"Why hasn't she come back yet?"
In the small rented apartment, Doma Taihei looked up at the wall clock for who knows how many times, watching the second hand tick with a "tick-tock, tick-tock" sound, his expression growing increasingly anxious.
It was already past 6 PM.
By this time, Umaru should've been home long ago.
But not only had she not returned, her phone couldn't be reached either.
This made Doma Taihei a bit worried.
He feared something might have happened—like maybe she got tangled up with some delinquent with a head full of dyed hair.
Honestly speaking, his little sister was pretty cute.
Humans really shouldn't overthink.
Because the more you think, the more anxious you get.
That was exactly the case for Doma Taihei now. As his thoughts spun out of control, he couldn't hold back and tried calling Umaru again.
"The number you dialed is powered off."
Same as before—just that monotonous "powered off" voice.
That did it. Doma Taihei couldn't sit still anymore.
He jumped to his feet, threw on a coat, slipped on his shoes, locked the door, and rushed downstairs.
Just as he got to the ground floor, he ran into Ebina Nana struggling to carry a heavy sack of rice, swaying left and right and seemingly about to collapse at any moment.
Though he was worried about his sister, Doma Taihei had a kind nature. Seeing Ebina like that, he stepped up to help her anyway.
"Th-thank you."
Ebina blushed and lowered her head shyly when she saw it was Umaru's older brother from the floor above.
"Ebina, do you know where Umaru went?"
As he helped carry the rice back, Taihei asked.
This girl went to and from school with Umaru every day. They were the closest of friends. Taihei figured she might know where his sister had gone.
"Umaru didn't come home?"
Ebina looked surprised.
She clearly remembered that Umaru had left school without waiting for her today.
She assumed Umaru had just gone home early.
"Yeah, she hasn't been back at all, and her phone's off. Did she tell you where she was going?"
Ebina suddenly recalled Umaru acting strangely that day. Like Watson noticing a missing detail, her pupils widened and she murmured, "Could she have gone to—" Bzzzz~
Right at that critical moment, Taihei felt his phone vibrate in his pocket.
Thinking it was Umaru, he answered without checking, but it turned out to be an unfamiliar number.
Assuming it was a spam call, he was about to hang up—until he heard Umaru's voice.
"Hello, Onii-chan, it's me, Umaru."
…
"Umaru? Where are you right now?"
Umaru kept her eyes on Takashi, who was getting a room key at the front desk, as she replied, "I'm out shopping with a friend. Yep, she's a girl."
"My phone died, so I borrowed hers to call you."
"Onii-chan, don't worry. I'm totally safe. I won't be home for dinner—I'll be eating with her."
"I might be back a bit late tonight."
Seeing that Takashi had finished, she rushed to wrap things up. "Okay, I gotta go, she's calling me. Bye, Onii-chan."
Before Taihei could say another word, she hung up and ran over to Takashi.
"Done with the call?"
Takashi smiled and held out his hand.
"Mmhm."
Umaru obediently placed her small hand in his.
Takashi's eyes twitched.
Was I asking for your hand?
I meant the phone!
He started to panic a little inside, but didn't let it show at all.
You can't be a proper playboy without nerves of steel.
He simply held onto her hand and said, "Let's go."
With that, he started leading her toward the room they'd just booked.
"Wait, I've never been here before. Show me around first!"
Umaru tugged on his hand, voice full of childish charm.
"What's there to see in a net café?"
"This is my first time ever going to one!"
A couple of bros entering the café, arms slung around each other, looked at the angelic girl next to Takashi, then at their own rough-looking guy friends, and sighed in envy.
Why couldn't he have been a girl…?
Brothers are great and all, but if they had the option, they'd definitely rather have a cute girl to accompany them.
In the end, Takashi gave in and took Umaru on a quick tour.
Japanese net cafés are classic examples of "loneliness economy." Small cubicles, separated from the world, designed with extreme privacy in mind.
There were single and double rooms.
