Act 1 - The Hungry Idol Part
1-3
My house is about a five-minute walk from the station.
It's a room in a five-story apartment building, and there's where I live now.
"You live alone?" (Rei)
"Well, I am. I've various circumstances." (Rintaro)
I open the door with the key and step inside with her on my back.
The room is a 1LDK with a separate living room and bedroom, and the rent is in the 40,000 yen range. The reason why I was able to rent such a cheap room in Tokyo was because of Yuzuki-sensei. (PTW/N: I don't know exactly, but I'm googling it and found it cost around 100000 yen, or 907.84 USD, per today rate, July 12, 2021)
Originally, the rent would have been a bit higher, but thanks to her provision of a rent allowance, the price has been reduced to an unbelievable level.
"For now, just sit on the couch and rest. You also can watch TV if you want." (Rintaro)
"Okay." (Rei)
I sit Otosaki down on the couch and take off her shoes. After taking them to the front door, I head for the kitchen, which is visible from the living room.
"I've decided I'll be using pork today, but do you have anything you want to eat? I can listen to some of your requests." (Rintaro)
"Then, ...... Shougayaki (Ginger fried pork)." (Rei)
"Hee, do you like it?" (Rintaro)
"Yup. Since I was a kid." (Rei)
"That's surprising....... Oh, well. I'll make Shougayaki, then." (Rintaro)
It's a relatively simple dish, thank goodness.
I take out the pork, onion, half of the cabbage, and a tube of ginger from the refrigerator and start to cook.
Although Shougayaki's a dish that I haven't done much research on, I'm confident that I won't make it unpalatable.
"......You're very skilled." (Rei)
"That's because I cook every day. I've even ever made Shougayaki once or twice." (Rintaro)
"I don't really have an image of boys doing that. Why do you cook every day?" (Rei)
"For saving money. I earn all my living expenses by myself. And also for the sake of my future wife." (Rintaro)
"For your future wife?" (Rei)
"Yes. My goal is to become a full-time househusband. My dream is to cook dishes for my hard-working wife with proper consideration for taste and health." (Rintaro)
This plan of mine is going well.
I've been studying cooking every day, making menu books, improving my cleaning and laundry techniques, and since last year, I've been keeping a household budget.
I'm confident that even if I have a wife at this moment, I can satisfy her. The only problem is that I haven't met a girlfriend that'll be my wife.
Well, I don't expect to find one while I'm still in high school, and I plan to start looking for one around the time I graduate from college, when I can meet someone who already has a regular job.
"Sorry, but you'll have to put up with the retort for white rice. I was actually going to cook it, but I think your stomach has reached its limit, am I right?" (Rintaro)
"Mmn......Thanks for your concern." (Rei)
"I mean, you have a manager or something, right? Then why didn't you just ask them for some dinner before you left for home?" (Rintaro)
"I was trying to look good. I'm an idol, you know, I shouldn't be seen as a glutton." (Rei)
"Can't you at least show it to your people......? Well, I understand that you live your life with obsession." (Rintaro)
"Shidou-kun, you live a life with obsession too?" (Rei)
"Well, I am. Here it is." (Rintaro)
In the meantime, the Shougayaki is completed. The fragrant smell of soy sauce and ginger tickle my appetite, and I praise myself for my great work.
I place a bowl of white rice, which has just finished heating, on the table in front of Otosaki, along with my own.
"It smells better than any Shougayaki I've ever had......." (Rei)
"Thank you then. Eat it before it gets cold." (Rintaro)
"Let's dig in......!" (Rei)
I watch her with some nervousness as Otosaki puts the Shougayaki in her mouth.
To be honest, I've not been blessed with many opportunities to have my food eaten by others.
Although Yukio had eaten my food several times, this's the first time I'm cooking for a girl.
I have seasoned it for a man's taste, but is it too much for her, I'm worried————, but her words echo as if to dispel my worries.
