[LN] Senpai, Jitaku Keibiin no Koyou wa Ikaga desu ka? - Volume 1 - Chapter 2 - Part 2

 

Chapter 2 - Anti-photosynthetic forbidden fruit (Part 2)

No matter what achievements I carry, I am not a daughter that my father can brag about to everyone. Things like overnight stays are just a distant past for me now. When was the last time I slept at someone else's house overnight? At least after my mother died, I never spent the night at anyone's house again.

So when I woke up, the first thing that came to my mind was,

"The ceiling looks weird."

It was such a clichéd sentence, it even appeared in the dictionary of classic art quotes.

The smell of the room was strange. At the same time, what glided through my sense of smell was the smell of the new futon.

My mind was still foggy, but not necessarily rearranging memories. Because I knew what was happening now.

I was hired by Senpai as an ART.

Although Senpai lived in a well-equipped house, he lived alone. No one ever stayed overnight in this house.

There was only one bed in the house. I went to senpai's house with the mindset of "looking up at the ceiling", but that didn't happen.

I loved and respected senpai very much. But I never thought of him as a saint. After all, the distance between us is still great.

Until yesterday, he still believed that I was someone else. So it's not unusual for us to delve into a man's story of desire, something only they can confide in.

When I asked him to tell me about his exploits,

"I swear that the place where this Gungnir was first swung on the battlefield, will be where I stand shoulder to shoulder with a pure female warrior when she is here."

That's what he swore to me, sounding like it had no literary value at all.

Maybe senpai was drunk at the time. Normally he would have said that he had no fighting experience at all. I lost all face, sir, my stomach hurt.

The truth hit him in the face that he'd never had any fighting experience, but-

"I don't want to fight with a veteran..."

She responded to me with a series of exclamation points.

If there's a pure female warrior who gets lost in front of a convenience store or in front of a train station, I won't hesitate to lend a helping hand... I want to heal her soul and join her on the battlefield. And I'd love to swing this Gungnir spear.

"That'll never happen, damn it...."

Another long line of exclamation marks.

As a girl, I didn't misjudge senpai. And I didn't feel uncomfortable with his vulgar lust.

"Senpai is so pathetic, really, hahahahahaha"

I typed while laughing. The next day, I had stomach cramps.

"If you don't give up on your dreams, your dreams will come true!"

"Come on, there's no way such lustful dreams can come true."

Then I kept teasing her like that.

That was the story 2 years ago, when Renaphalt still bore his second name.

That interesting story was the reason that motivated me.

I don't intend to become a beautiful female warrior, but I am a female warrior whose extraordinary beauty could make even a unicorn envious. I can act as the one who will wake up senpai and save him from the prison of illusion. I'm not proud of my pride, but I'm sure I could call myself a big-breasted high school girl, and then he would approve of me.

However, an indefinite truce was made. Senpai would not send me to the battlefield, or let me act as a "guard".

Why?

At first I thought, Senpai was still a virgin, and was afraid of going into battle, but it seems that was not the only reason.

An inexplicable ambiguity,

"Even if I cause you trouble, I can't help but do anything for you."

The person I hated the most, next to my father, had begun to turn around.

Renaphalt, my other personality, my ideal.

I don't want Renaphalt to have to turn into a trash girl, at least after this screen.

In front of senpai now, at least I want to be Renaphalt.

"Okay, what can you do for me?"

"Just a pretty high school girl with big boobs."

"You really like that name, don't you?"

"Tehe"

In order to cover up and justify my mistake, I was forced to play the role of Renaphalt.

"Then, on the contrary, what's my role?"

"The senpai in my life."

"Was it your senpai who used the weakness of his kouhai who needed help to lure him into battle?"

Renaphalt's hand stopped again.

"At least senpai still wants to be lured right, hahahaha"

That was what he was going to reply, but now he couldn't move his hand anymore.

After following senpai's thoughts so many times, and missing so many times, I finally got a hit.

Should I be complacent?

Maybe senpai doesn't want to see his relationship with Renaphalt deteriorate. What we both built, maybe he doesn't want to see it fall?

"Even though I caused you trouble, I can't help but do anything for you."

Because Kaede Fumino forgot to tell her true feelings.

So, that must mean...

Senpai also wanted to cherish his relationship with Renaphalt.

She wants a strong relationship, even if she has to bury her own desires and wishes in her heart.

I realized that, and no matter how hard I tried to bury the emotions peaking in my heart, I couldn't help it and tears welled up in my eyes.

Although I had been working as an ART, I did not share a bed with Senpai. Senpai bought me a mattress from a nearby mall as an advantage of living here.

The room I was in was right next to Senpai's room. Although there is no separate entrance, there is no wall separating the two rooms. There was only a curtain. So not only could we hear each other's everyday sounds, we could even hear each other's breathing while sleeping.

Before becoming Renaphalt, I was a high school girl. I had to spend the night with a grown man who wasn't even a family member. Normally that would be a big deal, let alone the curtain separating the two.

I thought about it a lot, and Senpai knew it.

"You can use the entire first floor if you want."

Senpai was considerate and suggested me the same thing. However, my head was not shaking from top to bottom, but from left to right. After all, this is a haunted house. This is a truly haunted place, not a joke.

I had been told about the grand and glorious history of this house. I kept laughing again and again, how could senpai live so peacefully in this house, it was so horrible.

I never thought I would actually set foot in that house, let alone stay.

I was too scared to sleep alone, because I knew about the tragic past of both floors of this house. However, I don't think I could sleep if I shared a room with senpai like this.

After a moment of hesitation, I offered to lie down in the room next to senpai.

My whole body trembling, it took me a long time to lose consciousness.

