Gogaku Ryuugaku ni Kita Hazu no Kizoku Reijou, Naze ka Hanayome Shugyou Bakari Shite iru Chapter 1
In the second-year high school classroom, during homeroom after the opening ceremony—
“My name is Amelia Lily Stafford. I’m from England. Just call me Amelia.”
The beautiful girl, who looked like a fairy, introduced herself with a soft, bell-like voice.
Her shiny silver hair sparkled under the morning sunlight.
The transfer student looked around the whole classroom with her bright blue eyes that sparkled like gems.
After talking about basic things like her hobbies and skills, she started answering questions.
'What Japanese food do you like?'
'What do people in England think about Japan?'
She answered those simple questions in pretty good Japanese, even though she had a bit of an accent.
Then someone asked—
'Why did you choose to study in Japan? What made you interested?'
Hearing that, the transfer student, who had been speaking smoothly before, suddenly paused.
Then she gave a small smile and looked at me—Kudou Souta.
...This girl.
“That guy over there, Souta—he was my classmate in England.”
Everyone looked at me all at once.
It was already known that I had studied in England last year.
“After spending time with him, I got interested in Japan. That’s why I came.”
Then the transfer student gave a playful smile.
“Right now, I’m living at his house. So, you could say... we’re under the same roof.”
We really are living together.
For some reason, she made sure to say that clearly.
“Nice to meet you all.”
The transfer student—Lily—looked straight at me and winked. Then she sat down in the seat next to mine.
As soon as homeroom ended, people rushed over to us. My classmates started asking tons of questions.
“Living together?! What do you mean?!”
“Are you two a couple?!”
“Did she chase after you from England?!”
“How did you two first meet?”
“So you’re in an international long-distance relationship?!”
“Uh, ah, wait—calm down, everyone...”
While I tried to calm everyone down, I glanced at Lily. My eyes were telling her 'You explain it.'
Lily gave a big nod like she got the message.
“I’ll leave everything... to your imagination.”
She just added more fuel to the fire.
What is she planning...?
※※※
One month ago—
My mom suddenly said to me,
“Souta, what would you think if a foreign exchange student came to stay at our house?”
“Huh? Well, I don’t really mind...”
Six months ago, I studied abroad in England. Even though I stayed in a dorm, I could speak English well. So, it wasn’t strange for our house to be chosen for a homestay.
“But, I guess it depends on the person too.”
Living together in a homestay means sharing a house. Of course, I wouldn’t want to live with someone annoying.
“Don’t worry, it won’t be a problem.”
My mom said with a big smile... or rather, a mischievous grin.
For some reason, I had a bad feeling about it.
“Because it’s someone you knew well while you were studying abroad.”
“Oh, I see.”
In other words, it had to be one of the friends I made back then.
Suddenly, a certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl popped into my mind. Her name was Mary. She liked Japanese culture—or more accurately, anime—and always asked me about Japanese subculture. She even said she wanted to visit Japan someday.
“Wait, is it a girl?”
“Wow, you catch on fast.”
My mom’s smile grew even wider. Don’t tell me she misunderstood and thought we were dating? It’s true we were close, but we didn’t have that kind of relationship.
“It’s not what you think, okay?”
“Gosh, you really are a shy one.”
My mom looked super happy. For some reason, she seemed really confident about it.
Looking back, I should have noticed something was off at that point.
Then, a few days before the new school year began—
The person who showed up at the airport was a beautiful silver-haired girl.
『Long time no see... huh.』
[TLN: Lines in 『』 mean the character is speaking in English.]
The one who appeared with an awkward look on her face was Amelia Lily Stafford. She was the daughter of a noble family, my friend during my time abroad—someone I ended up parting ways with after we had a fight.
※※※
I first met Amelia Lily Stafford at the school where I studied abroad.
Her shiny silver hair, her clear blue eyes. A beautiful face like a fairy. Her white, smooth skin like porcelain, and a perfectly balanced figure like a Greek statue.
There were many pretty girls in England, but Amelia was one of the most beautiful. Still, there was something different about her. She always seemed distant, like a lonely noble princess who kept her distance from others.
Because of that, people called her the 'Ice Princess.' The nickname suited her well, since she really was a noble from a high-class family. The boarding school I went to had a lot of rich kids, but even among them, Amelia stood out.
She was a high-spec beauty—with stunning looks, a smart brain, and great athletic ability.
Of course, I didn’t become friends with her right away.
The first girl who became friends with me was a otaku named Mary. And Mary was friends with Lily. Through Mary, I got to know Lily.
From then on, I started spending more time with Lily. Sometimes I’d ask her to show me around the city, and sometimes she was the one who invited me out.
One day, she asked me to call her 'Lily' instead of 'Amelia.'
At that time, only Mary and her family called her by that nickname.
And that’s how I became best friends with a noble girl—Lily.
Then why did we end up fighting and parting ways??
It’s kind of hard to explain. Even now, I still don’t really understand why Lily got so mad.
If I remember correctly... right after I told her I’d be going back to Japan, she suddenly got upset.
She said I never told her.
But I definitely said during our first class introduction that I was only studying abroad for a year. Lily was there too. So how could she not know...
Lily often assumes things. Maybe she just decided in her head that I would stay in England forever.
Then she tried to convince me to stay in England.
She said I should go to college there, and that she would even pay for my tuition and help me get a job through her father’s connections...
It was a tempting offer, but there’s no way I could let a friend go that far for me. So I politely turned her down.
But then, Lily exploded.
Liar. Fake. Mama’s boy. Stupid. Idiot. Just disappear!
She threw all kinds of insults at me.
No one likes being talked to like that. So I snapped back.
“Stop being so selfish!”
Maybe I also let out some of the irritation I had been holding in.
And the argument got worse...