"Delicious.......!" (Rei)
I feel my body loosen up in an unusual way.
I can't help but smile at how nervous I seemed to be a while ago.
"That so...... I'm relieved." (Rintaro)
"It's the best I've ever tasted. No doubt about it." (Rei)
"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration, but ...... I don't feel bad about the praise." (Rintaro)
I take a bite of it myself, and although it's the same as usual, it's certainly delicious. I've gotten better at cooking. I feel like making a smug face.
"Can I have second." (Rei)
"Well, that's okay,...... but it's retort anyway." (Rintaro)
I take the bowl and heat up another bowl of rice. After receiving it, Otosaki resumes eating at the same pace as before. When I see her like that, I can understand why she's almost collapsed from hunger.
"...... Say, is being an idol fun?" (Rintaro)
"It is. It's been my dream since I was a kid." (Rei)
"Wow, that's amazing. So you've achieved your dream at this age?" (Rintaro)
"I have worked hard, and I also was lucky. Now I'm working even harder to not let go of the chance I got." (Rei)
She's a great girl. She lives in a different world from me, who doesn't want to work.
"Shidou-kun is also working hard for his dream. That's great too." (Rei)
"......Are you seriously think so?" (Rintaro)
"Yup......? I really am." (Rei)
I thought I would be ridiculed for wanting to be a full-time househusband.
That's why I didn't talk about it with anyone other than Yukio, whom I trusted, but when she unexpectedly complimented me on it, I couldn't help but feel caught off guard.
"I knew that no matter what the dream is, everyone who works hard to achieve it is an amazing person. I want to support those people, too." (Rei)
"......I think I become your fan for the first time today." (Rintaro)
"You've never been a fan before?" (Rei)
"To be honest, I wasn't really interested in that stuff....... until I have a talk with you." (Rintaro)
"I've become a fan of Shidou-kun, too. I want to come back and eat your dishes." (Rei)
"You can't do that." (Rintaro)
I reject Otosaki's request with no time. She seems to have not expected me to refuse her once and for all, and her eyes widen in an incomprehension.
"Why?" (Rei)
"Why, you ask? You're...... a top idol, you know? If someone sees you along with a man, it will be an instant scandal. You're not just a high school student anymore, am I right?." (Rintaro)
"That is...... that may be true, but..." (Rei)
"Your dreams might be shattered because of me. I can't take responsibility for that, and I absolutely don't want to. That's why we must not get involved outside of school as much as possible." (Rintaro)
"......" (Rei)
I don't care if Otosaki gets caught in a scandal, but if it's involving me, I doubt I'll be able to live in peace.
Even if I'm overly self-conscious, it'll be too late after something happened.
"Even today, I brought you here at high risk. I don't want to walk the tightrope any further." (Rintaro)
"...... I understand. Then, I'll put up with it." (Rei)
"Please do. It's for the sake of your idol career and for my peace of mind." (Rintaro)
She looks quite depressed, but I have to give her a stern talking-to to keep the conversation from going downhill.
I'm sure Otosaki just likes my food more than she should because she ate it when she was hungry. And surely she'll cool down after some time. A top idol will definitely never have trouble finding good food.
"Do you live around here?" (Rintaro)
"Yup...... It's about a thirty-minute walk from here." (Rei)
"That's a bit far....... Then I'll call you a cab, and you can go home by it. I can't take care of the fare, though." (Rintaro)
"Eeh......?" (Rei)
"Don't 'Eeh' me. You've got more money than me, so you don't need me to take care of the fare, right." (Rintaro)
"No, that's not what I mean." (Rei)
"No way, you aren't planning on staying, ain't you?" (Rintaro)
Otosaki nodded without saying a word.
I'm getting a headache. She, her crisis management skills are so lacking.
"I've just warned you about this! It's a big problem for an idol to stay at a man's house, even if no one finds out! Use your common sense!" (Rintaro)
"Ugh, ...... can't argue with that." (Rei)
"I know you're tired...... but you still have to go home." (Rintaro)
"I'm sorry. I'll listen to you." (Rei)
Why do I have to preach to my classmates?