It wasn't until the sound of steady breathing broke the silence that I calmed down.

Senpai, my spiritual supporter, lay beside me. A very long night passed, until I realized that I had already fallen asleep.

A runaway had risked his entire life. Her mind and body were so exhausted that she couldn't dream, let alone wake up.

This room became really bad in the sunlight. It was like a forest, even though there wasn't a single curtain in the room. That's why the sun can never wake me up.

There was no sign of the next room.

I felt uncomfortable, like I was left alone in this haunted place.

Today is Saturday. It's the first day of Senpai's series of holidays.

I left the room, looking for Senpai's face.

The living room is empty, no furniture, and no sign of a place to rest. However, no one would dare say that this living room is empty and tasteless.

Because there was an altar.

That was the only thing that set this place apart from the rest. If you just look at that, you will misunderstand that senpai has been poisoned by some sect. But it's not like that. After all, this scene has nothing to do with any religion.

On the altar stands a bottle of yellow wine. A box of ham is given on the occasion of the New Year. Upstairs is a character model from an ero game, but it looks a bit oversized.

It was such a blasphemous sight that you had to raise your middle finger and say, "Death to your family!"

Renaphalt's eccentric statements and thoughts, all taught by a senpai. He had learned a lot from him.

But that doesn't mean I can use them in real life. I'm not the only person on the Internet who says and does strange things. This is what many masked individuals out there do, and it is very quickly referred to as culture. Therefore, it is impossible to apply this culture in real life.

Of course it is.

Senpai did not expect to be interested in playing a crazy game like this.

I clasped my hands together, facing the altar, once again vowing that I would follow that person for the rest of my life.

I shivered suddenly, as a voice echoed in the living room.

It wasn't the scream of an evil spirit haunting this haunted house, and it wasn't the voice of a madman either.

It was the sound of an engine running.

The sound wasn't coming from the madman's living room. It came from behind the open door in the kitchen.

I bent down to look, then felt relieved.

The computer was inside.

Dad's gacha failed, and my brother's gacha was 5 stars, but it was useless to me.

This world is full of demons. Why was a smart, magical kid like me cornered like this? I cursed my father, cursed society, and cursed extroverted people.

To balance out my suffering, the world gave me spiritual support. If it wasn't for that right away, I would probably still be replaying my life right now.

Senpai is a character provided by the game, but what he shows is fully commensurate with a 5-star character. In contrast, the character's formation remained a mystery for a long time.

The Illustrator's name is a real jerk.

The point was clear, but when I opened the lid of the box, something unexpected caught my eye.

An illustrator with over 200,000 followers on social media.

God.

A character design that doesn't spoil senpai in my eyes. The fact that it was a man who didn't look bad made my heart welcome him warmly.

That's the ideal senpai model.

His head is not combed but senpai is still senpai. Yesterday's impression is no longer a dream.

The smell of coffee wafts through my sense of smell.

It seemed to be the sound of a coffee machine grinding coffee beans.

"Hm, oh. Good morning, Rena."

Senpai recognized me, then shouted the standard social greeting.

Good morning.

It's been a long time since I've heard that greeting. It's been a long time since I chanted, so now it's familiar.

If it was Renaphalt, she would have quickly replied "Yes, yes", but it wasn't something that could come out of Kaede Fumino's mouth.

I knew it would be the right thing to say "Good morning" to myself.

In front of me was neither my father, nor my older sister.

I knew I wasn't a shy person, but I couldn't get the words out of my throat anyway.

I was still hanging there, forever unable to return the greeting,

"Ah..."

Senpai spoke up, his eyes flashing.

Not because he was annoyed that I didn't greet back, or because the silence was ridiculous.

"Alright then..."

Instead, his face looked serious.

"Thank you!"

Ignoring the fact that I was being rude, she thanked me for some reason.

Senpai tilted his head to the side when he realized that my eyes were not on his face. I wasn't avoiding Senpai, I was right below his line of sight, and my chin was down as well.

His gaze seemed to catch me.

My pride was overwhelmed, and now I can't see my feet. Anyway, this is not a strange appearance.

In-room amenities are designed for comfort and convenience. You don't need to look too cute to party. The gear in my room is a tight hoodie and a pair of shorts. When I go to bed, I just take off the clothes above, it looks like the right kitchen gear.

And that's what I usually do when I wake up.

Through a white shirt, which can be translated into the following words,

"bkjsfaggnswglgigrgh"

*

The first day of work.

I quickly crawled into the room. The way I quickly performed my duties is definitely an example in the ART profession, isn't it?

I couldn't believe that one day I would become a victim of this so-called lucky pervert. If I were the female lead of a rom-com story, I would curse the other party by using force, and say things like "Disgusting!" or "What are you looking at?".

In that case, the rom-com heroine is a jerk for reacting so irrationally, while she's to blame. As for me, who can't be so unsightly, it's never suitable for such things.

And senpai is also no match for such a female heroine. Instead of turning my face away, I looked him straight in the eyes, then said thank you.

After about 5 minutes, a voice came from behind the curtain,

"If you've calmed down, call me."

After accepting my master's kindness, I continued my duties for about an hour. I zipped up my hoodie and texted back, "I'm fine."

"Let's go have lunch."

The call from the next room echoed.

I looked down at the top right corner of the screen and realized it was time for lunch. Looks like I slept well.

I went to the living room and met Senpai for the second time today.

I tried to look directly at senpai's face, but it didn't work. I'll look away soon.

It wasn't a symptom of a disease that was difficult to communicate, but rather the shyness of a young girl.

Problems on the first day of work here. Senpai wasn't teasing me about that, nor did he mean to.

"Let's go."

He gave me a cell phone.

The same brand as the one I left in the toilet, the half-bitten apple brand.