“I don’t want to see you again! We’re done! I hate you! Go back to Japan or wherever, just don’t ever show your face to me again!”
“Ah, I see. Alright then. I guess we won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
And just like that, we parted ways in a fight.
Later, I regretted it and thought about apologizing, but I didn’t feel like I had the right to apologize first.
So I didn’t contact her again.
And Lily never contacted me either.
But somehow, Lily—the girl I thought I’d never see again—came to my house for a homestay.
“Here’s your room, Amelia-chan. How’s the furniture? Do you think it’ll all fit?”
“It’s fine. I didn’t bring that much stuff.”
And what surprised me even more—she could speak Japanese now.
Her accent was still a little off, but she could hold a conversation smoothly.
Back then, she only knew a few words like “sushi,” “katsukare,” “ramen”...
“Okay then, I’m off to do some shopping. You two have fun... just kidding, hehe.”
My mom left the house in a cheerful mood.
Now it was just me and Lily.
I couldn’t help but glance at her... and by chance, our eyes met.
『W-What is it...?』
Lily seemed awkward too. She just stared at me.
Well, it made sense, since she’s the one who told me never to show my face to her again.
『Umm, Lily. Why did you come to Japan?』
The mood was getting more and more awkward, so I decided to ask her.
Lily’s expression suddenly lit up, like she was happy I asked. She looked at me shyly. Her face turned a little red.
Then, with lips that moved in a teasing way, she answered in Japanese—
“To... learn... how to be a wife.”
※※※
[Lily's POV]
My name is Amelia Lily Stafford, and I have a boyfriend.
His name is Kudou Souta, a high school boy from Japan.
At first, I wasn’t interested in him, but after he got close with Mary—my best friend—we started talking more often.
When I spoke with him (even though his English was so terrible that it was almost painful to hear), surprisingly, we got along really well.
He told me that he could play tennis, so we played together once and had a heated match.
I took him to the British Museum since he’d never been there, and he listened to my explanations with great interest.
He asked me to teach him English, so I decided to tutor him every day after school.
We went to the movies together.
We went to an amusement park together.
We even climbed a mountain together.
I felt happy whenever I was with him.
And then, I fell in love with him.
That’s why I asked him to call me 'Lily.' I also told him that only my family and Mary call me Lily.
He looked surprised, but he said, 'Alright, I got it,' and started calling me Lily.
That’s how we became a couple.
Of course, just because we started dating doesn’t mean things changed dramatically.
I was too embarrassed to tell him directly that I liked him...
Even holding hands felt awkward...
Kissing? That’s way too indecent for unmarried teenagers. But still, I felt like we understood each other’s feelings.
I hoped he would stay with me in England.
I hoped he would marry me...
But then, it happened—
During summer break, I invited him to the beach with my family.
I wanted to introduce him to my family.
I wanted to show off my swimsuit.
I had lots of plans... and maybe even something a little daring.
But he said he couldn’t go because he was busy preparing to return to his home country.
I was the one who invited him, and he couldn’t come...?
Return to his home country?
Where? Don’t tell me... Japan?
So all this time, he already planned on going back?
Even though I’m his girlfriend!
I desperately tried to stop him, but he insisted he had to go back because his parents were worried.
So... his parents are more important than me, his girlfriend?
Was our relationship just a game to him?
I had already told my parents and siblings proudly that I had a boyfriend.
I was planning to introduce him to them!
I got angry and said some terrible things to him. And then he got mad too.
It was the first time he’d ever gotten angry with me, so I was shocked.
Even though I was scared to say it, I told him we were over.
I thought he would give in like usual. But instead, he coldly said,
“Ah, I see. Alright then. I guess we won’t be seeing each other anymore.”
And just like that, we broke up during an argument.
At first, I didn’t think it was that serious. I thought Souta would come apologize to me, so I waited.
I kept waiting for him to say sorry, but he really did return to Japan.
Little by little, the sadness grew stronger than the anger. I wanted to see him again. But since I told him never to show his face again, I couldn’t ask him to come to England.
After thinking things through, I came up with a brilliant idea.
'Then I’ll be the one to go to Japan.'
I started learning Japanese and at the same time began preparing to transfer to his school.
I decided I would stay at his house for a homestay.
...Living in a stranger’s home was a little scary.
Luckily, when I told his mom that I was his girlfriend, she agreed right away.
But I couldn’t contact Souta.
At the very least, I wanted to tell him about the homestay plan.
That’s what I thought, but time passed, and before I knew it, the day 'I arrived' had come.
『Long time no see... huh.』
『Ah, y-yeah, long time no see.』
I met him for the first time in a while, and he was just as handsome as I remembered.
But he looked confused.
Of course—he didn’t know I was coming.
『Umm, Lily. Why did you come to Japan?』
Fortunately, he wasn’t angry and talked to me like usual.
I could’ve lied and said I came to study abroad, but I decided to be honest.
The reason I came to Japan was...
“To... learn... how to be a wife.”
To become his wife, I came to learn Japanese, Japanese culture, and homemaking skills.
So that I could make him fall for me so much, he couldn’t live without me.
And then, I’ll take him back to England with me.
※※※
[Souta's POV]
learn how to be a wife.?!
From what I know, in Japan, when a woman is said to be learning to be a wife,' it usually refers to learning things like housework, manners, and so on before marriage.
But Lily is still a high school girl. It feels way too early for her to be doing that, and it’s not something she’d need to do just because she came to Japan.
Besides, is 'bride training' even a thing in British culture...?
No, wait a minute.
Lily may look like this, but she’s actually a noble’s daughter. Could it be she already has a fiancé? Maybe he’s some distinguished Japanese guy?
No... I don’t think that’s the case.
Maybe, Lily just misunderstood something—or someone gave her the wrong information.
