Gogaku Ryuugaku ni Kita Hazu no Kizoku Reijou, Naze ka Hanayome Shugyou Bakari Shite iru Chapter 3
[Lily's POV]
“So that’s how it is. My life in Japan is going smoothly.”
It’s been three weeks since I came to Japan to study.
I was giving an update about my situation to my best friend, Mary, over the phone.
She was the one who encouraged me to come to Japan if I wanted to meet Souta.
“Wow, that’s really unexpected.”
“What do you mean by ‘unexpected’?”
Does she think I’d cause trouble in Japan or something?
“I was worried you’d miss England so much that you’d cry and want to go home.”
“I didn’t cry at all. In fact, I actually feel really comfortable here and I’m enjoying myself.”
Life in Japan turned out not to be as bad as I had imagined.
Even though my English isn’t always understood, my Japanese is good enough for daily conversations.
And even if I say something people don’t understand, Souta will help me out.
The sanitation here is excellent, and the food is delicious too.
The weather as well… maybe because it’s spring right now, but the temperature is pleasantly warm and comfortable.
“So, are you planning to stay in Japan forever?”
“...Not that far.”
Living here isn’t bad at all, but it’s not as comfortable as my home country either.
The language is still a bit troublesome.
And there are some foods that don’t really suit my taste...
...Like dairy products and tea.
That’s why my goal is to bring Souta back to England with me.
“I’m sure he feels the same way. ...Everyone thinks their home country is the best, right?”
“I’ll just win him over with my charm.”
Japan (his home country) without me, or England (a foreign land) with me there.
I just hope that after comparing the two, he’ll go with the second option.
“Right now, I’m learning Japanese cooking from Souta’s mother.”
“Hee... You’re learning Japanese cooking?”
“Yes. That way, even if Souta starts missing his hometown, I can make him food from his country.”
——For some reason, I suddenly want to drink miso soup… Now I feel like going back to Japan.
——I knew you’d say that, so I already made some. Go ahead, have as much as you like.
——Wow, this is delicious! Thanks, Lily! As long as I’m with you, I could live anywhere! I love you!
“It’s a perfect plan.”
“I wouldn’t call it perfect, but I know you’re working hard. By the way, can I ask you something a little... vulgar?”
“Depends on what it is. Go ahead.”
“How far have you two gone?”
How far...?
“What do you mean?”
“I mean your relationship. ...Have you two slept together yet?”
Slept... together?
...Slept together!?
“N-No! We haven’t! There’s no way we would!”
“Well, yeah, of course. Like you’d actually have the guts to do that.”
Her tone sounded slightly disappointed and mocking, which made me a little annoyed.
“Then what about kissing?”
“We haven’t...”
“Still? Even though you live together?”
“Does that have anything to do with it?”
Whether we’ve kissed or not shouldn’t have anything to do with living together.
It’s not like I don’t understand the logic that couples normally kiss, but...
“Then hugging? Or even just holding hands?”
“...Nope, not even that.”
“Why not?”
“Why, you ask… Well, it’s just because he’s never asked me to.”
If Souta asked me to hold hands, I’d gladly hold his hand. But I’d be too embarrassed to be the one to ask.
It’s not that I don’t want to, I just don’t have a reason to do it.
“Are you sure he actually loves you?”
“What do you mean by that!?”
I couldn’t help but snap back.
I wouldn’t mind her teasing me about my relationship with Souta, but questioning his feelings was going too far.
“There’s no way a guy wouldn’t even want to hold hands with the girl he likes.”
“There are all kinds of people in the world. I don’t think it’s that weird.”
Souta is polite and shy.
I’m too embarrassed to take the initiative, and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way.
...It would be nice if he made the first move, but I don’t want to force something I can’t bring myself to do on someone else.
“I don’t know... guys’ feelings can change so easily. He might become more interested in a girl who’s closer and easier to be around than in a stiff girlfriend like you. Especially after being apart for half a year.”
For a moment, Misato’s face flashed through my mind.
It’s true that she and Souta used to be close.
They’re not dating, but they used to be really close friends.
“B-But Souta once said that I was his ‘girlfriend.’”
“Hmm... And what did you say? Did you agree with him?”
“...I told him not to say that in public.”
What I meant was for him not to say it in front of lots of people. But now that I think about it, maybe it sounded like I was rejecting him.
“Oh dear, what are you even doing...”
Mary’s exasperated voice pierced my heart.
What if Souta ends up hating me...?
“W-What should I do...?”
“Why don’t you just ask him directly? Ask if he still loves you, still cares about you. If he says yes, then the problem’s solved, right?”
“B-But if I do that right now...”
“Loving couples reaffirm their feelings for each other. It’s not weird.”
“R-Really?”
“Of course.”
It’s true. My parents tell each other I love you every day too.
——Souta. What am I to you?
——Isn’t it obvious? You’re my beloved girlfriend and future wife!
“I love you too, Souta!”
“I’m not Souta, you know.”
Ah, crap. I said that out loud.
※※※
[Souta’s POV]
It’s been about three weeks since Lily came to Japan.
At school, the name of the beautiful foreign student, Amelia Lily Stafford, had already spread far and wide.
Even though Lily was the object of envy among the boys, strangely enough, she never received any love confessions or love letters.
Apparently, Lily already had a boyfriend.
Rumor has it that she came to Japan just to chase after her boyfriend.
And apparently, this boyfriend was the possessive type who once declared 'She’s my girlfriend' in public. They supposedly flirt and get all lovey-dovey in English every day.
Just what kind of guy is her boyfriend, anyway?
Still, Lily seemed to have gotten pretty used to life in Japan.
Her Japanese was getting better day by day.
Of course, there were still times she was confused by cultural differences.
For example, recently she got confused by anko (red bean paste).
She thought it was chocolate...
Sweetened beans? Are you serious?
That was exactly the look on her face.
But in the end, she said "It’s actually pretty good” and started eating it often.
Lately, she’s been buying lots of Japanese sweets and pastries from the convenience store.
Lily is pretty open-minded about food, though there are some things she just can’t accept.
For example, tea.