I accepted the cell phone, it looked very heavy. This one was bigger than the one I was using, and a bit too big for my hands.

"Now if you didn't bring your laptop, and you don't have a cell phone to reply to my messages, wouldn't that be inconvenient? So use it."

I subconsciously opened my eyes.

"You can use it to communicate every day. Instead, I want you to get used to giving me one or two answers. "

Is that right senpai?

"Just stutter, I'm not laughing at you. Training the larynx is like training a muscle. Just use it, it's time for you to speak normally."

"Yaa... y, y... yes."

"Okay, good answer. Let's make the most of it."

I stammered uncomfortably, and senpai just laughed and didn't scoff at me.

My father could only fuss, and my brother was kind but always forced me to do what he wanted. Their feelings for me were opposite, but what they wanted from me was the same.

How could they be so cruel that a child had to use two hands to do the math. Were the two of them really that stupid to believe that I could master them?

On the other hand, senpai had brought a computer for me to use since the fifth year of elementary school. She told me to familiarize myself with the numbers. He also gave me confidence and motivation.

I've known senpai for 5 years now. But we've only met for less than 24 hours.

I was surprised by the difference between senpai and my family, ever since I was born.

Senpai has always been my spiritual support, preparing everything for me. I could even see the aura coming from behind him.

My heart is filled with respect and admiration. Here, I will do my best.

I swore to myself again.

*

"Today will only be observing it.Now let's look sideways."

So the training for ART has begun.

The first was cooking.

I came late at lunch because I had to finish the housekeeper's work.

The cooking lesson was the first. I started by practicing that first.

"Is there anything you dislike or are allergic to?"

When senpai asked that, I reflexively shook my head.

However, I soon realized that it was not true.

"T...No...there..."

I promised to answer as much as I could, about one or two words.

The person in front of me was not my older sister or my father.

This is the senpai who accepts me as I am.

Even so, it was still difficult to say a single sentence, as senpai said, vocal training is muscle training... This is the effect of not using it for many years. So now it's not working as expected.

This trembling sound disgusts me so much. I don't want to hear those sounds anymore.

But I promise to keep the answer simple.

"Okay. Then I'll make something suitable for you."

Senpai did not smile as he promised, and his eyes shone with satisfaction.

After looking at the refrigerator for a while, Senpai said softly "Okay" and prepared to cook.

Put the wrapped rice into the microwave, then chop the ingredients and break the egg. After Senpai finished preparing with those skillful hands, he took out a large pot from the cabinet under the gas stove.

The pan was hot to the brim, and soon the fried rice was hot and golden brown.

The fragrant aroma aroused desire in me.

"A..."

Even though senpai was in front of me, this scent made my stomach boil.

Probably because from yesterday afternoon until now, I still haven't eaten anything.

"Come on, let's come here and eat."

Senpai smiled while looking at me without realizing I was holding my stomach. It seems his promise not to laugh was limited to my stuttering, the rest was not.

As I ran back to my room with the fried rice, I felt so embarrassed.

I put the plate of rice on the folding table that she prepared yesterday.

Clasping my hands, I thought to myself, "Bon appetit".

I was amazed at myself.

Since my mother's death, I had never done this in front of any waiter's plate.

The feeling of gratitude for the person who made this dish flowed through me very naturally.

This dish was cooked by a man. It made me no longer care about the taste.

This desire keeps me eating.

Just by smelling this aroma, I already know it tastes good.

A fried rice dish where the grains of rice are loose, each grain is wrapped in an egg. The ingredients are very simple with green onions and char siu. The flavor is unmistakable, this seems to be a dish that showcases senpai's unexpected cooking skills.

Although I'm not usually a glutton, this time I actually ate more than I thought I would.

"How does it taste?"

Through the thin curtain, senpai asked how I felt about the taste of the food. It seemed like he was waiting for me to finish eating.

I couldn't just answer yes or no. To answer carefully, I had to use a mechanical cell phone.

"This is the best fried rice I've ever eaten."

It wasn't flattery or anything, but true words from the bottom of my heart.

Whether my waiter made Western or Japanese cuisine, I couldn't even compare. I also don't know how long it's been since I last had this fried rice. It must have been since elementary school.

It must be good, so I have to say it clearly.

From the next room, the voice of a message about my feelings was heard.

"Alright then. It's a bit stupid, but I'm pretty sure about that."

Senpai's voice sounded more satisfied because of my feelings about the food.

"By the way, the char siu part was made by me. It tastes much better there."

"Hmmm? Senpai, you're really good at cooking. Sorry, but I think it's troublesome."

"I've been cooking for myself since my first year in middle school, so my ability to organize myself is fine."

Senpai spoke of his cooking skills with pride. I couldn't answer him right away.

Since his first year of middle school, was it just him?

"Because low-income people at the bottom of society like me, if I go to restaurants all the time, I'll go broke. Cooking isn't my hobby or anything, but if I want to eat something, I can make it myself."

It was just a passing statement, but with ordinary families in society, it was impossible. It was not that Senpai was interested in cooking. It was because he had to take care of his own food. Senpai was in such a situation.

"But it's true that sometimes cooking is troublesome. Do you know what that is?"

Senpai and I have known each other for 5 years now. He knows nothing about my family background, just as I know nothing about his.

"Clean it up. I'm scared of doing things like washing dishes."

Senpai's past. The time when he was still treated like a child. What was his life like back then?

Now that I'm face to face with Senpai, I want to know a lot about this person. That feeling coursed through me.

"So Rena, first I'll let you act as a dishwasher who cleans up the leftover rice."

That vibe,

"Yes. Just leave it to me."

I kind of understand now.

Our life has just begun, in a society full of dark sides. There will be many things to learn from now on.