There’s one person I know who would casually throw around random Japanese words just for fun.
Mary. She probably said something as a joke. And since Lily is such an innocent girl, she believed it completely.
Maybe what she meant wasn’t literally “learning to be a wife,” but more like “studying Japanese culture.”
That’s what I told myself, trying to feel reassured.
『I see, well, I’ll be cheering for you.』
“Yes, I’ll do my best. Please look forward to it.”
Lily replied in Japanese with a satisfied expression.
No, but still...
『Your Japanese is pretty good.』
Her language skills were so solid that she wouldn’t have any trouble with everyday conversation.
Her pronunciation was still a little shaky, and there was an awkwardness to her speech, but... it was more than understandable.
“Really? Am I speaking properly?”
I gave Lily a big nod as she smiled happily.
『Yeah, people would probably believe it if you told them you were raised in Japan.』
“I’ve worked really hard for this.”
When I praised her, Lily puffed out her chest proudly.
Honestly, becoming this fluent in just six months couldn’t have been easy. She must have put in a ton of effort. But... what made her go that far?
“Please try to speak Japanese, not English. I’ll do my best to speak in Japanese too.”
“Alright, I’ll try to speak in Japanese. Let me know if I say something that’s hard to understand.”
“Okay.”
Now then, we couldn’t just stand around talking all day.
We had to finish moving everything in as soon as possible.
“For now, let’s get your stuff moved first.”
“Okay. Thank you very much.”
First, we moved the larger items... and assembled the furniture she had ordered online.
We worked together to put together her bed, bookshelf, and study desk.
After that, I carried in some cardboard boxes with her personal belongings—but surprisingly, there weren’t that many. I always assumed girls brought tons of clothes and stuff like that...
“That’s all?”
“Just the bare essentials... 『I thought it’d be better to buy clothes in Japan, so I brought as little as possible』”
Lily explained, mixing Japanese and English.
“I see. So... which one should we open first? Or should I not help with this part?”
Even though we were getting closer, I still felt awkward going through her personal belongings.
There weren’t many, so maybe it was best to let Lily handle them herself.
“In that case, please open that one. I’ll take care of this box.”
“Alright.”
I opened the cardboard box she pointed at.
Inside were a few thin pieces of cloth neatly folded.
Maybe handkerchiefs?
Thinking that, I unfolded one with both hands—
It turned out to be a sexy-looking nightgown.
The lingerie was somewhat see-through and had a rather mature design. This must be what they call a 'victory pair of panties.'
I quickly closed the box again.
“What is it?”
Lily asked with a small grin.
“N-No, it’s nothing.”
Geez, Lily...
Does she normally wear sexy underwear like that? Or is that just how Westerners are?
But still, why would she bring something like that to her new place? She doesn’t need it, right?
What’s she planning to do with it? Who is she planning to show it to?
Trying not to show what I was thinking on my face, I quickly looked away.
※※※
『Souta, what do you think? Does this look good on me?』
『L-Lily!?』
Lily appeared in front of me, wearing a sexy nightgown.
The thin fabric, decorated with ribbons and lace, looked elegant—but also incredibly seductive.
Her pale skin could be seen faintly through the soft blue cloth.
『H-Hey, Lily… W-What are you trying to do!?』
I instinctively stepped back.
Lily walked up to me and gently placed her hand on my shoulder. Then, she whispered softly near my ear—
“learning to be a wife.”
※※※
“...Just a dream, huh.”
And with that, I woke up.
Judging from the morning sunlight and the fact that I was in bed, I realized that everything that happened earlier had just been a dream.
I reflexively touched my forehead.
“Man, what kind of dream was that...”
I usually never dream about things like that. It must be Lily’s presence in the house that’s making me act weird.
Looks like it'll take some time for me to get used to this.
I stretched my body a little and got out of bed.
After brushing my teeth and washing my face, I headed to the dining room.
“Time to flip it. Be careful, okay?”
“O-Okay. Uu, th-this is...”
“It’s fine, it’s fine. You can still fix it. As long as it looks good in the end, everything will be okay.”
“R-Really?”
“Worst case, it’ll end up in your stomach anyway.”
“You’re right!”
In the kitchen, Mom and Lily were cooking together. It looked like Lily was learning how to cook from my mom.
In our household, we share the chores. Lily would gradually start helping too, once she got used to living here. Today must be her practice day.
『Uu... It's all messy. This is my fault...』
“It’s fine. Souta will eat it without complaining.”
“B-But...”
“Good morning.”
When I greeted them, Lily flinched slightly.
Meanwhile, my mom widened her eyes.
“Oh... So you’ve already changed clothes, huh?”
“Uh, yeah... Is breakfast ready?”
“Yep, it just finished. Right?”
“Y-Yeah... I-It is...”
Lily looked a little apologetic as she handed me something that looked like dashi tamago.
It looked like a cross between scrambled eggs and rolled omelette.
Even though it didn’t look great...What really matters is the taste.
She made it together with my mom, so there’s no way it would taste weird.
“Thanks.”
I took the rolled egg and sat down.
Aside from the rolled egg, the rest of breakfast was already on the table.
“““Thanks for the meal!”””
The three of us began eating breakfast together.
Normally, I would start with a sip of miso soup, but this time, Lily kept staring at me. After that dream this morning, her gaze made me feel awkward...
I should start with her rolled egg.
I picked up a piece with my chopsticks and put it in my mouth.
The salty and sweet flavors were just right, and the aroma of the broth tickled my nose.
“...How is it?”
“It’s good. Didn’t you do a great job for your first time?”
The seasoning wasn’t that different from my mom’s version.
...Well, they measured it together after all.
『R-Really? Hehe, of course I did.』
Lily looked relieved after hearing my words and proudly smiled again.