Apparently, Japanese tea doesn’t taste good to her.
Well then, wouldn’t it be better to just order tea leaves from England? —that’s what I thought, but apparently the water quality and milk were also a problem.
Japan’s water is considered soft water.
While in England, the water is generally hard (though it depends on the area).
That really does affect the taste.
In the end, she started mixing bottled mineral water with the soft water here to get the right level of hardness.
...Isn’t that a bit much?
Apparently, she doesn’t like Japanese milk either.
The taste of milk is slightly different between Japan and England.
I won’t go into the details because it’d take too long, but the difference comes from the type of cows and how the milk is processed—whether it’s sterilized at high or low temperatures.
...Honestly, I don’t really like milk to begin with, so I think both taste fine.
But it seems Lily can’t drink anything except the milk she’s used to. I guess it’s just a matter of personal preference.
At the supermarket, she’d buy a lot of milk and complain, “This tastes completely different,” “It’s not the same, just different,” or “It’s almost the same, but still different.”
Eventually, she started ordering her favorite milk online as a subscription.
I tried it once, and yeah, it was pretty good.
At first, she was paying for it with her own allowance, but it looks like my mom got hooked on it too.
Now it’s a regular order for our house.
So, even though there are still a few things she complains about, Lily manages to solve them herself.
She doesn’t seem to be suffering from homesickness.
She actually seems to be enjoying her life in Japan.
The problem lies with me.
My heart can’t stay calm.
So far, I haven’t had any incidents of accidentally seeing Lily naked or in just her underwear.
But I often see her underwear hanging out to dry, which is cute and sexy.
Is she showing it off for someone? I can’t help but think about it when I see them because they’re so... erotic.
I thought I’d get used to it eventually, but I haven’t.
I keep thinking, “So she’s wearing that under her clothes...”
It’s not just the underwear, though. Lily herself is the problem.
She’s too close, too defenseless.
When I’m studying.
When I’m watching TV or playing games.
When I’m reading a book.
Without me realizing it, Lily is suddenly right next to me.
After she exercises, I can smell the sweet scent of her sweat. And after she showers, I can smell the fragrance of her shampoo.
Sometimes, I even get a glimpse of her cleavage.
Please stop doing that.
Anyone who heard this would probably think I should be happy about it. But unfortunately, I’m not Lily’s boyfriend.
I can’t just do whatever I want with her.
Just smelling delicious food doesn’t fill your stomach, after all.
While I was struggling with these conflicted feelings, one day...
“I’m going to show you the result of my wife training!”
Lily suddenly announced that.
※※※
As usual, my mom was coming home late again today.
Normally, on days like this, I’d be in charge of making dinner, but...
“Today, I’ll do the cooking.”
This time, Lily volunteered to cook.
Her cooking skills had been steadily improving. But up until now, she had always been helped by either my mom or me.
Lily had never cooked completely by herself before.
But everyone has to experience doing something for the first time eventually.
“In that case, I’ll leave it to you.”
“I’ll show you the results of my wife training!”
Lily clenched her fist with determination.
...Maybe I should explain to her what wife training actually means.
We stopped by the supermarket on the way home from school.
Lily started taking ingredients off the shelves one by one and putting them in the basket.
I just watched her.
Just watched, without saying a word.
“Did you get everything?”
“Yes. ...The menu’s a secret.”
For some reason, Lily said that with a mysterious look on her face.
Still, judging from the ingredients she bought, I could guess what she was going to make.
“Ah, okay. I’m looking forward to it.”
I wasn’t childish enough to ruin the surprise by telling her I had figured it out.
Once we got home, Lily immediately put on an apron.
“Please sit and wait patiently.”
Then she told me to wait.
I did as she said and sat down at the dining table—where I could see Lily cooking in the kitchen.
『Hmm, first of all...』
Lily went into the kitchen and started fiddling with her phone.
She was probably looking up the recipe.
『...Okay!』
After pumping her fist, she started chopping the ingredients.
The way she held the knife was still a bit awkward. Especially when she was cutting things into small pieces, I got a little nervous... but she managed to finish cutting everything.
She laid out the seasonings on the counter, poured oil into the pan, and lit the stove.
With an unusually serious expression, she started stir-frying the ingredients.
Then the cooking process entered the final stage...
『Ah...』
I heard a small sound.
Something must have gone wrong.
Lily glanced at me for a moment, then hid the dish behind her body.
Then, using her chopsticks, she started fixing it.
『...Okay』
She let out a sigh of relief.
Looks like she managed to fix it.
“Is it done?”
“Not your portion yet.”
Apparently, the failed dish was going to be for herself.
This time, learning from her mistake, she cooked more carefully.
『...Okay』
This time, it looked like a success.
Looking at the dish she made, Lily quietly clenched her small fist in a little victory pose.
Finally, she drew a heart on top of the dish with ketchup... then carried two plates, one for herself and one for me.
“It’s done.”
Lily said with a satisfied expression.
When we were picking ingredients at the supermarket earlier, I had already guessed that Lily was going to make omurice.
On top of the yellow egg, she drew a heart shape with ketchup.
The presentation was also quite neat.
“You’re getting better and better at cooking. The food looks delicious too.”
When I praised her, Lily looked happy.
“Of course.”
Then Lily held out a spoon toward me.
“Here, Souta. Please eat my ‘oppai.’”
“Ah, yeah… Huh?”
...Oppai?
Without thinking, my eyes shifted to Lily’s chest instead of her face.
Lily looked puzzled.
“What’s wrong?”
“...You meant to say ‘please eat a lot,’ right?”
It seemed like Lily meant to say “ippai (a lot)” instead of “oppai.”
When I pointed that out, Lily’s face instantly turned bashful.
“I messed up.”
Her confident expression turned into a pout.
She looked displeased.
『Everyone makes mistakes. You don’t have to nitpick about every little thing.』
She must have thought I was just teasing her.
Mixing up 'i' with 'o' wasn’t that big of a mistake, and the meaning still got across, so maybe I didn’t need to say anything...
But this one was kind of a serious mix-up.
