“Sigh… What were they thinking…”

After spending dozens of minutes blushing and making excuses for Amelia’s ridiculous misunderstanding, I finally stopped Amelia and Dorothy from looking at Siwoo and me with suspicious eyes.

…Though it felt more like they were letting it slide rather than truly understanding.

They did understand properly, right?

“Contraception? There’s no way Siwoo would do such a thing. Right?”

“…Yeah, well. That’s right.”

“Even as a joke, that’s going too far.”

See?

Siwoo isn’t that kind of shameless person.

How can these so-called heroines know so little about the protagonist?

I suppressed the urge to confront Amelia out of annoyance. If I did so now, it might lead to another strange misunderstanding.

…Besides, well.

It’s not like I have anything to say, really.

How could I tell them that I actually become emotionally unstable and dangerous when Siwoo isn’t around and that we’re living together to help with that?

“He just wanted to help me, that’s all.”

It’s not like I trusted Siwoo this much from the beginning.

Even if he is the protagonist, he’s still a young man in his prime.

When I first moved in with Siwoo at his house, my guard was as high as a stray cat on the street.

He was helping, but he might use that as an excuse to fulfill his desires, right?

I understood well enough that my body was attractive.

So, I remained cautious while I watched Siwoo, knowing I needed his warmth.

However, I found him to be harmless.

A month. We lived together for almost a month, and Siwoo remained kind to me.

He never looked at me with lustful eyes.

At least when I was a man, it would have been impossible. I could be certain of that.

I clung to him so much that even I thought it might be annoying or uncomfortable for him.

“I trust him, so don’t worry!”

“…Yeah, I’m glad.”

Siwoo… well, how should I put it?

He seemed to meet the conditions of a protagonist well.

The Author suddenly said she couldn’t modify Siwoo anymore. That means, conversely, that she could change him before.

Being the Author, I wonder if she inserted settings like the protagonist being dense about romance, like in light novels.

No matter how I thought about it, there was no other explanation.

I wouldn’t have been able to endure if it were me.

A beautiful girl like this living in the same house, treating me as special, saying she can’t be without me.

No matter how I thought about it, for nothing to happen under these conditions must be because of that.

Once, I even fell into self-loathing, wondering if I lacked charm when I saw Siwoo’s nonchalant attitude.

Despite being such an attractive girl, there’s no reaction. It gives me an inexplicable sense of defeat.

Moreover, I remembered something I seemed to have seen on the internet before falling into this world.

What was it again? Guys who can’t date in the real world won’t be able to date even if they become handsome or pretty when they go to another world. Something like that?

Was I really someone who couldn’t experience romance even after coming to this world, just as those words said?

I felt a little sad thinking about that.

…But then I realized I didn’t need to be sad about such things.

It’s impossible to date anyone here anyway, right?

Everyone is just a puppet, so what’s the point.

“…Ah, is there anything you’d like for dinner today?”

“I can cook, you know.”

“No, no.”

“Leave it to me!”

I decided to make  steak today based on Siwoo’s suggestion.

…Hmm, what do we have in the fridge?

We’re running low on onions and pepper. I should restock those while buying  meat.

Recalling the current ingredients in Siwoo’s fridge, I headed towards the market.

Of course, with Siwoo.

“I should at least do this much. I don’t want to be a burden.”

“I keep telling you it’s fine… Isn’t it tiring?”

“I often cook for myself anyway, so it’s fine. How many times have we had this conversation?”

I let out a small sigh.

Siwoo is kind, but it’s problematic that he tries not to make me do anything.

That can’t be.

It’s not right to suddenly live in someone else’s house and do nothing.

Before talking about manners, I can’t stand how uncomfortable it makes me feel.

Based on my judgment that I’d feel less uncomfortable if I did something, I decided to take charge of cooking while staying at Siwoo’s house.

Siwoo seemed reluctant about that too.

It’s not like we’re short on money, and it was quite enjoyable to actually make dishes that I had only thought about making before.

It was also quite pleasant to have someone else eat the food I made.

“Oh my, you’re here again today.”

“Hello. I came to look at some  meat… This looks delicious. I’ll take this, please.”

“Of course, dear customer. You have a good eye.”

I see the Academy’s reputation has indeed improved.

I could see nearby customers glancing at us, even though we visit almost every day.

In the past, they would have just thought, “Oh, they’re students,” and moved on.

Recently, the number of people whispering about us has increased.

“…It’s burdensome.”