Then, she finally started eating her own food.
With practiced movements, she carefully separated the fried fish meat. Just like at dinner last night, she used her chopsticks with impressive skill.
Maybe she practiced using chopsticks like she practiced Japanese?
“But Lily-chan, you did really well for your first time cooking. You even used the measuring spoons properly.”
“I’ve made light desserts before.”
Ah, that’s right. Back when she was in England, she made sweets for me once. She also made homemade-looking sandwiches when we went out together during a holiday.
Seems like she’s good at making light snacks and desserts.
“Wow, really? Then can I ask you to make some next time?”
“Sure, leave it to me, Mother.”
Mother.
Since last night, Lily had been calling my mom 'Mother.'
It all started when my mom joked, 'As your foster mother, you can call me Mother.'
And apparently, Lily took that seriously.
At the same time, she asked my mom to call her Lily instead of Amelia. It took me half a year to get used to calling her Lily myself.
Somehow, that made me feel a little complicated.
“““Thanks for the food!”””
After we finished eating, it was time to do the dishes.
Even though we had a schedule for dishwashing, our family had a tradition of doing it together. Mom and I usually split the tasks—one washed, the other dried.
“I want to help too.”
“Oh my, really? Lily-chan, you must be busy adjusting to life in Japan, so you don’t have to force yourself to help with the dishes...”
There’s probably still a lot she needs to learn, so housework could wait.
But Lily shook her head firmly after hearing Mom’s words.
“This is part of my wife training.”
Mom’s eyes widened at Lily’s words.
Then, she nodded in understanding and smiled warmly.
“Ah, I see! Alright then! Lily-chan, let’s wash the dishes together!”
It seemed like Mom understood what Lily meant. Is she a mind reader or something?
“Okay then, Lily-chan, put on this apron and stand over there.”
“Okay.”
Lily quickly put on the apron, rolled up her sleeves, and grabbed a sponge to start washing the dishes.
But then, she tilted her head in confusion. Looks like she wasn’t sure how to start washing.
“Mother, I have a question.”
“What is it?”
“How do you wash dishes?”
Even though she could cook, it seemed Lily had never washed dishes before...
Ah, maybe she used to rely on the maids at her house for that stuff.
“Hmm, let’s see. First, rinse them with water...”
Although my mom looked a little puzzled, she began teaching Lily how to wash dishes.
Though Lily’s movements were still a bit stiff, she managed to clean the dishes properly. She’s quick at learning, so I’m sure she’ll get the hang of it in no time.
“Souta.”
After I finished drying the last plate, Lily called out to me.
“Yeah?”
“I’ll work hard on my ‘wife training.’ Please look forward to it.”
“Eh, yeah...? Alright then...”
Does she not need to study Japanese anymore?
※※※
After finishing breakfast and seeing my mom off to work, we headed out.
Today was the first day of school after spring break.
Needless to say, Lily would also be attending the same school as me.
“...By the way, Souta.”
“Yeah?”
“What do you think? Does this suit me?”
Lily asked me with an upward glance.
Suddenly, the dream I had this morning flashed through my mind. But unlike in that dream, this time Lily was wearing a sailor-style school uniform.
Schools in England usually go with blazers and ties, so her appearance now felt kind of fresh.
“That uniform looks great on you.”
When a beautiful, non-Japanese girl like Lily—who actually is 'non-Japanese' wears something ordinary like a school uniform, it somehow becomes stylish.
“I see. I just hope it doesn’t look weird.”
“It doesn’t look weird at all. 『You actually look really cute.』”
『I-I look cute...!?』
My words made Lily open her eyes wide in surprise.
Her pale face instantly turned red.
『I didn’t ask you to go that far!』
Lily shouted, turning her face away.
It looked like I’d made her mad. Even though she’d sulk if she didn’t get complimented...
※※※
While chatting like that, we headed off to school.
Luckily, we ended up in the same class.
And so, the self-introductions for the new school year began...
Because Lily openly said that she was living with me, she ended up dealing with all sorts of trouble.
During lunch break—
“This is delicious. It tastes better than the ones I had in England.”
Lily said with a satisfied look while eating her katsu curry.
Apparently, Japanese katsu curry is also popular in England.
She had eaten it there before... or rather, we had gone to eat it together, and she really liked it.
So after coming to Japan, she wanted to try authentic Japanese katsu curry.
“By the way, Souta.”
“Yeah?”
“Wanna swap?”
Lily had chosen chicken katsu.
In England, chicken katsu is way more common than pork katsu. That’s probably why she went with the chicken—something she’s used to.
“Sure.”
I took a piece of pork katsu from my plate and placed it on hers. She also gave me a piece of her chicken katsu in return.
“How’s the pork katsu, Lily?”
“It’s good. But...”
“But?”
“I still prefer chicken.”
Looks like Lily enjoys the familiar taste of chicken katsu more.
That said, this was katsu served with curry.
Lily still hadn’t tried pork katsu with sauce, served alongside shredded cabbage.
I’ll have to introduce her to that next time.
“Thanks for the meal.”
Lily had finished all her katsu curry cleanly, but her face looked just a little unsatisfied.
She looked happy while eating, so the taste probably wasn’t the issue—it was the portion size.
She may look small and delicate, but Lily actually has a big appetite. A typical Japanese medium-sized meal just isn't enough for her.
“By the way, Lily... why did you say something like that this morning?”
“Something like what?”
“About us living together... Wouldn't it have been better if you didn’t mention it? And then you even said, ‘I’ll leave the everything to your imagination’... Doesn’t that basically make us sound like a couple?”
Thanks to that, our classmates started thinking we were actually dating.
They assumed that Lily—the beautiful girl from England—came all the way to Japan to chase after her boyfriend.
“Is that a problem?”