『Ah, I… I’m not saying you’re wrong or anything, but 'ippai and oppai mean completely different things, you know...』
『...So 'oppai' has a specific meaning?』
『Uh, yeah.』
『What does it mean?』
Should I tell her?
I felt like she’d get mad at me for no reason if I said it.
I hesitated for a moment, but maybe it was better to explain it now so she wouldn’t make this mistake again in the future.
How do I even say oppai in English?
'Chest' just means chest, that doesn’t quite work...
“Maybe... tits?”
As soon as I said that, Lily’s face froze. Slowly, her pale white cheeks turned bright red.
Then Lily used both hands to cover her chest.
『Well, don’t eat those! Souta, you pervert!』
“You’re the one who said it though...”
※※※
“So, how is it?”
“It’s really good. You’re amazing.”
The taste was just like the omurice I was used to eating. In other words, it was really delicious.
“Naturally.”
Lily puffed out her chest proudly when she heard my words.
Without thinking, my eyes almost followed her chest, so I quickly looked back at the omurice.
Her earlier words, 'Please eat my oppai,'were still ringing in my head.
“The taste is perfect, huh.”
Lily said that as she ate her own omurice.
From the way she said 'taste,' it felt like there was still something she was dissatisfied with.
Sure enough, the omelet rice she was eating looked a little messy.
“Is there anything I could improve?”
“Something to improve on, huh...”
It seemed like Lily thought her cooking wasn’t perfect yet. Instead of just saying, 'No, it’s perfect,' I decided to give her a little advice.
Even though, honestly, there was nothing wrong with the taste.
As for the appearance, the omurice I was eating looked pretty neat too...
“If it were me, I’d probably add some soup.”
“Soup?”
“Yeah. Nothing complicated, just dissolving some consommé would be enough.”
Just by dissolving some consommé in a pot and adding the leftover onions from making the omelet, you’d have a decent soup.
Personally, I think any meal tastes better if there’s something soupy to go with it.
“Alright, I’ll do that next time.”
“But only if you have time, okay?”
Home-cooked meals should be made with a few shortcuts here and there.
If you had to make complicated meals every day, it would just be exhausting.
When I shared that thought, Lily nodded as if she understood.
『Mother taught me that I just need to make simple, quick, and tasty meals to become an independent adult.』
An independent adult, huh...?
I wondered what exactly they teach nobles who come here to study.
“I’ll keep working hard from now on. Please look forward to it.”
“Ah… yeah.”
Aside from cooking, I hope you also work hard on your language studies too.
After we finished eating, we cleaned up the dishes and took turns taking a bath.
I went first, then Lily after me.
While I was sitting on the sofa playing on my phone, I heard a voice from the bathroom.
“I’m done.”
Lily came out of the bathroom, drying her hair with a towel. As usual, she was in lingerie. Somehow it looked pure yet erotic at the same time.
“Souta.”
“...What?”
Lily sat down right next to me.
The distance between us was as close as always.
“There’s something I want to ask.”
With a serious look, Lily leaned in even closer.
As always, her face looked like a work of art. Just looking into those jewel-like blue eyes made me nervous.
“W-What is it?”
“Souta, about me...”
Lily stopped there.
Don’t stop there! Now I’m curious!
『Souta’s mother often comes home late at night, right?』
Lily switched to English.
Maybe she didn’t know how to say what she wanted in Japanese. Though honestly, it felt kind of unrelated to what she just said.
『May I ask why? ...But you don’t seem to have financial problems.』
From a normal person’s point of view, my family would be considered fairly well-off.
My mom earned enough to send her son on an exchange program.
Even though she earned that much, Lily still found it strange that my mom was always so busy with work.
『It’s not because she’s overworked or anything... she just likes it, I think? Even so, she’s a company director.』
She was probably the type of person who could treat her work like a hobby.
She just preferred the office to being at home.
『I see... May I ask one more thing? It might make you uncomfortable, but—』
『You want to ask about my dad, right?』
When I cut in with a knowing smile, Lily’s face turned serious.
It was natural for her to be curious. Maybe I should have told her about this earlier.
『They’re just divorced. But he’s doing fine.』
『...D-Divorced?』
Lily murmured in a serious tone.
Her overly serious reaction almost made me laugh.
『They still talk often and even meet up sometimes. Their relationship is actually fine. They just couldn’t get along with each other’s lifestyles.』
『I-I see...』
『Next time, if there’s a chance, I’ll introduce him to you.』
When I assured her that there was no awkwardness between my parents, Lily finally looked relieved.
“I can’t wait to meet Father.”
“Ah, yeah...”
...She means my dad, right?
Don’t tell me she’s actually going to call him 'Father' in that super formal way... right?
※※※
As the long May holiday began, Lily and I went sightseeing in Tokyo for the whole day.
Though we called it sightseeing, it wasn’t an overnight trip — just a one-day outing.
Our plan was to visit several famous tourist spots and try well-known foods in Tokyo during the holiday.
And our very first stop was—
“So this is Kaminarimon! It’s so beautiful!!”
Lily exclaimed in awe as she looked up at the gate.
Yes, the place we had come to was Sensoji Temple in Asakusa.
『The design is absolutely stunning!!』
She eagerly started snapping pictures.
I figured Lily would be happy since this was a popular tourist destination even for Japanese people, but she was way more excited than I had expected.
She probably felt a strong sense of Japaneseness here.
『Let’s take a picture together!』
Lily grabbed my arm.
“Hold on, Lily. Before that, let’s change our clothes first.”
“...Change clothes?”
“I already booked us a service where you can rent a kimono. Don’t you think it’ll feel more authentic if we wear them?”
This was a little surprise I had planned.
When she heard my suggestion, Lily’s eyes widened before she gave a small nod.
“Alright, I understand.”
So we went to the kimono rental shop I had reserved.
Out of all the kimonos available, Lily’s choice was—
“What do you think?”
She was wearing a Taisho-era style hakama.
The top was a purple kimono with a maple leaf pattern, and the skirt was green with embroidery.
Her hair was half-tied with a large red ribbon.
At first, I thought the colors might look too serious, but together they actually made her shine.
