our house, nobody will know who you are talking to because we are all Tohsaka. Do you understand? Ruka?”

“Ah, you even know my name?”

I was surprised simply by the fact that she knew my last name, Yamamoto, so I was flabbergasted when she called me by my name.

“It’s obvious. I don’t think Piggy is your real name. It sounds like the kind of name a really stupid person would give.”

“Haha, somehow I feel like I’m being treated like a human being for the first time. Umm… Chieri.”

“That’s fine. Ruka.”

The first time I held a girl’s hand other than my sister’s and called her by name, I was a bit nervous inside as I headed to Tohsaka’s house.

If it’s Tohsaka, being called a piggy isn’t so bad… I thought so in secret.

“This is my home. Come on in.”

“So, big…”

It was exactly big enough to be described as a ‘mansion’.

Tohsaka said her father is a doctor, just as I assumed, she was a nice young lady after all.

“Welcome back, Chieri-san.”

And a beautiful maid with medium hair greets you.

She said the necklace was a memento of her mother, so maybe she is like a mother figure to her.

“Get my friend Ruka ready for a hot bath. I’ll go and talk to my father in his room.”

“Hey, Chieri got a little dirty too, right? Use it before me.”

“I’ll be fine. I have more important things to do.”

After saying that, Chieri quickly went up the big stairs.

“Ruka-san. This way.”

The maid nervously led me into a very large stone bathhouse…

◇◇◇

“— I am so sorry! We don’t have clothes that fit your size, Ruka-san…”

“It’s alright! People don’t usually expect someone this big to show up! I’m really sorry too!”

After a luxurious bath, I apologized to the maid who apologized to me.

And I had to borrow a large thick sheet to wrap my whole body in until my clothes were dry.

While I was sitting on the luxurious sofa in the living room dressed like that, Chieri came back.

She blushed when she saw me dressed like an ancient Roman.

“I understand… There aren’t many clothes that fit your size. I’m sorry.”

“… was a pretty good Thermae bath, I was like this flat.”

I made a silly joke and Chieri and the maid couldn’t hold back their laughter and burst out laughing.

Chieri coughed and partitioned herself back up, and brought a man up behind her.

He was a very dignified, cool middle-aged man.

“Let me introduce you, my father. Renji Tohsaka.”

I stood up and bowed.

“N-nice to meet you! Umm, thank you for the bath and for being so nice to me!”

Renji-san looked at my body carefully with interest and then lowered his head.

“… I heard about you from Chieri. That she could not reach out to you when you were going through a difficult time. As a member of the Tohsaka family, I am very ashamed.”

“What are you saying? I’m rather grateful to her! Chieri was brave enough to try to save me!”

I argue with Renji-san’s off-the-mark apology.

Because I was really happy.

“Well, if that’s what you think, then I am even more grateful for your apology. From now on, if you ever need anything else, you can count on me. I donate a lot of money to that school, and I’m sure that everyone involved is very grateful to me.”

Renji-san laughed and patted Chieri’s head.

“Chieri, you have done a great job. But first, you should talk to someone about it. There is no shame in getting help from an adult. It’s my fault too that I’ve been so preoccupied with work. From now on, let’s talk more.”

Chieri put her face down as if reflecting.

“… I’m so sorry.”

“She has a timid personality like me, but she’s strong-willed like her mother. She always had trouble making friends in the past. That’s probably why she didn’t speak up right away. I hope you’ll understand that, Ruka-kun.”

“Haha, it is true that Chieri does not fit in with her classmates at all. There are times when she seems to be desperately trying to fit in with those around her.”

When I said that, Chieri glared at me as if to say, “Don’t say unnecessary things to him.”

I like that about Chieri, so I meant it as a compliment…

Renji-san laughed at my and Chieri’s reaction.

Then he looked around my body lightly again and opened his mouth.

“Now, I’m going to change the subject. I’d like to talk about that particular physical condition of yours.”