“Well, not really... But are you okay with it? Won’t people start talking about you?”
I don’t have anyone I like, so I’m fine even if people get the wrong idea.
But I wondered if Lily didn’t mind being thought of as my girlfriend. If it were just a normal girl, maybe it wouldn’t matter, but Lily is a noble’s daughter. Wouldn’t that be a scandal?
“I don’t mind. 『Because it keeps away the creepy bugs that try to get close.』”
“Ah, I see.”
So in short, it was to keep other guys away.
Back in England, Lily would often get approached by boys too.
By acting like she already had a boyfriend, she could avoid confessions or guys hitting on her for no reason.
“I have to be careful of thief cats.”
...Thief cats?
As far as I know, 'thief cat' usually refers to a girl who steals someone else’s boyfriend.
But the ones Lily needs to watch out for aren’t thief cats—it’s the 'big bad wolves' trying to go after girls like her.
I wanted to correct her, but seeing the satisfied look on her face, I decided not to.
I used to overuse English phrases I had just learned too.
She’s probably going through that phase right now. So maybe I should just let her be for now.
※※※
The afternoon classes were spent deciding on class officers and helping everyone loosen up a bit, and eventually, the school bell rang to mark the end of the day.
It was finally time for club activities.
“Alright then, Souta. Let’s go to the tennis club!”
Lily said, already carrying her tennis racket like she was totally prepared.
I was a member of the tennis club.
When I told her that last night, she immediately said she wanted to join too.
Apparently, she brought her tennis racket all the way from England.
“Ah, right... About the changing room, what should we do?”
Of course, I couldn't just let her into the girls’ changing room.
There weren’t any strict rules or anything, but I felt uneasy letting her handle it alone without any explanation.
I should probably ask one of the other girls to help her.
Just as I was thinking that...
“Hey there, Souta! So, your girlfriend’s joining the tennis club too?”
A classmate of mine came up and threw her arm around my shoulder.
She was a cheerful girl with medium-length black hair and a bright smile.
Her slightly short skirt gave her uniform a fashionable look.
“Let go of me, Misato. And she’s not my girlfriend.”
Her name was Kasai Misato.
She was practically like family, and also considered the prettiest girl in school—
Well, at least until Lily transferred here.
“Eh? I heard Souta’s girlfriend came to stay with him. Isn’t that her? She even introduced herself earlier.”
“That’s just a misunderstanding.”
I glanced at Lily’s face as I said that.
I thought she’d be mad about being mistaken as my girlfriend, but she didn’t show any reaction.
If anything, she just looked a bit confused.
Maybe she didn’t understand that 'kanojo' meant 'girlfriend.'
In Japanese, 'kanojo' can also just mean 'she' or 'her.'
“Lily. This is Kasai Misato. She’s... a friend.”
They already introduced themselves in class, but I decided to formally introduce them again.
Misato let go of my shoulder and stepped closer to Lily.
“Calling me a friend makes it sound like I’m just some stranger. I’m Kasai Misato. You can just call me Misato. Hmm... Can I call you Lily-chan?”
Misato’s overly friendly approach seemed to bother Lily a little.
She furrowed her eyebrows slightly.
“My name is Amelia Lily Stafford. Call me Amelia. Amelia, okay.”
“Ohh, I see. Got it! Nice to meet you, Amelia-chan!”
Misato smiled playfully, then nudged me with her elbow.
"Huh? She lets you call her by her middle name? I thought you two were super close. ...Are you really saying she's not your girlfriend?"
“Well, we are close, but...”
『Shall we go now?』
Lily cut in with a slightly irritated tone while Misato and I were talking.
...Come to think of it, Misato is in the girls' tennis club too.
“Hey Misato, can I ask you to take Lily to the changing room? You’ve got club activities now too, right?”
“Of course! No problem! Alright then, Amelia-chan, let’s go!”
“...Alright.”
Lily glanced at me with a somewhat lonely expression before following behind Misato with her shoulders slightly slumped.
Maybe she was feeling uneasy about being separated from me.
But relying on me too much wouldn’t be good either.
Besides, even if she wasn’t as fluent as I was, Misato could speak English fairly well.
So, there shouldn't be any problem.
After sending Lily off, I headed to the boys’ changing room.
※※※
[Misato's POV]
I, Kasai Misato, was escorting the famously beautiful exchange student, Amelia-chan, to the girls’ changing room.
『This is the changing room. You can use it during P.E. or whenever you need to change clothes. Your locker number matches your student number, so don’t get it mixed up. Since there’s no lock, if you don’t want your things stolen, you’ll need to bring your own padlock.』
When I explained this to Amelia-chan in English, she gave me a small nod.
Then she glanced around and opened the locker that matched her student number.
Looks like I managed to get the message across properly.
『Go ahead and change quickly.』
“Alright.”
Amelia-chan replied in fairly fluent Japanese, though it still sounded a little stiff. That only made her seem even cuter.
Even though I’m a perfectly normal girl, I still felt a small flutter in my chest.
No wonder all the boys were so interested in her.
“Wow, your legs are so slender... 『You’ve got such a nice figure!』”
Her chest and hips were generous, her waist so slim it looked like it could snap at any moment.
But what stood out the most were her incredibly long, slender legs.
Her figure was nothing like the average Japanese girl’s.
『...Please, don’t stare at me too much.』
Amelia-chan shyly covered her body with both hands after hearing what I said. Her fair skin gradually turned a rosy shade of red.
...How cute.
『Hey, can I ask you something, Amelia-chan?』
“Just speak in Japanese, please.”
“Alright. Let me know if there’s anything you don’t understand! So, why did you come to Japan, Amelia-chan?”
'Did you come here to chase after Souta?' When I asked that with the intention of teasing her, Amelia-chan answered without hesitation and in a loud, clear voice.