...Though, honestly, it gave off a bit of a graduation-ceremony vibe, but personally, I liked it.
Oh, and I was wearing a hakama too, to match Lily’s style.
『You look amazing in it. You’re both beautiful and elegant.』
When I praised her in English, Lily turned her face away in embarrassment.
Then she gave a small huff.
『...Hmph, of course. Since you were the one who asked me to wear it, you should thank me more.』
I don’t remember exactly asking her to, but...
Well, I was the one who suggested the idea in the first place.
『Thank you for wearing it for me, Lily. I’m so happy I get to see you in such a beautiful kimono. Meeting someone as lovely as you, and getting to spend time together like this, is the greatest blessing and happiness in my life.』
The atmosphere just felt right, so I went a little overboard with my praise.
On purpose, I kept praising her until even I thought I might have gone too far.
Lily’s face turned bright red in an instant.
She lowered her head.
『Y-You shouldn’t say such exaggerated things in a place like this...』
After squirming awkwardly for a moment, Lily finally looked up again.
She averted her gaze from me and muttered softly.
“You look handsome too, Souta.”
“Thanks.”
Even if it was just a polite compliment, I gladly accepted it.
After changing into our outfits, we headed back to Kaminarimon.
We took selfies with my phone.
“Come closer.”
“We’re already standing pretty close, you know...”
We were already so close our shoulders were touching.
But Lily still tugged on my arm, pulling me even closer to her.
I could smell the soft fragrance of her hair.
“Closer.”
Her soft chest pressed against my arm.
I wanted to tell her off, but I didn’t want to seem like I was overthinking it.
In that position, we finally finished taking pictures.
“Alright, let’s go.”
With that, Lily grabbed my sleeve and pulled me along. After passing through Kaminarimon, we walked into Nakamise Street.
“Wow, something smells so good!”
Aside from Kaminarimon and the main temple, the food stalls were one of Asakusa’s big attractions.
I was sure Lily would enjoy them.
She quickly pulled on my sleeve and pointed to one of the stalls.
“I want to try that one!”
It turned out to be a shop that sold ningyoyaki.
I had planned to take her to some of the most famous places, but maybe following what caught her interest was part of the fun of a trip like this.
We bought freshly made ningyoyaki and ate them right there.
“How is it?”
“It’s so good. This is my favorite.”
Lily closed her eyes with a blissful expression as she said that.
For Lily, 'my favorite' basically meant 'this is delicious.'
It looked like she really liked it.
After that, every time Lily found a new food, her eyes would sparkle, and each time she ate it, her face would look enchanted.
Seeing how happy she was made me feel happy too.
“Next, let’s go over there!”
“Alright, alright.”
Lily pulled on my sleeve, dragging me along from stall to stall, buying and tasting whatever caught her interest.
She seemed to be having so much fun, but she’d better be careful or she might fall—
『Ah!』
Just as I was about to warn her, Lily lost her balance.
I quickly grabbed her and held her close.
“Are you okay?”
『...Yes. I’m sorry.』
Lily nodded, her cheeks slightly red.
She was probably embarrassed for almost falling because she got too excited.
『These sandals make it hard to walk...』
Lily glanced down at her footwear as if trying to make excuses. Well, it was her first time wearing geta, so it was natural she’d have trouble walking.
“How about we hold hands?”
I suggested it so I could help her if she lost her balance again.
Lily’s eyes widened.
『...Eh? You... want to hold hands?』
She asked me hesitantly.
Did she not like the idea?
Well, even though we were friends, holding hands with someone of the opposite sex might feel a bit weird.
“It’s not like that... I just thought it might be dangerous otherwise. I think it’d be safer if we held hands.”
When I gave her my reasoning—
『I see.』
Lily huffed in annoyance, her face pouting.
『It’s not like I want to hold hands with you or anything... But if it’s you asking, I won’t refuse. It’s not like I’m the one asking for it.』
“A-Ah, right...”
So she really doesn’t want to hold hands with me, huh...
For some reason, I felt a little hurt.
『...Well, at least I can hold onto your sleeve.』
When I looked a little sad, Lily spoke while clutching the sleeve of my shirt.
...My feelings became a little complicated.
『Alright, let’s go. I want to eat that one!』
“Alright.”
That whole day, Lily kept holding onto my sleeve.
※※※
“Asakusa was so much fun. And all the food was so delicious.”
On the way home from Asakusa, Lily said while patting her satisfied stomach.
Her face looked bright and full of happiness.
...I guess taking her to a food tour spot was better than a regular sightseeing spot.
I could probably title this day 「The Gourmet Adventure of the English Noble Princess」.
Such a title flashed through my mind.
“Let’s go to Tsukiji Outer Market tomorrow.”
“Tsukiji Outer Market?”
『It’s a market located in a place called Tsukiji. It’s also popular as a gourmet sightseeing spot.』
Lily would definitely love that place too.
I could already imagine her walking around with food in both hands.
“Food tour!”
As expected, Lily looked very excited.
But then, she coughed lightly on purpose.
『But don’t get the wrong idea, okay? It’s not like I’m only interested in the food. Sure, the food is tasty, but the atmosphere of the town is also fascinating. Don’t think I only care about eating.』
With her face bright red, Lily quickly explained in English.
I never said she only cared about food though...
“I know. Tsukiji Outer Market is also famous for its nostalgic atmosphere.”
As a Japanese person, I don’t really feel that it’s all that exotic.
But the retro vibes are definitely there.
For Lily, who came from England, the scenery must feel fresh and new.
『I-I see. ...By the way, what kind of food do they have there?』
“Lots of things. But the main highlight is seafood.”
『Seafood!? ...I can’t wait.』
Lily said with a big, happy smile.
Looks like tomorrow will turn into another food tour day. I should research what kind of food they have there.
Just as I was thinking that...
“Excuse me, may we have a moment of your time?”
I heard a voice calling from behind us.
When I turned around, I saw a camera and a microphone.
It looked like an interview for a TV station.
※※※
[Lily's POV]
On the way home from sightseeing in Asakusa.
