Today, we are about to enter the Izumo Inn for the first time. I have mixed feelings. It looks good outside, but what Uzume-san has said is… well, it isn't good as far as she said about the landlady. I just pray to God that she was joking.
Uzume-san has dragged us, rather me with the Sekirei girls following into the house that looked good from the outside. I looked around, and saw a lovely decorated house. Paintings on the walls of old Japanese culture. A potted plant in the corner leading to a corridor. To the left, I believe that way is the kitchen, as I smell something delicious coming from that direction.
The house that I can tell has been taken care of, looking at the loveliness that is a traditional Japanese house. The inside of the house has proper sliding doors, paper doors at that. I've always been into traditional Japanese houses. You don't see them much in the city.
Just to see the love of the Japanese culture at a level like this is practically unheard of in Shinto Teito. Yet here we are, in a house that looks like it was made long ago, yet not 100's of years old. The right amount of time in my opinion.
"Miya is in here, somewhere..."
Asama Miya-san. That's the landlady. Well according to Uzume-san anyway, that's her name but I haven't met her yet. I wonder what she looks like? Is she going to be some old grouchy woman? Uzume-san has made her out to be a monster with all the things she said about her outside.
But should I take it with a grain of salt? I don't know but I wish to explore the house more. I get the feeling that this place will have a few nice surprises.
"MIYA! ARE YOU HERE!?"
I had to cover my ears as did my Sekirei! Uzume-san suddenly started shouting! She shouted for this Asama-san while I looked around with nervousness. I really hope that this woman isn't evil. I hope that she isn't evil… please don't be evil and be nice and please let us stay here. That's the only thing that I wish for!
"Oh, Uzume? Why are you shouting so loudly?"
I heard a sweet voice coming from a room. If it's downstairs, then I am going to guess that it is the living room. Uzume-san, ignoring my plight, drags me into the room the voice came from with my Sekirei following after me. Kuno-san is trying to not trip up, and Nanami-san is just smiling at her trying to not laugh.
Getting to this room, Uzume-san pushes the door open and shoves me inside the room without delay!
"Hey Miya. This boy here wishes to have a chat with you, regarding living spaces. Hope that's okay!?" She asked like a hyperactive girl. W-Well, I think she is hyperactive.
I looked around the room, searching for Asama-san. I saw a television in the corner. The room is decorated with traditional Japanese items. There aren't even any couches.
There's a table in the middle of the room, with cushions around that table. Just the way I like it. I love to sit on cushions on the floor. Call me a Japanese enthusiast but I believe sitting on cushions lets us connect with our Japanese routes. Meh, maybe I am overthinking it.
But that's when my eyes caught something so… lovely. Because before me is a woman. A woman that has a slender, yet shapely form. She is fair skinned and she has enchanting brown eyes. She also has long, waist length purple hair with shorter bangs in a hime-style and she has a white ribbon to partially hold up her hair in place.
Her clothes. She is wearing what appears to be a traditional miko attire which consists of a purple hakama, a white haori with a slash-like belt and wooden sandals. All in all, she looks very… beautiful.
I was taken back by her beauty. That's when my Sekirei glared at me! G-Geez, just because I admire someone so beautiful, it doesn't mean anything! I just appreciate the female form, that's all. But I'm not a pervert or anything. I'm too shy to be one. I can't really be classed as anything… I'm pitiful.
But she stood up and looked at me with curious yet interested eyes.
"Hmmmmmm… so you wish to talk about living spaces? Just how old are you? Shouldn't you be with your parents, little boy? Ufufu~"
She giggled to herself as I tightened my hands together and formed tears by my eyes. She thinks I'm like 12 or something! I really didn't like that little comment then! B-But I can't say anything as she might yell at me or something.
"I-I'm not 12 and I don't have parents. They died a long time ago. I am 16 years old. And my name is Hidaka Totsuka, pleased to meet you Asama-san."
I bowed to her respectfully. She raises a hand to her face, seemingly in shock of what I just said. And even my Sekirei have glum faces. I didn't mean to make them feel sadness or anything. I just wanted to point out why I wouldn't be living at… home. Because I don't have one. And I don't have parents so I can't rely on anyone but me.
It is pretty shocking though, my life. If you look at it, then it isn't the best. I don't have any parents, and I barely have anything in this world, besides Onee-chan and my Sekirei. But apart from them, I don't have anything. But I'm not going to let that get me down. I will focus on the positives rather than the negatives.
"I am so sorry. I shouldn't have spoken so carefree then. It was rude. Please accept my apology."
She bowed to me! I-I don't know what to do in this type of situation! She wants me to bow? No, I don't know what to do! S-She didn't do anything wrong! She was just joking and I get that!
"N-No! You didn't know, it's totally fine. You don't have to apologize to me. But, if you would hear me then I would be grateful."
Uzume-san got really close to my ear and whispered "Smooth~" then she went out of the room! D-Don't leave me alone with her! You said that she was evil and she is scary! What if those things are actually true!? I-I don't want to be true!
"Yes, of course. Please sit down with… your friends."
Her eyes went to Nanami-san and Kuno-san. Kuno-san of course hides behind me, looking a little frightened. And Nanami-san, well she looks like the usual self that she is. She is quite a happy person and wont take anything from anyone.
"Thank you."
I sat down at the table, and so did Nanami-san and Kuno-san, who are sat at both sides of me. Asama-san went around the table, and sat down in front of me, composing herself coolly.
"As you might know from Uzume, my name is Asama Miya. I run Izumo Inn. Did I hear Uzume say that you are looking for accommodations?"
