Rich Girl Caretaker Vol. 5 Bonus Chapter

Hinako and the R-Rated Movie

It was near the end of summer break, a few days after we had temporarily moved into my old home.

While I was washing dishes after dinner, Shizune-san spoke to me.

"By the way, where have you and Ojou-sama gone sightseeing?"

"Let's see..."

I explained the places I'd taken Hinako over the past few days.

"I see. The shopping street and the Gyudon restaurant."

"Yes. And Yuri's house, and my old school."

"Those must all be very new experiences for the Ojou-sama."

"Yeah. I think Hinako had fun."

However, before I met Hinako, my life was just part-time jobs. I don't have any other places to take her. She's scheduled to stay here a while longer, but I'm already out of ideas.

"It's a rare opportunity, so it'd be nice to take her somewhere else... Do you have any ideas?"

"Let's see... To be honest, the place Ojou-sama most wanted to see was this apartment, so anything other than that..."

Shizune-san thought for a moment and replied.

"How about a movie theater?"

"...A movie theater?"

That's definitely a place normal high school students would like. However, for... reasons... my agreement was a bit vague.

"Do you not like the suggestion?"

"Ah, no, not at all. I'll go ask her right now."

I walked over to Hinako, who was lying comfortably on her futon.

"Hinako."

"Nn~...?"

"Want to go out tomorrow?"

The next day, just as Shizune-san had suggested, I took Hinako to the movie theater.

"This is a movie theater."

"Wow. The atmosphere is... weird..."

It's an odd way to put it, but she's not wrong. It's a sort of exciting darkness, a unique atmosphere you only feel in a theater.

"Well, let's go in."

"Mhm!"

I led the happy-looking Hinako to the ticket kiosk.

"Umm..."

I tapped at the screen. Ticket confirmation... I can just use my phone for that, right? Rewards points... I don't really get it, but if it's a better deal, maybe I should become a member?

"...?"

With Hinako tilting her head in confusion, I finally managed to buy two tickets. I felt a wave of accomplishment and let out a small sigh.

"Itsuki... don't tell me... you're not very familiar with movie theaters?"

"Ngh."

I was hit with a perfectly reasonable observation.

"Sorry. This is actually my first time, too."

"Oh... Why didn't you say so?"

"That's because..."

Before I met Hinako, I was dirt poor. I never had the extra money to see a movie. But at this point, with our relationship, I don't need to hide that...

"...How do I put this? I... kind of wanted to act cool."

I wanted Hinako to be able to enjoy herself without worrying about me. It was a small, selfish wish.

"Oh, oh~... I see..."

Hinako turned away for some reason. Her ears were bright red. Was I imagining that...?

Finally, it was time. We sat down.

"Hinako, it's okay if you fall asleep."

"It's fine! To prepare for today, I slept for twenty hours yesterday...!"

That's too much sleep. Come to think of it, she was sleeping right up until we left. So that's why.

"Huh? If you prepped that much, does that mean you knew what a movie theater was like?"

"I didn't... But Shizune-san said she sometimes falls asleep in theaters."

So even Shizune-san comes here to relax. In that case, I feel bad. Maybe we should have invited her.

After a moment, the movie started. I'd asked Hinako if there was anything she wanted to see, and she'd said "anything is fine," so I picked a classic romance movie that girls would like...

(...Huh?)

There was a lot more physical contact between the actors than I expected. Wait, this is a foreign film. I'm sure I picked a domestic one...

(Crap... I bought tickets for the wrong movie!)

Because I was so unfamiliar with the kiosk, I must have gotten the tickets mixed up. No wonder there are no other students around. This must be some R-rated movie...!

"Kyle, I love you."

"I love you, too."

"Let's become one."

"I want nothing more."

A love scene between the young man and woman filled the giant screen. It wasn't explicitly R-rated, so there was nothing graphic, but it was definitely building a... steamy atmosphere. This is... so awkward... I couldn't help but glance at Hinako.

"Zzz... zzz..."

Thank goodness... she's asleep. She'd bragged she wouldn't, but she was out like a light. I was shocked, but this time, it was a lifesaver.

Afterward, we left the theater and walked home.

"Still, I can't believe the mastermind was that guy... That shocked me."

"Mhm... I didn't expect him to get stuck in the power-exoskeleton."

I was just mumbling to myself, but Hinako chimed in with her own review. That's weird. She was asleep the whole time.

"...Hinako, were you awake?"

"N-No... I just... thought that."

