Vol. 1 Chapter 3: Usami’s House

Translated and Edited by: ynlucca.

Common Honorifics:
-san: A polite suffix, but not excessively formal.
-kun: A common suffix among friends and younger people.
-chan: A common suffix among people you’re close with, mostly used for feminine nicknames and girls, since it’s cutesy and childlike.

---

“… Let’s get along with each other.”

“… did…” Usami quivered and whispered very quietly.

“Hm?”

“—I did it! Well then, Haru, let’s go on our way!”

“O–Oh, okay…”

Her momentum carried me away, and I nodded haphazardly.

“Come on, come on, let’s go! I’ve contacted my people, so a car should be here soon to pick us up!”

As soon as she said that, a car drove and stopped in front of us. It took them less than five minutes to get there.

The only problem—I mean, is it a problem?—Is that the said car was a limousine, a vehicle only the very rich are supposed to get in, the one we only see on manga and on TV.

“Follow me, Haru! Come here, I’ll go in after you.”

I was still stunned, but she urged me to get inside the limo. I hesitated a bit then I entered the luxurious car. She then got in and sat down next to me.

You know what? I don’t give a damn!

Letting the wind lead, I watched as the vacant lot slowly faded into the distance.

---

After what seemed like half an hour, we’d reached our destination. The whole ride was extremely comfortable, so much so I couldn’t feel any bumps in the road. Was it due to the car, or was it because the driver was too good? Both, maybe.

On our way there, she took out a fruit platter from God-knows-where, and took care of me in a very pampering way. To be honest, I couldn’t really refuse her because she was enjoying herself. I had no choice but to do whatever she wanted me to do.

“Shall we go then?”

She stepped out of the limo and held out her hand to me.

“Mhm.”

I took her hand, feeling a bit embarrassed. Leaving the car, the first thing I saw was what could only be described as a Western castle, the likes of which I’ve only seen in photographs. It was also tall, with numerous floors rising up from the ground.

“When did they build this… castle?”

Surely, I would’ve heard of a construction of this magnitude. I mean, it’s a big castle.

“Fufu~ I had this built in a rush a month ago. Had to pay a premium for that, too.”

“I… see…”

How much did it cost? I swallowed the question before I even tried to come up with answer. In fact, I don’t need to know anything but the fact it’s expensive.

“Come on Haru, let’s go.”

She held her hand out to me, and I see the image of her child-self overlap with her current one. I sense that if I do take it, there’d be no turning back.

I quickly decide to give up and grabbed her hand. We the started walking towards the castle towering over us.

---

Once inside, I definitely went to another world. At least, it felt like it.

The ceiling was incredibly high, and the carpet stretched on the floor was the softest I’d ever touched. Usami told me they were in a hurry so decoration was not ideal, but to me this seems at least good enough.

Her butlers and maids followed us, keeping a certain distance.

“First, let’s have a meal. Sakaki, get it ready!”

She looked at the elder butler behind her, and both he and a maid immediately started to move. Holding my hand, she leads me through the castle.

“Let’s see, this is the main bathroom… This is the study room…”

Tugging me along, she showed me various rooms. After about five minutes of walking, we arrived at a room where the meals were prepared. This one was comparatively small to everything here so far, and the food laying on the table was enough for two people.

She urged me to take a chair. Soon after, she sat down next to me.

“Let’s eat!”

I was nervous, but her warm smile relaxed me.

“Okay… Itadakimasu!”

I scooped up some of the soup nearby and took a sip.

Thinking back, when was the last time I ate something warm? Before I started dating Mei, I used to eat my mom’s cooking every day. However, once she and I started dating, I was so busy with all my jobs, and so full with her sh*t that I just ate rice balls and bread from the convenience store.

This meal’s warmth, which I hadn’t felt in a long, long time, seeped into me. With every bite, I felt a little bit of that comfort come back to me.

“Fufu~ Slow down a bit.”

Taking a bite after another, I didn’t really listen to her advice.

---

After our meal, I was next taken to the bathroom, where I enjoyed a very spacious bath. Then, I plopped down on the bed in my room, which was given to me.

I’ve come so far by just going with the flow… Honestly, I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve given Usami, who easily accepted a childhood friend she hasn’t seen in eight years, provided him with meals, a bath, and even clothes.

I’m not worthy of such hospitality.

… I’ve made up my mind. I’ll tell her I’m leaving tomorrow. Fortunately, I’ve got 150,000 yen (TL: Around 1,170 USD) in my bank account, so even if I leave this place, I’ll be able to survive for a while with a part-time job. It’s not good to depend too much on her, as I’ve done today.

As I lay in bed, thinking about what tomorrow may bring, I hear a knock at my door.

