Arin's Little Secret
"Hehehe, hehe, hehehehe..."
As I stepped out to grab some water, I caught sight of Arin with a sly, perverted grin on her face as she lifted the delivery box. Normally, I'd toss out a casual greeting when we ran into each other like this, but her expression made it impossible to say anything without killing the vibe. I didn't want to ruin her moment.
"Heh heh, pfuhuhu... Finally, it's mine!"
Inside the box was a small character doll. It looked pretty soft, almost like a cushion. Arin snatched it up and buried it deep in her massive cleavage.
"Pfuhuhu, uhehehe, heh... Huh?"
Then our eyes met. Just like in a cartoon, the doll slipped from her hands and plopped to the floor.
"Wh-when did you get here?"
"Right around when you started with the 'uhehehe...'."
"You've been watching from the very beginning..."
She hung her head low.
"That's the character from that internet streamer, right? I know it too."
I hadn't expected a woman like her to watch that kind of stream, but thinking about it, Arin's tastes weren't exactly mainstream anyway.
"Ughhh..."
"I heard something about an event..."
You pick up bits and pieces about streamers you don't even watch just from lurking around communities.
"S-sorry!"
"For what?"
Arin shuffled over to me, trembling like a leaf.
"W-wanna touch my boobs?"
She couldn't meet my eyes, shaking like a guilty puppy.
"Not gonna say no, but... why the hell are you offering?"
I kneaded her ample breasts through the thin fabric of her clothes. Arin whispered in a quivering voice.
"Th-this... it's an event you have to donate for to enter..."
"So? No big deal."
"R-really okay?"
"It's pocket money I gave you to spend however. Use as much as you want from that."
"B-but still... is it really fine?"
I nodded. Whether she blew a ton on streamers or not, it wasn't my problem.
"Th-thank you! Sh-should I get one for you too?"
"I don't watch, so nah."
"R-right! M-mimiimi, sorry. I'm heading in!"
Arin bolted into her room like she was fleeing. A few seconds later, she cracked the door open to peek at me, then snatched up the doll and ducked back inside.
Cute. I wanted to scoop her up in a hug.
The feel of her breasts still lingered on my hands, but if I burst in right now, she'd probably explode from embarrassment. Smiling faintly, I headed back to my room.
Clutching the character doll to her chest, Arin sank into deep thought.
"...Is this really okay?"
She'd been a little worried, but he seemed genuinely unbothered about how she spent her money. He'd been the same when she bought cosmetics or game items—no interference. Even her donations to streamers didn't faze him.
But when he'd caught her with this event prize, she'd definitely felt ashamed. He hadn't scolded her, which meant she knew deep down she wasn't being entirely aboveboard.
"It's not even my money... spending the allowance from my owner like this so freely... is that really fine?"
The guilt from her long days as a NEET bubbled up from her subconscious, creeping into her heart.
"Do I even deserve to...?"
Negative thoughts clouded her mind like storm clouds. The old Arin, before meeting Se-in, would've wallowed in this pessimism for days.
"N-no. Don't think so badly. We're in love, and he wouldn't hate it if I spent a little..."
But her body remembered his touch. His warm gaze was still fresh in her mind.
"I-I'm... pretty and sexy! Just existing is helpful..."
It felt awkward saying it out loud, but she managed to force the words out. It wasn't just her own idea—it was something he'd told her once. Every time he held her roughly, tongues and bodies entwining, she'd felt confident as a woman.
Maybe I've grown a bit...
Arin giggled to herself, pleased with her progress, then snapped out of it. This wasn't the time for self-congratulation.
Still, this feels kinda off!
Of course, her happiness mattered. Take Set-a, for example. Watching her eat happily or get excited over little things was pure joy. Even as an outsider, Arin smiled seeing it, so Se-in, the one closest to her, must feel it even more.
And Arin was surely the same for Se-in.
But isn't this a bit unfair?
She didn't think she was useless. At least during sex, she made him happy for sure. But sex was mutually enjoyable. If anything, she initiated more often than he did.
He just holds back, but if he threatened no sex unless I handed over everything... I'd probably panic first...
Lost in fantasy, Arin imagined a lecherous Se-in demanding, "Give me all your assets, or no touch for you."
"Hngh..."
She'd probably cave and hand over everything he asked for. She wasn't bold enough to sneak the house deed from her parents, but her meager savings? She'd hand them over in a trance.
"In that situation... if he loves me but does nothing, wouldn't that be kinda...?"
The toxic views on women from internet communities started swirling in her head.
"I do housework, but considering he does about the same level, it's not like I'm doing him a huge favor..."
Most appliances were already top-notch: dishwasher, food waste processor, washer-dryer, and so on.
"Am I a lazy wife who doesn't even make breakfast...? I have been sleeping in lately, yeah. Dinner... I've made it sometimes, but..."
Based on their lifestyles alone, they weren't that different. They ate together, so they woke up around the same time, but staying up late gaming and lounging all day? Identical.
"Even if we're similar... isn't that the problem?"
She didn't work, but the gap between them was huge. As owner and slave, it was a fine deal with no complaints. But as cohabiting man and woman? Not so honorable.
"...There's a fundamental issue."
Even if she bought gifts or planned special events, it was all just spending his money charitably.
"I want to donate, buy stuff I want, do more for Se-in..."
She knew it. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't save enough to truly help him financially.
Still, she wanted to try something.
"I need a job."
But convenience store or PC bang gigs now? No thanks.
"I could tough out the hard parts, but meeting people scares me. Less time with Se-in? Hate that..."
Basically, it'd be for him. To give him more gifts, live without freeloading guiltily, do what she wants with pride.
No matter the pay, she wouldn't trade too much time away from him.
Besides, Arin was a homebody who rarely left her room. Better pick something doable than fail at something grueling.
But what can I do stuck at home without meeting anyone...?
That's when her eyes fell on the character doll right in front of her.
Ah!
A trivial epiphany flashed through her mind.
VTuber!
Initial costs would be high, but she had plenty saved. If she buckled down, she might make bank. No face reveal, no in-person meetings.
Arin grinned, rosy with hope.
Se-in watches streams too, so if I get super famous and make him my fan... then reveal "Surprise, that's me!" Hehe.
In her daydream, Se-in gasped, "Y-you're really that famous VTuber XX?!"
"Alright. First, get some quotes—"
Searching, she reeled back at the startup costs that blew past her wildest estimates.
"J-just stream with illustrations... Mic's fine with what I have..."
Her conscience nagged: Couldn't you have done that as a jobless shut-in?
"But my voice is nice, I love games, and the vibes match..."
Her voice trailed off, but it wasn't impossible.
"Yeah. Gotta try!"
Arin shoved her doubts into a corner of her mind and steeled herself with effort.
"Illustrations will take time to commission, so games today."
That resolve didn't last long.