Classes have already ended, and we are currently at a restaurant discussing what to do since Ueno-san needs to go back home.
[A]"I propose that Yami stay over at Ueno-san's place."
[UH]"Are you kidding? My dad's gonna kill me if I invite him over."
[S]"He's pretending to be your boyfriend, isn't he? Maybe, if you use that excuse, he'll accept."
[UH]"Even if I told him that, he still wouldn't allow it."
[SE]"What if Yami-san just lived in a tent on the streets."
[Y]"I refuse, and is that even legal?"
[SE]"It's not unless you get caught."
[Y]"So, it is illegal."
[EK]"In all seriousness, how are we going to deal with this? If Yami-san can't stay at Ueno-san's place, what else is there?"
[K]"Ueno-san, how about asking your dad if you're allowed to live alone in an apartment."
[UH]"He won't allow that. Why would I need to live in an apartment in the first place?"
[K]"Why not just try it. It's worth a shot."
[MR]"Uhm, what if we check if there's a place for rent near Hikari's place."
[S]"That's a great idea, Rei-chan."
[EK]"Any other plan proposals? If there are none, let's go check around Hikari's place then."
(We set off to search Hikari's area.)
[SE]"Are there even places that are for rent near your house Hikari? Specifically 50 meters?"
[UH]"There are, but I'm not sure if they're 50 meters away."
[EK]"We're here. Let's split up and meet back here after 5 minutes. Try to find a nearby place that's for rent."
[A]"Got it."
[K]"I'll be going this way."
[S]"Let's go this way, Rei-chan."
[MR]"Uh, yeah."
[SE]"Then I'll check around here."
[EK]"Hikari, Yami-san, stay here and watch our stuff while we're gone."
[Y]"Oh, sure."
[EK]"I'll be right back after 5 minutes then."
[UH]"Now, I'm stuck with an idiot for 5 whole minutes."
[Y]"Right back at you."
[UH]"What did you say?!"
[Y]"Oh, I didn't know you were deaf."
[UH]"It seems like you have a death wish."
[Y]"Try me."
For 5 whole minutes, Ueno-san and I did nothing but argue the entire time. Then the others arrive.
[A]"Looks like you two are having a love quarrel."
(Ueno-san slowly walks towards Arata with a menacing expression.)
[A]"That was just a joke."
(Suddenly, Ueno-san kicks Arata in the crotch.)
[A]"AH!"
[S]"Look who's not having kids."
[A]"Shut it!"
[K]"It's your fault anyway."
[A]"How is it my fault?"
[EK]"Did you guys find any places?"
[K]"All of them were full."
[S]"None."
[SE]"I found an apartment. Behind Hikari's place."
[A]"Are you seriously just ignoring me here?"
[EK]"Let's go to then."
[SE]"Right this way."
[A]"Wait for me! It still hurts."
[K]"How much do they rent it for?"
[SE]"I haven't checked, but at least they have a room available."
(We arrive at the place.)
[Y]"Is this really 50 meters from Ueno-san's place?"
[EK]"How about you test it?"
[UH]"I'll try going to my house then."
(Ueno-san goes to her house. Then Kotone-san's phone rings.)
[EK]"Oh, Hikari, does it reach?"
[UH]"It barely reaches, but it's fine. You go on ahead. I'm not going out."
[EK]"Great, now let's go ask how much they charge."
Kotone approached the person at the entrance to ask how much it costs per night.
[Y]"This place looks expensive. Can we even afford it?"
[SE]"Ah, no need to worry about that. I'll chip in if you don't have enough."
[Y]"You don't need to."
[SE]"Why don't you just accept it? I'll be spending my money on some useless things I won't even use anyway."
[Y]"I guess it's fine then."
[EK]"Uh, everyone. We might have a problem."
[K]"Why what happened? Are there no available rooms?"
[EK]"There is a room, but since this is an apartment, they don't accept a few days of stay. One month is the minimum."
[S]"Then why not rent it for a month then."
[EK]"That's okay, but it would be much more expensive to pay for an entire month rather than a few days. Unless Yami-san plans on staying longer."
[Y]"I mean, I could stay here for a month, but my parents probably wouldn't allow me."
[EK]"Why not just call and ask them now?"
[Y]"This is going to be a shock to them, but I guess we don't have a choice."
(I ring up my parents. Mom answered the phone.)
[M]"Yami, how long will you staying over at Katsu-Kun's place?"
[Y]"Yea, about that. Is it okay if I started living alone?"
[M]"Huh? What brought this on? Do you not like it here?"
[Y]"No, mom, it's not like that."
[M]"Then what?"
[Y]"I just wanted to try how it feels like to live alone."
[M]"I don't know what got into you, but if you do live alone, how are you going to pay for it?"
[Y]"I'll just work a part-time job."
[M]"I'm not forbidding you to live alone, but are you sure?"
[Y]"Yeah, mom, I'm sure."
[M]"What about your stuff?"
[Y]"I'll pick them up tomorrow."
[M]"If you ever run into a problem, contact me."
[Y]"I will, mom."
[M]"You owe me an explanation tomorrow."
(Call ends.)
[Y]"Wow, I never thought she'd agree to that."
[EK]"Well, at least we got that problem solved."
[Y]"Now that I'll be living here, I do need a part-time job. How much was it Kotone-san?"
[EK]"Oh, it's ¥70,000, and you need to place 2 months advance payment if you're going to stay for more than a month."
[Y]"That's a lot!"
[SE]"I told you, if you don't have enough, I'll chip in."
[Y]"That's too damn expensive!"
[SE]"It's okay."
[Y]"Realistically, I would want someone else to pay for that, but I don't want to feel guilty for letting you pay."
[SE]"Then how about we exchange then."
[Y]"What can I exchange that's worth ¥210,000?! And how rich are you that you just casually pay for that?"
[SE]"That's not the answer I want. Again, are you willing to exchange? Yes or no?"
[Y]"If you tell me what I'll exchange, then I'll give you an answer."
[SE]"Then, in exchange for paying your rent, go out with me."
[A]"Eh?"
[Y]"What?!"
[K]"This is an unexpected development."
[EK]"This is a surprise to me too."
[S]"Wouldn't that ruin the plan? Ueno-san and Yami are pretending they're going out. People might think he's two-timing."
[SE]"Of course, we're going to keep it a secret."
[EK]"Still, Ena, I didn't expect you to confess out of nowhere."
[MR]"Ena, do you like Yami-san?"
[SE]"This is embarrassing, but yes. Now, what's your answer, Yami-san?"
[K]"This is too sudden. I want to pay the rent, so It'll save me some trouble, but I also can't bear that I'm getting money like this."
[SE]"Fine, I'll just loan you the money instead. So, you don't have to go through a moral dilemma."
[Y]"Thank you."
[SE]"But I am serious about going out with you. So, what will be your answer to that?"