Chapter 41: Angel Rings × Loved Ones (Necessary for Escape)

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“…I can’t believe you’re Yuuta-sama’s uncle…”

“Well, I could say the same. I didn’t know your mom was running a staffing agency.”

It was eleven o’clock on Saturday morning when our guests arrived.

First, Ange burst in, and I was just thinking about introducing her to Jones-san when I noticed two other familiar faces at the door.

I never expected that Jones-san’s business partner would be someone so close. And next to Mrs. Kurebayashi was her daughter, who looked like she had dead eyes.

If I had known this, I would have arranged to meet Jones-san and Ange somewhere outside instead of having them come to my apartment. Now, not only Kojima-san but also Mrs. Kurebayashi and her daughter know my address.

Glancing over, I saw…

“…”

Kurebayashi-san was avoiding eye contact, her eyes devoid of any light, almost like a dead fish.

She must have taken it hard when I asked her mom to tell her that I didn’t need her bento anymore and that we should keep our distance.

…Yeah, leaving a girl like her alone at home could end badly. I wouldn’t be surprised to come back and find her hanging from the ceiling.

I felt a bit guilty, but it couldn’t be helped.

“Hey, Yuuta, you know Mrs. Kurebayashi?”

“…Her daughter is in the same department as me.”

“Oh, what a coincidence! This must be fate; Mrs. Kurebayashi might just be the perfect business partner!”

“…”

Jones-san was celebrating his new venture, thrilled about the bright future ahead. That’s fine and all, but does this mean that no matter how hard I try to distance myself, NTR keeps creeping closer to me? Is this fate too?

I’ve been thinking about this ever since my mom mentioned it, but there’s no way I’ll come up with an answer.

“…So, Yuuta. I have to run some errands with Mrs. Kurebayashi today. It might take a while, so I’ll contact you again tonight.”

Great, there goes my plan to mooch lunch off Jones-san.

“…Yeah, sure. Take care.”

I forced a nonchalant response, hiding my urge to collapse to my knees, and then came the finishing blow from Mrs. Kurebayashi.

“…Excuse me, Yuuta-sama. I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you watch over Mii for a little while?”

“…Huh?”

“Mii’s mental state is such that I couldn’t leave her alone, so I had to bring her along unexpectedly. But we’re supposed to meet with three more people, and our car is full.”

“…”

“…Is that okay?”

It almost sounded like a threat. Of course, I could refuse, but Mrs. Kurebayashi probably didn’t mean it that way. Still, turning down the request of someone who is not only Jones-san’s business partner but also a highly capable agent (in theory) who could do who-knows-what was daunting.

I thought about how I always strive to protect Emily and ensure she's never alone or in distress. Understanding how Kurebayashi must feel about her daughter, I couldn't help but sympathize.

“Sure, I’ll look after her,” I finally said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. “Don’t worry about it.”

***

And so, in my small one-room apartment…

“…So, you’re Kurebayashi Mii-san. You’re in the same department as my Onii-chan? Lucky you.”

“Uh, how old are you, Ange-chan?”

“I’m a third-year in middle school. I can’t wait to grow up…”

“…”

Here we were, me, Ange, and Kurebayashi-san, all crammed into this tiny room, creating a chaotic and confusing situation. It felt crowded.

I thought it might be a dangerous mix, but Ange vaguely remembered Kojima-san and didn’t seem to recall Kurebayashi-san at all. Back when I was dating Kurebayashi-san, Ange was still wearing her angel-winged backpack.

As a result, there was no hostility, and somehow, they were having a conversation.

Ange usually isn’t comfortable with pushy people, regardless of gender, but Kurebayashi-san now was like a timid little kitten, far from the bold girl she once was.

And with me around, Ange’s cool façade always slips, making it easier for her to talk.

“So, Kurebayashi-san, are you close with my brother?”

“…”

Ange dropped a bombshell of a question just as I was getting comfortable. What a thing to ask.

But Kurebayashi-san looked down without even glancing at me.

“…No, we’re not close… at all…”

She answered in a barely audible voice.

Naturally, Ange didn’t catch the underlying meaning… did she? I started to feel uneasy.

“Really? But my Onii-chan is so cool, he must be popular, right?”

“…”

“My Onii-chan can’t ignore someone in trouble, and he’s always considerate. He can be scary when he’s serious, but he’s really kind and cool. I’m so proud of him.”

“…Yes, you’re right. That’s exactly how he is.”

Was Ange publicly executing me? I suddenly understood how it felt to be a villainess condemned in front of a third party.

“I can’t imagine life without my Onii-chan. So, Kurebayashi-san, please don’t take him away from me, okay?”

“Hey, Ange, that’s enough…”

Unable to stand Ange’s unknowing yet piercing words, I tried to intervene.

“Don’t worry, I won’t… Ange-chan, you’re so beautiful, nothing like dirty me… I could never compare…”

Kurebayashi-san’s negative outburst hit hard.

…Her eyes looked even more lifeless than before. I felt like playing ‘Get Wild’ as background music and getting out of there.