Tired of wasting more calories, I order the cab on my smartphone.
After confirming that it'll come to my house in about ten minutes, I tell Otosaki just the same.
"Forget about today. I'll forget about it too. We're just classmates who know each other pretty well." (Rintaro)
"......by all means?" (Rei)
"By all means." (Rintaro)
"I understand. I'll try." (Rei)
I don't want you to do it as a try, but———— Well, she seems to be feeling sorry for herself, so I won't say anything more strongly.
When I check outside the window, I see that a cab is just arriving.
I'll send her until the front door. There's a possibility that other residents will see us if I do beyond that.
".......Bye." (Rei)
"Yeah. I've got a lot more confidence now that......I've had you telling me it tastes delicious. So thank you for that......." (Rintaro)
"I'm also glad that Shidou-kun was so kind to me. So, although you said earlier that we were a classmate who knew each other well...... can you please at least forgive me if I regard you my friend." (Rei)
――――Is it not good?
Otosaki tilts her head somewhat uneasily and asks me this question.
If there's a man who can answer no to this question, I would like you to bring him in front of me.
"......I get it. We're a classmate after all. So it's not that unnatural." (Rintaro)
"Thank goodness. I'm happy." (Rei)
"I don't know what make you so happy about being friends with me....... Well, whatever. I'll see you at school." (Rintaro)
"Yup. See you at school." (Rei)
After saying that, Otosaki leaves my room.
Perhaps because she has gotten in, the cab that has been parked downstairs starts moving.
"Haa......" (Rintaro)
It has been an exhausting day, including work.
As I wash the dishes for the two of us, I think again about the events of the day.
It's not so bad to have someone else eat your food. It's even a good stimulus, but at the same time, I wish it will never happen again.
However, contrary to my wish, my peaceful life will be shattered the next day――――.
Act 1 - The Hungry Idol Part
1-3
My house is about a five-minute walk from the station.
It's a room in a five-story apartment building, and there's where I live now.
"You live alone?" (Rei)
"Well, I am. I've various circumstances." (Rintaro)
I open the door with the key and step inside with her on my back.
The room is a 1LDK with a separate living room and bedroom, and the rent is in the 40,000 yen range. The reason why I was able to rent such a cheap room in Tokyo was because of Yuzuki-sensei. (PTW/N: I don't know exactly, but I'm googling it and found it cost around 100000 yen, or 907.84 USD, per today rate, July 12, 2021)
Originally, the rent would have been a bit higher, but thanks to her provision of a rent allowance, the price has been reduced to an unbelievable level.
"For now, just sit on the couch and rest. You also can watch TV if you want." (Rintaro)
"Okay." (Rei)
I sit Otosaki down on the couch and take off her shoes. After taking them to the front door, I head for the kitchen, which is visible from the living room.
"I've decided I'll be using pork today, but do you have anything you want to eat? I can listen to some of your requests." (Rintaro)
"Then, ...... Shougayaki (Ginger fried pork)." (Rei)
"Hee, do you like it?" (Rintaro)
"Yup. Since I was a kid." (Rei)
"That's surprising....... Oh, well. I'll make Shougayaki, then." (Rintaro)
It's a relatively simple dish, thank goodness.
I take out the pork, onion, half of the cabbage, and a tube of ginger from the refrigerator and start to cook.
Although Shougayaki's a dish that I haven't done much research on, I'm confident that I won't make it unpalatable.
"......You're very skilled." (Rei)
"That's because I cook every day. I've even ever made Shougayaki once or twice." (Rintaro)
"I don't really have an image of boys doing that. Why do you cook every day?" (Rei)
"For saving money. I earn all my living expenses by myself. And also for the sake of my future wife." (Rintaro)
"For your future wife?" (Rei)
"Yes. My goal is to become a full-time househusband. My dream is to cook dishes for my hard-working wife with proper consideration for taste and health." (Rintaro)
This plan of mine is going well.
