Chapter 50
Chapter 50
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 50
Chapter Title: Harumi's House
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Harumi's house
"Eh, wha...? Commoner? Why... why are you here again?"
"Ahaha. Mind if I come in for a sec?"
Harumi hesitated, then spread her arms wide like an anteater facing a predator. Her upturned gaze was resolute, but her cheeks were streaked with tears.
"...You don't need to come into a dump like this."
She averted her eyes, her voice laced with insecurity.
"Dump? No way. Just having you here makes it shine."
I really meant it. Even if Harumi were homeless in some back alley, sleeping on cardboard and newspapers, I'd still think that spot glowed. But she clearly didn't see it that way.
"No need to butter me up. I'm... I'm not some lady anymore. You know that now. I can't even buy a bowl of rice for someone who's helped me out. I'm a beggar who can only offer water after taking so much!"
Her voice trembled as tears welled up again. Up close, I could see dark shadows under her eyes and swelling around them. Had she been crying nonstop since her hospital visit this morning?
And now I noticed—her fingers were covered in bandages.
Peering past her shoulder into the room, I saw wool felt dolls scattered across the floor. Easily over ten of them. Making those takes a ton of handiwork; you have to sew each one meticulously. No way she whipped them up that fast.
And since I'd specially requested them on the flyer with care, she'd poured her effort into matching them exactly.
Even if she sold them all, it wouldn't cover her hospital bills. But for her, scraping together that pitiful sum was her only option.
How lonely must she have felt?
"You're the noblest person I've ever known."
I meant every word.
A person's nobility isn't defined by strength, but by how they rise after falling. Harumi's struggle was the epitome of nobility. Even with my beastly body and deviation score of 90, if I were in her shoes, could I cling to life so fiercely for my mom, day after day?
Probably not. I'd have crumbled.
But Harumi hadn't.
You're nobler than anyone I've ever seen.
"...Don't lie."
Her eyes blazed with distrust. The shame of me seeing her dire situation hit her late and hard—especially here, the place she least wanted exposed.
It was special because we'd spent the night together, but the deeper her feelings for me grew, the bigger the problem.
The more she liked me, the less she wanted to show this shameful side. Everyone hides their flaws from the people they care about.
"I'm not lying."
"Liar!!"
She shrieked, eyes brimming with tears.
"I... I have nothing! I'm a beggar now. Sob... Not a lady anymore. I'm... I'm like expired bento no one wants... Sniff... A girl below commoner level with nothing left... So what's noble about me!!"
Tears streamed down her face as she shot back.
"I've lost everything... Everything's gone... Ugh, waaah..."
She choked back sobs.
I knelt silently to meet her eyes, then pulled her into a hug.
!
"It's okay, miss. Cry it out."
"...Wah! Sniff! Waaaaaah!!"
She buried her face in my chest, wailing and pounding me with tiny fists. Was it the pent-up frustration exploding? Frustration at her powerlessness against reality, at fate shoving an innocent girl into the abyss.
I gently stroked her back and whispered in her ear.
"And who says you have nothing left, Harumi?"
"Hic... Sob..."
"When someone's lost everything, there's one thing that remains last. Know what it is?"
She shook her head.
I felt her face move side to side against my chest.
"Dignity. It's not about what you hold in your hands. From what I've seen, you're stronger and greater than anyone. For a woman like that, where or how she lives right now doesn't matter at all. Got it? So stop putting yourself down."
All my sincerity poured into those words of comfort.
Harumi shuddered, then wrapped her slender arms around me as tightly as she could, like I was the only one she could lean on in the world.
Thank goodness.
Really, thank goodness.
If I'd decided to take a day off just because problems were piling up, I might have left Harumi like this all alone.
Rest is a luxury I can't afford.
I gently scooped her up and carried her into the room.
Laid her down on the still-made futon and stroked her hair.
Sniffle.
Harumi blew her nose.
I wanted to keep comforting her, but time was getting tight.
"Harumi, you know the family restaurant's open today, right? It's still Friday. We gotta get ready for work."
Snap!
"Huh!? Wh-what time is it!?"
Harumi bolted to the bathroom, splashing cold water on her face without even drying it, then grabbed my hand.
"H-hurry! We gotta go!"
.
.
.
10 PM.
We somehow made it on time and finished all our work.
"Aguhu..."
"Sanghyeon-kun, Harumi-chan, good work! Fridays are always packed, but you two handled it great!"
Kaori-san said that while handing us something—a transparent sealed container with braised meat and potatoes visible underneath.
"What's this?"
"Made it today, and a bit's left over. Hehe. No work this weekend, so enjoy it and bring the container back next Monday~."
Drool.
Harumi's mouth was already watering. It was probably for her too to avoid suspicion, but really aimed at reeling me in.
Maybe after that time my young, perky, pretty almost-girlfriend showed up and she stabbed back with her auntie voice, she'd thought it over. Trying to offer that mature woman stability vibe.
Sorry, but I'll feed my share to Harumi too, ma'am.
"Thank you, boss."
"Th-thank you!"
Harumi bowed deeply.
Kaori-san didn't seem upset. Separate from her flirting attempts, a hardworking little girl like this was pleasing to watch.
"We'll head out then."
"Take care!"
"Yeah~ See ya."
The moment we left the shop with Harumi in tow, I ducked into the nearby convenience store.
-Ding dong
"Huh...? Commoner, why the convenience store all of a sudden?"
The old her would've yelled 'I'm going! Bye!' and headed to the bus stop alone, but now she toddled after me.
"Gotta buy something. Oh, right—does your place have gas?"
"Uh, um... Not sure."
"Gotcha. Well, might as well grab everything at once."
"Wha...?"
I grinned and checked the portable fuel corner in the back.
"Jackpot!"
I'd worried if they only had gas and no burner, but there it was. Convenience stores sometimes stock promo items that just gather dust. I grabbed a 10-pack of instant rice and a portable gas stove, heading to the counter.
"7,000 yen."
"Here."
After quick checkout, bag in hand, we left. Harumi poked my side.
"Commoner, why'd you buy that? Your place out of gas too?"
She looked oddly happy, like we'd bonded over shared poverty. Dorm life meant no for me... but saying so outright felt mean, so I just smiled. She beamed back.
She was happy because I was.
With the rich girl act gone, only this brutally honest girl remained.
"Let's head back together."
"Where?"
"Your place, obviously."
"M-my house? Why...?"
Her shabby home was still embarrassing, even after multiple visits.
"We got that braised meat! Let's eat together. Fine dining's great, but home cooking hits different sometimes."
Her eyes sparkled at the home-cooked meal invite.
Sure, the fine dining was nostalgic, but hunger and loneliness weighed heavier—her status mental state screamed isolation. Probably ate alone daily: cold discarded bento or near-expired bread.
So sharing late dinner with me had her over the moon.
"Y-yeah...! Ahem! I'll specially allow dinner with me! Make an appointment next time!"
Not wanting to seem too easy, she crossed her arms and turned away haughtily. But her flushed face gave everything away.