Ahh, this is really such a pain. This world’s language is pretty handy in that I can use most wasei-eigo words fine, but sometimes proper nouns and slang trip me up. They’re just slightly off.
Most people let it go in one ear and out the other, but the ones with keen intuitions latch on and don’t let go.
“Miss Haru, could you two be—?”
“Ahh, the shop is going to open soon! Anyhow, I’ll give Chiba a talking to for you. But more importantly, Kiyori!”
“Y-Yes?”
“You need to speak up more when you’re talking about your feelings, too. Boys in general have trouble hearing. And don’t lose to the misogynists! It’s men and women that make the world go ’round!”
“I-I have no idea what you’re talking about...”
“That is all! Break!”
I chased her off and went back to work. I was busy. I had to make like Shequraso’s boyfriend and fill her hole. I had to work my butt off.
“Lupe, Haru and Kiyori just don’t understand how the protagonist feels during the sad part of the story. They don’t get naked or anything—they just start lecturing. They’re spergs, I swear, total spergs.”
“Hmm. I don’t really get it, but men and women don’t always have the easiest time understanding each other...”
But I couldn’t stand listening to Chiba grumble to Lupe, and I threw some water on him.
“Augh, that’s cold! And my head isn’t a koi or a Carp!”
“Shut it! I don’t need that crap—just get over here. Pay 100 rubers and follow me!”
“Geez, look at you, all in heat... Sorry, Lupe. I’ll see you later.”
“U-Uh, okay. But just so you know, I think Haru is actually mad? That’s kind of a big deal, so it could be fatal if you misunderstand.”
I was already stomping up the stairs, and behind me Chiba was spouting his wrong ideas. The second we got into my room, I threw him over my shoulder.
“I may not look the type, but I was in judo club as an elementary-schooler!”
“Don’t go bringing up that backstory detail now!”
Chiba flew along a beautiful arc and landed on the bed. I jumped up and choked him.
“Stop causing everyone trouble, Chiba!”
The fuck is the ‘sad part of the story,’ you dumbass anime otaku.
You got strong so easily, but now because of one setback, you’re doomed? Every day is the sad part of the story for sex workers! Don’t take us so lightly, asshole! Don’t underestimate the bottom rung!
Live like your life depends on it, you idiot.
“Stop it, Haru.” He had no trouble peeling my hands off his throat and flipping me over to get on top. “I’m stronger, and I don’t want to hurt you.” Then he added, “I only let you throw me ‘cause it was you,” like a creep. “And I let you dump that water on me from behind, too. If it were anyone else, I would have cut their arm off.”
I dunno what kind of life an innodiator (is that right?) leads, but Chiba, like the other adventurers who make their living hunting demons, has this gory vibe about him now.
“Because my strength is for protecting you.”
“...But like I said, you’ve never once protected me.”
“The reason I protect this city from monsters is because you’re in it.”
“You’re just racking up XP!”
“I’m forging my destiny. The protagonist has to get stronger.”
He started going on about how we shared the fate of coming from another world and moved his lips closer to my neck.
He pinned my arms to the bed.
Roughly, as if I were his prey.
“Don’t get too cocky or I’ll murder you, otaku scum!”
But I slept with guys like that every night. It wasn’t about to faze me.
I can survive without your protection. I have been! I’ve been surviving on my own in this world.
I can lay a guy flat any time just by kicking him in the balls. The only reason I don’t is because I made a promise to those kids! You’re the one who’s scared, weirdo!
“...I’m not getting cocky.” But Chiba didn’t chicken out like usual. He sighed and sat up. “I wasn’t getting cocky, dammit! You were, Haru! This isn’t school, and we’re not in class anymore. Don’t call me otaku scum ever again!”
He held me down and screamed with a serious face I’d never seen on him before.
“I know you used to call me and my friends that! I know you laughed at us. You looked at us like we were a different species, right? But that classroom wasn’t only for you guys! It was ours, too! But you were always the center of attention, surrounded by your friends, laughing your big dumb laugh about the stupidest shit, so popular and always having fun!”
It was the first time Chiba had mentioned the other world. I remembered that I had never talked to him in class.
“We weren’t being cocky at all! We weren’t even given the space to! Not that it matters anymore. In this world I’m the protagonist, I’m surrounded by cute girls, and you’re a sub-heroine now! But know this”—he pointed at me with tears in his eyes—“Why do you think I died protecting you? Shouldn’t you be more grateful to me? I...I just thought, wouldn’t it be great if instead of every day being so boring, this was a romantic comedy with you as the heroine? I was thinking that forever! So now why are you all pissy right when things suck for me? I don’t fucking get it! Why aren’t you consoling me like you should? Without me, how will you even make it in this world? Without me, you’re doomed!” Chiba screamed, crying with both hands over his face. More like “off the rails peninsula.”
