Chapter 157: Nude Sketch LV99!

“Living together isn’t something you eat, hey!”

Was this girl playing games with him?

“What is it then?”

“It’s living together.”

Did she genuinely not understand, or was she pretending?

Himekoji was getting a headache, but since she’d put up with his earlier perverted words and even complimented his voice, he’d try to explain a little.

“Living together… that’s something only adults do,” Himekoji said casually.

“Only adults?”

Her expression still hadn’t changed, but her eyes seemed to brighten slightly. Tipping her head, she asked:

“Are you an adult?”

“Yes.”

“So am I?”

“No, absolutely not!”

Not only “not,” quite the opposite—she seemed just like a little kid lacking common sense!

What was this? Airheaded?

Somehow, Himekoji got that feeling.

“I want to eat.”

The girl lifted her chin, looking up at Himekoji as she spoke.

“Eat what?”

“Living together.”

“I told you, that’s not something you eat!”

Himekoji was at a loss.

“I want to know.”

“Know what?”

“Things besides drawing skills.”

Her expression was calm. Her tone was calm. And beneath that calm—a clear belief.

Haa—

So, she’d actually believed those wild statements he’d made earlier while arguing with Iida Ayano?

Himekoji began to slightly grasp why this girl had followed him out.

But really, she had misunderstood.

His earlier flood of impressive talk—sure, it sounded good, but in reality, it was all just Himekoji running his mouth. He had no real skill or knowledge; all of it was pure nonsense. He was nothing but—

A plagiarist!

And a failure at that—even after copying works from his past life, he’d been kicked out by the editor…

“If you want to know those things, you shouldn’t have followed me out here.”

Himekoji sighed softly and pointed toward the editorial office behind the girl.

“You’d be better off asking anyone inside there than following me around.”

Mashiro turned to gaze back at the editorial office in the direction Himekoji pointed.

The girl tilted her head, deep in thought for a moment.

Seeing her finally willing to seriously consider things eased something in Himekoji; he breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, the next moment—

“Living together is better.”

She made her decision, murmuring softly while nodding.

Huh? Wait!

This was the result after serious thinking?

Himekoji was flabbergasted…

“Living together my foot!”

Living together was impossible!

He’d only said those impossible words earlier because the System forced him to…

Never mind that they barely knew each other—even if they were really close, or even if they were dating, two high schoolers absolutely couldn’t live together!

Their families wouldn’t allow it. The school wouldn’t permit it.

And especially, since Himekoji’s Imouto would be coming home before long…

If Akiko then saw a strange girl living at their place, how on earth would he explain that, hey?!

So, things like “moving in” popping out of the girl’s mouth shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Yet somehow, Himekoji couldn’t shake the sense that she wasn’t actually joking…

Was it really just a mistake?

“You said it first.”

Mashiro blinked, her face puzzled.

Hmm… well, he did mention it first, that was true.

But the System had been dealt with now, so Himekoji didn’t need to be responsible for his previous words anymore.

[Ding!]

[Please choose!]

[A: Let Shiina Mashiro live at your house.]

[B: Have you live inside Shiina Mashiro’s body.]

[Reward for completion: Permanent skill — ‘Nude Sketch LV99’!]

[Penalty for failure: Permanent nudity + Loss of all self-care abilities.]

Himekoji: “…”

Could the reality slap really come this fast?

Though…he was kind of used to it by now…

Alright, moving on to the next point of absurdity!

That—

What exactly did the B option’s “live inside Shiina Mashiro’s body” mean?

Just tell him exactly HOW he was supposed to “live inside” her, hey!

Wait—Shiina Mashiro?

So this airhead’s name was Shiina Mashiro?

Mashiro, Mashiro…

It really was a perfectly fitting name.

Slow to react to surroundings, lacking common sense, thought patterns completely different from ordinary people.

After this much interaction, Himekoji already had a rough grasp of the character standing before him.

…

[CHOOSE NOW!]

While Himekoji was daydreaming, the System kept pushing relentlessly with its trademark stiff, cold voice.

Dang it, why don’t you just tell me how to choose?!

Himekoji Akito rolled his eyes, thoroughly annoyed.

Choose A? Wasn’t that just asking for the girl’s family to come knocking?

Then making Himekoji take another trip to the police station?

Sure, he felt right at home there, but a real man aimed for the cool, struggling independence of avoiding home!

As for choosing B…

That wasn’t about avoiding any kind of home—it meant being locked in one for two or three years without getting out!

Don’t think Himekoji couldn’t see through the disguise! Option B was straight-up crime!

“A!”

Faced with choosing the lesser evil, Himekoji had no other choice.

As for the problems that’d come from “living together”—like his Imouto, or Mashiro’s family—he’d just deal with them one step at a time.

Blasted System, always causing huge trouble!

“Then let’s live together! Don’t go back on your word!”

Himekoji gritted his teeth. The anger wasn’t aimed at the girl, just at that troublemaking System.

“Why would I go back on it?”

Mashiro looked puzzled.

“Good! Come on then!”

Himekoji strode ahead first.

Shiina Mashiro followed, moving at a pace so slow she almost stopped.

Just like before: slender body, tiny voice, quiet movements, no real charm or expression.

Himekoji glanced back and noticed, slowing down to match her.

“Liv-… well, living together… do we need an excuse, to hide it from your family?”

He started thinking up a plausible explanation for Mashiro.

Wait. Didn’t that kind of make him seem like… like one of those guys who traffic little girls?

But it wasn’t his fault! It was all the System’s doing!

Having a professional scapegoat wasn’t half bad, actually.

“I live alone.”

Mashiro answered softly but calmly.

Alone?

Hey, that’s his line!

He totally owns the patent on that!

“Your family?”

Could she be… as unfortunate as him?

No, he at least had his Imouto!

“They’re not in Japan.”

Ah, so not in Japan.

Wait, not in Japan?

Hold on—wasn’t this practically tailor-made for “living together”?

…