Chapter 19

Three days after I had a meeting with Ms. Rulia.

“…………”

Ms. Rulia is sitting in my living room.

Her pure white hair and red eyes are adorable, like a rabbit.

Moreover, she isn't wearing her usual kimono today.

Instead, she's dressed in a white dress and a straw hat, like a well-bred young lady, and she came to my place this morning.

“Hey, Okaya, I finished the manuscript. I wanted you to take a look.”

It seems the fax machine was broken, so she brought the revised manuscript to my house herself.

She apparently got the address from the editor-in-chief, Takanashi. ...I had a feeling something was off. Would he really give out someone's address, even for work purposes...?

Well, I couldn't just send her away after she came all this way, so I invited her in.

“Hey, Okaya... How is it?”

As I read through the manuscript, Ms. Rulia asks.

“Yes, it's wonderful.”

“R-Really!? I had it tailored by Ichika, you think it's wonderful?”

“? No, I was talking about the manuscript...”

“...Oh, I see.”

Ms. Rulia's shoulders droop.

Ah, she was asking about her outfit.

Now that I think about it, she's wearing a very cute dress today.

I see, she bought new clothes and wanted me to compliment her. She has a surprisingly childlike side. How cute.

“That dress suits you. Your usual kimono is nice too, but this kind of ladylike look is also great.”

“! R-Really!? Hehe, really...hehehe.”

Ms. Rulia smiles with a dreamy look.

Even though she's mature, she's still very much a child. How cute.

“I've read the manuscript. It's really well done. You've improved it so much in just three days.”

“Yes! It's all thanks to Okaya.”

Ms. Rulia says, blushing.

“I just gave advice. You wrote it, so be proud of it.”

“No, no... That's not what I meant...”

Ms. Rulia fidgets.

“I wanted you to read it. I wanted you to praise it... That's why I worked hard.”

“...I see.”

Ms. Rulia's image overlaps with the image of Akari and the others from 10 years ago.

When I was a tutor, the twins would study hard at home to get praise from me.

But...

“Ms. Rulia.”

“Yes...?”

I lean in close to her.

“O-Okaya...?”

Her red eyes are moist.

Ah, I see.

“Hmm...”

Ms. Rulia's face turns bright red, and she closes her eyes, puckering her lips.

I gently tap her forehead.

“You're sleep-deprived.”

“Huh...?”

Ms. Rulia opens her mouth in surprise.

“Haven't you been sleeping much these past three days?”

“A-Ah...”

“You can't push yourself to write a good manuscript and then end up sick. It's not worth it.”

The same thing happened with Akari and the others.

They would stay up all night studying to get good grades and then get sick.

This girl is the same.

“Ms. Rulia, your dedication to writing a good manuscript is admirable as a professional. But managing your health is also part of the job. If you collapse, it's better to miss the deadline.”

“...”

Ms. Rulia blushes but pouts.

“...You're so unfair, Okaya.”

“Huh...?”

“You're playing with my heart... Being so kind... You're unfair.”

...I have no idea what she's trying to say.

I've worked as a tutor before, but that was with elementary school kids.

Understanding a child's heart, especially a teenage girl's heart, is difficult. This applies to Akari and Nanako too.

“Hey... Okaya. Today... I didn't just come to have you read the manuscript...”

“Do you have something to discuss?”

“Yes. Something very... very important. Will you listen? I...”

Just then...

“Hold it right there!”

The living room door slams open, and the twin high school girls come in.

“You were supposed to be shopping, weren't you...”

When Ms. Rulia came to my house, I had already messaged the two of them.

I told them I would be having a meeting at home, so they shouldn't come.

“Y-You... Akari!”

“Of course, it's Rulia! Just as I thought! That was close!”

Akari walks over confidently.

Nanako follows behind her.

“What were you two doing alone?”

Akari stands tall, and Nanako hides behind her.

“It's work.”

“Akari doesn't know!”

“T-That's right! We only heard from the cute, young lady here!”

The twins huff and puff.

“So you really are living with Okaya, huh?”

With a thud, Ms. Rulia stands up and glares at Akari.

“Grr...”

Nanako hides, but Akari glares back.

“That's right. I and the girl behind me are living with Okaya.”

“W-What!? N-Nanako, what are you saying!?”

...I told them to keep quiet, but what can you do with kids?

“O-Okaya! W-What's going on!?”

Ms. Rulia's eyes widen, and she lunges at me.

But she stumbles forward.

“Watch out...!”

I catch Ms. Rulia.

“～～～～～～～！？！？！？！？！？”

““Aaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!””

Ms. Rulia's face turns beet red.

The high school girls scream in shock...

“Okaya... kyu...”

Ms. Rulia faints.

★

A few hours later, Ms. Rulia wakes up.

“Sorry, Okaya... I lost my composure...”

This is my bedroom.

It seems Ms. Rulia had a mild case of heatstroke.

Combined with her lack of sleep, she fainted.

“It's okay now, Okaya. I'm sorry for worrying you.”

I grab Ms. Rulia's shoulder as she tries to get up.

“Okaya...?”

“Please rest a bit more.”

“B-But...”

“You had a heatstroke. It's not something to take lightly. It can be fatal. Please rest properly.”

“O-Okay...”

Ms. Rulia obediently lies back down.

I take the towel from her, soak it in water, and place it on her forehead.

“...Hehe.”

“? Is something wrong?”

“No... It's just been a while since a man has taken care of me. It's... well, quite nice.”

...Her eyes were familiar.

Yes... the same as Nanako and the others.

Eyes that carry the pain of family discord, eyes that crave parental love...

“Hey... Okaya? Are you okay?”

The sliding door opens, and the twins come in.

“Yes, I'm fine. But, do you understand?”

““Yes... We're sorry.””

Nanako and the others bow their heads in unison.

“We're sorry for interrupting your work, Ms. Rulia.”

“...”

“Ms. Rulia?”

“Ah, no... Don't worry about it. I was also being immature. I'm sorry.”

Now that things have calmed down, I need to explain the situation.

“Ms. Rulia, let me explain about living with these girls.”

“B-Before that... Okaya. There's one thing I want to ask...”

“? What is it?”

Ms. Rulia glances between me and the twins, then speaks softly.

“N-Name...”

“Huh?”

“I want you to... stop using my last name. And... the formal language too.”

“Why...?”

She glances at Akari and the others, then speaks up.

“...I don't want to lose to them.”

“Huh?”

“I really don't want to.”

Some professionals prefer a more casual approach.

For me, since she's a business partner, using formal language is easier...

“Alright, Rulia. Is this better?”

“A-Ah! Yes! No, actually, it's even better!”

I don't understand, but she seems to like the way I address her.

“...Akari. What should we do...”

Nanako clings to her sister, almost crying.

“She's so cute... Small, slender, and beautiful... We have no chance.”

“It's okay! We have these big chests! Stand tall, sister!”

“...O-Okay! Mmm!”

Akari and the others are being silly.

“...At least sit down. I'll explain everything now.”