Hinako quickly looked away. Oh, so she was just trying to agree with me. And yet, her comment felt... strangely specific... If I pushed it, things would get awkward. I decided not to think about it.

Ojou-sama and Qipao

It was near the end of summer break. Not long after Hinako had moved into my old apartment.

"Alright, let's get the vegetables first."

"Mhm."

Following Shizune-san's orders to buy dinner ingredients, I went with Hinako to the shopping street. I could have gone alone, but Hinako seemed to want to walk around the shopping street again, so we went together, just enjoying the scenery.

"Hm?"

I suddenly heard a familiar voice in the distance.

"I think I just heard Yuri's voice..."

"Mhm. I heard it."

Hinako seemed to have heard it too. Curious, we walked toward the sound.

"Welcome! We've got a lunch special!"

Yuri was in front of a Chinese restaurant, trying to attract customers. But her outfit was completely different from the Yuri I knew. She was wearing a bright red, slightly form-fitting outfit with a high slit... A qipao (cheongsam).

"Yuri...?"

"Welcome! Table for two...?"

I called out to her, and our eyes met. When Yuri saw our faces, she froze.

"KYAAAAAAAAA—!?"

"WAAAAAAAAH—!?"

She suddenly screamed, which made me scream in surprise.

"Wh-What are you doing here...?!"

"Nothing, just shopping..."

I said, looking over her outfit again.

"Uh, is this... your new look?"

"NO!"

Yuri shouted.

"This place asked me to help get customers, so I'm helping... They taught me a lot about Chinese cooking, so I'm paying them back."

"I-I see. But why... that outfit?"

"They said it's the official uniform."

You got tricked, didn't you? The other staff seem to be wearing normal clothes...

"Anyway, why are you with Konohana-san? Didn't you just have a study session?"

"That's because..."

Her very reasonable question left me speechless. We were just walking by, I should have just ignored her and left... but her outfit was so shocking I couldn't not say something.

"I left something at Tomonari-kun's apartment."

This time, it was Hinako who saved me.

"After I picked it up, I thought I'd ask him to show me around a bit."

"Oh, I see."

Hinako's "Ojou-sama mode" answer was, as always, flawless. I wiped the cold sweat from my forehead. I looked back at Yuri's outfit.

"H-Hey, stop staring."

"S-Sorry..."

It was just... so new... I couldn't help it.

"..."

Hinako, meanwhile, was staring at me with a look that said she had something to say.

The next day. We had nothing specific planned, so I was just studying at home. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Shizune-san went to the door. It seemed to be a delivery from the Konohana estate.

"Ojou-sama, 'that item' has arrived..."

"Mhm. I'll change right away."

"...Are you sure about this?"

Shizune-san and Hinako were whispering, and Shizune-san had her hand on her forehead.

"Itsuki-san, could you please step outside for a moment?"

"Huh? Oh, sure."

It was a good chance to clear my head anyway. I went outside and let the warm sunlight refresh my study-fatigued brain.

"Thank you for waiting."

After a little while, Shizune-san opened the door.

"What's going on—"

I stepped back inside, took off my shoes, and froze. Standing before me was Hinako... in a qipao.

"...D-Does it... look good?"

"Uh, um... well..."

Hinako asked shyly, but I had no idea how to respond. She was wearing a pure white qipao. She must have been inspired by Yuri's outfit, but I had no idea why she wanted to show me.

"Why are you wearing that...?"

"To... thank you."

"Thank me...?"

"Because... since I came here, you've let me experience so many fun things... so, I wanted to say thank you."

"I-I see."

Put like that, I felt a little embarrassed.

"But even so, why that outfit...?"

"...Because... you seemed to like this kind of clothing."

Did I? While I was confused, Shizune-san spoke up.

"By the way, Konohana Real Estate contacted me. They said there were some... magazines... left in the closet here."

"Magazines?"

"Yes. Suspicious magazines about... cosplay."

"Wai—!?"

I knew exactly what she was talking about. I stiffened.

"Suspicious...?"

Hinako, not understanding, tilted her head. I'm saved... no, wait, I'm not.

"N-No! A classmate shoved those into my bag, and I never had a chance to give them back, so I just... left them!"

"Is that so? I had assumed it was your... preference."

"N-No, it's not..."

...Is it? It's not. Probably.

"Itsuki... does it suit me?"

"Uh, well..."

Shizune-san was waiting. No matter what I say, my reputation is ruined. I might as well just be honest...

"I-It... suits you very well..."

When I said that, Hinako's face lit up with joy... but Shizune-san was glaring at me with a coldness I had never seen before. What was I supposed to say?!

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