Chapter 21. Won't You Come to My House?
"Huh...?"
Ryu I-se looked a little surprised by my words. Her expression made it abundantly clear. Unable to overcome my embarrassment, I scratched my cheek lightly and averted my eyes from hers.
"I just mean... exactly what I said. I don't really have a place to live right now. I've been hopping between motels until I find a job. So, you don't have to take me home or anything. I was planning to crash around here for the night anyway."
Why was I spilling such personal details to someone I'd only just met today? But my mouth, now that it had opened, kept pouring out words with unstoppable momentum.
"I mean, saying I have no home doesn't mean I have nowhere to go. I've still got money. So don't worry about it. It's not that serious. I just don't have a temporary spot right now. Once I get a job, it'll sort itself out in no time, so really, no need to fret."
I hurriedly tried to scoop back the words I'd let slip, babbling on. After dumping such heavy stuff on her—just for offering to give me a ride home—what kind of image was I leaving in her mind now? Only after speaking did I notice things like that entering my field of vision. Naturally, no one would want to stay in touch with a burdensome guy like me.
Sigh. Shouldn't have said anything.
Maybe it was because she'd taken such good care of me all throughout the date. No, I couldn't blame her no matter what. This was on me. My own weakness. The problem of my frail self, dragging others into matters I should handle alone.
"……"
She just looked at me with a worried face, saying nothing. The silence felt so heavy that I turned my head and forced out the most carefree laugh I could muster.
"Ahaha. What kinda random stuff am I even saying? Anyway, I'll head out first. I had a really, really great time today. You'll keep doing amazing things from here on out, I-se. I'll be cheering for you from afar. See ya."
That was the end of spilling my sob story. If I'd gone into the failed suicide attempt after my girlfriend dumped me, the year-long coma, the current jobless situation—laying it all out—I might've bought some cheap pity. But I didn't. Come on, wouldn't that just be emotional pandering? And I'd already crossed that line just by mentioning being homeless, so I sure as hell couldn't add more.
Yeah. This... should be fine.
I quickly turned on my heel. Her expression, those eyes... even standing there, I couldn't bear to face them any longer.
And that was the moment.
"Wait."
She grabbed my arm firmly as I turned away.
"……?"
I looked at her face again. Her expression was still filled with worry, just like before... but her eyes were clear now, like she had something she desperately wanted to convey.
And then.
As if she'd read my mind—her small lips parted.
"It's okay. Go ahead and pander emotionally."
"...Huh?"
"You think it'd be emotional pandering, right? That's why you're not telling me more and trying to leave."
How... did she know? I'd only thought it, not said it out loud—but she responded as if she'd heard the mutterings in my head.
"Of course I know. I've always wondered what Jit-leus would be thinking in moments like this."
"You're the strong type who tries to tough it out alone without resorting to cheap emotional tricks."
I still couldn't quite grasp what kind of image she had of me in her head. But putting that aside, for some reason, her words felt incredibly warm.
"When I was having a really, really hard time, I still haven't forgotten how you reached out your hand to me." "The donation amount isn't what's important. I was... a loner for 100 days. No one paid any attention to me. Whether I sang or played games, no one sought me out." "In that situation, the only person who came to find me was Jittles... Minho, who is standing right here."
Ise gripped my wrist even tighter, as if terrified I might run away. I... didn't reject her touch. To begin with, I was frozen in place—running away or anything of the sort wasn't even on my mind.
"I don't know exactly what kind of situation you're in right now. It's not like I can know everything." "But right now, you... look just like me when I was doing my 100th-day broadcast." "Like you're completely alone... without anyone around you. Your expression hasn't been good all day today, either." "So I wanted to make you smile."
Now that I think about it. Even during this date, she had been throwing out an unusually large amount of nonsense. I did laugh a few times because what she said was so absurd... but in the end, the fact remained that I had smiled.
"I won't act like a child and demand that you tell me every single detail of your circumstances." "Just... to me, who you reached out to back then." "Please, just allow me to reach my hand out to you in this moment." "So, for now... it's okay if you want to share a sob story........."
'.........'
I forced myself to swallow back the tears welling up once again. Was it because I didn't want to cry? Or because I didn't want to show her my tears? Because crying itself seemed like the ultimate sympathy play? Or maybe because of the inertia of a life lived without getting close to any woman other than my ex-girlfriend?