I want to know more about senpai.

But it doesn't have to be now.

Senpai has carried this burden for me. I am determined to become useful to you, as soon as possible. Therefore, the first thing to know is not the past, but the present.

Let's focus on ART training first.

After we finished washing the dishes, we immediately started washing clothes. Put all the clothes in the basket into the washing machine and press the button.While the washing machine was running, we vacuumed the entire first floor, and then cleaned the toilet. After we finished cleaning it, the washing machine also stopped working, and then we dried our clothes on the second floor, where there was plenty of sunlight.

Senpai is an independent adult. Even though it's a holiday, he still has to do this work. It doesn't take more than two hours to move the hands and feet, but having to do all this on a day off after working five days a week is quite inconvenient and annoying. If you could ask someone to do it for you, that would be better.

Other than cooking, I can do other things.

"That's what I want you to do."

If I can help senpai, I can do these things every day.

...I said I can, but I have a problem with laundry.

"Ah, I can handle my own underwear, so it's okay."

This is the problem of underwear.

After doing the laundry, when we saw senpai's underwear drying, we both felt embarrassed. Just looking at it, my cheeks are already hot with embarrassment, and even touching it, my soul can't stand it.

As expected senpai also hesitated to tell the high school girl to wash her panties.

At this point, I wanted to accept and say "I'll try my best!", but my teenage feelings had won out.

"I'm not saying you have to do everything right from the start or anything. A little at a time will be fine."

"Y-Y-Yes!"

"Okay, good answer. Just keep it that way."

Senpai crossed his arms, then gave me such encouragement.

Communicating with anyone is nothing more than suffering. Even if the other party was senpai, it was the same. I hated this sound that came out of my throat, to the point that it was difficult to express my thoughts.

It feels like it was fixed in such a short time. With senpai being the only exception.

"But I think the house of a man who lives alone must be dirtier and messier."

That's why it's great to communicate your thoughts to others, even in text form.

"Huh? Well...In my previous apartment, you were right. Not even having a step was one thing, and a vacuum cleaner wouldn't have been able to clean it."

Senpai sent a voice message via smartphone.

"Really? Yesterday's suit didn't look so cool and all, I think Senpai is a little weird too."

Even though Senpai was right in front of me, I still replied to him with a text message.

This could be a strange conversation. But it's also proof that Senpai really cares about me, who has a social communication disorder.

"It's not completely clean, but the most important thing to someone is appearance. I used to be quite careful about my appearance, but since moving here, I've just gotten better at cleaning. "

"Is there a reason for you to be so meticulous about housework?"

"If you neglect your home, you'll be contributing to the grand history of this house. As I said yesterday, this is a way to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation."

"So that's it."

"Right after that, I'm also in the process of evolving from a slave to a lowly slave. There's free time too, so it's just a matter of encouragement."

Senpai said that's all, it's no big deal.

Even so, there was one word that I couldn't help but notice.

Slave.

Senpai, who has always identified herself as the bottom of society. There was also a time lower than that, which he referred to as slaves.

Should I ask what that means?

But while thinking that, senpai extended his right hand in front of me.

His hand touched gently, then gently stroked my head. There's that nonsense.

"A-..."

A sudden shock hit my forehead, making me tilt my head back. Although it didn't really hurt, I still reflexively held my forehead.

I was hit on the forehead.

"Right Rena, what was wrong with your appearance just now?"

Senpai with a very serious expression, was looking into my eyes.

During training, I tried my best to deal with him. But I was scolded for my attitude.

What had I done wrong? It was because I couldn't think of what I had done wrong, so my mind went blank.

"Stop talking like that obediently."

Senpai waved his cell phone back and forth.

"Eh..."

A silly voice came out of my gaping mouth.

"I didn't expect Renaphalt to be such a serious person. Where was your spirit yesterday?"

Senpai pouted his lips as if he was scolding me for being rude. However, he was actually blaming me for the opposite.

As I recalled my conversations with senpai since he gave me the cell phone, it was true that my words now didn't match Renaphalt at all.

Renaphalt could enter the conversation through the other curtain. But when talking face-to-face like this, it's impossible. Right now, I'm just an obedient and serious girl.

After all, Renaphalt was a very rude person. And I reluctantly imitated him when talking to senpai directly.

"Try to remember what I said."

Senpai extended his hand towards me again.

"There's no need for you to fuss about anything immoral at this rate, there's no point in trying to be a good boy."

This time it was not my forehead, but the top of my head. Then Senpai rubbed it gently.

What exactly is morality?

I used to use all kinds of talk to anger Senpai. Whether it was just a joke, or the climax of a story, it was still very disrespectful and inappropriate words.

 There's no way that past will disappear even after we meet. Even now, even if I played a good-natured character, I would make senpai feel uncomfortable.

"Argh, psychological and sexual harassment, what's with this company!"

If you've been paying attention, you've seen Renaphalt enter the chat naturally.

"Here we don't care about age, education or work experience. There are dedicated Senpai who will guide you to your destination. Out of work, everyone here will recognize your efforts wholeheartedly, joining hands to realize each other's dreams of an independent life, if enthusiastic enough, the workplace will be as comfortable as home!"

"Don't talk as if you're herding chickens into a black business!"

"But you can eat and drink on the spot, the house, meals, and water bills are also paid by the company! Well, that's very interesting, isn't it?"

"So, what about the most important part, the illegal salary?"

"According to capacity."

"I'm still a repeat slave. I'll recommend you for the Best Black Enterprise award."

Staring slightly from the phone screen, I could see senpai's strange face. There was no need to avoid anything. Whether through the curtain or face to face, through text messages, I could at least become Renaphalt.

