“I-Ichiga—”
“It’s just a hobby! She’s a kind girl who’s always helping people out! I owe her so much! I beg you, don’t be so harsh on her because of the stuff she likes...”
In my excitement, I had started a whole tirade and maybe even said too much. However, I really believed all of it. Kokoro’s words at the amusement park earlier that day had felt like salvation to me, and for as long as I’d known her, she’d boosted my self-confidence time and time again. I could only hope that her mother would listen and that I would be able to help Kokoro as she had helped me. That was all I could do.
Kokoro turned around and stared at me with tears in her eyes. “Ichigaya... Thank you...” she said in a feeble voice.
Her mother began talking again, but she didn’t look angry anymore, just... confused. “Look,” she said. “I don’t mind otaku stuff. Anime, manga, games, and what have you... they’re all fine in my book.”
“Huh?”
“Wh-What?!” Kokoro exclaimed in disbelief.
Did she just say that... she’s okay with otaku stuff? Did I hear that wrong?
“B-But then why are you so mad about my doujinshi?! And you reacted the same way years ago when you found that other one!”
It was a reasonable assumption considering it’s not the first time she’s found out about this...
“The one you told me a friend had given you? So that was yours... Anyway, that’s not the point. The point is you’re still in high school! You’re just a student! You can’t go reading these... these lewd books! Much less buy them!”
Mrs. Nishina’s extremely reasonable opinion left both of us speechless.
“If you like anime and manga, sure, go ahead and enjoy them. You can use your allowance or the money you get from part-time jobs to do what you want. But you’re too young for this sexy stuff, miss! You’ll have to wait until you’ve graduated high school. After that, it’s up to you.”
No way...
“S-So... you never hated otaku culture?!”
“Why would I? I never said that!”
Kokoro’s jaw fell through the floor. “I... I’m so stupid!” she said, her voice brightening up so much that it sounded like she might burst into laughter any moment now. “I went through all that trouble to hide it... for nothing!”
If you read something that says “18+” on the cover before turning eighteen, of course your parents wouldn’t approve—especially when there are two naked dudes on there... It was all a misunderstanding. So this means that, from now on, Nishina will be able to enjoy her hobbies at home... the non-lewd ones at least. She’ll be able to be herself in front of her family. Isn’t this great? As a fellow otaku, I know how much that matters.
I was so happy for her that I found myself smiling too, but then Kokoro turned to look at me again, with a concerned look in her eyes. After a quick glance, however, she immediately turned back to her mother.
“M-Mom... Actually, there’s something I should tell you.”
I had no idea where this was going, so I quietly waited for her to continue.
“After all Ichigaya’s done for me... I can’t keep bothering him like this. I’ve been such a pain in his ass all this time... so I’ll tell you the truth.”
“N-Nishina?” I stuttered. The truth? Is she really going to tell her everything?
“I’m sorry, Mom. I lied to you. Ichigaya and I... We’re not dating. We never were. He offered me his kindness, and I took all of it.”
I looked at her, surprised and confused as to why she’d decided to reveal the secret now of all times. She turned back to me, forcing herself to smile.
“Sorry I went ahead and told her without asking you first...”
“What do you mean?” Mrs. Nishina asked, looking from one of us to the other. Her face looked calm, but I could almost feel the anger silently building inside her.
“It’s all my fault...” Kokoro said.
“Explain it in a way I can understand.”
Is she really going to tell her the whole story?
Kokoro continued, her voice shaking. “I didn’t want to leave Japan. I love otaku culture too much... It’s something I couldn’t live without. But I thought you hated it, so I couldn’t tell you... Ichigaya has the same hobbies as I do, so he understood how I felt and why I didn’t want to go. That’s why he tried to help me. The only way I knew how to convince you and Dad was to tell you we were dating. I lied without really thinking about it.”
Her mother didn’t reply immediately. My heart beat faster and faster as I anxiously waited for her to do so. Then she finally found the words she was looking for.