I, Amelia Lily Stafford, was thinking about this place called Tsukiji Outer Market...
“Excuse me, may we have a moment of your time?”
Someone called out to me in Japanese.
A camera and microphone were pointed my way.
...A TV interview?
For me? Why?
“What’s going on?”
Souta suddenly stepped in front of me, as if to protect me.
...That made me a little happy.
“We’re filming this kind of program...”
The TV station staff handed us a business card and explained the situation in detail.
It seemed to be a program that interviews foreigners visiting Japan to ask them about their reasons for coming.
“Ah, I see...”
Souta looked like he understood.
I didn’t know about it myself, but apparently Souta was familiar with the show.
Is this a famous program?
“Are you Japanese? You look young, are you a student?”
“Yeah, mm... I’m a second-year high school student.”
“And what about this young lady? What’s your relationship?”
Thump.
My heart suddenly started pounding hard.
How would Souta describe our relationship?
I was a little scared to hear his answer.
Of course, in front of the camera, what he says might not be his true feelings...
“She’s my girl friend. She came to Japan to study the language.”
Girlfriend...?
G-Girlfriend!?
TLN: In Japanese, onna tomodachi (女友達) means "female friend," it also means "girl friend" (just a girl who’s a friend, not a romantic girlfriend).
I felt my face heat up all at once.
Geez, Souta...
Saying it so openly in front of the camera...
But as I thought, Souta really does see me as his girlfriend.
If I think about it carefully, that’s only natural. Because we’re so close and so affectionate.
Hehehe.
I wonder, when will we get married?
Where should we go for our honeymoon?
How many kids should we have?
I definitely want to have enough to form a rugby team...
“So, what do you say? Would you two be willing to do an interview?”
“...Lily, what do you think? Want to do a TV interview?”
When Souta asked me, I came back to my senses.
To be honest, I don’t really like the mass media. They love to dig into the private lives of nobles like me, which is really annoying.
But today, I was in a good mood. So I’ll make an exception just for today.
“Alright, I’ll do it.”
I replied in Japanese.
“Thank you so much! Alright, let’s get started then... What’s the reason you came to Japan?”
And I answered,
“To train to be a wife.”
※※※
[Souta’s POV]
“To train to be a wife?!”
“......Huh?”
Lily’s absurd answer made the TV reporter’s eyes go wide. If this was a live broadcast, it would’ve been a broadcast accident for sure.
“She just started learning Japanese, so she’s here as part of a language exchange program.”
I hurriedly corrected her.
Please cut that part out, I beg you.
“O-oh, I see... If you don’t mind, may we have your name?”
“My name is Amelia Lily Stafford. I came from England.”
“Wow, from England! Your Japanese is really good!”
“Not really.”
Lily smiled proudly. The tense atmosphere quickly softened again.
“Since you’re in an exchange program, that means you’re staying with a host family?”
“Yes. I’m staying at his house.”
“Wow, then you two must be really close.”
“Yes. We’re very close.”
“Hey, Lily...”
Stop saying weird things, people will misunderstand!
“So, how did you first meet?”
“Last year, Souta... came to England to study. That’s where we met.”
“In England? Does that mean you came to Japan to follow him?”
“Well, yes.”
...Lily, does she even understand what she just said? I’m sure she’s just pretending to understand and answering randomly.
“Were you two just coming back from a date?”
“That’s right.”
“Where from?”
“Asakusa.”
“Asakusa! That’s a fun place. Did you try eating around the food stalls?”
“Yes. I ate a lot of ‘Oppai.’”
“...Oppai?”
The worst possible timing for a slip-up...
“She meant ‘Ippai’ (a lot).”
I quickly corrected her.
Realizing her mistake, Lily blushed and cleared her throat.
“Ah, sorry, I misspoke. Please cut that part out.”
“Ah, sure.”
The reporter smiled wryly and continued.
“Where are you two going tomorrow? Any plans?”
“We’re planning to visit Tsukiji Outer Market. He’s taking me there.”
“Tsukiji, huh! That place is famous for its gourmet food.”
“So I’ve heard. I’m looking forward to it.”
...For some reason, I felt uneasy.
“How about we follow you tomorrow and film your date?”
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Wait a second.”
I quickly interrupted.
Film our date? Don’t be ridiculous!
“Is there a problem?”
“Please don’t do that.”
In just this short interview, Lily already said things that could cause misunderstandings. If they followed us around all day, I can’t even imagine what else she’d say.
If the footage gets edited and broadcast nationwide, it’ll be a disaster.
“But it’s just for a day, it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Lily, I just want to spend time alone with you.”
I held Lily’s hand and looked her in the eyes.
Please!
“I-I see...”
Lily blushed, then turned back to the reporter.
“Sorry, but it seems he wants to spend time alone with me. So there won’t be any filming.”
“I see... Sorry for disturbing your date.”
“It’s fine. I’m happy you asked.”
“Then, we wish you two to be happy!”
And with that, the TV interview came to an end.
I’m sure the content isn’t suitable for broadcast.
...They won’t air it, right?
Please don’t air it!!
The next day.
Our interview was broadcast nationwide as [Lovey-Dovey International High School Couple].
You’ve got to be kidding me, that’s fake news!
※※※
The morning after the broadcast.
“Wow, look, it’s that lovey-dovey international high school couple.”
“You got a death wish or something?”
I glared at Misato who was teasing me right away. Misato just laughed happily.
“Isn’t it fine? They didn’t make you look bad or anything. Apparently it even went viral online! Look.”
Misato showed me her phone screen. There we were, being interviewed. And Lily’s line, “To train to be a wife,” was recorded clearly.
“Amelia-chan went viral as the beautiful high school girl from England.”
“Of course.”
For some reason, Lily proudly puffed out her chest.
Is she really okay with her face being all over the internet...?
Maybe she’s just used to it as a noble?
“Souta also got called a dream boyfriend. ...But some people are jealous.”
「I’m seriously jealous too.」
「So studying abroad in England can get you a beautiful girlfriend like that!?」
「I want to go to England too.」
「Hope you two stay together forever — and explode while you’re at it.」
Those were the kinds of comments I saw written there.
