Chapter 14: Why Does the Old Woman Pretend to Be a Virgin? (Patreon)

"It just so happens I've only got the one place left around here, and running back and forth all the time is such a hassle, so it's fine if you take it over -- keeps me from being spotted, doesn't it? Fine, fine, I agree. Oh, and afterward, feel free to come play at sister's mall over in Lumina Square! Ever since you got your own department, you barely come see sister anymore~ Anyway, that's that -- I've got something to take care of, so I'll hang up now."

After the landlady stepped into the shop, Musachi didn't come forward right away. He waited until she'd hung up the phone, then walked up with a smile.

"Sis, here's this month's rent -- mind counting it?"

Musachi held out a stack of Dennies notes as he spoke.

"Mm-hm, looks like you didn't lie to sister -- said you wouldn't be late, and you weren't. Not bad, not bad. I like a man who keeps his word."

The landlady glanced at the cash Musachi handed over, nodded, and without even looking stuffed it straight into her bag.

"Oh, right..."

The landlady was about to say something, but then she remembered the specific instructions she'd been given on that phone call, and just smiled and shook her head instead.

"Never mind. You'll find out soon enough anyway."

Watching the woman smile without explaining, Musachi felt a flicker of confusion.

But since she didn't want to say, Musachi had no choice but to swallow his curiosity.

The landlady, meanwhile, was quietly sizing him up.

Good-looking, decent enough as a person -- aside from not being much good at his job, there wasn't really anything wrong with him. Not that it mattered, so long as that side didn't care...

The landlady found herself curious just how that young lady had taken a liking to this one -- going so far as to specifically warn her not to breathe a word of it to him.

The other party hadn't said so outright, but going to such lengths just to get close to Musachi -- it was impossible she had no interest at all.

The landlady had been through this before; she understood a young girl's feelings all too well.

Gossipy as she was, though, she kept her expression carefully neutral.

It was only as she was leaving that she gave Remielle an extra glance.

Something told her there'd be some fun to watch later...

After the landlady left, Musachi muttered to himself, sounding a bit puzzled.

"So mysterious. No idea what she wanted to say just now."

Musachi grumbled, and beside him, Remielle said with a smile,

"Maybe some little princess out there has taken a fancy to you and asked her for your personal information."

"Yeah, right. I'll admit I'm decent-looking, decent enough as a person too, but I haven't got the kind of charm that makes someone fall for me on sight."

"Haven't you, though?"

Remielle arched an eyebrow.

"Who?"

"Me, of course~ Mister Store Manager."

Remielle clasped both hands over her chest, tilted her head to one side adorably, and gazed at Musachi with exaggerated affection.

"Honestly, I've been your devoted fan this whole time. From the very first day, the very first meeting, the very first glance, I was already hopelessly drawn to you... That afternoon, when I passed by outside the bookstore and caught sight of you sitting there so composed, I knew right then -- my heart had already been stolen by you. I'll never know sorrow or joy again in this life except through you. Spending a joyful stretch of time with you inside this bookstore -- that's the greatest wish of my whole existence~"

"Yuck."

Watching Remielle's saccharine expression, Musachi found it faintly nauseating.

"Why's an old crone putting on a coy little maiden act? Remielle, you need to accept the fact that you're already a grown woman. If you were a high-school girl in uniform, I'd be thrilled -- but your expiration date's long past."

"Ex... expired?"

Remielle stared at Musachi, thoroughly wounded.

"Mister Store Manager, I swear I'm putting something extra in your dinner tonight..."

She glared at him, teeth clenched.

How could he say something so awful to a pretty girl!

"?"

Musachi's eyes lit up.

"Laxative."

"Tch. No fun at all..."

Musachi pouted, but seeing her expression, he decided against provoking her any further.

At this rate, he felt like Remielle really was going to hand him some kind of punishment.

Just then, the bookstore door opened.

Musachi looked at the figure walking in, and a smile spread across his face.

Meanwhile, Caesar had already walked up to stand in front of Musachi.

"Boss, I finished this book -- came to return it!"

Caesar said, setting a book down on Musachi's counter.

The Biker King Fell for Me.

Right, a romance novel -- the story of an ordinary high-school girl who gets swept up in a biker gang's turf war and ends up falling in love with the gang's leader after he saves her.

"Hm, you took pretty good care of it."

Musachi glanced at the girl in front of him, a little surprised.

Caesar looked like the rough-and-tumble type, not someone who'd handle a book carefully.

But in fact, Caesar had even wrapped the book in a protective cover, treating it like something precious.

"Of course. I borrowed this book, so of course I've got to take good care of it. Got any other recommendations?"

As she spoke, Caesar's eyes sparkled as she looked at Musachi.

Honestly, back when Caesar first came in to borrow a book, Musachi had been a little surprised.

After all, someone who looked as rough-and-tumble as her, more macho than he was even -- and she turned out to like romance novels...

For Musachi, that was about as jarring as seeing a man with muscles more absurd than Jotaro's running around in a little skirt...

"Got some, got some. Romance novels -- I've actually got quite a few. How about this one."

After scanning the shelves for a moment, Musachi pulled out a novel and handed it to Caesar.

As for the content, it was much the same -- a simply structured romance story. The logic wasn't especially rigorous, but the emotional beats were pretty solid.

"Caesar! Where'd you go? You vanish the second I look away!"

Outside the door, a girl's voice called out, edged with a touch of irritation.

"Thanks, here's the rental fee -- gotta run! Oh, and Boss, keep it a secret, okay?"

Caesar stood in the doorway, pressed her palms together at Musachi, waved, and left.

"Got it, got it. Come again."

Musachi waved back at her and watched her go.

"Caesar, what were you doing in a bookstore? Don't tell me you actually read books?"

"Huh? Oh, I was in a hurry, so I borrowed the bookstore's bathroom."

Caesar explained, a little flustered.

"Ah, I see. Here I thought your head had finally clicked on and you were going to start studying..."

"Whatever, let's go, let's go. We've got stuff to do when we get back -- Piper Wheel's probably worried sick by now."

The girls' voices faded further and further away, until they couldn't be heard at all.

"Never would've guessed such a rough-and-tumble girl would like romance novels..."

Remielle said beside him, sounding a little amazed.

"See, that's you being shallow. Never judge a book by its cover -- so what if she does? Is she not allowed to like romance novels? A girl holding onto a beautiful dream -- isn't that a wonderful thing?"

Musachi declared righteously, not mentioning at all that he'd been thinking the exact same thing about Caesar just moments ago.

At that, Remielle rolled her pretty eyes and could only throw up her hands in surrender.

But just as Musachi and Remielle were chatting idly,

a message came in from Venus.

"There's a commission -- good pay, but the conditions are a bit strange. Want to hear about it and decide?"

To that, Musachi replied with just two words: "Let's talk in person."