"I am. If you would listen to my story then I would be ever so grateful."
"I am listening. Please tell me your story."
So, I started recounting my tale. Well, the parts I could. I had to bend the truth at some parts, like the Sekirei stuff. I don't want MBI coming after me for saying stuff about my Sekireie or the Sekirei Plan in general.
I wonder what would happen if I did say anything about the Sekirei Plan? Would MBI make good on their threat? Would they kill me? Would they ruin my life? Well, what else could they do to ruin it? Take Onee-chan away from me? She is already dying, and someday soon, I will be the only one left. Onee-chan will be dead and I… will be here, stuck in some game...
"...And that's my tale. So you see, we don't have anywhere else to go. So, if you could find it in your kind generous heart to let us stay here."
"Fufu, trying to butter up this old housewife isn't going to work Hidaka-san~"
Butter up? She thinks I'm trying to butter her up? I wouldn't dream of doing anything like that! I don't even know her circumstances so of course I wouldn't do anything like butter her up!
Old… she doesn't look old to me. Why would she say she is old? She looks around her early 20's to me. Am I wrong? Is she like me? Someone that looks younger than they are?
But she said housewife? So she is married? Hmmmm, that must be nice. Technically though, according to Nanami-san and Kuno-san, I am married to both of them. It does feel nice though, being… married I guess. It makes us more connected than ever before.
"I wasn't trying to butter you up, I swear! Asama-san..."
"No, please call me Miya."
F-First name basis already!? W-Who knew! I didn't expect that but it isn't unwelcome! I like being on a first name basis with people, although some people you can't be on a first name basis with. Like someone superior to you. But I can tell that Asama… Miya-san doesn't think she is above or below me. We are equals. Or that's what I want to think anyway. Is that naive of me?
"So you are married then?"
"No. My husband passed away years ago. I am a widower."
Oh… I feel bad now. She is a widower. And I mentioned it. Great, I am an idiot after all. She won't want me to stay here now. Uuuuu, I shouldn't have said anything. I have made this a complete mess!
"I-I am so sorry!"
I apologized while hanging my head low. But Miya-san simply brushes her hands together, as if to say that it isn't important.
"No, it is quite alright. But Hidaka-san. The price for a room with 6 tatami is 3000 yen a month. Can you afford that?"
I blinked in confusion. Wasn't the price a little low then?
"3000 yen? Uzume-san said that it would be 5000 yen a month. Did I mishear?"
"No. You heard right from Uzume. For normal residents, it would be 5000 yen a month, but for someone like you, I will lower my rates to 3000 yen a month."
For someone like me? Does she mean a minor or something? As, technically, I am a minor. So she does mean that, right? I guess she means that anyway. I smiled in appreciation at the cute landlady… no, I shouldn't think that. She is a widower. It would be rude to think anything like that.
"I thank you. But why? If you don't mind me asking?"
Miya-san raises a hand to her forehead, brushes some stray strands of hair out of her eyes. She then answered my question with a heartwarming smile.
"From what you have told me, you have had it pretty rough. And you still attend school. It must be hard for you to come up with that amount of money."
Actually, 3000 yen is what I make in a day at the restaurant. No, I think I make a little more. But I have my MBI money card. Could I use that card? I took it out of my pocket, but Miya-san waved her hand.
"I don't accept that form of payment. All other payments are fine. Just not that one."
Oolh, she doesn't accept MBI money cards? I wonder why? Is there something wrong with that card? I put the card away. I don't think I would feel right about using this anyway. It's from Minaka and that guy grinds my gears.
"I see. Well, I can pay with yen in hand. Is that acceptable?"
"It is yes."
So, it is acceptable. But then… that means...
"W-We can… rent a room...?"
"Yes, I believe that I don't have any problems with that. Welcome home to Izumo Inn."
I smiled like a child and bowed my head as did Kuno-san and Nanami-san! We are home! We have found a place to live! And she even lowered the rate for me! 3000 yen is practically nothing. I paid at least triple that for an apartment that had bad noise pollution from the buildings that surrounded it. And plus the idiot landlord who was always on me for something I've never done. Hmph, well goodbye bad landlord and welcome nice landlady!
"Thank you very much!"
"Yes, thank you landlady-san!"
"T-Thank you landlady-san!"
Myself, Nanami-san and Kuno-san thanked her with happy smiles. We truly are home. We have found a place that we can call home! But as we celebrate, she holds up three fingers.
"However. There is something you should know. There are three rules within Izumo Inn. There is no obscenity, fighting and illicit sexual activity. If you can abide by these three rules, then we have no problems."
"That's not a problem!" I answered quickly! It really isn't a problem! I wouldn't disrespect her by doing anything indecent anyway. She has put us up here, and I wouldn't betray her trust like that. My Sekirei on the other hand… have a tendency to sleep in my bed… does that count?
Miya-san smiles with a fondness touch to it. She then stands up and so do we. She then gestured to the door with a wave of her hand.
"I will show you to your new rooms. Please follow me."
""Okay!""
So we three exited the room, following after Miya-san. Phew, I'm glad that we were able to find a new place to stay. It was getting tiring, finding places to sleep for the night. I still can't believe that the idiot landlord kicked out a teenager who doesn't have any family. Meh, I don't care anymore. The bastard can rot for all I care. The same for Toyotama.
Usually, I don't think that but that girl was pure bad. She didn't do anything good for me, and she just attacked me, Nanami-san and if she comes again, Kuno-san also for no reason. But whatever. Hopefully I don't see her again. If I do then I will give her a piece of my mind for what she has done.