Some cafés even had three- or four-person rooms, but the one Takashi picked was higher-end—only single and double rooms available.
Unlike domestic ones with simple partitioned desks, these private rooms were fully decorated like actual rooms.
They were meant for people who couldn't afford high Tokyo rent—sometimes referred to as "net café refugees."
These cafés provided basic living necessities—food, hygiene, showers.
Many people chasing their dreams from the countryside made these cafés their homes.
Some stayed for years, even decades.
"This is the dining area."
Just past the front desk was a café-style space with unlimited drinks.
In the corner stood rows of vending machines—Coke, Sprite, Fanta—plus an assortment of bagged teas and coffees.
Umaru clung to Takashi's arm, curiously looking around like a wide-eyed child.
Past the dining area, rows of bookshelves came into view—packed with an astonishing number of volumes.
Umaru's eyes lit up. Takashi smiled and said, "This is the manga section. It's all free."
The manga selection was vast—basically everything on the market.
Even adult manga and Korean manhwa were available.
Of course, the so-called Korean manhwa stacked near the adult section weren't the "wholesome" kind—they were all adult manhwas.
"All this is free?"
Umaru tugged at his sleeve, eyes gleaming with innocence even purer than a college student's.
"What else would it be?"
Takashi pinched her nose gently.
Umaru puffed her cheeks like a pufferfish, glaring at him.
Their playful flirting made the single diners nearby feel incredibly uncomfortable.
Some lost their appetite and turned back to their rooms, grumbling internally.
Next, Takashi showed Umaru the shower area.
"This net café sucks," Takashi muttered, frowning at the facilities.
"What's wrong with it?"
Umaru tilted her head, thinking it looked quite clean.
The shampoo and body wash were even from big-name brands.
"No mixed bathing! Trash café. Come on, let's find one that has it."
Takashi grabbed her hand and turned to leave.
Umaru blushed and smacked him with her tiny fists.
After touring the public area on the first floor, they headed upstairs.
Climbing the spiral staircase, they reached the second floor, scanned their room card, and entered.
The room was 200cm wide, 420cm long—just big enough for two people to lie side-by-side.
The space was tight, and two PCs sat at the front.
As Takashi closed the door, Umaru's heart skipped a beat.
Now it was just the two of them, alone in this confined room.
If he tries something now… should I resist?
While her mind spun with thoughts, Takashi had already turned on the computer.
"What should we play?"
He said casually, but didn't open any games. Instead, he searched for a Manchester City vs. Everton match.
When he saw the headline "Halftime: Man City 1–1 Everton. Bernardo scores; Akanji whiffs; Lewis loses his mark"—with a 1:1 score—he knew it was time to reveal his ten-year loyalty to Atlético Madrid.
Don't ask why he supported Atlético.
Because Álvarez was there.
Sometimes, you really gotta believe in fate.
Right, Harry Kane?
Umaru, still a little nervous, sat beside him.
When she saw him totally focused on the football match without sparing her a glance, she got annoyed and pinched the soft flesh at his waist.
Takashi let out an "Ow!" and looked at her, confused about what he did wrong.
"Let's play League of Legends."
Umaru's tone was stiff.
"Boring."
"Then PUBG?"
"Too many cheaters."
"What about Genshin Impact?"
"Even a dog wouldn't play that."
Umaru glared at Takashi, clearly annoyed by his repeated rejections. "Then you pick something to play!"
Takashi thought for a moment. "How about Valorant?"
"You're not just playing it because there are a lot of cute girls in that game, are you?"
Umaru stared coldly at Takashi, easily seeing through his little scheme.
"Of course not! What kind of person do you think I am?"
His words sounded righteous, but inwardly, he felt guilty.
How had he been so easily seen through?
"Nope, pick something else."
Takashi thought again. "Then how about CS:GO?"
"Sure."
As soon as Takashi logged in, he received messages from Otani Shota and Tanaka Kota in-game.
[Otani Shota]: "Kitahara, Kitahara, did you watch the Shanghai Major?"