 The similarity between the two, made my heart rejoice beyond words.

Suddenly, the corners of her mouth broke into a small smile.

"OK. What I learned today, I'll apply it smoothly tomorrow. Senpai's (used) underwear leave it to me!"

"Don't put it in parentheses, okay... But is it okay? Don't try too hard."

"Shorts will probably be fine, but the color should be."

"Don't mind the color."

"It's not the same after drying the underwear. In short, what color is Senpai wearing now..."

"Then what about you?"

"Adults like me usually wear black."

"Nonsense. It's obvious what you're wearing is pink down there."

"Eh...!"

My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

I forgot that my proud panties were already visible to him through his t-shirt. Senpai was still smiling broadly.

It wasn't a vulgar laugh of horny male lust. It was obvious that he was breaking the curtain, he must have been laughing at me.

Furthermore, I was holding a kitchen knife in my hand now.

While gripping the handle of the knife, I watched the blade.

I glanced at the onions lying on the cutting board, where I was about to drop the knife edge.

"Are you afraid?"

While gripping the knife while standing still like a statue, senpai's voice rang out.

I didn't have to work too hard. A warm feeling next to me.

"T...No..."

I shook my head. The first time I used a kitchen knife, my hand would probably be cut off. That fear couldn't shake me. I was immersed in the intense emotions flowing from the bottom of my chest. Finally having to touch the kitchen knife.

I hesitated not to immediately let go of the handle, but gently placed it on the cutting board.

It was a priority to send this thought back to senpai first. I took out my cell phone from my pocket and typed in my feelings.

"While wearing this item, I thought it was time to cut a human. Can't the first victim be an onion?"

Normally, hikikomori don't carry knives. I thought that when equipped with a knife, I would turn invincible. But never thought that holding a knife would turn into a guard at home like this. Human life is unpredictable.

"I want to swing a knife at someone else?"

Contrary to my current feelings, senpai made a serious face.

"Don't say such stupid things. Renaphalt is not a person who does such things, right?"

It was a heavy word, but there was no fear or confusion in it.

I'm not the kind of bad guy who could kill someone. Senpai treated me like a daughter who was aware of that.  

It seems senpai sees me as that kind of person. I'm really glad you think so.

But... I'm not a good person at all.

It's not because the roots have rotted. It's because the soil is so barren that it can no longer be restored. No matter how beautiful the seeds sown, no matter how ideal the environment, beautiful flowers can never sprout.

I am even comforted by the death of a human being. I, of course, was a wicked and selfish person. In front of senpai, I am a terrible person. You misunderstand everything about me.

"After all, quality is better than quantity."

...I thought so, but

"You really are the type who treats human life as a score."

Senpai didn't misunderstand at all.

"Your goal is to increase this number to at least hundreds. I'm going to get a lot of points with one punch, then declare viciousness on the internet. By doing so, there will be a lot of attention to your crimes on stage, and then Renaphalt's name will be recorded in the history books as well as the Wiki... That's what you do when you become a serial killer. There's no way someone so great would choose a weapon like a kitchen knife."

Senpai explained his plan very seriously when I became a serial killer.

It was clear from beginning to end. After I became a serial killer, no serial killer used a kitchen knife as a weapon.

"Fufu...!"

I involuntarily laughed.

This guy was really, really too familiar with Renaphalt. No matter how scary the contents of the story were, it was refreshing to be told honestly.

"That's right. I forgot, I'm also a famous chef."

Without a doubt, senpai was the one who knew me best.

With that thought, I gripped the kitchen knife again.

I asked him to be careful to help me cook for the first time and then imitate him.

This process if senpai, only took about ten seconds, he watched me for a few minutes, and slowly helped me little by little.

At the end of that repetitive process, my first dish was finished.

Basic curry.

The ingredients were onion, pork and garlic. There were no potatoes or carrots. It's not that I didn't pay attention when gathering the ingredients. It's just senpai's taste.

"Eh, delicious. It's good to do this for the first time. Looks like the prodigy isn't a brat."

Senpai praised me as if I had organized everything myself.

It's the first time in my life that I've cooked. Of course, the food made by the servants tasted much better than this, but to me the taste of this delicacy was incomparable.

Come to think of it, lunch was the same. Soon I thought of the real reason for this wonderful taste.

It was the warmth.

I wasn't someone who had any interest in eating until now. The taste can be tempting, but eating is also just a method to supplement nutrition. I'm not the type of person who looks forward to food, to the point that I don't feel dissatisfied if I have to eat the same food over and over again.

The appetite in me is like being revived.

How long has it been since I experienced that?

It reminded me of the past. The memories of that time taught me that this was what it was like. I tried my best to hold back these tears.

Senpai, who had always taken care of me, had returned to my room since I ate. Just like lunch, he's now eating in the next room.

So if I cry here, senpai will hear the sound. I don't want him to worry.

I swallowed my tears sadly, bringing the spoon of rice to my mouth.

The rice was really good.

The dining table seemed to recall memories of my distant past.

My father wasn't there.

At home there was only me, my sister, and my mother. Then because there was only me and my sister, the food was no longer good.

Who was the cook? That must be very important too.

But still, what's more important is who you eat with.

Someone who really understands you and is with you. Even if through the curtain, that person is eating the same food as you.

This feeling of warmth and happiness is probably the "delicious" taste I've been missing.

*

After being supervised while washing dishes, today's ART training has also come to an end.

It was around 5pm. Can it be said that the work was completed on time?

I calmly sat back in the room, time ticking away.

"Oh yes, Rena."

At that moment, from the other side of the curtain came a call,

"Why are you so pretty?"

"Eh...!?"

Suddenly senpai dropped a huge bomb of shame on my face.