“It’s training to become a wife.”
Her answer was completely beyond my expectations.
For some reason, Amelia-chan had a triumphant look on her face, while I was left speechless.
“And you? What kind of relationship do you have with Souta?”
Amelia-chan asked me in a slightly mocking tone — even though I was taller than her, she looked at me like she was speaking from above. But if you looked closer, there was a trace of anxiety in her eyes.
This time, I’ll tease her for real.
“We’re pretty close. More than just friends.”
“He-Hehhh, I see.”
“Especially since we’ve taken a bath together before.”
Upon hearing my words, Amelia-chan’s eyes went wide.
『Eh? Hah...!? What did you just say!?』
『The two of us have bathed together before.』
Amelia-chan’s face instantly turned bright red. She was so shocked that she accidentally slipped into English.
...How cute.
『Just kidding. That only happened when I was nine years old. Now, we’re just friends. Yeah, just friends.』
Yes, my special connection with Souta only lasted until back then. Now, we’re nothing more than ordinary friends. Even so, I’m sure I know Souta better than this girl does. After all, I’ve known him since he was a baby.
It seems my calm demeanor got through to her just fine.
『Right now, I’m living with him.』
Amelia-chan said that while glaring at me sharply.
Is this a declaration of war?
“H-Hmm... I see. 『Well, good luck with that.』”
I couldn’t hold back the laugh that escaped from my lips. I could feel the threatening aura from Amelia-chan growing stronger.
Interesting.
These days, Souta isn’t so easily teased anymore.
Alright then — starting today, I’ll have some fun playing with this girl.
※※※
[Souta's POV]
As I waited at the tennis court, Lily and Misato finally arrived.
“Alright, I’ll be going ahead. See you later.”
After saying that, Misato walked toward the court used by the girls’ tennis team.
When Misato was far enough away, Lily glanced at me and asked,
“Isn’t she a member of the tennis club?”
“Misato’s in the girls’ tennis team.”
“...And what’s the difference?”
Our school has three tennis groups: the boys’ tennis team, the girls’ tennis team, and the tennis club.
The club is for the 'casual' players, while the teams are for the 'serious' ones.
Since our school is a large integrated high school with good facilities, it’s possible to have this kind of division. On top of that, students can be registered in two clubs at once, and members of other teams can also join the tennis club.
“Hmm, I see.”
“If you’re interested in competing, you could join the girls’ tennis team, Lily. They’re pretty strong—especially Misato, she’s one of their aces. I’m sure she’d be a fun opponent for you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
Lily replied in a tone that didn’t sound all that interested. Apparently, she never joined competitions even back in England, so tennis was just a hobby for her.
“By the way, that uniform… is it yours, Lily?”
Lily was wearing a tennis uniform. But it wasn’t the girls’ tennis team’s uniform—the design was clearly different.
“Yeah. Well, what do you think? Does it suit me?”
She asked while holding the hem of her skirt.
The outfit showed off Lily’s nice figure—clearly accentuating her ample chest and slim waist. And those slender white legs peeking out from the short skirt were undeniably beautiful.
Now that I looked closer, her legs were really long…
“You look cute. And cool, too.”
When I praised her, Lily gave a small huff.
『Hmph, it’s not like I wore this for you.』
I knew Lily wouldn’t put on that uniform just for my sake.
“Come on, I’ll introduce you to the other club members.”
“Alright.”
I led Lily to where the tennis club usually gathered..Then, I gave her a brief introduction to the others.
Unlike the official teams, the atmosphere in the tennis club was much more relaxed. There were no formal meetings or anything like that.
We immediately did some stretches to loosen up, then started playing tennis.
I was fairly confident in my own skills, but Lily could keep up with me—or maybe she was even better.
“You’re still as strong as ever, huh.”
“Good thing you haven’t turned lousy either, Souta.”
While Lily and I were taking a break, we suddenly heard someone’s loud voice.
“Wow, Amelia-chan, you’re pretty good!”
Turning toward the voice, I saw a beautiful girl wearing the girls’ tennis team uniform standing there.
It was Misato.
She was indeed a member of the girls’ tennis team, but she often joined in with the tennis club as well.
Without us noticing, she must have been watching our match for a while now.
“Wanna play a match with me, Amelia-chan?”
Misato spoke with enthusiasm.
On top of being beautiful, Misato was also a skilled player—one of the star members of the girls’ tennis team who often appeared in tournaments.
Only a handful of players, myself included, could go toe-to-toe with her.
It was no wonder Misato was excited to find a female opponent of equal strength.
“...I’m playing with Souta right now.”
Lily’s reply was curt.
She’d been cheerful just moments ago, but now she was sulking.
“Oh, I see. Fair enough.”
Misato nodded in understanding at Lily’s answer.
Then, she smiled, with just a hint of mischief.
『It’s just, if you lost in front of Souta, you’d be embarrassed, wouldn’t you?』
I wouldn’t mind if Lily lost in front of me. That’s what I thought—but it seemed Lily was offended.
Her eyes narrowed, and she gave a challenging smile.
『Not a chance. But… are you sure about this?』
『What do you mean?』
『You’re one of the star players, right? If you lose to a newly arrived exchange student, that would be really embarrassing for you.』
Lily started provoking her in English. She really hated losing.
There was no way she’d just stay quiet when provoked like that.
And Misato, too…
“Haha! …Alright then, bring it on. I’ll make you cry if that’s what you want.”
Her face was smiling, but her eyes weren’t.
She was serious.
Seeing that look on her face… her angry expression really did resemble her mother’s.
“Did you two have a fight in the changing room or something?”
I asked Misato.
She just laughed brightly.
“It’s just a classic—fighting to deepen our friendship... right?”