[Tanaka Kota]: "Masixi was insane!"
Takashi grinned smugly and typed slowly: [Kitahara]: "Didn't watch it, but I got a Donk golden sticker!"
[Otani Shota]: "F*ck!"
[Tanaka Kota]: "F*ck!"
Nothing stings more than seeing your buddy make money without you.
Bro code said to stick together in tough times—so why was he driving a Range Rover now?
[Kitahara]: "Call me daddy and I'll sell one to you at cost."
[Otani Shota]: "Daddy daddy daddy, I'll take one!"
[Tanaka Kota]: Looked down on Otani Shota but typed quickly anyway: "Daaad~"
Umaru was intrigued by Takashi's conversation and leaned her head on his shoulder to watch eagerly.
[Kitahara]: "Voice call or no deal!"
Takashi placed his headset on Umaru's head and leaned in close to her ear.
"Daaaad!"
"Daaaddy!"
Takashi wiggled his eyebrows at Umaru and whispered, "So, how do you like our sons?"
Umaru couldn't help it and burst into laughter with a little snort.
[Otani Shota]: "What was that sound?"
[Tanaka Kota]: "Was that a girl? Damn it, Kitahara—did your wingman set you up with someone!?"
Tanaka Kota, apparently with sharper ears, slapped his desk in frustration.
"I'll give you a gold sticker for free later," Takashi said, bumping shoulders with Umaru. "Come on, Mama. Say hi to our sons."
Umaru blushed and glared at him in mock annoyance. "Mama? Stop talking nonsense! I haven't even married you yet!"
She was only sixteen.
No way was she ready to be a mom.
At least wait until she was twenty.
Takashi shamelessly leaned closer, face nearly touching hers. "If you're not marrying me, then who are you going to marry?"
As he spoke, one hand slowly slipped behind her—targeting her phone.
Not to steal it—just to power it off.
If Hitomi or Narii suddenly called, he'd be toast.
They sat facing each other, very close, their eyes meeting, breaths mingling in the quiet room.
At that moment, Umaru's cheeks burned hotter, her heart beat faster, and her thoughts became a mess.
Takashi stared at her flawless, delicate face, her slightly parted lips, catching a glimpse of pearly teeth and the tip of her adorable tongue.
His gaze involuntarily dropped—from her eyes, to her lips, then to the tip of her tongue.
A storm of overwhelming tension exploded in the room's stillness.
For a moment, Takashi forgot what his hands were supposed to be doing.
"You… you… what are you trying to do?"
Umaru's voice was flustered and panicked.
Her snow-white feet, wrapped in short black socks, curled slightly.
The dim lighting cast a soft glow over the room, doing nothing to dull the allure of her beautiful legs and delicate feet—driving Takashi's thoughts into chaos.
"I…"
Even Takashi could sense the seduction in the air.
If this were a net café back home, this atmosphere would be impossible.
But this was Japan.
And it was just the two of them alone in this private room.
Takashi swallowed hard.
Umaru noticed the clear motion of his Adam's apple. She thought this was the sign of an imminent move, and instinctively shrank back a little.
But there wasn't much space.
And as she leaned back, her waist bumped right into Takashi's chest.
This jerk… he planned this all along, didn't he?
She felt like everything had gone according to Takashi's scheme.
She'd been too foolish.
Actually believing he just wanted to "go online"!
Go online, my foot! He just wanted to get on top of me!
Umaru turned her head away and quietly closed her eyes.
"Sh*t."
Takashi cursed under his breath, took off the headset from Umaru, and leaned in to kiss her.
"Mmph!"
Otani Shota and Tanaka Kota only heard a muffled sound—then nothing.
It made them panic.
They wanted to call Takashi right then just to yell, Don't mute!
If they couldn't see, at least let them hear something!
But they figured if they called now, Takashi might actually kill them tomorrow.
So they silently locked their room doors, picked up tissues, and opened certain websites—while telling themselves:
"This is the last time…"
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