The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 33

No matter what, overly protective.

Sofia’s behavior had become extremely strange.

It was as if she had wandered into a parallel world.

In exchange, the previously too-close distance… whether it’s appropriate to say so is unclear, but it wasn’t the super-close distance where shoulders would touch, so let’s just say it’s appropriate. That would be more convenient.

Considering only the distance, it had become exactly what Keitaro had hoped for. This should be a cause for tears of joy. He should be infinitely grateful to Tsubaki for saving him from a predicament.

Right? In less than thirty seconds after that, the train they were on arrived at Minamitsuma-hon, and numerous students from the peak of wisdom began to board one after another. Ah, it was indeed a close call.

Somehow, they managed to make it within the time limit. If the distance had remained as it was before, it would have been game over at that moment.

A threadbare connection to a peaceful student life.

Yet, somehow, my heart isn’t completely at ease. There’s no sense of exhilaration as if things went according to plan.

Even in the rattling train or on the way from the train to the school,

(I wonder if things will really revert back to normal…)

Keitaro was preoccupied with such thoughts, endlessly worrying.

Sofia, maintaining a proper distance, walked slightly behind. It was normal. Despite being normal, it felt out of place. Perhaps because it was too normal.

It feels like we were always together except for bathing and sleeping this past week. Since the only outings were pretty much just to the supermarket, it was natural to spend almost all our time inside the house.

So, to be honest, if this peculiar Sofia continued indefinitely, it wouldn’t be good for my mental health.

It’s like suddenly having to use your non-dominant hand. There might not be any problem, but it feels strongly uncomfortable. It’s unsettling.

Whether Tsubaki knew of Keitaro’s feelings or not, he probably did, but,

“Hey hey Keitaro, what’s wrong? You seem to have a rather gloomy face to me?”

With an incredibly cheerful face, Tsubaki spoke to him, so,

“It’s better than having a floating face,”

Keitaro retorted sharply, bluntly, without a moment’s delay.

“Are you that worried about Sofia?”

“…”

He was bluntly hit with the core issue. He couldn’t find the words to reply. But admitting straightforwardly that he was concerned would be annoying.

So, Keitaro decided to answer that question with actions rather than words. Silently, he turned around to check on the situation behind him.

“Pui~,”

The moment their eyes met, Sofia turned her gaze towards the day after tomorrow. Maybe even towards next month. She turned her face away significantly.

To think someone would actually say “pui~” out loud, Keitaro thought but decided not to voice that out.

He shifted his gaze back to Tsubaki smoothly.

“Will she really revert back to normal?”

“Hmm, who knows?”

Tsubaki raised both hands, tilting his head slightly.

The epitome of irresponsibility. It was as if it was someone else’s problem. Well, it was someone else’s problem, to be fair.

Since, in the first place, it was something requested by him, it was hard to be assertive. He couldn’t get angry.

“Come on, you…”

Keitaro let out a powerless sigh. That was all he could do at that moment.

“It depends on Keitaro whether Miss Sofia will revert back or not.”

“Depends on me, huh… Then what kind of route should I choose? I haven’t even seen any options yet.”

“Why not just hug her tight right now?”

“That’s too out of context. What kind of perverted protagonist is that? Fire the scriptwriter.”

Just the thought of suddenly hugging her in public made his body tremble. That option was certainly the wrong one, he could assert with confidence. He could proclaim it at the center of the world.

“Hey hey Keitaro, do you not have any sexual desires?”

Suddenly, and utterly out of the blue, Tsubaki threw in an outrageous question.

That question was the most mismatched for a refreshing morning. If there was ever a time that question could be allowed, it might be during a school trip night. Well, even then, he’d prefer sticking to the classic topics about one’s favorite girl or something.

“What are you asking someone so early in the morning? I’ll sue you for sexual harassment.”

“No, but, you know, Miss Sofia is amazing, right?”

“Amazing? In what way?”

Keitaro could roughly understand what Tsubaki meant. Sadly, he got it.

