The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 4.1

Reunion 1

(Ugh… Looking back, I can’t find anything wrong with me. It was completely someone else’s problem. There’s nothing wrong with running away from this situation. In fact, that would be the normal thing to do. The most natural decision.)

Even though he understood this, Keitaro couldn’t bring himself to act on it. Somehow or another, Keitaro was a man who strangely adhered to his sense of duty. One might even say he was soft on his own people.

Keitaro himself would never initiate anything. He hated troublesome matters and considering making an effort was out of the question.

He always wanted to spend his time idly within the confines of his room, sleeping away. Such was the apathetic human he was.

Yet, once he got involved, no matter how troublesome it was, he would not abandon it midway.

Even if it was a promise made under condition, he wasn’t the type to irresponsibly throw away something he had decided to do.

He had a very twisted and troublesome personality, but that was also part of Keitaro’s charm.

(…Guess there’s no helping it. I should brace myself. Let’s get this over with quickly and go home.)

After taking a deep, deep breath, Keitaro finally steeled his resolve. Having made up his mind, the first step was to choose someone to talk to.

(Someone who looks like they would kindly reject me would be good. If I get glared at and cursed out, I’d want to die. I should avoid people with flashy appearances. So, someone with black hair and a calm aura, maybe?)

While pondering, Keitaro scanned his surroundings.

(It’s no good… There’s no one who seems approachable to me. What about that old lady with a cane? No, that’s probably not a good idea.)

When thinking about whom to approach, every human being seemed terrifying. No matter who he chose, he could only see a future where he gets hurt.

Keitaro’s spirit was already breaking.

(Ayasaka Keitaro, what are you doing? Just give a simple greeting and end it. Then go home. If it goes on like this, it will never end… Huh, what’s that?)

As Keitaro was grinding his teeth over his own ineptitude, he noticed the crowd in front of him starting to get noisy.

(Is it a shooting or something?)

The center of the street gradually cleared, and people naturally started to gather on the sides of the road. It seemed they were watching someone walking from a distance.

Could it be a celebrity? Keitaro decided to follow suit and move to the side of the road as well.

Then from the right came Hiroshi, pressing his forehead with a sigh, and from the left, Tsubaki spoke up cheerfully.

“Keitaro, even your ex-girlfriend would be dismayed listening to this. What’s with that pathetic look? It’s embarrassing even for us to watch.”

“Eh, really? I didn’t find it boring though. I could watch it forever.”

“You guys…”

Glaring at the two of them with an annoyed look, yet since his attempt at picking up girls could now possibly be swept under the rug due to this mysterious incident, Keitaro felt sincerely grateful from the bottom of his heart.

“But what exactly is going on?”

“Maybe a celebrity came by?”

“If that’s the case, it’s their private time. I don’t see any cameras around. Let’s leave them be. Being stared at like that by strangers isn’t a pleasant feeling. Let’s go home.”

The shadow approaching them was alone, with no signs of cameras around.

Keitaro had no thoughts other than going home, using the commotion as his cover. Leaving those words behind for the distracted duo, he began to walk away hastily when,

“Man, that was refreshing for the eyes.”

“Yeah, that girl was just like a doll. Or maybe a fairy.”

“I’m thinking about studying abroad in Europe. Then I can get a blonde, blue-eyed, nice-bodied girlfriend there. Yes, decided.”

“Not everyone is like that. Don’t dream too much. You’ll only end up disappointed.”

The conversation shared by the men walking from the front reached Keitaro’s ears. It seemed this commotion was caused by a foreign beauty with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Hearing this information, a memory from the distant past crossed Keitaro’s mind.

(I never thought I’d recall it twice in one day. I had completely forgotten about it for years… I wonder if Sophia is doing well.)

Sophia, who had come to Keitaro’s house for a homestay for half a year, was also a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Sophia was always looking down, a shy girl who hid her eyes with her long bangs, but she opened her heart only to Keitaro. For Keitaro, Sophia was also an irreplaceable existence.

I’ve heard that in foreign countries, people with darker personalities have a harder time than in Japan. Keitaro sincerely hoped that Sophia was still doing well.

“You go talk to her.”

“No way. She’s not someone you can just casually approach. In fact, it’s strange she even exists in three dimensions.”

“But she’s pulling a suitcase, so she must be a traveler, right? Maybe she’ll ask for directions or something.”

“Not happening.”

A girl so beautiful that she could cause such a stir among people must be quite something.

But that didn’t really concern Keitaro. He continued walking.

“Ah… she’s really beautiful, I’m envious.”

“Her face is so small, she’s tall, and her legs are long… I’m so jealous…”

“She might be a famous model from overseas.”

Even girls of the same sex were casting ecstatic glances toward the center of the street.

Admiration, envy, a myriad of emotions filled the air as the girls voiced their awe, and Keitaro thought,

(Being too beautiful is also a hardship. If you’re always looked at like that, you wouldn’t even have a moment to relax.)

For Keitaro, who disliked being the subject of curious stares, the idea was terrifying. Just imagining it made him shudder.

(Well, it’s none of my business anyway. I’m a shadow dweller, living quietly in the corners.)

With a nihilistic smile, Keitaro was about to continue walking when he heard frantic footsteps approaching from behind.

“Hey, wait, Keitaro!”

“That’s so typical of you, Keitaro.”

Noticing the two chasing after him while repeatedly calling his name, Keitaro reluctantly stopped.

Tsk, caught… Having failed to escape, Keitaro let out a deep sigh and then said,

“Don’t keep repeating someone’s name like that. It’s embarrassing.”

But midway through turning around,

“…Kei, taro…?”

As if pondering aloud with a question mark, his name was called out.

The voice was a beautiful soprano, pleasant to the ears.

Meaning, it wasn’t the two behind him.

Then who? The answer was simple: the person at the center of attention on this main street.

Naturally, Keitaro turned his gaze toward the source of the voice, toward the center of the street.

“…Keitaro…?”