“Is it? I think it would be fine to enjoy it a bit more.”

“We’re just doing what we’re supposed to do.”

“Oh.”

As expected, is this because he’s the protagonist?

I always found it amazing to see this side of Siwoo.

I wouldn’t have believed it if someone else had said such a cliché thing.

But I could because Siwoo said it.

Unlike others, he speaks from his heart.

“That was kind of cool?”

Hmm, hmm.

As I nodded to myself, the lady who prepared the  meat approached us.

“Here you go. Take it.”

“…Pardon? What about the payment?”

“How could I take money from students? Quickly now. My arms are getting tired.”

…You didn’t take money last time either.

Besides, this is clearly not the  meat I asked for earlier.

Of course, the meat I chose looked delicious too, but…

This looks much more expensive no matter how you look at it.

It seems the size has increased too.

“Ma’am, but this…”

“Take it quickly. Students need to eat well.”

“We’re not people who deserve this…”

“No, it’s fine to accept it. I’m so grateful thanks to you students.”

The lady said with a bright smile.

“I was fine, but the surroundings were damaged and in chaos, and you students helped, right? Quickly, take it. I told you my arms are tired?”

“…”

Come to think of it, this shopping district was one of the places damaged on the day of the closing ceremony.

I think I heard that’s why students mainly get points here.

It’s close by, and there was a lot to restore.

It seems the students have moved to other places now that the restoration is almost complete.

It felt strange.

The shopping district was destroyed due to the Author’s setting, and now it’s being restored because of another.

As I stood there for a while, just looking, the lady said playfully.

“Take it quickly. You should feed your boyfriend something delicious.”

“…It’s not like that.”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be silly. You come here together every day. Eat well and protect us citizens. That’s enough for us.”

Boyfriend? What nonsense.

Siwoo is meant to end up with a heroine.

Right now, he’s living with me like this to help me, but someday, when I can manage without Siwoo…

When that happens, it’ll be Amelia. Or Dorothy.

Or maybe he’ll end up with a new heroine that appears someday.

Or perhaps, like a true protagonist, he’ll marry all of them.

“…”

Ultimately, I took the  meat and picked up a few missing ingredients from other stores.

Once again, I couldn’t pay due to the owner’s insistence.

On the way back to Siwoo’s house.

I suddenly imagined what would happen if the Author really ceased to exist in this world.

If I couldn’t return to my original world.

Another woman would smile happily next to Siwoo, and I would watch as usual.

…Somehow, it feels unpleasant.

***

“Then, please go ahead and take a bath. I’ll prepare the meal.”

“Will you be alright?”

“Ha, haha… Of course. I can manage that much somehow.”

That’s a lie.

After living together for almost a month, Siwoo has come to know Arte better.

That’s just bravado. She’ll surely have breathing difficulties after just ten minutes.

But even knowing that, there’s nothing else he can do.

It’s not like he can enter the bathroom with her.

In the end, Siwoo had no choice but to nod.

“I’ll be quick.”

“Take your time, it’s fine.”

Leaving the kitchen where the smell of grilling  meat was starting to waft, Siwoo entered the bathroom and immediately banged his head against the wall.

“Endure it, endure… You have to endure, Yu Siwoo…”

Over the past month, Siwoo has been feeling his sanity gradually wearing away.

It’s not like he’s been training too much. He’s getting enough rest.

He could intuitively tell how far to go to finish training efficiently.

He hasn’t been staying up late either.

Since Arte moved in, the surrounding environment may have become too good.

He’s been sleeping well.

There’s only one reason why Siwoo’s sanity is wearing away.

“Isn’t she too defenseless…”

It’s because of the desires that arise from spending all day with Arte.

What would happen if Arte found out he was looking at her with such eyes when he agreed to help her?

Would she be disappointed? Disgusted?

…Maybe she’d be so shocked that she’d suffer from breathing difficulties even with him nearby. That can’t happen.

It was easier to endure when Arte was watching from afar.

The stimulation wasn’t strong enough to make a judgment that she might be watching from behind the curtain.

But now? She’s too defenseless.

At first, she seemed a bit wary, but she completely let her guard down after just a few days.

Is she a stray cat abandoned by humans? Isn’t her guard dropping too easily?

Siwoo started cooling his head with the coldest water possible to clear his mind.

He couldn’t take a long shower either.

Arte needs him to be nearby.

If only her symptoms would improve or if she would be a little more cautious.

Siwoo let out a sigh.