Peter Pan - 2: Before the Confusion of Our First Meeting Faded
Before the confusion of our first meeting had even subsided, the blonde girl bowed politely once more. Receiving the greeting from that petite figure in her white school uniform and sky-blue skirt naturally brought a smile to my face.
"Hello! I'm Misora Mikoto, who used to work as a voice actress! Nice to meet you!"
Even a plain greeting didn't sound ordinary coming from that animation-like voice of hers. If it was her natural tone, it was just intriguing, but if she was keeping up the act, it was downright impressive. Her sheer brightness seemed to lift my mood a bit. Yukiko was attractive, of course, but she wasn't the type to put anyone at ease. Spending hours in a room full of women just like her wasn't easy.
She began listing off the roles she'd voiced, one by one. It had been ages since I'd watched anime, but I recognized some of the characters. Once Mikoto finished her turn, the others started their introductions, but I couldn't tear my eyes away from her. She beamed with a grin one moment, then suddenly pulled a haughty expression and struck a classic tsundere pose—it was so funny I couldn't hold back my laughter.
At least the slave market visit had ended on a high note, I thought, starting to rise from my seat.
"Master? You're leaving just like this? Or sending these women away?"
"Ah, sorry, but I have to head back today."
"You seemed quite taken with Misora. Are you sure you don't want to take her?"
The blonde girl was charming, no doubt. No one unattractive even made it in here to begin with. Her animation-character acting and bubbly energy were both appealing.
"If we're talking about living together... I'm not sure. Wouldn't she be exhausting?"
"You're considering me again."
"No, that's not it... Um, yeah. You're right."
I tried to dodge, but Yukiko's gaze made it impossible to lie. It wasn't so much guilt as a lack of nerve to brazenly continue a lie that was already seen through.
"Her personality's too different from yours. I just have a feeling it'd be too tough living together long-term."
"Your pleasure and satisfaction matter more than me."
"If our personalities clash and my slaves start fighting, I'd be the one really suffering."
Yukiko pulled me into an embrace and kissed my ear. Her hair naturally veiled her voice.
"You need someone different from me. That girl has big breasts and a bright voice—you'll surely enjoy fucking her."
"Yukiko is enough for m—"
"She's not."
I gave an awkward smile. Living with a smart, uncompromising slave wasn't easy. Just like the excuses I'd fabricated that morning to avoid going out, Yukiko unflinchingly pointed out how flimsy my reasons for not buying her were.
She wasn't usually this nitpicky, but when it came to my pleasure, comfort, or well-being, she wouldn't budge.
"Alright. I'll buy her."
"Re~ally? Thank you! Thank you so much!"
She hadn't named anyone, but everyone in the room knew who'd been chosen. Mikoto let out an excited squeal, then quickly quieted down as she read the mood.
"I-It's not like I'm happy about becoming your slave or anything!"
That straight-up classic tsundere vibe felt almost old-school, but I didn't mind the chuckles it drew from me.
When Yukiko first arrived, she'd slept in my room that very first night, but after those trial-and-error days, I'd already prepared five rooms as livable spaces.
"Whoa~! I-I'm already getting emotional... Look at this super fluffy bed!"
Mikoto bounced on the bed before flopping down flat. I was glad she liked it.
"But... did you really change into a school uniform just to wear a school uniform?"
"Ah, actually, this isn't a real uniform—it's cosplay! This one's from the anime 'Betrayed by the Student Council, I Switched to Pro Gamer, But Somehow Ended Up as the Popular Guy?' And that one's from 'I'm Actually the Sword Saint, But I Hate Attention, So I'm Living a Peaceful Life at the Academy.'"
The titles alone were so absurd I couldn't help but chuckle. Back when I was scouring my room alone for something to watch, I'd have shrugged off anime like that. But hearing those long-winded male-oriented anime titles spill from the mouth of this laughing girl—who sounded just like an anime character, and was in the position of a slave straight out of one—made it all feel like some absurd comedy.
"Is that okay? Those... well, they're not exactly fun for girls to watch, right?"
Mikoto grinned brightly.
"Maybe a few years ago, but now harem rom-com anime are way better than real life, lol?"
"As a fellow man, I feel a huge pang of guilt..."
The virus and war had killed off so many men that it made sense for males to hold the power in romance, given their scarcity. But owning slaves and getting away with most crimes was a blatant privilege—a crime with perpetrators.
