The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 30

tln :  sorry for late release. i was busy in real life. i will release the newest chapters today. please look forward it

Even when there are empty seats, I have a principle not to sit on the train.

(Ah… my stomach hurts…)

Inside the bustling and swaying train, Keitaro continued to feel an unbearable discomfort. His stomach has been screeching painfully for a while now.

The reason why Keitaro is feeling so mentally tormented at the moment is right next to him. It’s because of Sofia, who is standing so close to him as if clinging to his side.

(What’s with her? Is she really human?)

(Huh, so angels do exist.)

(To have a girlfriend like her… No, I wanted to at least talk to someone like her once in my life…)

(That uniform… she must be really smart too…)

From every direction, the gazes aimed at Sofia seemed to transcend mere interest and border on reverence.

But perhaps that’s understandable.

After all, she’s wearing the uniform of the top school in the prefecture and is a beauty of world-class level. Moreover, her blonde hair and blue eyes, along with her snow-white skin, stand out even more among the predominantly black-haired passengers on the train.

A bit of idolization might be inevitable.

(Yeah, this was expected. I saw it coming. She should have at least worn a hat like before. What’s with the “it can’t be helped” and acting as her bodyguard? It’s just giving up on thinking and resigning to fate. At least stick to casual clothes, you idiot.)

Keitaro could only be amazed at his own thoughtlessness this morning, which he had disguised as positive thinking. He couldn’t help but let out a deep sigh.

Despite the cacophony of the train’s movement, the chatter of fellow passengers, and various other sounds, there was one person who did not miss that sigh.

Of course, that person was Sofia.

“Is something wrong?”

Sofia looked up at Keitaro intently.

The sudden direct attention made Keitaro flinch, but determined not to procrastinate any further, he steeled himself manfully.

“How about we keep a bit more distance between us?”

He looked back at her and said.

Immediately, Sofia’s face darkened with a heavy shadow, transforming into an expression of unbearable anxiety.

“…Have you… started to dislike me…?”

“No, no, seriously, that’s not it at all.”

Keitaro hastily shook his head, almost to the point of breaking his neck.

“It’s not like that at all.”

He firmly and carefully denied it.

There was no way he could dislike Sofia, nor was there any plan to. Such a calendar did not exist in his life.

However, he couldn’t back down here. For a peaceful life, there are times when one must grit their teeth and be heartless.

“Remember, we decided to keep our interactions to a minimum?”

As Keitaro pointed out with his index finger, reminding her of the agreement they made during their first dinner together, Sofia nodded slowly.

“Yes, that was for at school, right?”

She reconfirmed, her tone slightly firmer, leaving no room for further questions as she tilted her head cutely.

Keitaro’s resolve crumbled instantly.

“Yes, that’s right, of course, it was like that.”

“Yes, that’s how it is.”

Sofia nodded, and the game was set. Sadly, it was a complete loss for Keitaro, a perfect game, indeed.

Ahh, it was futile. This means we’ll continue to maintain this too-close distance all the way to school. Then what’s the point in avoiding interactions at school? It’s like hiding your head but not your tail.

Keitaro scanned the train from corner to corner.

(Fortunately, there are no other students from the pinnacle school onboard now. But, the next stop or the one after that is Nantsumoto. That’s when they’ll flood in. That’s the real deadline. My peaceful high school life is doomed.)

He calmly analyzed the situation and predicted the grim future.

As the train steadily approached the next station, the time limit was nearly upon him.

(It’s no use, it’s over. There’s no time. Ah… I want to go home, right now. I wish I could just get off here. “I’ll take my leave here,” I want to scream and go home. Ah, that’s basically waving a death flag.)

As these thoughts swirled in his mind, the train began to slow down, signaling its imminent stop with a particularly large jolt.

“Kyaa!”

“!”

Sofia lost her balance, which Keitaro saw. He instinctively reached out and pulled her towards him, catching her.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes, I’m… fine…”

“Phew, glad to hear that.”

He sighed in relief, wiping the sweat from his forehead. As long as Sofia was safe, that was all that mattered.

“I’m fine… but,”

“But?”

Keitaro frowned, worried she might have sprained her ankle.

