"Home stay?"
At a café on the campus of Seijo University, Hinata and I sat facing each other, with Lisha seated next to me.
By the way, it was already past class time, but Hinata had declared a self-imposed cancellation with the words, "About an hour should be fine," using a magic card that university students could sacrifice for credits. Humanities students could use it up to about three times without any risk.
Depending on the professor, it might be considered a prohibited card, so the timing of its use had to be carefully considered.
So, that's why we were skipping class and having tea like this, but Hinata's first words after hearing my explanation were.
"And without me knowing it, my mom and the others have agreed to let her stay at my place, and I'm planning to host her for a year."
"Right, I understand that part, Senpai, but..."
Hinata stirred her iced tea with a straw and fixed me with a skeptical gaze.
"Why did she specifically choose your place? It's because the male senior moved out, so you accepted Lisha-san, right?"
"That's exactly right, but as I mentioned earlier, she really wanted to experience Japanese university life."
"I see... So, she's staying at a your place who lives alone?"
"That's the situation."
Yes, I had honestly told Hinata about Lisha staying at my house. Since my house was close to the university, members of the literary club often came over, and it would be difficult to keep living with Lisha a secret for a year. So, why not just be open about it from the beginning?
However, this was a double-edged sword that could potentially lead to a report. Therefore, I explained to Hinata that this was a homestay and not something shady.
During this conversation, Lisha was chiming in with smiles and nods.
Hinata, with a raised eyebrow, said.
"Well, isn't this a bit...? Lisha-san, how old are you again?"
"Um... I'm sixte... sixteen years old."
"Isn't that a crime?"
Hinata's sharp words struck a chord in my chest.
I got it, it was illegal for a twenty-something guy to live under the same roof as a sixteen-year-old girl in a country like Japan. That much was common sense.
But, surely I had thought of a countermeasure for those words!
"But, Hinata, it's not like we're alone together."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, Lisha has someone acting as her guardian with us, so there's another person here."
"I see... So that's how it is. It would indeed be risky for a high school girl to be alone with a guy."
Yeah, that's right, it would be risky. Thank goodness I thought ahead.
By the way, the guardian I mentioned was the person who had been escorting Lisha. I hadn't even seen their face yet, and using them like this was a first.
In every way, that guardian was an exceptional person. Thank you, guardian.
"Ah, that's why I went to the trouble of explaining it to Hinata."
"Oh, I already figured it was something like that."
"Sorry about that."
Hinata sipped her tea with a wry expression.
Well, it must have been unpleasant to feel relied upon from the start. I had often thought, "Can't you handle that yourself?" when I was a Hero.
There's a big difference between relying on someone and counting on them. What a mess, I forgot such a basic thing.
"No, forget about it. I'll explain everything to everyone myself."
"...Senpai."
"Hmm?"
"Senpai, you're not very good at this sort of thing, are you?"
With her gaze averted, Hinata suddenly looked at me from the corner of her eye.
"Indeed, I'm not particularly skilled at it."
When I was a Hero, there was no one to talk to except my comrades during expeditions, and I couldn't have a conversation while using magic. So, my social skills were hopeless.
"Well, that's why, in situations like this, I can only rely on you, Hinata. Sorry."
"I see..."
As I was reflecting on it, Hinata, still glancing at me, suddenly started smiling. It was as if the cold expression she had just shown was a lie.
What, what was there to be so cheerful about?
"Well, there's no helping it."
"You'll do it?"
"Well, if you do it yourself, it'll just get noisy. In return, it'll cost you, you know?"
"I appreciate it. By the way, how much is that, like the cost of one lunch?"
"Lunch is already on credit, so I'll let you off with the extra dinner."
"Umm... gyudon?"
"Of course, at a fancy restaurant."
"...Roger."
It seemed that, in exchange for my wallet, I had successfully persuaded Hinata. I don't really know why she agreed to do it, but I guess I'll never understand a girl's feelings.
To be honest, Souji and Matsuda are not much, so as long as Hinata is persuaded, the mission is complete.
Hinata was in high spirits, swaying in her seat. She must be feeling good after securing nearly a day's worth of treats.
Finally, Hinata's gaze shifted from me to Lisha, who was sitting next to me.
"Um, Lisha-san. I'm Hinata Yukari. Nice to meet you."
Hinata... You usually refer to yourself in the first person as Hinata, right? Could you have just said "I (watashi)" like a normal person?
Lisha, still wearing her initial smile, elegantly lowered her head.
"I'm Lisha Asteris. I'm sure there are many things here that I don't understand, and I may act impolite, but please take care of me."
"Y-Yeah, n-n-nice to meet you."
Wow, that's something. The social butterfly Hinata is feeling flustered. Needless to say, Lisha's last name was taken from another world. It's not like I didn't want to think about it.
I almost forgot, but Lisha is a person who has received an education equivalent to that of royalty. Every single gesture she makes is elegant and beautiful, and just sitting there exudes a noble dignity.
Even if Hinata is a social butterfly, Lisha is a race that Hinata has never encountered before.
From her aura alone, she is clearly different from us ordinary people.
Suddenly, Hinata leaned forward and brought her face closer to mine.
"H-Hey, senpai! Isn't this girl amazing? She's not like a normal person, is she?"
"Whether she's a normal person or not, if you had to say, she's definitely not normal."
She mainly does things like being a saint.
"Why would someone like that stay at your house, senpai?"
"I don't know either, but in life, anything can happen."
There may be times when I'm suddenly taken to another world, and I might even have to become a hero there, so it's not surprising that a saint from another world would come to stay.
"Um, I'm sorry. Did I say something to offend you?"
Lisha's expression darkened slightly as she looked at Hinata, who had suddenly started whispering to me.
Seeing that, Hinata waved her hands in a panic.
"N-No, not at all... There's just something I needed to ask senpai!"
"Hey, Hinata, you're using polite language now."
You were speaking normally just a moment ago.
"Yes, I'm younger, so please, speak to me normally. You don't need to use honorifics."
"I-I see, that's right. In that case, let me reintroduce myself. Please call me Yukari too."
"Yes, nice to meet you, Yukari-san."
Hinata shook Lisha's outstretched hand and the two of them smiled.
"Sorry about that, Hinata. Lisha isn't familiar with our culture here, so she might ask about things that only girls would know about or other various things. Please bear with her."
"That's fine, but... Senpai, please don't do anything to a sixteen-year-old. I wouldn't want someone I know to end up in the news."
"What do you think I am, Hinata?"
Believe in my steel-like self-control. Actually, I want to believe in it too.
Hinata muttered, "Is that so?" and stood up.
"Well, shall we give her a tour of the school for now?"
"Is that okay?"
"I skipped class, so I have some free time, and Lisha-chan wants to see the school, right?"
That's just a pretext, but... I thought that, but before I could say anything, Lisha nodded before I did.
"Is it really okay! Thank you very much!"
"In that case, let's go, Lisha-chan."
"Yes, Yukari-san."
The two of them left the restaurant. Hinata casually handed me the bill, so I guess that's how it's going to be. Well, I was planning to pay from the beginning, so is it just me, or was the way she pushed it onto me a bit too natural?
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