Chapter 7: Volume 1 - CH 7

A girl fresh after taking a bath is on the sofa, showing me her vulnerable form.

Was I being tested?

“Himekawa. What do you mean I’m more of a gentleman than you thought?”

Himekawa, who had been lying on the sofa, fixes her clothes and sits down on the sofa.

Then she looks at me and opens her mouth.

“I’m sorry. Men definitely have ulterior motives, don’t they? Even at school, they look at my looks and my wealth. Men only look at a woman’s looks and body, don’t they?”

I would like to refute that. At the very least, I decided it was better not to get involved with Himekawa, so I didn’t talk to her until now.

What about that? I’m not a gentleman, I’m just a high school boy who doesn’t want to be bothered.

“Well, I’m sure there are a lot of men out there like that. I’m no exception. Don’t do anything that might make me conscious”

I move away from the sofa and move to take a seat.

Even from a distance, I can smell the soap from Himekawa. Is this what all girls are like?

“Yes, I suppose so. I’ll be careful too”

She smiles as she looks at me, her gesture still retaining its aggressiveness.

“If you want to dry your hair, there’s a hairdryer in the bathroom. You’ll catch a cold if you don’t”

I was so conscious of her that I couldn’t look directly at her.

I unfolded the newspaper to block my view.

If I don’t get some of the water out of my hair, it will take longer to dry. It will damage the hair, you know?”

I didn’t know that at all, since I don’t have long hair.

“Well, then dry it properly before going to bed”

Suddenly, Himekawa comes to sit next to me.

She sits down next to me and starts to talk to me.

“Thank you so much for today. I didn’t think it would turn out like this, but I really appreciate your help”

Himekawa bows her head to me. I didn’t really do anything that serious.

I was just avoiding a problem that might come up in the future for my own convenience.

There’s nothing to be grateful for.

“I didn’t do anything serious. No need to worry about it”

When I answered bluntly, Himekawa poked me on the cheek with her index finger.

“I think it’s better to have your hair like that on a regular basis. At school, your eyes are always hidden.

After a bath, I pull my hair all the way back, and when I go to school or out, I leave it down, so my eyes are hidden by my bangs.

“I’m not going to do anything out of the ordinary. It’s too much trouble”

I wasn’t looking at Himekawa, but I keep looking at the newspaper.

“I’m sure the girls will like it better that way”

“It’s none of my business. You can talk about love and romance elsewhere.

“Well, that’s too bad”

Himekawa said a few words and walked out of the living room, away from me.

I could hear the sound of a hairdryer coming from the other side. It seems that she has finally gone to dry her hair.

I feel like I’m going crazy. Is Himekawa special or are all girls like this?

I’ve been struggling with this problem that I can’t answer.

After a while, Himekawa came back.

Her hair was tied back in a single bun, giving her a refreshed look.

I should talk to her about tomorrow and beyond.

“Welcome back. Himekawa, what do you plan to do after tomorrow?”

A moment of silence passed. I guess Himekawa herself doesn’t have an answer.

She sat down on the sofa and stared at me.

“For now, I have to do something about my remaining luggage. I also need to find a place to live and a job”

“What about school?”

“My father has paid all my school fees up to graduation, so I’ll be able to go to school, but I think my savings will eventually run out, and more importantly, I need to find a place to live…”

“You don’t have any relatives, do you? Even if you rent an apartment, what are you going to do about a guarantor?”

A moment of silence passed again. It would be a hurdle for an unemployed high school student to sign a lease for an apartment by themselves.

Besides, it would affect their grades if they were to seriously consider working part-time and going to school at the same time.

“I’ll look for a place that doesn’t require a guarantor”

“Don’t you think the rent would be high? A hundred thousand yen of part-time work for normal living expenses and rent combined? How much time do you have to study? It’s hard to even live a normal life, isn’t it?”

It may sound harsh, but living alone for a high school student is not so easy.

Even if you live alone, you have to pay for rent, utilities, food, and school expenses. In addition to that, you have to pay for entertainment, cell phone bills, and all sorts of other things.

That’s my personal opinion, but that’s the reality.

It is often said that “as long as you have love, you don’t need money,” but in reality, it’s the food that makes your stomach growl, and it costs money to whisper your love over the phone.

Even if you call it a love nest, there is still rent to be paid.

In this world, no matter what you say, cash and income are essential. Well, that’s my theory.

“I’ll figure something out. I’ll have a place to live by the end of the day tomorrow, and I’ll bring all my stuff up with me. I’ll go to school as well”

That’s reckless. No, it’s not reckless. It’s a crazy plan.

It’s a plan that I, a mere high school student, can’t agree to.

“I have a suggestion”

I sat down in front of Himekawa and put on a serious face.

I think I usually put on a serious face, but I put on more energy than usual.

“A suggestion?”

Himekawa looked at me with a curious look.

I’m going to make a suggestion to Himekawa.

It may turn out to be a good idea or a bad idea…