I've been studying cooking every day, making menu books, improving my cleaning and laundry techniques, and since last year, I've been keeping a household budget.
I'm confident that even if I have a wife at this moment, I can satisfy her. The only problem is that I haven't met a girlfriend that'll be my wife.
Well, I don't expect to find one while I'm still in high school, and I plan to start looking for one around the time I graduate from college, when I can meet someone who already has a regular job.
"Sorry, but you'll have to put up with the retort for white rice. I was actually going to cook it, but I think your stomach has reached its limit, am I right?" (Rintaro)
"Mmn......Thanks for your concern." (Rei)
"I mean, you have a manager or something, right? Then why didn't you just ask them for some dinner before you left for home?" (Rintaro)
"I was trying to look good. I'm an idol, you know, I shouldn't be seen as a glutton." (Rei)
"Can't you at least show it to your people......? Well, I understand that you live your life with obsession." (Rintaro)
"Shidou-kun, you live a life with obsession too?" (Rei)
"Well, I am. Here it is." (Rintaro)
In the meantime, the Shougayaki is completed. The fragrant smell of soy sauce and ginger tickle my appetite, and I praise myself for my great work.
I place a bowl of white rice, which has just finished heating, on the table in front of Otosaki, along with my own.
"It smells better than any Shougayaki I've ever had......." (Rei)
"Thank you then. Eat it before it gets cold." (Rintaro)
"Let's dig in......!" (Rei)
I watch her with some nervousness as Otosaki puts the Shougayaki in her mouth.
To be honest, I've not been blessed with many opportunities to have my food eaten by others.
Although Yukio had eaten my food several times, this's the first time I'm cooking for a girl.
I have seasoned it for a man's taste, but is it too much for her, I'm worried————, but her words echo as if to dispel my worries.
"Delicious.......!" (Rei)
I feel my body loosen up in an unusual way.
I can't help but smile at how nervous I seemed to be a while ago.
"That so...... I'm relieved." (Rintaro)
"It's the best I've ever tasted. No doubt about it." (Rei)
"I think that's a bit of an exaggeration, but ...... I don't feel bad about the praise." (Rintaro)
I take a bite of it myself, and although it's the same as usual, it's certainly delicious. I've gotten better at cooking. I feel like making a smug face.
"Can I have second." (Rei)
"Well, that's okay,...... but it's retort anyway." (Rintaro)
I take the bowl and heat up another bowl of rice. After receiving it, Otosaki resumes eating at the same pace as before. When I see her like that, I can understand why she's almost collapsed from hunger.
"...... Say, is being an idol fun?" (Rintaro)
"It is. It's been my dream since I was a kid." (Rei)
"Wow, that's amazing. So you've achieved your dream at this age?" (Rintaro)
"I have worked hard, and I also was lucky. Now I'm working even harder to not let go of the chance I got." (Rei)
She's a great girl. She lives in a different world from me, who doesn't want to work.
"Shidou-kun is also working hard for his dream. That's great too." (Rei)
"......Are you seriously think so?" (Rintaro)
"Yup......? I really am." (Rei)
I thought I would be ridiculed for wanting to be a full-time househusband.
That's why I didn't talk about it with anyone other than Yukio, whom I trusted, but when she unexpectedly complimented me on it, I couldn't help but feel caught off guard.
"I knew that no matter what the dream is, everyone who works hard to achieve it is an amazing person. I want to support those people, too." (Rei)
"......I think I become your fan for the first time today." (Rintaro)
"You've never been a fan before?" (Rei)
"To be honest, I wasn't really interested in that stuff....... until I have a talk with you." (Rintaro)
"I've become a fan of Shidou-kun, too. I want to come back and eat your dishes." (Rei)
"You can't do that." (Rintaro)
I reject Otosaki's request with no time. She seems to have not expected me to refuse her once and for all, and her eyes widen in an incomprehension.