“Ah, I see…”
Well, whatever. As long as Lily could interact with people other than me, that was good enough.
Though it’d be even better if they could actually get along.
※※※
The star player of the girls’ tennis team was going to face the exchange student.
Once the news spread, a crowd gathered, curious to see their match.
Maybe about 40% of them actually wanted to see Lily’s skills.And The rest—about 60% of those idiots—were probably just here to enjoy the sight of Lily and Misato in their tennis uniforms.
『You can serve first.』
“Oh? Are you sure? In that case, I’ll take the first point.”
Misato said with a smirk.
But Lily replied with a calm expression.
“Yes, because I am a noble.”
The origin of the word 'serve' in tennis comes from 'servant.'
The servant would hit the ball to their master, and the master would hit it back. That’s how tennis began—as a pastime for the nobility.
Lily wasn’t the type to brag about her noble status, but in this context, 'I’m a noble' roughly meant, 'I’m strong, so I’ll let you serve first.'
It seemed her jab had gotten through to Misato.
“Alright! Sorry, but I won’t be serving you any mercy!”
With that, Misato tossed the ball up and struck it with force. As expected from the ace of the girls’ tennis team.
Everyone probably thought that shot was unstoppable.
『Ha!』
But Lily returned it with ease.
Her counter shot looked even faster than the serve had been.
Misato couldn’t return it, and Lily scored the first point.
“Kugh…”
Misato’s face twisted in frustration. Meanwhile, Lily looked pleased.
『So this is the true strength of Japan’s ace? Not bad… but still weak.』
“...I’ll make you regret that.”
The calm expression vanished from Misato’s face.
Lily smirked and hit the ball again.
Misato returned it.
Lily returned it back.
Slowly, the smile faded from Lily’s face.
『Tch.』
Lily clicked her tongue in irritation.
Misato, who had just scored a point, smiled at her.
“Unlike the British, Japanese people don’t ‘serve’ to nobles like you.”
It seemed her jab had gotten through to Lily this time.
『...I’ll kill you.』
Lily’s expression turned deadly serious.
“Gyaaaah!”
『Haaaah!!』
The match heated up, their fighting spirit so intense it didn’t seem like they were girls at all.
This battle that carried the pride of their nations(?) grew fiercer and lasted longer.
And finally, in the fifth set…
『I win!!』
“I-I lost…”
Lily was the victor.
With an energetic stride, Lily ran straight toward me.
『Souta!! I won!! I dedicate this victory to you!!』
She said it to me, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.
I didn’t really mind if she wanted to dedicate her win to me.
『A-Ahh, yeah. Congrats… You’re amazing. I knew you’d win, Lily.』
Anyway, I made sure to praise her.
Lily beamed with joy.
She looked like a dog that had just been given a new toy.
『Give me a reward.』
『...A reward?』
For her to suddenly ask for a reward like that…
What am I even supposed to give her?
While I was wondering, Lily leaned her head toward me.
『Pat my head.』
『H-Huh? Well… alright.』
I did as she asked and gently patted her head. Although her beautiful silver hair was damp with sweat, it still shone and felt soft to the touch.
『He-Hmph.』
While I stroked her head, Lily glanced over at Misato. For some reason, her expression was full of pride.
Meanwhile, Misato just gave a bitter smile and walked over to us.
“I never thought I’d lose. Amelia-chan, you’re really amazing.”
『It’s all thanks to the strength of my feelings. I won’t lose to you.』
“Pfft, is that so...”
Lily’s vague reply made Misato laugh quietly. Maybe there was some inside joke between them that only the two of them understood...
“Let’s play again sometime. Next time, I won’t lose.”
Misato extended her hand to Lily.
Lily was surprised for a moment, but then she accepted Misato’s handshake.
『Yes, of course.』
Fighting really can deepen friendships, huh...
Well, that’s not a bad thing.
As I was about to leave school after club activities, I received a message from Misato.
It said: 'You’re such a playboy.'
I had no idea what she meant at all.
※※※
“My mom’s coming home late today, so I’ll be the one cooking dinner. What do you want to eat?”
On the way home, I asked Lily.
“Souta, you can cook?”
"Well, more or less."
Even so, I could only make simple, basic dishes.
I couldn’t help but wonder if my cooking would be good enough to satisfy the taste of a noble lady.
“I’m really looking forward to it.”
“Alright then, I’ll just make something simple.”
Once again, I asked Lily what she wanted to eat, and she answered, 'A Japanese home-cooked meal that you’re good at making.'
I guess tonight I’ll make yakisoba.
It’s not exactly a traditional Japanese dish, but it is considered a home-style meal in Japan. You can make it with ready-made ingredients, and all it really takes is flour, salt, and pepper.
※※※
Around seven in the evening.
After getting a message from my mom saying she’d be staying overnight at her office, I started making dinner.
My cooking skills weren’t anywhere near as good as my mom’s, but since it was a simple dish, I managed to finish it in about thirty minutes.
“This is delicious. I like how it tastes.”
Fortunately, Lily seemed to enjoy the yakisoba I made. If I remember right, she also liked fast food back in England. Maybe she’s the type who enjoys junk food.
“Souta, you’re actually a pretty decent cook.”
That 'pretty' part wasn’t necessary, you know.
...Well, the seasonings were already in the package anyway, so the credit really belongs to the company that made it, not me.
After eating and doing the dishes, I asked Lily,
“Who’s taking a bath first?”
Lily looked like she was thinking about my question for a moment. Then suddenly, her face turned bright red.
With a shy expression, she replied,
『U-Um… in that case, let’s bathe together…』
『…Bathe together?』
Did I hear that wrong?
When I asked back, Lily shook her head in a panic.
『It’s nothing… I can go after you.』
So, I went first.
