Tokyo: Oreimo

"Ryosuke," Takashiro Isao cleared his throat, "what are your plans after you go to university?"

Ryosuke didn't quite understand what his father meant.

Did they find out that you and Ling Nai had side businesses outside?

He turned to look at Ling Nai and found that she also looked completely bewildered.

"I don't have any plans for now, I'm just going to focus on my studies."

“That’s not what I’m asking.” Takashiro Isamu waved his hand, a rare look of consideration appearing on his rugged face. “I mean, are you planning to continue living at home, or move out?”

The chopsticks fell from Ling Nai's hand, bounced on the table, and rolled onto the floor.

"Dad, what are you saying?"

The blonde girl bent down slightly, slightly annoyed, and picked up the chopsticks that had fallen to the ground.

"This guy is annoying, but does he deserve to be kicked out of the house?"

What? Could it be that Dad found out I go to this guy's room every night?

When Ling Nai said this, her heart was pounding and her expression was quite guilty.

"That's not what I meant. It's what your mother told me."

Takashiro Yuu glanced at Mieko, who was wiping her hands with her apron, her eyes slightly red.

He then turned his gaze to Ryosuke.

“Waseda is in Shinjuku. It takes almost three hours to commute from Chiba every day. If you want to rent an apartment near the school, we have no objection. Although our family is not wealthy, we can still afford the rent.”

So that's what it was about.

To be honest, Ryosuke did consider this.

A three-hour commute means leaving home before dawn and getting back home very late at night.

"What? It's only three hours, right? It's not like I have to leave early every day. I heard that university courses are much more relaxed than high school courses."

Ling Nai raised her objection without hesitation.

Are you kidding me? If this guy moves out and lives on his own, what will she do?

Putting aside the fact that without Ryosuke's academic tutoring, and if she were to let him leave home, her biggest advantage against Hououin Saori would vanish.

If he rents a place outside, Ryosuke will be out of his sight.

'This guy might do something shameless, no, not just might, he definitely will, right?'

'The Female Titan has such a strong desire to attack...'

Ling Nai recalled seeing those red marks on Ryosuke's neck frequently over the past few months.

Every time I see it, I get furious.

That guy was taunting her. If she wasn't afraid of waking Ryosuke up, she would definitely have left a mark on the other side to retaliate.

"Don't be so selfish, Ling Nai."

Takashiro Yuu glared at his daughter, his expression particularly serious. "Ryosuke has already helped you a lot. His own studies are also very important. It's not easy for him to get into Waseda University. These four years will determine his future. He can't slack off."

Scolded by her father, Takashiro Ryou lowered her head in grievance.

Ryosuke couldn't help but laugh when he saw his sister's embarrassed expression.

"What are you laughing at!"

Ling Nai glared at him, her face showing displeasure.

What a blunder! I advised this guy to go to university, but I never considered that it would lead to this result.

I should have arranged for him to attend the nearest university.

“Ryosuke, I want to know what you’re thinking. Actually, we don’t need to consider Ayano. If you’re in the third year and you don’t live at home, I’ll hire a tutor specifically for her.”

Takashiro Isao displayed the demeanor of a head of the household.

If Ryosuke agrees, my expenses for the year will likely increase significantly. The rent for an apartment in Shinjuku is not cheap, not to mention the cost of Ayano's tutoring.

However, this is within the father's means, and it is normal for him to make sacrifices for his children.

At the dinner table, the eyes of the three family members were all on Ryosuke, waiting for his answer.

"Let's not move out for now. Let's continue our studies here for a while. Just like Ling Nai said, the first year's courses aren't actually that busy. We can talk about it when we move up to the next year."

As he said this, Ryosuke winked at Ryouno.

He noticed that after hearing his answer, the girl's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly suppressed it and turned her head away as if she didn't care.

This act of pretending not to care when she's clearly happy is inexplicably cute to Ryosuke.

This younger sister's defining characteristic is her lack of frankness, so Ryosuke always finds it amusing to tease her.

"Really? Won't it affect my studies?"

Takashiro Isao pressed for an answer.

Ryosuke nodded. "Father, don't worry about my studies. I'm confident in my abilities at this level."

"I understand. Since you've said that, I won't ask any further questions."

Takashiro Isamu did not insist.