However, even if it was just for formality’s sake, he should pretend not to know.

Indeed, Sofia’s chest was large, and yes, they were soft and smelled nice, but that wasn’t so much of an issue. It shouldn’t be… Probably, maybe, likely.

“Come on, you know~”

Tsubaki, grinning, poked him in the ribs. Exceedingly annoying.

“Keep it down, don’t look at her with those weird eyes.”

“So, it’s okay for me alone to look at her like that, is that it?”

“Haaah… What kind of leap in logic is that…”

A deep sigh escaped from Keitaro’s mouth. It felt like it might impact the local CO2 concentrations, such was the volume of that sigh.

“Then, what if I happen to fall in love with Miss Sofia, what would you do?”

Tsubaki’s unexpected question.

This time, it wasn’t a lowbrow one, but it didn’t feel any better to be asked. No comment.

With a sullen face, Keitaro replied,

“I wouldn’t do anything. But, well, if anything, swear to protect Sofia no matter what hardships arise. Even if you have to make enemies of the world, promise to protect her in front of me. If it’s half-hearted, I won’t forgive you. That’s all. Simple, huh?”

“Eh, is that simple?”

While Tsubaki tilted his head, questioning, Keitaro slightly curled the corners of his mouth.

“Hah, simple.”

He declared with a daring smile.

“That’s the minimum level of determination I’d expect.”

“Sounds pretty high to me.”

“Idiot, I’m talking about the starting line here. The hurdles are still way ahead.”

“Eh… Then, Keitaro, could you tell me what you think are the conditions for a man you can trust Sofia with?”

“Hmm,” crossing his arms, Keitaro pondered for a moment.

Then,

“Well, the primary condition is being able to protect Sofia, so someone with specs higher than hers would be desirable. Someone who doesn’t look inferior standing next to her. If we’re talking about height, over 180 cm would be nice. And since Sofia is cute, his face should be fitting as well. And his brain should be better than Sofia’s, too. Well, roughly speaking, someone like that… I can wholeheartedly entrust her to,”

Keitaro elaborated on the conditions of a man he could entrust Sofia to, one after another.

“Tsubaki probably thought, isn’t that exactly Keitaro?” but he kept that thought to himself.

“Hmm, I wonder if such an amazing person really exists?”

“Well… Who knows. Ah, it’s a joke. Who am I to approve or disapprove, to entrust or not entrust? Who does the peanut gallery think they are? If you like someone, just like them. That’s all. Whoever Sofia likes, I’m okay with anyone. Be it a man or a woman, truly anyone. …So, with that, this topic is closed. End of discussion, stand up, bow, dismissal.”

With a decisive conclusion, Keitaro steered the conversation to an end.

He didn’t want to dwell on the topic, nor did he want to think about it, so he quickly wrapped it up. Although he himself might not have realized it, the undertones of his words made it clear.

“Wow, you say such cool things. I might just fall for you, Keitaro.”

“Seriously, stop it, it’s creepy.”

As Tsubaki clapped his hands, Keitaro averted his gaze and faced straight ahead, taking long strides forward.

(Sigh… Keitaro is so easy to read.)

Watching Keitaro’s retreating back, Tsubaki shrugged slightly.

(Well, how about this?)

Turning around leisurely,

“Hehe, hehehehe… the plan is working perfectly… Keitaro is really, really worried about me… he cares about me so much… I’m too happy…”

The center of the earlier conversation, Sofia, was making an ecstatic expression, squirming with delight.

It seems Sofia had heard everything. When Keitaro was voicing his theories earlier, she was all ears, and Tsubaki had actually caught her in the act. She was so focused on Keitaro’s words that Tsubaki could almost see her ears perk up like a dog’s.

“Wow, Sofia is also easy to read. Keitaro probably hasn’t noticed that she was eavesdropping the whole time.”

With another sigh and a shrug, Tsubaki followed after Keitaro. Of course, Sofia did the same.

The school was just a bit further ahead.

tln : Finally, after a whole month authors not releasing anything :’