Overloaded With Attributes Chapter 18

Newlyweds? 

After lunch, I got a tour of the rooms outside the living area—my private room, Shouko-san's private room, and... a training room.

"The bed in my room is insanely huge. This isn't a double, it's a Queen... or a King, isn't it?"

"I took the liberty of securing a larger space so that I can sleep next to you... Ahem, so that I can hold your hand while you sleep... every night."

Whoa, I mean, I did have the nurses hold my hand until I fell asleep at the hospital, but... I never actually slept in the same bed with them.

"I've calmed down a lot since I first woke up. If I just had a body pillow, I'd probably be fine alone by now—"

"I took the liberty of securing a larger space so that I can hold your hand while you sleep every night."

"AH, YES, MA'AM."

The pressure from the woman next to me is intense. She's just trying to steamroll me with pure momentum, isn't she? ...Not that I'm complaining. If Shouko-san is okay with it, I more than welcome sleeping in the same bed.

"Also, this 'training room (provisional)'... This equipment is way beyond home-use-level. It's all professional-grade. What's the deal?"

"I had it prepared since you will be attending the Labyrinth Department. It's rude of me to say, but with your current body... well... personally, I find a muscular body to be less appealing than your current... soft, 'puni-puni,' pale..."

"You can probably stop with the insults right there."

She's right, though. If I'm serious about diving into dungeons, I'll need baseline stamina and muscle. Still, this new apartment is just... a non-stop barrage of things to retort to.

"There is also a pool on the third floor. However, it is not for our exclusive use; it's a communal facility for all residents of this building. Naturally, women will be using it, so I... cannot recommend you go."

Shouko-san's voice dropped real low on that last part. Of course, as soon as I heard that warning, I made a silent vow to myself: "I absolutely have to go." ...But, setting that aside.

"...This apartment... the rent is covered by a government subsidy, right? I've been thinking this since the moment I walked in... This location, this size. The massive bed, the pro-grade training equipment, the high-end furniture... There is no way a subsidy alone covers this."

I stared at Shouko-san... not that I needed to. She immediately averted her eyes.

"...It's fine. You needn't worry. This isn't a rental, it's a condominium."

"THAT IS ZERO PERCENT 'FINE'!! A high-floor unit in a tower mansion in a prime part of Osaka?! That's... tens of millions... no, easily over a hundred million yen! Where did you get that kind of money...?! It's... it's not 'dirty' money, is it?"

"Of course not! It-It's... from... my... savings... and my family's..."

"What the hell are you doing...?"

No, seriously, what is this woman doing? I was about to let out a huge sigh, but Shouko-san, her eyes cast down, muttered in a small voice...

"Besides... if I hadn't paid for it... that woman would have. As your 'discharge present'."

"THAT IS THE FIRST I'M HEARING OF THIS! A doctor giving a patient an apartment as a discharge gift?! That is so far beyond my comprehension!"

That's not a doctor, that's a "whale" dumping money on a host club! Wait... Kikuko-san isn't the type to... oh wait. She did try to get Miyoshi-san to grab her wallet that first day.

"Fufufu... one must 'push'... when one has the chance... My money... will soon become your blood... and your bone..."

Okay, that's... not creepy at all. Wait, I thought she was a secret perv, but is she actually a full-blown yandere? A small chill ran down my spine, but Shouko-san just continued quietly.

"...Is this... perhaps... a bother? If so... after I've drawn up the papers to transfer the entire Nakatsukasa family fortune to you... I shall depart... for Nirvana."

"OKAY. This is getting terrifying on multiple levels. Let's just... calm down. Here, let's start with a deep breath. In... and out..."

"Hee... hee... hoooooo..."

"That's not a deep breath, that's Lamaze." That's such an old-school gag... wait, does the 'Showa era' even exist in this timeline? I never thought I'd live to see the day where I'd actually be in a situation where I 'didn't know what face to make'...

"Anyway, complete change of subject. I know what high school I'm going to in April... but what about middle school?"

Our family's accident was in mid-January. I was in the hospital for about two weeks... so it's not even February yet.

"From this apartment, the closest school is 'Kita Third Middle School.' Of course, all the transfer paperwork from your previous school is complete. If you wish to attend, you could start as early as tomorrow. ...However, I see no need for you to force yourself to go at this point in the third semester. A transfer student... and a male one at that, at this time of year... would undoubtedly cause... a massive panic."

"Panic" seems like an exaggeration... but in this world, I can't be sure. And if someone failed their entrance exams because of me, that would be no joke. Besides, it's been ten years since I last studied any of this stuff. History, for sure, but just looking at the city, I can tell a lot of other things are different, too.

"It feels... kinda like I'm a shut-in or something... but... If I'm just going to be a bother, I'll lay low until April. While I'm at it, I'd like to review elementary and middle school subjects. Can you even get a tutor at this time of year?"

"If that's all, I am more than capable of handling it. ...Or... are you... 'dissatisfied' with me? Do you want a 'change'? Should I commit 'seppuku'?"

"Your sense of duty is crushing... Of course I'm not 'dissatisfied' with you... Well... I am dissatisfied... or rather, guilty... that you're spending your own money on me." The condo is an asset, I guess... but the furniture and that gym equipment? They'd be worthless at resale. And this apartment... it's now 'tainted merchandise,' a place where a woman lived with a strange kid... If Shouko-san can't get married because of this, I'll feel pretty damn responsible...

"Well, if that happens, she can just be my wife..."

"W-W-W-W-WIFE?! YOURS?!"

...Then again, from what I've heard, it's rare for women to marry men in this world, so maybe I don't need to worry about it.

"Ah, well... the details don't matter."

"THEY ABSOLUTELY MATTER! I FEEL LIKE THAT IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TOPIC!"

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