“They say the ratings were good too. Maybe your interview will be included in the Best Collection.”
“Please no.”
Would complaining about this now even do anything?
...There’s nothing I can do about a video that’s already out on the internet.
“Relax, relax~. As long as you don’t become a meme, people will forget about it soon enough.”
“That’s exactly what I’m worried about...”
Lily’s appearance and her “To train to be a wife” comment left too much of an impact.
...But as long as that’s the only thing, maybe my own face won’t spread as much, so I guess it’s fine.
Hopefully, people will just focus on Lily and forget about me.
“Oh yeah, by the way...”
“What?”
“Can I come sleep over today?”
“If you want to come, just come. You don’t have to ask for permission.”
“...Huh?”
Lily suddenly looked up in shock.
Her eyes went wide in surprise.
Is that really something to be that surprised about?
“Misato’s staying over? ...Wh-What do you mean by not needing permission?”
“Well, that’s just...”
“Because we’re really close.”
Misato answered before I could. Then she wrapped herself around my arm with a mischievous grin.
“You get it, right, Miss Girlfriend?”
“What?!”
Lily glared at Misato with a terrifying expression and then shouted in English, furious.
『Don’t joke around!!』
She got that mad just because someone called her my girlfriend...?
※※※
After school.
“I’m home!”
“Ara, welcome back!”
I came home together with Misato. My mom looked really happy since it had been a while since she last saw Misato.
『What do you mean ‘I’m home’? Acting all buddy-buddy…! 』
Lily, on the other hand, didn’t seem pleased. Is she that unhappy about Misato coming over?
I guess she really doesn’t like it.
I can understand how she feels. I also feel uncomfortable when Misato brings her friends over. Especially when they stay overnight, it feels suffocating.
Though, that was a long time ago...
Lily must have felt the same.
“Here, the recording you asked for. I already burned the data for you.”
“Oh, good. I was worried Souta would delete it before I could see it.”
...So that’s why she came over. Perfect, I’ll destroy it later.
“How is it, Amelia-chan? My cooking?”
“...It’s okay.”
While eating the hamburger steak Misato made, Lily replied with a slightly annoyed tone.
I’m sure it tastes better than what she can make herself.
Well, Misato has been cooking much longer. It would actually be embarrassing if she lost to Lily in cooking.
...But why is Lily acting like she’s competing with Misato? Is she still holding a grudge about that tennis match?
After dinner, once we finished cleaning up, Misato looked at Lily and then grabbed my hand.
“Since we have the chance, why don’t we take a bath together like we used to?”
She said it out loud.
What is this girl even saying?
“There’s no way we’re bathing together.”
“But Souta, you can’t wash your hair by yourself, right?”
When did I ever say that?
Well, she’s probably just joking...
“Then, if I asked you ‘please wash my hair,’ would you actually…?”
Take a bath with me?
Just as I was about to answer her jokingly—
『No way!! 』
Lily suddenly shouted in English, forcibly prying my hand away from Misato’s.
Then she shooed Misato away like she was swatting away a bug.
『Go bathe by yourself! 』
“I was only joking, you know. Don’t take it so seriously...”
『And you too, Souta! Why would you even say that?! 』
“I was just kidding too. There’s no way I can’t wash my own hair...”
As I tried to smile awkwardly and tell her it was just a joke, Lily cut me off with a loud yell.
『You didn’t have to ask Misato! You still have me, don’t you?! 』
...Huh?
『I’ll go in with you. I’ll wash your hair for you too.』
Her face flushed red as she said that, then she grabbed my arm and started pulling me forcefully.
『Come on, let’s go bathe right now!』
『W-Wait, calm down, Lily.』
『Why can Misato do it, but not me?!』
『But I’m not bathing with Misato either.』
『But you bathed with her before, didn’t you...?』
『That was when we were kids. Back in elementary school.』
『...It’s fine, I get it. In Japan, there’s a culture of bathing together. Just because we bathe together doesn’t mean I like you or anything, this is just for the sake of cultural understanding!』
『Lily, wait, listen to me first! Even in Japan, boys and girls don’t usually bathe together!』
『But Misato can...』
『I told you, that was only back when we were kids. Besides, we’re...』
The one who stopped Lily from dragging me off to the bath was—
“Then, how about you bathe with me, Amelia-chan?”
Misato’s words.
Lily froze instantly.
“...What do you mean?”
“Just what I said. Let’s take a bath together. We’re both girls, so we can talk about lots of things.”
Misato’s suggestion made Lily think for a moment.
Then she finally let go of my arm.
“...Fine, let’s go.”
It seemed Lily had given up on bathing with me.
I felt relieved too, but... that only lasted for a moment.
“...Souta.”
“Y-Yeah?”
Lily turned back to face me.
Wait, is she about to invite me to join the two of them...?
『T-That was just a joke. It was a typical British joke. I wasn’t seriously thinking about bathing with you! Or about showing you my body! That sort of thing is only allowed after marriage! S-So don’t get the wrong idea, okay!』
She lectured me rapidly in English.
I didn’t even understand half of what she said...
But I managed to catch 'it was a joke' and 'don’t get the wrong idea.'
So basically, she was just joking earlier.
...Of course, I thought so too.
There’s no way Lily would actually want to bathe with me.
...And I definitely wasn’t thinking about joining them either.
Seriously, I wasn’t.
“Then, Amelia-chan. Let’s go take a bath.”
“Ah, wait. Don’t push me.”
Misato pushed Lily toward the changing room.
Finally, I could relax.
“Okay, take your clothes off... Wow, Amelia-chan, you still wear such sexy stuff!”
“You’re exaggerating. This is normal.”
“No way, it’s totally see-through around your butt... Who are you trying to show off for? Is it for Souta?”
『I’m not showing off! You take off your clothes too!』
“You’re impatient too, Amelia-chan. Do you want to see my underwear that badly?”
“Not really.”
“Why are you so blunt... Do you have no other reaction?”
“Blunt...? No, I’m just not interested.”
“But your skin is so smooth... Whoa, so soft! Is this natural or from skincare?”