“I might not be fine…”

“…Ah.”

It finally dawned on him the posture they were in. Looking down at Sofia, snugly fitting within his arms, he finally realized.

(Wow… amazing…)

(Life is so unfair, so unequal… I devoted my youth to studying and failed to enter the pinnacle school, while there are students from there, shamelessly enjoying their youth in public… Ah, damn it!)

The gazes now were several levels more intense than before, shifting from fleeting glances to outright staring, no longer bothering to hide their curiosity. This was no longer mere observing; it was blatant gawking.

But perhaps that was inevitable.

After all, they were hugging each other tightly in the middle of a train. Depending on the viewer, they could be seen as a foolishly in love couple.

“Sorry, sorry!”

Realizing the situation, Keitaro immediately released Sofia, spreading his arms wide apart.

His face was hot. Even without a mirror, he could tell his face was as red as a tomato. He had messed up.

“It was a spur of the moment thing, honestly, there was not even a bit of… that intention.”

“I know… And I didn’t hate it at all… rather, I wanted… more…”

Sofia, her face flushed, covered her mouth with her hand and looked up at Keitaro timidly.

“Good morning, Keitaro. And you too, Sofia.”

Suddenly, an intruder appeared out of nowhere.

“Whoa!?”

“Ah!”

Both of them jumped at the sound, their hearts racing to the point of nearly popping out. It felt like their stomachs and intestines were about to follow suit. They were on the verge of dying right there.

Turning to look at the source of the voice, Keitaro saw a very familiar face.

“…It’s you, Tsubaki.”

“Good morning…”

Next to a relieved Keitaro, Sofia bowed her head.

“Wow, what a scene first thing in the morning. This is a train, you know? Geez, I can’t help but wonder what kind of events you two have been through when I wasn’t around.”

Tsubaki’s lips curved up mischievously, looking utterly amused, as if he had found a toy that promised endless entertainment.

“It was just Sofia nearly falling, so I caught her, that’s all.”

Keitaro quickly defended himself.

He couldn’t bear the thought of being seen as a guy who would shamelessly cling to a girl on a train he took nearly every morning. He made his innocence clear, speaking a bit louder than necessary, more for the other passengers than for Tsubaki.

“Sure, sure, no need for excuses. I understand. So, have you decided when you’re getting married?”

“Hey, cut it out.”

“Ahaha, just kidding.”

This sly fox, Tsubaki, was laughing carelessly, as if it was all someone else’s amusement.

Keitaro glared at him, but it was like water off a duck’s back to Tsubaki, who remained unaffected.

“Anyway, it’s rare to see you in a uniform, Keitaro. What’s the occasion?”

Tsubaki suddenly changed the subject, examining Keitaro as if he was an object under scrutiny. If he had a magnifying glass, he would have looked like a professional. Of what, Keitaro had no idea.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m just as clueless.”

Keitaro responded curtly.

Right after that,

“But it suits you so well!”

Sofia energetically waved her fists, closing in on Keitaro, showering him with praise. Her eyes sparkled with a strong will, almost overwhelming.

“…Thanks, I guess.”

Keitaro instinctively stepped back, in fact, he did step back. He ended up bumping into the train door.

“Yeah, I have to agree with Sofia on this one.”

Tsubaki quickly added his own praise to the mix.

“Seriously… What’s with all the flattery? Are you trying to get me to climb a tree or something?”

Keitaro scratched his head and squinted at Tsubaki, full of suspicion.

“Ah, come on, it’s just honest appreciation. Right, Sofia?”

“Yes, Keitaro is really cool.”

The excessive praise made Keitaro feel awkward. He wasn’t a masochist, but he found insults far more comfortable to deal with.

“Huh… cut it out. It’s embarrassing, and I don’t want to get carried away.”

He sighed deeply, leaning against the door and closing his eyes, crossing his arms.

“I’d love to see a carried-away Keitaro.”

“Give me a break.”

As he bumped his head against the cold upper part of the door, a short sigh escaped his lips involuntarily.

The train felt like a cargo wagon, carrying him off to his destination as if he was being shipped out. With this sentiment, Keitaro was transported to where he needed to go.