I Don't Want to Die Single!
'Hm?'
I was about to grab a coffee from the fridge when I spotted Arin sitting on the sofa. She seemed to be on her phone. Dressed in her usual white shirt and black dolphin pants.
Nothing to worry about...
Her expression looked serious, though. Like she was focused on whatever she was doing with her phone. As long as it wasn't Toto or gambling, I had no intention of prying.
I turned to head back to my room, only to realize she'd somehow positioned herself right in front of me.
"What?"
"Master. Can we talk for a sec?"
"..."
Was she trying to cross a line? But after a few days with her, I'd gotten a read on her personality. She wouldn't call me out like this unless it was something important. Whatever it was, it had to be big.
As long as it's not about needing money, I could probably help with most things.
Her life didn't seem to have any real hardships or inconveniences. No matter how I thought about it, that was unlikely. The only wildcard was her family. They'd already failed in business once; maybe they needed even more cash now. Giving her money once wasn't a big deal, but endless "financial support" for her family would never end.
"Alright. Shoot."
Whatever it was, I could decide after hearing her out. We sat side by side on the sofa, staring at each other in silence.
She was pretty. Undeniably beautiful. Sitting this close—close enough to catch her scent—I couldn't recall ever being this near her before.
"Master... do you hate me?"
"No."
Straightforward answer. Honestly, I was grateful. Considering all the incidents slave owners dealt with, her doing literally nothing made her practically an angel.
Of course, the cases I saw were mostly the rare bad ones...
Most slaves and owners just coexisted. No love, no hate. An owner could whip a slave he didn't even despise, "train" her, fuck her whenever the mood struck. A slave might hate her owner, but there was nothing she could really do about it. No scams, no setups. If the hatred boiled over to murder, she'd likely be restrained long before she grabbed a knife.
"I like you."
"Then why... why don't you do anything to me?"
"No need."
I was tired of this topic. Didn't want to drag it out.
"I told you before. You don't need to worry. It's fine if you do nothing. Just chill. Don't make a fuss."
Act like she wasn't there; she'd act like I wasn't.
"Like I said, as long as you don't commit a crime, there's no reason to ditch you. No need to worry—"
As I started to stand, Arin yanked my arm like she was pulling me back down.
"That's not it!"
She practically yelled, her voice on the verge of tears.
"You said you like me! If you like me, if you like me... there are things you have to do! Why won't you?!"
"...It's not your business anyway. And it's not hurting you."
"It's not bad! I know that. I know how much you've done for me... I really do."
"Then isn't that enough? Honestly... you're living the same as me. Nice house, good food. Computer. No work, all the time in the world."
Blissful. At least, that's how I saw it. Compared to getting crushed by work before, this was fulfilling, bright.
"I don't want to live like you! I!!!"
I was the one insulted, but she was the one crying.
"No one to meet, no one to love, no one to love me back. No purpose, no achievements. Just... drifting like that..."
"If you wanna learn something, just watch online lectures."
"What would I even do with it?"
"Sure, but... if you wanna meet people, join a club or something."
Arin gripped me tight, blocking any escape.
"You think that makes sense? From the start, would you have been okay with me seeing another guy?"
She carefully settled onto my lap. Our eyes met.
"Not your business... but yeah, I'd think it was risky."
"Exactly!"
She pressed down on my shoulders firmly.
"No one's gonna want someone like me anyway. And if they did, it'd be some weirdo. Even if not, no one dates a slave with an owner."
"..."
"But you picked me once. You... acknowledged me a little, right?"
I nodded slowly. My tastes weren't that unique; a girl like her would have plenty of suitors if she lowered her standards a bit.
"And being your slave... even if it's not some master-servant thing, you've done so much for me. If I went looking for someone else now... I'd just keep thinking of you..."
Every word dripped with sincerity.
"If I can't even get close to you, can't even be loved by you... how am I supposed to get close to someone else, love them? It's impossible..."
"That's—"
"I don't wanna die a total virgin!!!"
A laugh slipped out unbidden.
"Funny? You think this is funny? Are you different or something? Mourning some dead girlfriend? Or am I so ugly you bought me as a sex slave but can't even fuck me?"
"No, neither."
She'd calmed a bit, breathing heavily as she stared at me.
"You get it now, right? I'm not doing this because I'm scared of getting kicked out, or to suck up to you."
Desire. The desire to love, to be loved. To live with someone.
That was driving her.
"So if you're gonna do it, reject me seriously."
She figured she knew me well enough by now. That I hated hassle, preferred a variable-free routine. That she wouldn't get booted just for existing.
"Tell me flat-out you don't want me. Then I'll give up, accept my fate of dying single forever..."
So this was just her loving me. Fearing the risk to our smooth relationship, the end of this peaceful life.
She loved me.
"..."
I finally realized it. The woman right in front of me, our faces inches apart, loved me.
That emotion shook me.
"If it's hard to decide quick, I'll ask this time."
Arin hugged me. Her face right next to mine. Her thigh draped over my leg.
"Why are you so... shy about it? You're a guy. You jerk off sometimes. Don't seem into guys."
"Yeah."
"You don't even need to like them or whatever... you're loaded, right? Couldn't you just grab anyone to vent your urges?"
Like I was hypnotized, I slowly opened my mouth.
"I was scared."
"Of what?"
"Everything."
I'd dreamed it. My bank account emptying, back to plain old me. Having tons of money meant living a "different life," and that terrified me. Warrants would come someday, declaring my fortune illegal and seizing it all. Or maybe I was just a "brain in a vat," with crowds outside mocking, "Rich guy doing stupid shit..."
Change scared me. What came easy could vanish easy. I'd return to my old life someday. Living different meant no going back. Like someone who'd dreamed too long, blurring dream and reality.
So I lived the same. Same house, slightly better PC, same games.
"...Thanks."
Decision made, I spoke carefully. My life changing? Fine.
"Huh?"
Arin looked at me with half-lidded, teary eyes.
Thinking back, saying I "didn't expect sex at all" when I bought her for her looks—or her virginity—would be a lie. Still, I'd been scared. Of my life changing. Of getting what I wanted.
I didn't deserve it.
"I like you too."
Even so, I couldn't reject her now. Couldn't ignore the thrill of being loved, the pleasure I could claim with a reach.
Accept it. Change.
"F-for... real? You mean it?"
Arin's body shrank in an instant. Like she hadn't expected it to work, her momentum deflating.
"Yeah. Thanks."
No regrets picking her.
"So now, we... do it?"
Before I could process, her hand reached for my pants. Flashing a cute smile.