Chapter 28: It’s a time bomb, not a land mine.

Translator: Soafp

---

“Sorry for the interruption.”

“Ah, Welcome back, Onii-chan.”

　I went to Kusunoki’s house again today. After all this time, isn’t it bad to be a guy who comes into a girl’s house who lives alone? There are a lot of stories about girls moving into the homes of guys who live alone, but not many of the reverse. I have a hunch that a runaway girl moving in with a guy who lives alone is a romantic comedy, but is it because reversing the sexes would smell like a crime?

　Though letting a runaway girl stay at home is also treated as confinement if it’s not good.

　I sit down on the sofa, wondering which is better. I took out my study materials because I had a test coming up, and glanced at Kusunoki.

“………”

　Kusunoki’s school also has a test coming up, so she seems to be studying, but she’s shaking her head in frustration. Is she in a bad mood?

“Are you in a bad mood?”

“Yes.”

　I asked her straightforwardly and she gave me a straightforward answer. It’s not like she’s frustrated because she’s studying something she doesn’t understand, so something must have happened at school.

　I’m not going to ask what happened. I don’t think I need to go out of my way to step on a landmine.

　Just as I was thinking about making dinner a little more luxurious, Kusunoki exploded.

“I’m so frustrated! I can’t study at all!”

“It’s not a mine, it’s a time bomb.”

　Even if I don’t step on it, there’s nothing I can do if it explodes, right?

“If you’re pissed off, why don’t you play a game to relieve the stress?”

　It’s hard to concentrate on studying when she is shouting. I’d rather have the sound of the game as background music. It’s the last day before the test, but I’m not going to be able to study at this point, so I think I need a distraction.

“…Right, I could use a distraction.”

　Kusunoki said and went through the software I had brought with me.

“I don’t know which one is the most interesting. Oh, I believe this one is very popular.”

　Kusunoki then picked up Bloodborne.

Oi, idiot, don’t do that.

One hour later

“………”

　There, I found Kusunoki sleeping on the sofa.

I warned you not to do that.

“………”

　It’s not a game you play to relieve stress. It’s rather stressful. Eventually, though, you feel enlightened.

“Just eat the meal. Then play another game or resume your studies.”

“………”

　Kusunoki silently got up and sat down. Then she started to gobble down the food I made (cheese in hamburger steak and pot-au-feu). As a girl, how do you eat like that?

“…..It was a good distraction. I had a bad day at school, but I can forgive it now… no, I can’t.”

“I see. I’ll listen to you complain if you want.”

“My ex-friend has been getting involved lately. She keeps telling me what I should be doing. She tells me how to be a lady, how to be a good role model for other students, and so on. I don’t know if she thinks she’s right, but she doesn’t listen to anything I say, and it’s really annoying.”

“You’re getting tangled up with someone who looks like trouble. She seems to be very conscious.”

　The girl may have good intentions, but for those who can’t accept that idea, it’s just annoying.

　I don’t know the details, but I heard they were friends and she’s trying to take care of Kusunoki to get back together with her?

“I’ve finally escaped the shackles of my parents, why do I have to let my classmates tell me what to do?”

　Even if you wanted to get back together, you wouldn’t be able to get closer if you approached it wrong.

“………”

“………”

Kusunoki was playing an honor student and seemed to be doing well in her studies.

“Hmm…”

　I got as far as I could and looked at my watch. It’s time to go home.

“I’m going home soon. I’m leaving now. I won’t be back tomorrow.”

“I see, got it. Good night.”

“Yeah, good night.”

　Tomorrow was the study session that Saijo had invited me to. I hope it will be a meaningful one anyway.

---