Not flattery, ridicule, or cheating. Just like yesterday, when I was described as a pretty girl, it made my heart skip a beat... That feeling of wanting to be called cute or pretty, I'm not someone with that kind of desire.

Whether it's dad, or a talkative extrovert, or an older sister.

When I'm praised by those people, I'm like "Heh..." or "Um" or "Haa..." is the same thing. Or should I say thank you and then be cheerful? It's so troublesome.

However, why did my chest feel tight, my cheeks hot, this strange dizzy feeling.

I was actually feeling very happy inside.

Being praised by senpai seemed to have fulfilled a need that I wasn't even sure existed.

More than just excitement, another uncomfortable itch struck.

"What are you saying all of a sudden?"

Those thin hands that seemed to be dying, typing fast on the laptop keyboard, were instantly unable to react.

 "Since you were enlightened until now, you've always lived a reclusive life, right?"

The voice spoke the obvious truth.

"How can such a person be so neat?"

A feeling rose in my chest, there was some misunderstanding here.

It seems senpai didn't use the word "pretty" to describe my appearance.

"Especially a hairstyle that doesn't look like a hikikomori at all? You definitely wouldn't go to a salon or anything like that."

Of course. To me, those who want to talk, other than senpai, should all be dead, nothing is so mysterious.

"I cut it myself. The length looked grim for me, so I cut it to shoulder length."

"Looks like you can take care of yourself. That's understandable for a normal girl, but I wonder if a hikikomori like you cares to be seen by others."

That's right. Someone like me, who has discarded real-life relationships, doesn't care about being seen by others. It's okay to take care of your appearance. So it's not like it's my wish or anything.

"It's because I don't want to suffer from my brother's anger."

"Your brother's anger?"

"If I accidentally let my guard down, I'll immediately get attacked by him. It's really annoying, but I can handle it and take care of myself."

My brother scolded me lightly about the hikikomori issue, but never got angry about it. The only thing that made her angry was when I threw away the image of a woman. When my brother pulled me out of the room and took me to the salon, it was really horrible. I'm sorry but I don't want to experience anything like that again.

That steely will not to go to the salon, has helped improve my skills in cutting my own hair. My sister was amazed by my natural talent. This can be considered a total surprise.

Skincare is similar. She threatened that if I was indifferent and left my skin too ragged, she would throw me into a beauty parlor.

In the face of such terror. I had to learn to do it myself, no matter how reluctant and dissatisfied I was. All so as not to have to suffer because of an angry older brother.

Taking care of my appearance and keeping myself clean, it's just for self-defense.

"I understand. Yesterday's performance. It was definitely not a hikikomori look."

"As expected senpai, you know me very well. Look. Those are the clothes I picked out for you."

Clothes that I buy twice a year. I was reluctantly forced to go out and shop with my older sister. I wasn't her doll. She would carefully ask how I liked the clothes.

But my wishes were never granted. I don't really care about dressing well either, so it's fine. When you go to school, you already have a uniform, and you can buy everything at home online.

If I don't have to talk to other people, I'm willing to go out, but there's no reason for that, so I'll just stay in the room... And even if there is, just wear a uniform or household supplies. The last time I wore the clothes my sister picked out was to try them on.

"Thanks to that, when I met senpai, I had no clothes to wear, so I left for that time."

That's why this time, I brought the clothes my sister picked out.

I didn't want to be dressed in rags when I was going to go meet senpai. Now that I thought about it, perhaps the thought came subconsciously.

"I see. So your brother is really a nice person, isn't he?"

"It's fine to be nice, but honestly, I just want her to leave me alone. Even though I gave off an aura of alienation, she kept asking me this and that. Even though we're both sick of each other, my brother is still boring."

"Frankly speaking, your brother is really the most caring person in the world. Even if you hate her, she also wants to give you an Easy Mode life."

"Easy Mode life?"

I tilted my head in front of the laptop, not understanding what Senpai meant.

"A beautiful woman with a bad character, or a bad woman with a good character. Either way, it would be troublesome, wouldn't it?"

"At least the person asking this question must be a bad woman with a bad personality."

"That's for reassurance. It's obvious that people will choose a bad woman. "

"By the way, which side does senpai prefer?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Senpai sneered.

"Of course a beautiful person with a good personality!"

"Didn't you say there were only two choices!"

"What kind of question tells people to choose the bad side, this kind of thing is not worth answering seriously!"

"From the beginning, no matter how you have to live your life, you have to make such extreme choices. Like one side is love, the other side is the world."

"That damn question has become a good topic. It sounds like an anime and manga concept."

"This society is so shitty and boring. The world is not sweet enough to allow us to have fun between those two extreme choices."

The sound of a creaking chair could be heard. It was probably coming from the back of the chair I was leaning on.

"But let's just say, humans often praise pretty things, and are fascinated by beautiful things. In my mind, I'm lucky to be ranked 2nd, 3rd or something like that. They don't want to touch ugly things and then treat them badly. No matter what's inside, beauty is the highest judgment."

"For example, how?"

"Recently, it was your recruitment here."

An unexpected example, making my mind and hands stop.

"Rena. Maybe we've known each other for a long time. That's why when I was asked to recruit you, I thought I should take care of you for a while. But, when I found out, it turned out to be a little girl. To be honest, I hesitated until the end whether I would accept you or not."

I hesitated until the last minute.

Hearing that sentence, in my heart I didn't feel disappointed or guilty at all.

Of course I did.

When it comes to taking care of yourself, no one dares to accept the number one senpai. Of course, I didn't dare to go in.

"The phrase I hate to death is none other than responsibility." It was a view that Senpai often reiterated.