"Why?" (Rei)
"Why, you ask? You're...... a top idol, you know? If someone sees you along with a man, it will be an instant scandal. You're not just a high school student anymore, am I right?." (Rintaro)
"That is...... that may be true, but..." (Rei)
"Your dreams might be shattered because of me. I can't take responsibility for that, and I absolutely don't want to. That's why we must not get involved outside of school as much as possible." (Rintaro)
"......" (Rei)
I don't care if Otosaki gets caught in a scandal, but if it's involving me, I doubt I'll be able to live in peace.
Even if I'm overly self-conscious, it'll be too late after something happened.
"Even today, I brought you here at high risk. I don't want to walk the tightrope any further." (Rintaro)
"...... I understand. Then, I'll put up with it." (Rei)
"Please do. It's for the sake of your idol career and for my peace of mind." (Rintaro)
She looks quite depressed, but I have to give her a stern talking-to to keep the conversation from going downhill.
I'm sure Otosaki just likes my food more than she should because she ate it when she was hungry. And surely she'll cool down after some time. A top idol will definitely never have trouble finding good food.
"Do you live around here?" (Rintaro)
"Yup...... It's about a thirty-minute walk from here." (Rei)
"That's a bit far....... Then I'll call you a cab, and you can go home by it. I can't take care of the fare, though." (Rintaro)
"Eeh......?" (Rei)
"Don't 'Eeh' me. You've got more money than me, so you don't need me to take care of the fare, right." (Rintaro)
"No, that's not what I mean." (Rei)
"No way, you aren't planning on staying, ain't you?" (Rintaro)
Otosaki nodded without saying a word.
I'm getting a headache. She, her crisis management skills are so lacking.
"I've just warned you about this! It's a big problem for an idol to stay at a man's house, even if no one finds out! Use your common sense!" (Rintaro)
"Ugh, ...... can't argue with that." (Rei)
"I know you're tired...... but you still have to go home." (Rintaro)
"I'm sorry. I'll listen to you." (Rei)
Why do I have to preach to my classmates?
Tired of wasting more calories, I order the cab on my smartphone.
After confirming that it'll come to my house in about ten minutes, I tell Otosaki just the same.
"Forget about today. I'll forget about it too. We're just classmates who know each other pretty well." (Rintaro)
"......by all means?" (Rei)
"By all means." (Rintaro)
"I understand. I'll try." (Rei)
I don't want you to do it as a try, but———— Well, she seems to be feeling sorry for herself, so I won't say anything more strongly.
When I check outside the window, I see that a cab is just arriving.
I'll send her until the front door. There's a possibility that other residents will see us if I do beyond that.
".......Bye." (Rei)
"Yeah. I've got a lot more confidence now that......I've had you telling me it tastes delicious. So thank you for that......." (Rintaro)
"I'm also glad that Shidou-kun was so kind to me. So, although you said earlier that we were a classmate who knew each other well...... can you please at least forgive me if I regard you my friend." (Rei)
――――Is it not good?
Otosaki tilts her head somewhat uneasily and asks me this question.
If there's a man who can answer no to this question, I would like you to bring him in front of me.
"......I get it. We're a classmate after all. So it's not that unnatural." (Rintaro)
"Thank goodness. I'm happy." (Rei)
"I don't know what make you so happy about being friends with me....... Well, whatever. I'll see you at school." (Rintaro)
"Yup. See you at school." (Rei)
After saying that, Otosaki leaves my room.
Perhaps because she has gotten in, the cab that has been parked downstairs starts moving.
"Haa......" (Rintaro)
It has been an exhausting day, including work.
As I wash the dishes for the two of us, I think again about the events of the day.
It's not so bad to have someone else eat your food. It's even a good stimulus, but at the same time, I wish it will never happen again.
However, contrary to my wish, my peaceful life will be shattered the next day――――.