Since Lily was waiting, I quickly washed myself.
After drying off with a towel, I was about to step out of the changing room…
“…That was close, I almost forgot.”
Right, Lily’s at my house today. I can’t just walk around naked.
After getting properly dressed, I left the changing room.
“Sorry for making you wait.”
“Mm.”
Lily entered the changing room after passing by me and closed the door.
A short while later, I thought I heard the sound of clothes being tossed aside…
But maybe it was just my imagination.
Even so, the image of Lily completely undressed suddenly popped into my mind…
…Stop. I shouldn’t be thinking about my housemate like that.
I sat down on the sofa and turned on the TV, trying to focus on something else instead of imagining strange things about Lily.
About ten minutes passed.
I heard the door to the changing room open.
“I’m done.”
“Good job…”
When I turned to look at Lily…
For some reason, I felt like my heart skipped a beat.
“What are you looking at?”
Lily was wearing pajamas that looked like a black nightgown. Or rather, it could be called a negligee.
It had a design that was both sweet and alluring, made of soft, silky black fabric adorned with elegant lace.
It’s the kind of thing Japanese girls would have trouble pulling off, but with Lily’s silver hair and blue eyes, it suited her perfectly.
She looked like a princess straight out of a fairy tale.
She definitely wasn’t wearing this last night…
“N-No, it’s nothing…”
I quickly averted my gaze in a fluster.
I couldn’t just say outright that she looked adorable.
“…? What are you looking at?”
“H-Hey.”
Lily seemed curious and started walking toward me. That’s when I noticed something.
Even though the design was graceful and cute, the negligee’s fabric was thin enough to give off a slightly see-through effect.
Because of that, I could faintly make out Lily’s flushed skin from her bath.
The V-neck lace at her collar revealed a graceful neckline.
Simply put, she looked… a bit erotic.
『Do you not understand what I’m asking? I’m asking what you’re looking at.』
Lily repeated herself in English.
I had no choice but to be honest…
『Umm, well, I think you look cute.』
『…Huh?』
『…That gown suits you really well. You look adorable… like a princess.』
I said that while turning my face away.
Even though I admitted it, Lily didn’t say anything back.
Did I actually make her mad?
I nervously glanced at her.
『…Umm, Lily?』
She stayed silent.
Her face was even redder than before, and her ears were as red as tomatoes.
『…Are you making fun of me?』
『Eh?』
『I was asking what you were watching on TV! I never said you should compliment me!』
Lily shouted while pointing at the TV.
A-Ahh, so that’s what she meant!
I thought she was mad because I kept staring at her.
『S-Sorry! I-I misunderstood. I thought you were mad because I was staring too much… But I wasn’t teasing you. I really meant it.』
『I-I see… In that case, it’s fine.』
Lily twirled her hair shyly after hearing what I said.
Guess she’s not actually mad…
『…So, what were you watching?』
『Ah, that… I was just watching some Japanese TV show.』
『Hmm… So, when does it end?』
『Eh? Hmm, maybe in about thirty minutes. Why? Is there something you want to watch?』
Lily shook her head at my question.
『No, it’s nothing… After you’re done, I have something I need to do. Is that okay?』
『It’s fine. We can do it now if you want.』
I turned off the TV.
Lily gave me a curious look.
『You’re not going to keep watching?』
『I was only watching to kill time.』
『…I see.』
Hearing that, a faint smile appeared on Lily’s face.
She seemed pleased.
“So, what is it you wanted to do?”
I asked in Japanese.
Lily also answered in Japanese.
“Help me study.”
※※※
It turns out that exchange students are given assignments during their spring break.
The task was to write an essay in Japanese.
Lily asked me to help her proofread it.
“It might be better if you trim this part here and here. And the punctuation should go here—if you put it there, the meaning changes.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Lily could hold a conversation just fine in daily life. But when it came to writing, you could say she wasn’t exactly skilled yet.
From what I’d heard, she seemed to focus more on speaking and listening skills, so writing and reading were given second priority.
Because of that, she couldn’t write kanji at all. Almost her entire essay was written in hiragana.
There were also spots where the particle 'は (ha)' and 'を(wo)' were replaced with 'わ(wa)' and 'お(o).'
And in some places, she mixed up 'わ(wa),' 'ほ(ho),' 'あ(a),' and 'お(o).'
Also, since her speaking ability was good, she wrote in a conversational style, making her sentences long and hard to follow.
Going through her writing felt… like a bit of a challenge.
But there was something even more torturous.
“Hmm, so that’s how it is.”
The distance between Lily and me was way too close.
It was nice that she was so eager to listen, but before I realized it, she had moved close enough that our shoulders were almost touching.
When she leaned forward, I could catch a glimpse of her cleavage through her loose clothing.
Every time she moved her head, the soft fragrance of her silver hair drifted through the air.
My heart had been pounding nonstop for a while now.
Come to think of it, back in England she’d also sat this close.
When we first met, there had been plenty of space between us, but… somewhere along the way, that distance had disappeared.
“Thank you so much. That really helped.”
“O-Oh, I see. Glad to hear it.”
She finally pulled back a little.
Or at least, that’s what I thought—but Lily didn’t completely move away from me.
“Souta. I have a request.”
“W-What is it?”
“Will you go on a date with me tomorrow?”
A date tomorrow?
Well, tomorrow was a day off, sure…
“Is there somewhere you want to visit? A tourist spot in Japan?”
When I asked, Lily shook her head.
“I want to go shopping and buy some clothes.”
Ah, so that’s it.
If I remember correctly, she didn’t bring many clothes with her since she planned to buy some in Japan.
Guess it was about time for her to do some shopping.
“Alright, let’s go.”
“Thank you so much.”
Lily’s expression instantly lit up.
…From this close, her charm really was overwhelming.
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