I didn't know the reason, but regardless, I held back my tears, looked at her, and asked.
"Well, I'm truly grateful for your willingness to help... but what exactly do you mean?" "What do you mean, exactly...?" "Well... I don't have a home right now, and it's not like you can find a house for me, right?"
I was once again blurting out words I would instantly regret. Why was I acting so petty towards someone who was purely out of goodwill worrying about my hardships? If I were to handle this like an adult, wasn't this the perfect time to say, 'Thank you so much for worrying about me. But I'll be fine. I'll figure something out'?
But... the resolve I made the moment I faced death faintly reared its head. In my next life, I want to live only for myself. So... even if it's cowardly, it should be fine to be a little selfish and just think of myself this much, right...?
It was exactly at that moment, as I was making another excuse that no one was around to hear.
"No. I can help you." ".........?"
I cautiously suspect my pupils might have dilated at that moment. After all, she had brought up something completely unexpected.
"Would you like to come over... to my place?"
Inside a car driving on the road. Whether it was because it was a luxury brand or simply because it was expensive, I couldn't hear the engine noise at all inside the cabin. You could say the driving experience was truly overwhelming.
And I was sitting in the passenger seat of this luxurious car driven by Ise, heading to her house right now.
'...Wait a second.'
I stopped escaping reality with useless thoughts like 'This car is really nice' or 'The ride quality is amazing,' and calmly assessed the current situation. I had somehow gotten swept up in the mood and ended up getting in the car, but...
'Am I really... going to Renappi's house right now?!'
No, wait a minute. I don't have a home -> Then do you want to come to my place? No matter how you flip it, this progression clearly translates to 'Let's live together at my house'!
'Wh-what is this woman planning?'
Does she really intend to live with me? I looked at her profile. During the date, she had been giggling playfully at me, but at this very moment, she was driving with a remarkably serious expression. For a moment, watching this woman take me to her home, I found myself uselessly pondering how she managed to grow this big without a [Renappi/Controversy] wiki page, before turning my head away.
'Once we arrive... I'll have to make up some excuse and get out of there. I refuse to be the flashy protagonist on the first page of her controversies.'
Right at the moment when the man named Yoo Minho, who went by the nickname [SubwayGeezerDentureStealer], was bracing himself in his own way. Inside the mind of the woman sitting next to him, engrossed in driving with a chic expression, streamer Renappi—Ryu Ise:
'Wh... wh... what do I do?!'
Contrary to her incredibly serious-looking expression, no less than ten Ises were arguing fiercely inside her head, veins popping.
'What are you thinking, bringing a man home!' 'But it's Jittles! Jittles isn't just an ordinary man! He's a special person!' 'That's true! Jittles is fine!' 'Then it's settled, isn't it?'
Surprisingly, the Ises inside her head were all still Ise, so it seemed they weren't particularly opposed to letting the man named Jittles into the house.
'Yeah! It's okay if Jittles comes to our house! In fact, it's great! Worries over!'
With that, the council of Ises concluded peacefully.
'...As if!'
The main body, Ryu Ise, quickly interjected, but she, too, liked the idea of bringing Minho home. She was just embarrassed. After all, she was bringing none other than Jittles, whom she had always missed, into her room!
What actually worried her were slightly different matters.
'Wait, did I tidy up the house? Ayaka told me to clean up a bit when she visited last time... but the house is so big... Ah, right! I think I left my underwear hanging right in the middle of the living room! Wh-what do I do? Should I ask him to wait outside the entrance?' 'B-but! Since I already confidently threw out a "Come to my place!", I want us to just walk straight in! I want to show him how neat and cool my lifestyle is! Wh-wh-what do I do!'
Since it was none other than Jittles, she wanted to show him her prettiest and most tidied-up side. Still... she didn't want to just send Minho back when he was wandering around without a home.
After all, she had finally managed to meet Minho again. The thought that she might never see him again if she let him go now made her even more unwilling to send him away.
As she thought and thought about it over again—only then did she remember something she had completely forgotten about.
'Ah... Right!'
A space that had naturally slipped from her mind due to the unique layout of her house, something not found in typical homes. Recalling that space, she instantly regained her composure, and a smile slowly returned to her face.
'There was that place! Why did I forget? If it's that place, I can definitely help Minho!'
And so, her car—carrying not just her, but a man and a woman—slowly moved toward the apartment complex where she lived.