『Don’t say it so loud! Souta might hear you!』
“Relax, he won’t hear a thing.”
...I could hear them perfectly well, you know.
※※※
[Misato’s POV]
While in the bath—
“Do English people usually bathe like this?”
To start a conversation, I asked Amelia-chan. In Europe and America, it seems people don’t soak in the bath that often.
I even heard some people don’t shower daily, so I was curious...
“Not that often.”
“I see... So, how do you feel about Japanese-style bathing?”
“It’s not bad. I wouldn’t mind doing it once in a while.”
So she doesn’t soak every day.
Come to think of it, Souta isn’t the type to soak in the bath every day either.
But Amelia-chan seems to shower daily. She said, “So that Souta won’t dislike me.”
“Amelia-chan, you smell so nice. What scent is that? Your shampoo looks normal, but...”
“It’s perfume.”
“Oh, perfume huh. I’ve never used it before. ...Can I see it?”
“Sure.”
Her response was better than I expected. She seems like a good girl when Souta isn’t involved.
“Hey, Amelia-chan. Can I ask you something else?”
“...The question from earlier?”
“Down there... is it really natural or do you shave?”
“Huh?”
Amelia-chan stared at me in disbelief.
Come on, tell me...
『It’s thanks to medical laser treatment.』
She actually told me.
I wasn’t expecting that.
『It’s more comfortable this way. Why don’t you try it too? They do it in Japan as well, right?』
“I’ve thought about it, but it seems painful. Besides, it’s kind of embarrassing to go to a public bath like this.”
『So you do have a sense of shame.』
“Of course I do. Don’t say things so carelessly.”
『...By the way, why do you feel embarrassed about going to a public bath? Shouldn’t it be the opposite?』
She asked.
I thought for a moment before answering.
“In Japan, keeping things natural is the norm.”
『...I see.』
Amelia-chan widened her eyes slightly in surprise, then looked worried.
『Does Souta also like it natural...?』
She muttered with an anxious tone.
If you get laser treatment, your hair probably won’t grow back.
How am I supposed to comfort her about this...?
There’s no way I could know that much about it.
Well, I’m pretty sure Souta wouldn’t care about that at all.
“Souta likes it smooth.”
『R-Really? I’m relieved then... But I didn’t do this for him. I did it for myself. I don’t care about his preferences.』
She seemed a bit more cheerful now.
Good thing she didn’t ask, “How do you even know that?”
Because honestly, I don’t know anything about it either. I’ll just make it match Souta’s opinion later.
Speaking of Souta’s preferences...
“Oh yeah, how about I tell you what kind of food Souta likes?”
Amelia-chan’s eyes widened at my suggestion.
Then she turned away and gave a small huff.
H-Huh? That wasn’t the reaction I was expecting.
『No need, thanks. I’m already learning how to cook from his mother. Souta definitely prefers his mom’s cooking.』
Well, Mom’s cooking is the best after all.
I get her logic.
Hmm, makes sense, but...
“Really? He’s kind of careless, you know. I’m sure Souta is already bored of it.”
“...”
“Besides, just copying the taste won’t make you better.”
“...”
My words made Amelia-chan look restless. After thinking for a while, she finally asked me:
『What’s your goal?』
“I just want to get along with you, Amelia-chan.”
That reply was half true and half an excuse.
I had a feeling Amelia-chan wasn’t exactly happy about me staying over here.
But I want to stay over, and I don’t want there to be tension every time I do.
『...I don’t have anything to pay you with, you know?』
Is she refusing my ‘salt’?
“Then consider it thanks for letting me see your perfume.”
I actually don’t need any reward.
But I figured Amelia-chan would agree more easily if I phrased it like that.
『...Fine.』
Just as I thought, Amelia-chan agreed right away.
“Then, next time when I stay over...”
『No.』
Eh?
Then how...?
“I’ll come over to your house instead.”
Ah, so that’s how it is.
That way, she can keep an eye on me and make sure I don’t get too close to Souta.
It’s a bit off from my original goal... But having Amelia-chan stay over at my house doesn’t sound like a bad idea either.
...Maybe I’ll invite Souta over too.
He hasn’t been visiting much lately.
Dad too... Why are men always so indifferent?
“Why are you grinning to yourself?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Anyway, next time, you should stay over too.”
It’s nice to have a fun time with Amelia-chan.
But now that I think about it...
Seriously, Souta, how long are you going to keep it a secret?
There’s no point in hiding it anymore.
He’s just like Mom, always forgetting to say the important stuff.
...But I guess it’s fine since this is kind of interesting!
“Why are you giggling like that again? ...You’re creeping me out.”
“It’s nothing. I just remembered something funny.”
※※※
[Souta’s POV]
Does physical closeness really have an effect?
When they came out of the bath, Lily and Misato seemed even closer than before.
Afterward, Mom joined them, and they were having a lively chat, like a special girls’ talk.
I’m glad they’re getting along so well.
...But at the same time, I felt a bit out of place as the only guy here.
The problem came when it was time for bed.
“I guess it’s time to sleep... Ah, where should I sleep? There’s no empty room left, right?”
Misato asked my mom.
We used to have a spare room where Misato would stay, but now that room is Lily’s.
“Ara, that’s true. Then, do you want to sleep in my room? I can sleep in the living room.”
“No, that would be too much trouble...”
Misato seemed to think for a moment.
Then, she glanced at Lily.
.....Is she going to ask Lily to share a bed?
“I don’t mind sharing with Misato...”
“Then how about I just sleep with Souta?”
Misato said with a laugh, holding onto my arm.
“No way, it would feel stuffy.”
“It’s fine, right~? We used to sleep together all the time when we were kids. What’s the problem? We’re really close.”
...Honestly, I don’t really mind.
But instead of sleeping with me, a guy, shouldn’t she just sleep with Mom?
『No way, no way!』
Before I could answer, Lily suddenly interrupted. She grabbed my arm away from Misato.
『If Misato is going to sleep with Souta, then I’m going to sleep with Souta too!』
Why does this feel so familiar...