“It’s me, Usami. Can I come in right now, Haru?”

“Ah, yeah. It’s okay, come in!”

My voice’s a bit hoarse, but I urged her to come inside.

“Excuse me…”

She entered the room looking like she’d just gotten out of the bath, a thin layer of smoke rising from her body. The negligee she wore was uniformly pale-pink, and the sweet smell of her perfume made me feel clammy.

“Haru… can I sit next to you?”

Her asking me with upturned eyes unintentionally made me a bit excited.

“Y–Yeah.”

After I answered, she joyfully sat down next to me.

“Ehe, Ehehehe~”

Despite my nervousness, she really looks like she’s enjoying herself.

Sh*t! She’s just too cute! A minute ago I was determined to get out of this castle, but the way she stares into my eyes makes me think, “Can’t I just stay here for the rest of my life?”

I caught myself almost spoiling her, but I forced myself to say what I was thinking earlier.

“U–Usami!”

“Hm…? What is it, Haru?”

“Well… I can’t stay here, so I’m leaving tomorrow. I can’t keep letting you spoil me, nor can I keep involving you in all my problems.”

I couldn’t see her face as these words left my mouth. I kept expressing my thoughts to her.

“I’ll be alright, don’t worry! Tomorrow, I’ll leave this place—”

I felt her pulling me closer but I didn’t fight it. My head fell on her lap without any resistance, and I found myself on the famous lap-pillow.

“Haru… you don’t have to be so reserved, you know? There’s not a single person in this house that doesn’t like having you around.”

She stroke my head like a mother caring for her child, whispering gentle words to me. I couldn’t resist the sudden comfort, and simply listened to her tender voice as she urged me on.

“I… I’m kind of glad to be honest. When you were little, you were so full of energy and easy-going. I couldn’t do anything for you back then, but I can now. This makes me happy, y’know? So… you can just stay here, forever.”

Soon Usami’s voice faded into nothingness, and I drowned in her kindness. Tenderly running her hands through my hair, her scent enveloped me, and I slowly fell into a trance.

---

When I woke up, I’ve noticed the constant streams of light barging through the window. Morning had arrived.

Last night wasn’t a dream… was it? I couldn’t really believe it happened, but the faint lingering scent on the bed told another story.

I washed my face in my room’s bathroom, brushed my teeth, and left my bedroom. As soon as I stepped outside, I saw a maid there, waiting for me.

“Good morning, milord. Your meal is already prepared, would you like it?”

“Um… Yeah, thanks.”

“Well then, I’d be happy to show you the way.”

I can’t get used to having maids around all the time… She’s also very beautiful.

The maid walking in front of me had shoulder-length black hair, neatly cut, and styled in a slicked back style. As I walked along, staring at her, we eventually arrived at the place we’d eaten yesterday.

“We’ve arrived, sir. If you happen to need anything, just call me. My name is Nijo. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” she then walked back to a group of servants nearby.

“Good morning, Haru.”

“Morning, Usami.”

She greeted me as soon as I entered the room, and I followed suit. She’d already changed into her school uniform, a sailor outfit perfectly ironed and tight-fitting.

Sitting down, we each thanked for our foods, and breakfast started. It took around half an hour to finish it, and we even had an after-meal brewed coffee to go along with it.

Yum! I thought coffee was just bitter, but this is amazing!

As I delected myself with the surprise that brew was, Usami unexpectedly opened her mouth.

“Haru, I don’t think you’re comfortable letting me take care of you for free, are you?”

“Y–Yeah, I’m not…”

I answered honestly.

“That’s why I have a proposal. Can you be my valet starting today?”

“Um, what do you mean by ’valet’?”

That’s a new word.

“Oh, right! At my school, we can only bring one valet each to take care of us. Haru, why don’t you become one and look after me?”

“Look after you…”

According to the story, it seems that her school is a place where only the so-called rich attend, and among the students there are many children who have been overprotected and find it difficult to go about their daily lives. For this reason, the school apparently allows a system of valets.

And she’s asking me to become one.

“I’ll be more than happy to be cared for by you! You won’t feel guilty anymore either, so it’s a win-win situation for both of us!”

I pondered over if her suggestion was good or not, but—

“… Is it a bad idea, after all?” She glanced anxiously at me, eager for my response.

… It would be wrong to refuse her after all she’s done for me. And most of all, I want to be with her.

Reaffirming my feelings, I reply to her.

“I look forward to working with you, Usami.”

---

Can’t wait for his revenge >:)
Don’t worry, it’ll come.

Thank you for reading! Feel free to comment your opinions below!

Also, if you enjoyed my translation and would like to feed my caffeine addiction, click on the button below and buy me a cup of coffee.

---