"Eek, don't let the vibe drop! Nooo! While we're on the topic, can I drop the formal speech? I wanna call you big bro too, Onii-chan, but if you're all stiff like this, I'll be sa~d..."
I was already bursting into laughter at the "Onii-something." Half of it was embarrassed amusement.
"No, seriously, pfft, yeah, let's do it. Mikoto...-chan?"
"Kyahahahaha!!!"
Forcing on the "-chan" to play along must've looked awkward even to her, because she ended up rolling on the bed in hysterics too.
"And I love voice acting! Anime, audiobooks, foreign movie dubs, games—even the naughty ones! I love every single light novel original, every manga too!"
Mikoto's eyes sparkled as she talked about her passions.
"I love the distrustful, naggy heroines, the dumb ones caught in vile schemes, the princesses saved by the prince— all of them!"
"Really? Doesn't it feel weird or upsetting if they're different from you?"
"I love acting like someone else, performing, and hearing people get happy from my voice!"
Her bright, high-pitched voice filled the room. Whether from diligent Korean studies or pro voice actress skill, every word she spoke so freely lodged perfectly in my ears.
"Come to think of it, why do male-oriented anime still come out as is these days?"
Anime scenes of guys peeking at panties or groping breasts were tame compared to the sexually rough daily lives of surviving men. And with so few men left, who even watched and funded them?
"Hmm, big bro master's asking a tough one. First off~ it's sponsorship!"
"Lots of men can't let go of their anime nostalgia, so they go to production companies and request these kinds of shows!"
"Not easy..."
"Japan's surviving industries are culture and tourism, so talent flocks to anime, miraculously keeping the quality up!"
Mikoto suddenly pulled a magic wand from somewhere and pressed a button. It sparkled with sound effects before fizzling out.
"That was what Magical Girl Mikoto, full of dreams and hope, would say. Reality? Cheap labor costs~"
Even someone with vast wealth and women at their beck and call sometimes just craved a new anime episode. I strangely related.
Childhood longings weren't easy to abandon, no matter how much better you had now.
"Plus, men all climbed to the upper class, so stuff they'd like—manga, anime—gets treated as high culture?"
"Yeah, I get that."
"Exactly. People get high off being 'upper-class me enjoying men's culture,' so they keep consuming it. Even some Korean women watch if it goes viral online as 'male-heart-sniper anime'!"
"Speaking of, are there male voice actors anymore?"
"Of course not! That's why there are no deep-voiced monsters or buff guys now! Protagonists or pretty-boy types were always voiced by women lowering their pitch anyway. I've done it a few times!"
Bouncing around proudly, Mikoto bragged about voicing the male lead in 'Ordinary Student Me in Another World as the Butter-Scented Noble Crown Prince?' I'd never heard of it, but her beaming face was so cute I just said it was cool. Mikoto got even more excited and bounced on the bed again.
Her chest jiggled impressively with every bounce. She couldn't have been over 160cm, but those swells straining her blouse drew the eye relentlessly. Glancing at her legs revealed pink panties peeking from under her short skirt.
"Ah! Big bro master! I brought a bunch of cosplay outfits—wanna see?"
No wonder her luggage was so much; her wardrobe overflowed with outfits of every concept.
"This is a maid outfit, this one's a bit naughty slave look... hehe. Doesn't the torn cloth feel like real fantasy slave vibes? Oh, and heavy iron chains and collar over here!"
Mikoto was all set for a fashion show when Yukiko opened the door.
"Pardon the intrusion, Master. I was about to fetch Mikoto to teach her meal prep, but if you're enjoying yourselves, I can do it later."
"Nah, I'm good."
"I'm good too! That was fun, big bro master! Let's talk anime more later!"
Mikoto waved energetically as she left the room, still grinning.
"Yeah, do your best, Mikoto!"
I'd been so mesmerized by her smile that I hadn't noticed Yukiko's steps slowing a touch.
On the way from Mikoto's room to mine, I planted a light kiss on Yukiko's cheek.
"Thanks, always."
"This makes me want to act spoiled..."
"Spoil away as much as you want. Mikoto's super cute, right?"
"Seeing that blonde's antics, I feel the need to discipline myself strictly again today. But I'll train her hard into a slave who pulls her weight, so please trust me."
With that, Yukiko headed to the kitchen. Mikoto was already fumbling something—"How do you do this?"—or so it sounded. Dinner wouldn't be smooth, I figured, as I entered my room.
Mikoto was a people person; she'd manage somehow. In the end, it had been a day full of laughter.