In fact, when I play games, I always make good use of my blaming skills. Someone like me who has understood senpai's point of view has been brainwashed many times into thinking: senpai is not a bad person then it's not him.

Such a senpai agreed to hire me, to the point of throwing away even the biggest profits. That's what's most surprising.

"If this is a joke, or even if you're a jerk, I wish you better luck next time."

"Unfortunately. What if I become a high school girl to match senpai?"

"I'm not so careless. "For various reasons, I went to that place to send you back to your older sister. For the rest, I hope you can help me." That should be the least."

"You mean you're going to act like an adult with a sense of responsibility? The day that happens like that will surely be the end of the world. This humanity will perish!"

It was a joke and a beautiful thing that would never happen.

I am a realist. The number of casualties that had to reach hundreds was only on paper, and no final boss could push humanity into catastrophe.

"In short, because you are a beautiful girl, this world has been saved properly."

"Have known each other for 5 years, and you are a beautiful girl. Because of those two reasons, I decided to hire you at the last minute. "

"What a pervert. After all, all Senpai wants is my body!"

"Even though I said it wouldn't work, that's me lying!"

"Kyaaa, I'm going to get raped-!"

I tried to hold back my laughter while listening to Senpai's very hypocritical low voice.

That said, it's not because he can see the future if that happens, that's why he's so protective of me.

I only believe so. Despite appearances, Senpai still values his relationship with Renaphalt. For me, that alone is already too happy.

"For me, that's right, there's nothing else."

"Mm, what?"

"Suppose I were a fat, bald orc, then what would you do?"

"Aht-"

"I thought I would force a punch, but have you given up on wanting to retreat?"

I have a lot of respect for senpai. And admire him. However, I also had a limit to suppress my negative view of him.

The offline encounter would probably end as soon as a monster set foot.

"That's right."

When I knew senpai had grown up, I felt relieved from the bottom of my heart. I was so happy that I even secretly thanked the gods.

"I'm actually just an introvert. I also feel physiological discomfort, but it's harder than ever to hurt Senpai's opinion of me before."

So in this case, it wasn't just senpai who chose me because of my appearance. I also chose her because of her appearance.

"So how many senpai have grown up, save me."

Looks aren't everything to a person.

It's what's inside that makes them good, not what's visible from their appearance, but from their heart.

I understand how clichéd those things are.

"Senpai."

Losing even one thing cannot be done.

"I'm really thankful, because Senpai didn't become a lowly handsome man."

Her appearance, like this, was the most perfect.

"Looks like you want to take off your pink panties."

"As expected, this workplace is always being bullied!"

A place where I can really be myself and want to try harder.

"Well, you know, even with our relationship, you have to judge by appearances. If someone is handsome or beautiful, obviously they will be treated well and have many privileges. It's not just jealousy. That's when someone is recognized as the person they want to be. Looks play such an important role in our society that it's a disparity."

"Is that so?"

What is senpai talking about. I'm not stupid enough not to understand that.

"Your brother is right about the easy way of life, yes."

"Does Senpai not see it from the side?"

"I realize that I'm a lucky person, if I look good, I'll have more advantages than others. But you don't seem to think about that."

"They must be trying not to smell something. To be honest, it's not a good idea. No matter how much truth is learned from real experience, it's not something that can be said in public. They will say such an idea is unacceptable, and they will suppress you."

"What crowd?"

"This society. Envious jealousy. Bad people, people who don't have it will make a fuss. Remember this, Rena. Whether they are jealous or pushy inside, as long as it is expressed in a good way, anything can be forgiven. The tyranny of those who have such beliefs, continues even in reality."

I was a child who never left the room, unable to understand this society. But I deeply felt what Senpai wanted to say. I understood that it was through this internet world.

But the emotion in senpai's voice was filled with a sense of reality. Nothing is too far away, these are practical things that happen around me. I felt like Senpai was speaking from real experience.

"That's why brothernu didn't tell you explicitly. I think he taught you to take care of your appearance and stay neat not only for himself, but also to avoid making people around feel uncomfortable. Did she say that?"

"Senpai, are you really a psychic?"

"What, the words you just said are just more arrogant."

It wasn't something to be proud of or too big a deal.

"Beautiful people are attracted to each other. The number of people who choose the ugly side over the beautiful side is only a small fraction. When in a community, similar people will gather, forming groups. Then it's time to define personality. Because of this, my brother thought of many things after I returned to school. So that I wouldn't have trouble forming relationships, she made me play easy mode like this. The image of a pretty, big-breasted high school girl."

She also complained about my appearance. No matter how disgusted and alienated I was, he still dragged me along, despite my reluctance, making me look like his decoration. All because when it came time to go back to school, I would have an easy fashion life.

Until now, I never thought that my brother cared about me that much.

"But if someone like me can play easy mode, that doesn't sound too realistic."

"Come to think of it, you said that at the entrance ceremony, you were bored within seconds. Is there something going on?"

Senpai answered my question with another question.

"If I just wandered around the classroom, I could still do it, but I feel hopeless because the school is full of those damned movements, they were born just to train the extroverts."

 "Anything else?"

"I was cornered by the king and queen who are very extroverted. More precisely, like in demon-infested spiritual places."

"In short."

"Ah..."

A small voice was heard.

My pretense. The thing I had decided to worship to the end, so it had that kind of meaning.

Now think back, those kings. I also feel responsible that they came to my house just to ask and apologize. Only I felt scared and ran away... Maybe they weren't bad people.

"By the way, if it's senpai, what do you think it is?"

"If I were your classmate, I definitely wouldn't start a conversation with you first. Our circumstances are so different."

"If senpai was my classmate yes. If there is such a miracle, I will ask you to bring all this school life for me."

"Title - The Kouhai I knew in the online game turned out to be my classmate."