“No, that would look weird.”
『It’s not weird at all!! Why can Misato sleep with you, but I can’t?!』
“Ah, well...”
Isn’t that just natural? Because we...
Before I could answer, Misato just burst out laughing.
“Then, why don’t the three of us — me, Souta, and Amelia-chan — just sleep together?”
『...Fine, then I’ll allow it.』
...What about my opinion?
Like I thought, three people in one futon would be way too cramped.
Besides, even if Misato is here, it feels weird to have Lily sleep next to me...
Just as I was about to protest—
“Oh? Then I’ll join too! Let’s all sleep together!”
My idiot mom said something ridiculous.
Like that would even work.
And thirty minutes later—
“I’ll sleep next to Souta!”
“Then I’ll sleep next to him too.”
“Then I’ll be next to Misato, okay? Fufu, it’s been so long since we’ve done this!”
The four of us lay down on the futons we’d spread out.
Our house only had two futons, so it felt way too cramped.
“Yeah, I knew it. I should just sleep in my room...”
“Not allowed.”
My hand was grabbed tightly.
“Souta has to sleep next to me. That’s the rule.”
Lily puffed out her cheeks as she stubbornly insisted.
For some reason, it felt like something was off.
Was it because... of Misato?
Lily did seem to like competing with Misato.
Maybe she felt some weird sense of rivalry after hearing that Misato and I used to sleep together when we were little.
But honestly, that’s not something worth competing over...
“Then, I’ll turn off the light, okay?”
Misato said with a little smirk, then turned off the lights.
The room was instantly pitch dark.
I could faintly hear Lily’s breathing beside me. I could feel the warmth of her body, our shoulders just barely touching.
...Isn’t she a bit too close?
“Lily, could you scoot over a little?”
“Nope. This is as far as I can go.”
Her breath tickled my ear.
The atmosphere was getting... weird. I panicked a little and quickly turned my back to her.
“Good night.”
I closed my eyes and tried to calm down.
...Yeah, maybe it’s best if I just pretend Lily isn’t even here.
I faced away from Lily and started counting sheep in my head.
By the time I reached 200, I was starting to get sleepy...
Suddenly—
“Hnn...”
Something hugged my back. I felt warmth and softness pressing against me. My heart started pounding as I woke up.
『Souta...』
A soft, sweet voice came from behind me. Was she... sleep talking?
『...I like you』
“...Eh?”
I accidentally let out a surprised sound.
I could feel Lily’s body stiffen for a moment.
Wait, is she... actually awake? She’s not sleep talking?
...She likes me? Did she just say she likes me?
My heart pounded as I waited nervously for what she’d say next. But Lily didn’t say anything more.
Maybe she really was just sleep talking.
Still, her breathing sounded... strange.
Was that just my imagination?
“Lily. Are you... awake right now?”
I couldn’t help it — I had to ask her quietly.
And then—
『I-I can’t eat anymore... My stomach’s full...』
So it was about food?!
When she said like, she was talking about the food.
I let out a sigh of relief.
※※※
[Lily's POV]
He’s really asleep now, right?
I, Amelia Lily Stafford, kept staring intently at Souta.
He was lying there with his back turned toward me. It was hard to tell if he was really asleep or just pretending.
Earlier, I thought he might still be awake, so I blurted out my feelings in a rush.
I quickly pretended to be sleep talking to cover it up.
But... this time should be safe.
It feels like almost two hours have passed. Misato and his mom must definitely be asleep by now.
“Souta...”
Pretending to be sleep talking again, I slowly moved closer to Souta. I pressed my body against his broad back.
I leaned my nose in and took a small sniff.
There was a scent that made me want to hug him. I was completely driven by the urge to hold him.
He’s sleeping, right?
He didn’t answer even when I called him.
...It’s probably fine even if he wakes up.
I was able to cover for myself earlier, so I can just do the same again.
“...I’m full.”
I hugged him just like before.
And just when I was about to tighten my embrace—
“Nnh...”
Souta rolled over to face me.
I froze, holding my breath.
Now Souta’s face was right in front of mine.
His warm breath brushed against my lips.
My heart was pounding so fast it felt like it was going to explode.
I-Is it okay... if I sneak a kiss while he’s asleep?
No, no way!
What on earth am I even thinking?
A boy and girl who aren’t married... kissing... That’s completely improper.
Especially stealing one while he’s not even awake...
B-But, if I think about it, sleeping together is already improper enough. And hugging him while pretending to sleep talk too...
Like the saying goes — if you’re going to steal, better to take the sheep than the lamb.
Still, there’s a big difference between sleeping next to someone and kissing them.
If he woke up, there’d be no excuse I could make. He might think I’m a shameless girl and end up hating me.
My thoughts kept going in circles.
And then—
“Lily...”
Souta moved.
He slowly wrapped his arm around me.
I gasped, holding my breath.
He pulled me tightly into his embrace.
『Ah...』
Before I knew it, I was in Souta’s arms.
I was trapped.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t resist.
『S-Souta, a-are you... awake?』
I asked Souta quietly.
Maybe this was payback for what I did earlier.
“Lily... leave some for me... don’t eat it all...”
All I heard back was his sleep-talking.
So he’s still asleep?
But maybe he’s just pretending.
...Oh well, it’s fine.
I buried my face into Souta’s chest.
I listened to the sound of his heartbeat, felt the warmth of his body, and took a deep breath.
Ah... my nose is completely filled with Souta’s scent...
Feeling happy, I slowly closed my eyes again.
※※※
[Souta’s POV]
When I woke up the next morning, Lily was in my arms.
It wasn’t Lily hugging me — I was the one hugging Lily.
“Last night... you were pretty wild, you know.”
Lily said this to me with a flushed face as soon as I woke up.
Wild? I don’t remember doing anything wild.
Did I do something?
No, judging by this position, maybe I really did do something.
“Did I do something to you?”
“Souta, you can be quite the tease too.”
She only gave me a mischievous smile and didn’t tell me what I had done.
But my mom and Misato were here too. So I was sure I didn’t do anything weird.
At least, that’s what I decided to believe.
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