Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 17

 The New Place is a 3LDK

Like a space battleship heading off on its maiden voyage, I was seen off by a long line of nurses assembled at the hospital entrance. My attending physician, Kikuko-san? ...Unfortunately, she was nowhere to be seen. I actually went to her office to say thank you and goodbye before leaving my room, but... ...she just... collapsed in a sobbing heap.

I'm pretty sure she knows this isn't a final farewell, right? From my new place, it's only a 15-minute trip one-way to the hospital, whether I take the Loop Line or the subway. And... Ouji Hospital is the biggest one in Osaka that I... or, any man... can go to. Even if it were far... for the sake of "a man's duty"! I fully intend to show my face once a week... twice a week... any time I'm free!

So, I really wish she wouldn't act like we're lovers in a long-distance relationship, with one of us leaving on a long journey... but anyway.

I went to get into the passenger seat of Shouko-san's car, but...

"Due to the risk of sniper fire... ...please sit in the seat behind the driver, not the passenger seat."

"...What exactly did I do, and which organization is trying to kill me?"

She was snickering, so I'm sure it was a joke... but I'd really prefer she'd avoid gags that make me vaguely anxious. Still, considering how she was when we first met, her expression has softened up so much. It makes me a little happy.

And so, seen off by everyone, we left the hospital. Of course, I'd seen the outside from my hospital window... but seeing the view from a moving car was different.

A wide, six-lane road stretching out straight. Rows of buildings, all neatly arranged, clearly part of a master plan. And the people... as far as I could see, they were 100% female.

In my "old" history, dungeons appeared in the late Edo period... so I guess it can't be helped that the cityscape and atmosphere are a little different from what I remember. Still... it feels a little lonely. A little helpless.

We arrived at our destination—our new home. Shouko-san pulled the car into the underground garage of a tower mansion in Umeda and we went up the elevator. This high-rise looks brand new... and we're on an upper floor with only two apartments... How much is the rent here...?

"Welcome home, Kashiwagi-sama. The furniture has already been arranged, but if you're missing anything, please don't hesitate to let me know."

"I'm home... Wow, this... feels kind of embarrassing. Welcome home to you too, Shouko-san. Never mind the furniture, this place is... so big I can't relax..."

I'd heard "3LDK" (three-bedroom), but the living room alone is a massive 20-jou... (approx. 355 sq ft). And I'm already a nervous wreck just from the fact that I'm living alone with a beautiful woman. This is... almost... worse. I mean, a 4.5-mat room would be too small, but an 8-mat studio... wouldn't that have given off more of a "cohabitation vibe"? I'd almost prefer that.

Even though I'm "moving," my only luggage is the underwear I used at the hospital. I put my one small bag on the floor, and... that's it. I flopped onto the ridiculously huge, plush sofa, sinking halfway into it.

"Yep... can't relax..."

"You'll get used to it... probably. It's almost lunchtime. What would you like to eat?"

"I'll leave it to you, Shouko-san! ...But, more importantly... we're going to be living together here from now on. I'd really appreciate it if you could... talk a little more casually."

Shouko-san... ever since we met, no matter how many times I ask, she stubbornly keeps calling me "Kashiwagi-sama."

"I am, to be clear, a GENE Protection Officer. I am not permitted to overstep my authority by becoming overly familiar with my protectee."

"You say that, but you were like a woman possessed during my 'collection,' begging 'Let me do it!' or 'If not, let me watch!'"

"Th-That was just because I was worried about your safety... I had no ulterior motive, I assure you!"

She said it with a perfectly straight face... but her ears are bright red.

"Shouko-san... are you... one of those 'secret pervs' ? Super serious on the outside, but...?"

"Wh-Wh-Who are you calling a secret perv?! Th-That's not it, okay?! I am not that kind of lewd woman... I mean... I am interested in the male body, as is appropriate for my age! But that is purely... as an average woman... a 'common-sense' level of... 'refinement'!"

...What in the world is she "refining" with such passion?

"And besides! That attending physician is the one I have a problem with! That woman... from your perspective, Kashiwagi-sama... she's old enough to be your mother! She's an old hag! So why?! Why would you ask her?! ...And without equipment... directly... by hand... Why would you ask her to perform the collection?! If she's good enough, then I should be good enough, too!"

"Whoa, it's not a 'why'... You're the one who said she was the attending doctor..." Right. So, this onee-san is just jealous of the doctor. That's it? Though... her rant just now... really only sounded like she was screaming, "I want to touch a p-e-n-i-s too!" ...And man, Kikuko-san is really getting torn apart here.

From my perspective (including my isekai time), Kikuko-san (32) and Shouko-san (26) aren't even that far apart in age. They're both just "pretty older ladies" to me.

After that... Shouko-san, who was pouting a little (because I'd hit a nerve), made lunch. It was... omelet rice and Bolognese. A total kid's meal. But since I've always had a "kid's palate", I was way happier with this than some overly fancy Japanese food. It was delicious. I was totally satisfied.

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