Chapter 92 - Girls' Talk
For the time being, I decided to evacuate to the toilet.Angelica wasn't in a state for conversation, and even though I could talk with Ayako-chan, I didn't want to get close because the content would be blasphemous.
There's not a single decent one here, I thought, hanging my head.I sat down on the toilet seat and let out a sigh.
Our place has a unit bath setup, so the washbasin and bathtub are right next to it.Angelica interpreted this as "a facility for bathing while observing one's lover doing their business," or rather, I'm seriously questioning right now whether I should be living with a girl who makes that kind of interpretation, but anyway, that's how it's structured.
Thanks to that, there's absolutely no space to stretch out my limbs.And on top of that, it's full of stuff, so you could even say it feels oppressive.It feels like there's more stuff than before, too.Toiletries, bath supplies, that kind of thing.
As a result of leaving the shopping to Ayako-chan, household sundries have been multiplying more and more in our home.It's at the point where I'm almost suspicious they aren't multiplying on their own while I sleep. I don't complain about it since she's not buying luxury goods.But I'd like her not to forget the awareness that she's spending my money.
I'm working hard to earn living expenses for three people, aren't I?The fact that we can buy this wastefully cute toilet mat and slippers and stuff is thanks to me working, isn't it?Isn't it fine to pick up one woman for a bit of occasional stress relief? Such despotic, self-serving thoughts well up.
That's right. What exactly am I holding back for?I should be more assertive, since I'm the main breadwinner.
Just as Ayako-chan buys all those fancy household goods to change her mood, keeping Philia is how I relieve stress.That sort of thing is, well, like raising a big goldfish.No one has any right to complain to me about it.
For example, look, this basket placed casually beside the toilet. Isn't this definitely a waste of money?This and Philia are on the same level. Even I want to splurge sometimes.
...Or rather, seriously, what is this thing?
Mysterious Object X, which suddenly appeared about ten days ago.It looks like an oddly elaborate basket, but it's covered with a pink cloth from above.It felt like it was implicitly telling me, "Don't look, don't touch."
Keeping secrets from me, the landlord? What's the meaning of this?What are you thinking, Ayako-chan? I thought, and without any hesitation, I flipped the cloth.It was an insensitive act, while picturing some frivolous luxury item in my mind.Thinking it was probably an air freshener or deodorizing spray or something, I peered inside the basket with that kind of imagination.
"...What the hell is this?"
But faced with the appearance of something completely different from what I'd imagined, my arm stopped dead.The basket was somehow filled with what looked like large pocket tissues.All of them were pastel-colored and had a certain thickness.
"?"
But I thought we had plenty of tissues stockpiled?Finding it strange, I pulled one out.I brought it in front of my face and observed it intently.
And then, I realized my own foolishness.
"Ah."
This is by no means a luxury item.Rather, it's a necessity comparable to infrastructure.
"...Peace of mind even on heavy days..."
In other words, that's the situation.It was the moment I encountered a super-important item that protects women's rights.
"............"
I gently returned the item I was holding to its original position and covered it back up with the cloth.
Come to think of it, I recalled that Angelica's attitude toward Ayako-chan had softened considerably around the time this was installed in the toilet.She had been overly grateful, saying things like "Such a convenient thing exists..." and "Are you a god...", and eventually, her way of addressing her even switched from "Ayako-san" to "Ayako."It's no wonder, since a critical problem for a girl from another world was solved in an instant.
Yeah, that's right.Angelica and Ayako-chan are both young girls, after all...It must have been hard for them to bring it up to a guy like me, I thought, feeling apologetic.
Thinking back carefully, Angelica had been acting a bit strange just before Ayako-chan came to the house.She was oddly fidgety looking at the calendar.If Ayako-chan hadn't come, that girl would have been using her own makeshift emergency measures...
Did we just dodge a bullet? I gulped.It feels like our lives were saved in a dungeon or something, but emotionally it's on the same level.Because, I mean, I'm a guy. And on top of that, I'm deeply ingrained with years of living in another world.The very idea of having to buy and prepare this kind of thing never even occurred to me.Women in that other world don't use these, after all.
...Women over there...
"Oh crap."
In that instant, Philia's face, left behind at the hotel, floated into my mind.
That girl is also, physically, a woman in her late twenties.She's completely still in that phase of life.It's fine at night because I put a diaper on her.No, it's not fine.
But, I mean, what the hell am I supposed to do if it happens to her too?
If she gets into that state while I'm not there and ends up crying and screaming, turning the room into a bloodbath, it won't be a joke.That girl takes off her diaper on her own in the morning because it gets stuffy and uncomfortable.
"..."
I have a bad feeling if someone isn't watching her constantly.Leaving her cooped up in the hotel will eventually become unsustainable.
If that happens, I'll have no choice but to take her in here and rely on Ayako-chan and the others for help.
"Ahh..."
Is this what caring for a parent feels like? I wondered, feeling dejected as I left the bathroom.
When I staggered toward the living room, Ayako-chan and Angelica were engrossed in chatting.These two get along surprisingly well, I thought, finding it strange.With that daily necessity incident, I understand that Angelica feels one-sidedly indebted to Ayako-chan.But what's the reason Ayako-chan opens her heart to Angelica?
"So, after escaping Sodom, Lot moves to a cave with his two daughters. However, the daughters get Lot drunk and take the opportunity to engage in sexual acts with him. With their sleeping father, without consent."
"...Huh...? Th-that's father and daughter, incest... then..."
"That's what it comes to. And of course, they get perfectly pregnant and give birth. The eldest daughter's son is named Moab and becomes the ancestor of the Moabites. The younger daughter's son is Ben-Ammi, the ancestor of the Ammonites."
"...That's insane... precious... I'm crying..."
"I knew you'd understand, Angelica-san!"
"Earth's mythology has amazing content!"
What the hell kind of topic are you two getting excited about? I couldn't help but interject.
"...You've finally come back."
Ayako-chan moved her lightless eyes and glared fixedly at my face.
"...Nakamoto-san's confession was so shocking that our spirits wouldn't have held out if we didn't talk about something uplifting, we..."
"That's right! We barely survived thanks to this tradition called the Old Testament that promotes father-daughter marriage; if we hadn't heard this, I would have suffocated to death!"
"Stop that mistaken perception before you get yelled at from all sides."
I pretty much understood everything from that.The only person who can keep up with Ayako-chan's twisted father-daughter discussions and empathize from the bottom of her heart is probably Angelica.It's not that she's a good listener; it just seems like their kinks mesh well.Even so, from Ayako-chan's perspective, she's likely the ideal listener.
Well, the reason these two get along relatively well has been revealed.That's fine.That's fine, but.
Considering the current situation where the two of them are united in treating Philia like a thieving cat.Isn't this strange friendship a headwind for me?
If I start off now by saying, "Sorry, sorry, I'm leaving Philia's personal care to you guys," will it really go well?No good, I can't picture it succeeding at all.
What the hell am I supposed to do?