“Are you serious...?” Kokoro’s mother said. “Do you understand what you’ve done? You lied to me and your father, you lived with a boy who isn’t even your boyfriend... Didn’t you think of how this might affect Ichigaya and his parents?”
Mrs. Nishina’s voice was shaking too, but I couldn’t tell if it was from surprise or from anger. She was, however, doing her best to at least appear calm as she bombarded her daughter with questions.
“I’m sorry!” Kokoro exclaimed, lowering her head.
“I-I’m sorry as well!” I added. “I shouldn’t have suggested something like that.”
Maybe her mother wouldn’t forgive us, but I also owed her an apology nonetheless.
“Y-You shouldn’t apologize!” Kokoro said to me. “It’s all my fault! You just wanted to help me! And, Mom... I’ll take responsibility, but please, don’t blame him for this.”
Her mother looked at her daughter, then at me, then at her daughter again. “Okay. But now, you and I need to talk by ourselves, Kokoro,” she said.
Kokoro nodded, flinching with fear.
“I knew there was something weird going on. No couple behaves like that.”
She was still suspicious the whole time...
“And to think I was so happy today, when I saw the bond between you two.”
Bond? What’s she talking about?
“We just didn’t want you to find out... I’m sorry.”
“Anyway... Good night, Ichigaya,” Mrs. Nishina said, with a completely expressionless face. Kokoro also looked at me, but she didn’t say anything.
“A-Ah... Yes, good night.”
They left my room together. I could only imagine what was going to happen. Kokoro was going to be questioned and scolded, no doubt about it. Why she had chosen now to reveal this to her mother, I had no idea. I’m just as responsible for all this as she is, but she took all the blame. I hope she’ll be fine... Her mom looked really mad.
I felt extremely tired, but the thought of what Kokoro might be going through kept me awake for most of the night.
＊ ＊ ＊
The next day, I woke up around seven. Having only slept for three hours or so, I was still drowsy, but I really needed to go to the bathroom, so I dragged myself downstairs.
As I got closer, I heard a noise coming from the living room.
Are they awake already? Seems a bit too early...
It was Kokoro’s mother who opened the door and greeted me. She’d probably heard my footsteps.
“Good morning, Ichigaya.”
“G-Good morning!” I replied, startled by the aura of silent rage that still loomed around her.
“Thank you for taking care of Kokoro all this time.”
“N-Not at all...”
“You’ve been very kind to her, but don’t worry. She’ll be leaving with me today.”
Today?! I was surprised that they would leave so soon, but if Mrs. Nishina knew the whole truth, it didn’t really make any sense for them to stay in my home any longer.
“We’ll take as many of her things with us as we can, but we’ll have to send someone to pick up the rest later on. I’m sorry to trouble you like this.”
“D-Don’t worry about it.”
Right then, Kokoro came down the stairs and joined us. She was already dressed and had her makeup on.
“Again, thank you for everything,” Mrs. Nishina said. “Kokoro, you should thank him too before we leave.”
“Wait, you’re going already?” I asked.
“I can’t let Kokoro stay here. We’ve imposed on you long enough,” she coldly replied.
Now that Mrs. Nishina knew I wasn’t dating her daughter, I was basically just a stranger. She hadn’t said that, but it seemed like it was for that very reason that she didn’t want her daughter staying with me anymore.
“Thanks, Ichigaya. Good luck with everything,” Kokoro said. She had a smile on her face, but it didn’t look particularly genuine.
As for me, I was so shocked to learn that they were leaving so soon that I didn’t know how to respond at first. I didn’t feel ready to say goodbye yet.
“O-Oh, yeah... Good luck to you too,” was all I managed to say.
My two guests bowed and left the house. Seeing them off would have been the polite thing to do, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I just stood there, alone and confused.
And thus ended my time living together with my roommate, Kokoro. She’d finally moved out.