That was the first time I heard this guy’s true feelings. But they were even worse than I had imagined.
“Move, Chiba.”
We’re done. I can’t take this anymore.
We’ve been weird ‘friends’ for a while, or maybe not long at all, huh?
“I’ve always thought you were kinda gross, but now you’re the biggest creep ever.”
“Heh,” his shoulders flinched as he laughed.
Then he dropped his pants.
“Oh, right. I see. You still think you’re Haru Koyama, member of the classroom’s highest caste. But you’re not. You’re just a whore. And I’m a customer, so...”
His pale cock stuck out. He shoved it toward me and said, “Suck it.”
“Yes, sir!”
I did my job.
That’s business, so I did it like I’m supposed to.
Chiba is sensitive, so when I touched the tip with my tongue, his hips shivered.
Watching me suck his cock on my hands and knees, he laughed as he cried. “Heh... Haru’s...sucking my cock....”
Yeah, I am.
I, apparently member of the classroom’s highest whatever, am sucking your weirdo cock.
Get as horny as you like.
“Nn, ahh...”
Chiba rolled up his shirt, and his hips squirmed.
I made slurping noises as I sucked. I flicked the tip of my tongue to service him.
“Haru...”
He got carried away and tried to touch my hair, but I swatted his hand away.
Then he thrust his hips and poked his cock down my throat, which was obnoxious, but I let him do what he wanted.
Right before he came, he pulled it out of my mouth.
Then he shot it all over my face, rubbing it in as he spasmed.
The sticky mess dripped down my bangs and cheeks. Seeing my face like that, he laughed again, “Heh,” put his cock away, and got ready to leave.
“...Chiba.” Wiping my face with a towel, I spoke without turning around. “Don’t ever come here again.”
Chiba snorted and said, “Who would wanna do that?”
＊
Well, who cares about that jerk—I’ve got work to do!
“And so, Shequraso got busy, so we can’t do the hot pot party yet. When we do, though, I wanna buy meat from your place. Can we make an order like that?”
“Oh, yes. That’s fine. I think it would be cheaper to get the rest of the ingredients through us, too, so I hope you’ll let me handle everything.”
“Really? Aw, thanks.”
Sumo’s a good guy. Nothing like that tons ’o fun peninsula jerk.
When I squeezed his hand, he blushed immediately. He’s still got a soft spot for girls.
“Oh, hey. What about training with a different girl now and then?”
“N-No. I’m okay.”
“A bunch of them have told me they think you’re cute, you know.”
“N-No, that’s not true.”
They have, though. Ever since the incident with the guild master’s son, Sumo has been quite the idol around here. His earnest stand that day won the hearts of quite a few girls.
Lately even I think he’s pretty cute.
There was a time when I thought you had to be hot and popular to be a man, but more recently I’ve realized there are all kinds of guys in the world and all kinds of ways to be with them.
Of course, my current type is mature, cool, and older.
“Then do you want to go upstairs with me?”
“...Yes.”
I like Sumo, too. I think he can grow to be an even better guy.
Lately he’s gotten the hang of doing it from behind.
He’s the type who can do something if he tries.
My sales increased on track, and I looked forward to recording the previous night’s earnings on the ranking chart.
Along with the feeling that I was more valuable came more pressure closing in. I couldn’t make any humiliating mistakes on the job.
I didn’t neglect my prep for the shop or livening up the stage shows.
When I did a good job, guys would actually notice that and buy me. Finally, after spreading my charms around and doing even boring tasks with all my might, the customers fall for me. They like me as a person, and only then do they become regulars.
Before, my work was spotty. I think there were lots of complaints. If something is really bad you have to speak up, but you also have to smile in front of the customers as much as possible.
In this business it’d be an exaggeration to say we’re selling dreams, so I can’t, but it’s important to make customers happy.
And the one who makes the most people happy here gets ranked number one.
All right, I’m psyched. Sex Worker Haru is ready for action.
Time to rock another day of work!
“Haru.”
Madam waved me over from behind a pillar.
“What is it?”
It was rare for her to try to avoid speaking in front of other people. When I approached, she grabbed my arm and lowered her voice even further.
“Shequraso went to do that job with the army and never came back. She was supposed to be back yesterday... Have you heard anything?”
In this line of work, good things and bad things take turns coming at you like day and night.
Then, gradually, the bad things start to take over.