After Work, I Brought Home a Devilish Beauty - Chapter 47

“Chiba.”

“It’s time to go.”

“So noisy.”

“What’s wrong with waiting a little longer?”

It was 7:30 in the morning.

The city had only just begun to wake.

Most people were still asleep.

Yet inside a tiny second-floor apartment—barely large enough for a single tenant—constant noise echoed through the room.

Suitcases scraped across the floor.

Boxes were shifted from one corner to another.

It was obvious…

Someone was preparing for a long journey.

Fortunately, all of the neighboring rooms were vacant.

Otherwise, Yuichi would have undoubtedly received complaints for disturbing the peace.

“But if we don’t leave now…”

“We’ll miss the Shinkansen.”

“…Fine.”

“I’ll wait outside.”

Yuichi’s impatient voice drifted from inside the apartment.

A moment later…

The front door swung open.

“…Honestly.”

“Am I taking care of a spoiled princess?”

He muttered to himself as he dragged a heavy suitcase onto the small balcony.

Perhaps because he had shaved that morning…

Yuichi looked cleaner than usual.

His casual clothes were stylish enough.

If not for his perpetually sleepy-looking eyes…

He might actually have been considered handsome.

A gentle breeze brushed past him.

Leaning against the balcony railing, Yuichi reached into his pocket.

He pulled out two familiar items.

A lighter.

And a pack of cigarettes.

He took one cigarette out, placed it between his lips, and prepared to light it.

The wind blew again.

Then…

His hand stopped.

A certain girl’s warning suddenly echoed in his mind.

“If I ever catch you smoking again…”

“I’ll pin you to the ground and beat you up.”

He couldn’t help smiling.

“…Right.”

“You hate the smell.”

With a quiet laugh…

Yuichi removed the cigarette from his mouth and threw it into the bin.

He glanced at the time on his phone.

Ten minutes had already passed.

Unable to wait any longer, he leaned back inside.

“…Are you ready yet?”

“If you keep rushing me…”

“I’m not going anymore.”

Chiba’s annoyed voice answered first.

A second later…

She stepped out of the room.

Yuichi froze.

“…Wow…”

He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Today…

Chiba had clearly dressed up.

Her long black hair flowed neatly over her shoulders.

She wore a simple school uniform.

Nothing flashy.

Nothing extravagant.

Yet somehow…

It suited her perfectly.

Some fashions never went out of style.

A school uniform was one of them.

“Hmph.”

“Stop staring.”

Chiba adjusted her sunglasses, pretending not to care.

But the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her embarrassment.

“…Didn’t you say we were in a hurry?”

“Then let’s go.”

Yuichi smiled.

“…Right.”

Travelling from Tokyo to Osaka by Shinkansen took about three hours.

Fortunately…

They had left early enough to arrive before lunchtime.

Yuichi’s apartment was only a twenty-minute walk from the station.

So instead of taking a taxi…

The two simply walked.

As Yuichi dragged their heavy luggage along the pavement, Chiba looked at him curiously.

“…Why aren’t we taking a taxi?”

“Wouldn’t that be faster?”

Yuichi let out a helpless sigh.

“I’d love to.”

“But…”

“Our budget’s already pretty tight.”

His recent hospital stay had cost a considerable amount of money.

Then came two Shinkansen tickets.

After paying for everything…

There wasn’t much left.

“…I see.”

After thinking for a moment, Chiba made another suggestion.

“Then I’ll just fly us there.”

Yuichi’s face instantly turned pale.

“No!”

“I’m begging you.”

“Please don’t.”

“Unless you want to end up inside a government laboratory.”

Chiba looked unimpressed.

“…They’re only humans.”

“I have no reason to fear them.”

Yuichi laughed awkwardly.

“…Maybe.”

“But humans have missiles.”

“They’ll shoot you out of the sky before you know it.”

“Technology is surprisingly terrifying.”

“…Even magic can’t solve everything.”

The two continued chatting as they walked.

Before long…

The station finally came into view.

The station bustled with travelers.

Dragging their luggage through the crowds wasn’t easy.

After quite a struggle…

Yuichi finally reached the ticket gates with Chiba.

Just as expected…

Identification was required to enter.

Fortunately…

Yuichi had already prepared everything in advance.

Not long after Chiba first arrived in Tokyo…

He had taken care of the necessary paperwork for her.

“…The human world is troublesome.”

“Even travelling somewhere requires so many procedures.”

Watching Yuichi handle everything himself…

Chiba couldn’t help sighing.

Yuichi smiled.

“…You’re right.”

“But these rules exist to keep dangerous people out.”

Chiba thought about that for a moment.

“…I’m a demon.”

“From a human’s point of view…”

“Wouldn’t that make me one of those dangerous people?”

Yuichi looked at her.

Then gently shook his head.

“…I don’t think so.”

“Since coming to this world…”

“You haven’t harmed anyone.”

“No matter what someone has done in the past…”

“If they’re willing to change…”

“Even if it’s only a little…”

“I believe they deserve to be forgiven.”

Chiba quietly lowered her eyes.

“…I see.”

Neither of them spoke again.

They found their seats.

Moments later…

The Shinkansen slowly pulled away from the platform.

Their journey to Osaka…

Had officially begun.