The Correct Japanese Terms of Homestay Seems to Be Marriage - Chapter 5

I Wanna Go Home

The setting changes from the bustling main street to the café where Keitaro had previously been the talk of the town.

“So, let’s hear the details. Right, Keitaro? Or should I say… traitor.”

“I want to hear it too. To think Keitaro had such a cute girlfriend. We’re supposed to be best friends, you could’ve told us, Keitaro. You’re so secretive.”

Inside the café, away from the terrace seats and tucked in a corner, Keitaro was being seriously roasted by two friends sitting across from him.

Naturally, sitting right next to Keitaro was Sophia, her expression blooming with a full smile. There was absolutely no space between the two; Sophia’s left side was perfectly aligned with Keitaro’s right, down to their shoe tips.

Adding to the enviable situation, Hiroshi’s eyes were bloodshot with clear fury, while Tsubaki maintained a calm expression, which only seemed eerily unsettling.

Calling the situation a bed of nails wouldn’t be an exaggeration, making Keitaro’s face involuntarily contort.

(…I… wanna go home…)

Keitaro’s mind wouldn’t rest for a moment, his stomach continuously screaming in distress.

Nonetheless, nothing would start until he introduced Sophia to the two, so stealing glances at Sophia, Keitaro hesitantly began,

“Uh, well… This is… She’s staying at our house for a homestay starting today…”

“Pleased to meet you, I’m Sophia Lipsett. Keitaro has always been a great help to me.”

Sophia bowed deeply with grace.

Her refined manner exuded a unique aura, like a wife greeting her husband’s acquaintances.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Hirofumi Hiroshi, a school friend of Keitaro.”

“I’m Nanamiya Tsubaki. Nice to meet you, Sophia.”

“Yes, nice to meet you too.”

As the three exchanged greetings, Keitaro grabbed the glass in front of him, tipped it to his mouth, and gulped down the cold water, quenching his thirst that rivaled the Sahara Desert.

“So, when did Keitaro and Sophia meet?”

“I’m very curious about that too. We’ve been friends for three years now, and I’ve never heard anything about this. Right?”

Sophia’s introduction shifted the mood back to tension, pressing Keitaro with an oppressive aura, drying his throat once again.

It felt like an interrogation, a different kind of pressure.

“It’s not like I had to mention it; it’s not that I was hiding it from you guys. Sophia came to my house for a homestay when I was in elementary school. That’s it, the end.”

Keitaro stated the facts plainly.

“Ah, so the girl Keitaro mentioned earlier was Sophia? You know, the one who said he held hands, slept in the same futon, and bathed together?”

Tsubaki’s eyes lit up as he made the connection and Sophia, blushing, bowed her head,

“Yes, that’s definitely me. I was so helpless back then that I feel embarrassed just remembering it…”

“…And Keitaro even washed me during bath times…”

Her shy admission was like a meteor striking, freezing the atmosphere instantly.

“Oh, is that so, Keitaro? How very kind and gentlemanly of you.”

“Wow… Keitaro used to be so attentive. It’s completely different now. He wouldn’t do anything for me even if I asked.”

Feeling the cold stares, Keitaro quickly clarified,

“What you’re imagining is different. I was just washing her head. Sophia was afraid of getting shampoo in her eyes, so if I didn’t wash it, she could never leave the bath.”

Keitaro defended his innocence, ensuring they didn’t think he had washed Sophia’s entire body.

“And it was a story from elementary school. Don’t jump to conclusions.”

“…But Keitaro was really kind. He always stayed with me, even though I was bad at Japanese and introverted. Without Keitaro, I probably would have died.”

Recalling the past, Sophia squeezed Keitaro’s right arm tightly, her face showing genuine emotion.

“…You’re exaggerating.”

“No! It’s not an exaggeration at all, Keitaro! You don’t understand how much you saved me!”

Responding to Keitaro’s mumble, Sophia protested, her face inching closer.

“I didn’t do anything special. I was just a kid, and it’s probably just nostalgia.”

“You did! When I got scared watching a scary TV show, Keitaro hugged me gently and said he’d protect me no matter what came out! And there’s more—”

Sophia’s fervent rebuttal continued. Normally, Keitaro would be flustered by such close proximity to a girl, but it seemed Sophia was an exception. Perhaps the experience of always being with Sophia, even for a short half-year, had deeply imprinted on him.

“Tsubaki, what a lonely life I lead… Caring for a foreign girl under the same roof, and now living together again… My life has no such gal game events…”

“Hiroshi, don’t be so down. That’s normal. Keitaro is the special one.”

Hiroshi, witnessing the vibrant youth unfolding before him, swallowed his tears, reflecting on his own grey life. Tsubaki shrugged with a “well, well” attitude.

“Come on, guys, calm down. Everyone’s looking.”

Hearing Tsubaki’s words, Keitaro and Sophia came to their senses and looked around, finally realizing everyone in the café was staring at them. They had become the center of attention once again.

“Sorry, my bad…”

“We apologize for causing any trouble…”

The two apologized in unison, their heads bowed together, creating a heartwarming scene.