I paid off the debt for the most beautiful sisters in the school, and then they barged into my house where I live alone. “Please go back home; you don’t need to repay the favor.” “No way.” “We don’t want to~☆”

Several days had passed since then.

Even when we crossed paths at school, Kamiyo didn’t interact with me beyond a simple greeting. It seemed she had heeded my request.

I had poked my nose into an unexpected trouble, but it seemed to have ended smoothly.

Although my savings had diminished somewhat, I didn’t mind. I had no intention of living extravagantly, and I still had enough assets to live on.

I can only be grateful to Mr. Izumido, who skillfully diversified the money I had earned and invested it in excellent opportunities.

“Hey, Mr. Izumido. This was the right thing to do, wasn’t it?”

Lying on the sofa at home, I mutter to no one in particular.

My benefactor, now deceased.

Azuma-san’s former boss.

Lawyer Mr. Izumido.

He once told me,

“It’s good to splash out money earned through gambling somewhere. Preferably for someone else. Your grandpa did the same. Occasionally, though.”

I remembered not only his words but also his mischievous smile, like a naughty old man.

Life is truly troublesome. Somewhere along the way, you end up owing someone.

But perhaps this incident was just the right opportunity.

I never felt like volunteering to help a stranger, but with Kamiyo, I could satisfy myself by helping a familiar beautiful girl.

I had always thought that to indirectly repay those who helped me in the past, I must someday do something like helping others?

This time, that was fulfilled.

Once I graduate from high school, all the promises made with Mr. Izumido will be over.

If I can continue to live a reclusive life for the rest of my life, that’s enough.

I suppose I’ve chosen “that kind of life” in the end.

“Haah. Seriously. Living is nothing but trouble――huh?”

As I was getting exasperated with my monologue, which had become easier to slip into after living alone for so long, the intercom rang.

How rare?

There are hardly any visitors to my house.

If there were any, it would be deliveries, but I don’t remember ordering anything recently.

Puzzled, I went to the entrance and opened the door.

I regretted it as soon as I opened it.

――I should have confirmed the face through the entrance monitor.

Then I could have pretended not to be home.

“Hello. Kagami-kun.”

“…Kamiyo-san, why?”

“This time, I won’t let you escape.”

From Kamiyo-san’s face, I could not detect any of the confusion or bewilderment she had shown a few days ago.

“Um, Kamiyo-san? What exactly are you?”

“May I come in?”

“No, so why are you here?”

“May I come in?”

“………………”

Kamiyo repeats the same question with a straight face.

Her determination comes through strangely.

Is she determined to come into my house no matter what?

Ah, damn it. What on earth is this?

Kamiyo, who seems to be glaring at me, looks tired, perhaps from carrying such a large bag.

“Haah… alright. You can come in for a coffee. If instant’s fine with you.”

“Yes, thank you.”

I wonder why she’s so pumped up just to enter someone’s house.

I take coffee to Kamiyo, who’s looking around the living room.

It would have been nice to have some thoughtful tea sweets, but unfortunately, I don’t have any.

“Here. I can only offer a drink, though.”

“No, thank you. I was thirsty.”

“Well, you would be, carrying that huge bag around. What’s with that luggage?”

It looks like she’s about to go on a trip.

Is she running away at night?

The debt should have been paid, so that’s unlikely.

“This is for work, sort of, daily necessities for staying over.”

“Ah, staying over.”

I get it.

She was on her way to that workplace and stopped by to inquire further about the matter the other day. Is that what she meant by not letting me escape? Persistent one.

Kamiyo’s debt may be gone, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s still strapped for cash. It wouldn’t be surprising if she were working.

If she’s a single mother with a hospitalized mother, it’s natural. Public assistance may be available, but there are limits.

But staying over for work is a rather unusual choice.

It certainly seems to pay well, but it seems quite risky for a girl of her age to do if her employer is a man. Is that prejudice?

“I don’t know. Staying over for work doesn’t seem suitable for someone like Kamiyo.”

“Really? Not suitable for living in?”

Kamiyo suddenly looks anxious.

Staying over? Living in? That’s even more dangerous.

“What are you going to do if something happens to you?”

“Will something happen?”

I don’t know. Don’t ask me.

“It’s better to be cautious in case something does happen. I think it’s a losing game to trust strangers,” I say.

“Trust… No, I want to believe, so…”

Is she even listening?

Haah. Well, whatever. It’s none of my business anyway.

“Alright then. Good luck.”

“Yes. Thank you!”

――Huh?

“What do you mean, thank you?”

What am I supposed to do?

“So, living in.”

“………………Huh?”