To be honest, Ryosuke was relieved that he was willing to accept a three-hour commute every day.

This will reduce the economic pressure.

Ryosuke and Ayano both noticed the old man's expression, exchanged a glance, and laughed inexplicably.

For them, the last thing they need to worry about right now is money.

Their annual income from comics alone is several times that of Takashiro Isao.

"It seems we can't say for now."

Ryosuke thought to himself.

If this old father knew that his children, who hadn't even graduated from school, were already earning more money than him, his authority as the head of the family would probably be undermined.

Ryosuke might not be able to speak for other fathers, but his own son has always been very concerned about this.

"Interesting."

To be honest, he was quite looking forward to the day when he would bring his father to the company and see the expression on his father's face.

.....

Monday of the first week of September, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo.

At the main gate of Waseda University's Toyama campus, new students dressed in various costumes streamed into the campus in twos and threes.

Some were dressed in suits, some were still wearing their high school uniforms, and most were young people in casual clothes with expressions of mixed anticipation and anxiety on their faces.

Ryosuke stood next to the sign in front of the Faculty of Letters building, confirming the venue for his department's entrance ceremony.

The journey from Chiba by early morning train takes about an hour and a half, which is easier than he expected, at least he doesn't have to be at school before eight o'clock every day like a high school student.

"Department of Literature...Large Classroom No. 1"

He confirmed the direction and walked forward with the flow of people.

The entrance ceremony itself wasn't anything particularly noteworthy. The principal's speech, the guests' congratulatory remarks, and the student representatives' oath—the whole process took nearly two hours.

Ryosuke sat in the middle to back row of the large classroom, listening to the person on the stage speak while mentally planning the next phase of the company's project schedule.

The script for Sword Art Online is nearing completion, and because it contains a large amount of original content, it has taken more time than any of my previous works.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya is nearing its end, and the Disappearance Arc is already on the agenda.

On stage, a white-haired professor was saying something like, "University is four years of self-discovery." Ryosuke's mind wandered slightly, and his gaze drifted out the window.

In September, the cherry trees on the Toyama campus were only a deep green, and the chirping of cicadas poured in from the open windows, mixed with the heat of late summer.

He suddenly remembered his university life in his previous life.

That was a long time ago, so long ago that many details have become blurry. I only remember sitting among the new students, feeling both hopeful and confused about the future.

In this life, he probably won't be confused anymore; there are too many things to do, and he doesn't have the time.

After the entrance ceremony, the new students poured out of the various buildings.

Along the main road of the campus, recruitment booths for student clubs lined up one after another, stretching from the school gate all the way to the library.

"Hey there! The tennis club is recruiting new members, interested?"

"Light Music Club! Beginners are warmly welcome! Join now and receive a free guitar strap!"

"Check out the Shogi club! A chance to play against professional players—"

"Rakugo Research Club! Recite a short story and receive a free drink voucher!"

The shouts of recruiters echoed through the September air as upperclassmen, dressed in various club T-shirts, lined both sides of the road, holding colorful recruitment posters and enthusiastically sticking them on any freshmen who hesitated even slightly.

Ryosuke intended to walk straight through this troublesome place, but as he turned the corner in front of the Literature Club building, he was precisely intercepted by a voice.

"This guy! The one with the glasses, who has a rather... air about him!"

A boy wearing a plaid shirt and with slightly long hair darted out from behind the table, took three steps at a time, and blocked Ryosuke's way, putting his hands together in a pleading gesture.

"Please wait! It will only take thirty seconds!"

Ryosuke stopped in his tracks.

He doesn't actually wear glasses now, but he did in his previous life. His eyesight is still pretty good in this life.

However, the description "has a certain air about him" left him somewhat puzzled.

So what does 'that' mean?

"We are not a suspicious organization!"

Another girl wearing a baseball cap ran over from the stall, handing over a reasonably printed flyer: "Waseda University Manga Research Club, or 'Manga Club' for short, has just been officially recognized as a club by the university! This year is our inaugural year!"

Ryosuke took the flyer.

The logo features several chibi-style anime characters, with the words "Recruiting members! Beginners are welcome! Comic creation, anime appreciation, game guides, doujinshi creation—everything you're interested in is here!" written in pop font.

"Comic Book Research Club".