"You're already the main character of a light novel!"

"Female heroines are so close to the MC and treat other people's lives as scores, it will suffer a huge drop in sales no matter what. An escape ero game or porn doujin might be more suitable for you."

"Come to think of it, your high school doesn't accept people with low grades. Senpai, what is the standard score for that school?

"Now I will punish you for leaving you alone in this haunted place."

"Activate the ban card!"

She seemed to have risen from her seat, leaving me alone in this haunted house.

I understand.

"Let me see what your face looks like now." It felt like she got up and left, but actually did nothing.

Keep doing this over and over again, I won't do what you want.

Senpai is very considerate of me, and always sets boundaries very clearly. Even though we haven't met for a long time, I trust senpai very much. So even if this silence continues, I am still immersed in the echoes of this pleasant conversation. However, as I tilted my head, I heard the rustling of clothes again.

Senpai was changing clothes.

Did Senpai change from his casual clothes to pajamas? Or when he sleeps, he does not even wear underwear. Sounds like a real boy, but right now, the boys are not going to bed yet. Not preparing for bed at all.

Confused, I heard the sound of rustling clothes. I reached for the curtain instead of the keyboard. Pulling the curtain slightly over my face, I peeked at the other side.

"...A, a"

My eyelids flew open.

A truly terrifying sight. There were no demons, monsters, or crazy people there.

It was senpai in ordinary clothes.

A change from home clothes. Put on a shirt, then another jacket. Going to a nearby store is a bit too tight, but going far away might be more reasonable.

"Okay, let's go out for a while."

Senpai noticed that I glanced at him, he showed a bright smile that showed both of his white teeth. If he were a handsome man, then he himself would be a work of art full of life.

When I saw that smile, I took one step back, then two steps back. It's not because of the pounding in the heart of a girl like me. It's as mentioned above, it's a feeling of fear from within.

"Wait a minute!"

I typed on the keyboard in a hurry. It was frustrating to make a typo.

"What courage an ART has. Let's go outside."

"Ah, you're just joking, right?"

"Rena. Did it sound like I was joking?"

"Sorry for making fun of your academic record! Please forgive me, I'll do whatever you want."

"Huh, everything is fine, a big-breasted high school girl can do anything..."

Senpai posed a very deep problem for himself.

"Then do your best to fulfill your duties as an ART."

"JOQINK!)@#AJXND)W#0!@$!)#XCZXC"

My hands were so frantic that there was no time to calm down.

Don't joke with this name!

The fear in my heart gradually turned into a feeling of discomfort, at this rate I would go crazy. It's just introspection, but it's the first time I've called senpai by "this name".

"Well, I'm just kidding."

This is very good. Was it really just a joke? Even if it was a joke, I still believed that senpai didn't hate it.

"Leaving you alone was a small mistake, but I have to go out for a while."

"I just finished eating, it's okay to be left for a while!"

Just for a moment. My trust had been betrayed.

"Rena, this is a serious matter. Let's work hard here for a while."

Senpai's voice became very serious.

I immediately understood that leaving me alone was not a punishment for my rant about my academic performance earlier. Senpai came out because he had to go somewhere.

"Where are you going?"

"Going to Gami's shop."

I had heard this name before when we spoke, it was the name of a friend of Senpai's.

It seems that Gami owns a bar, Senpai always spends time there on Fridays. To be more precise, yesterday I called senpai from there to pick me up.

"I'm telling you, it's not like I just went out drinking. I didn't suddenly leave you alone for that reason."

Senpai must have also taken care of me, who was afraid that I was alone on this 2nd floor.

"I should go tell your story to that guy."

"Eh~..."

I snorted.

Senpai is number one when it comes to overprotecting herself. I knew he was not the type to tell anyone about hiding a high school girl in his house just to feel superior for a moment, then tell people, "Don't tell anyone".

If so, why would he tell this story to others?

"Everything will be fine. Gami is a hedonist who does not follow the law at all. There's nothing to worry about."

It was nice that she was talking about her friend like that, a feeling full of trust.

"Yesterday I said that I would tell her. Anyway, it's like, how can a good thing hide from me, that's all."

Gami is a troublesome person.

I've also heard that she has a rather strange personality.

As someone who underwent surgery to change her sex from male to female, but there was no gender disparity, nor was there an awakening of womanhood. Since I'm so tired of being a man, I should try being a woman. Senpai put it that way that it felt like a gender transition in an online game on a social network.

Maybe it's human nature to be able to make any situation interesting. The opposite of my brother.

"In that case, it's better to just confess and ask her to cooperate. After all, Gami is someone who can calmly enter the holy land that humans can't."

Are you referring to the female item?

Although it's unknown how many questions will be asked in this house, but if I'm going to stay for a long time, I can't help but keep an eye on it. Many items to count, starting with underwear and other items. Most of the items can be ordered online, but there might still be some items that you need to buy in person. In that case, it will be difficult for both of us if I have to ask senpai to buy them for me.

"That depends on Gami, but I might be back late."

Senpai opened the curtain,

"Coming back late?"

I looked at him with a troubled expression.

Yesterday when I went to get the blanket, I went alone. But at that time it was because of the high mood when Senpai received me, so I forgot that this place was a haunted house.

The situation yesterday was definitely different from today.

"Aaa...yes, Yes."

When overcome by fear, I made a sound that sounded like a mosquito.

Senpai helped me overcome an unexpected problem.

I'm so scared, so don't leave me alone, I can't let myself say all that nonsense. I don't want to do things that can pull senpai's leg back like that.

"Okay, good answer."

Senpai's hand gently touched my head.

"Let's continue working together in that spirit. I'll start relying on you, my Maid."

*

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