A warm and soft sofa, a cozy and messy little house, countless books and games, and all kinds of delicious food and unlimited refills of soda... Without a doubt, this is the paradise that every otaku dreams of.
And now, this is my home all to myself!
The current situation, comparable to a dream come true, brings tears to one's eyes. The potato chips in one's mouth taste even crisper and sweeter. The flowing stream of time quietly pauses between the pages and the keys. Even the air around one feels gentle and tranquil.
...provided there are no uninvited guests to disturb us.
The door opened suddenly, and a slender figure, like a streak of light, darted into the room and darted to the window, tearing open the half-closed curtains.
In an instant, the brilliant light filled all the space, and together with the swirling wisps of smoke, forced the remaining darkness into the deepest, most difficult-to-find corners.
"Mr. Yumi!"
The girl who suddenly burst in turned around, her eyes tightly shut, as if struggling against something, and shouted, "You've been holed up in your room for seven days! If you don't go out for some fresh air, you'll get moldy!"
It was a small, sharp cry, like that of a young animal. Though it was so delicate and harmless, and its voice was as beautiful and melodious as a lark's, even when heard very close up, one could still feel a momentary blankness, as if a sharp object had pierced through one's brain.
My fingers, which were fiddling with the buttons, paused, my long-brewing passion interrupted. Gazing at the sudden burst of golden light on the screen and the slowly emerging scarlet words "[YOU DIED]", I sighed, tossed aside the controller, and turned to face the girl: "What is it, Hikari? Did Yao send you to find me?"
"Yes, yes, you can't hide it from Mr. Yumi after all."
Hikari hopped over and grabbed one of her arms, shaking it: "Sister Yao said that lunch is ready and that I must take you to the restaurant. She also told me that we must eat there today."
After she finished speaking, she blinked, and her bright blue eyes seemed to sparkle with expectant stars.
"...So, really, we can't eat it indoors? We did it this way for the past few days."
"It doesn't seem like that will work."
Hikari shook her head in response: "Sister Yao repeatedly emphasized that I can't give in to your demands again, or I'll have to clean every single room here." She paused, pouted, and repeated in a drawn-out tone, "Clean—all—rooms—."
It seems like they're serious!
I couldn't help but lean back, and after reading the obvious grievance and hope in the girl's clear eyes, I couldn't help but gasp.
You should know that the building I live in now was designed to house all the books in the world. There are nearly a thousand rooms of various sizes that are already in use, and the number is still increasing as new books are added.
Let alone cleaning it all, just walking through the porch is a tiring task.
If this delicate and beautiful young girl were to actually do that kind of long, rough work, not to mention whether it would cause disastrous disfigurement to her slender fingers and figure, just thinking about that endless long time would make one want to burst into tears.
This is because, after realizing that neither kind words nor strong threats would have any effect on me, they finally chose to target the only weakness of the person who is always around me.
This is such a hassle.
Although I'm used to giving up on things and letting them develop and resolve themselves, and I take a one-day-at-a-time attitude towards life, I just can't stand seeing a beautiful girl with tears in her eyes, especially since it might be the result of me!
This is terrible... Ugh! Yao, that meddlesome housekeeper!
My spirits plummeted. Led by Hikari, who was catching up quickly, I stormed into the restaurant, threw myself into a thick, plush chair, and said in a deliberately harsh tone, "I'm here. Are you satisfied now?"
"Yes, it's been a long time, Master of the Little Garden. Although it was fifteen seconds later than expected, I'm glad to see you still in good health."
...Damn it, I always feel like she's mocking me.
Dressed in elaborate attire, Yao sat behind a city of stacked books, nodded softly in greeting, then closed the book he was holding and set it aside.
The clear, melodious bell rang on the wall, and the surrounding bookshelves automatically organized and stacked themselves in the corner, clearing a passageway.
Blindfolded doll-like maids, dressed in black and white lace, filed in, laid out the table, and arranged the dishes. Their orderly division of labor was like a fine work of art, intricate yet not chaotic. After finishing, they quietly stood on either side.
The treatment I received, comparable to that given to celebrities, made me feel a surge of pride. Even the simple small round table and home-cooked dishes in front of me seemed to exude a refined and elegant atmosphere. But then, noticing the gaze directed at me, I could only cough lightly, put on a cold face, and nod expressionlessly.
"Just say what's on your mind," I said, secretly swallowing my saliva, "so I don't feel nauseous after I finish eating."
Yao stared at me for a while, perhaps he smiled, or perhaps it was just an illusion caused by my staring at that calm face for too long, trying to find some change in his expression.
She gestured for Hikari to sit down beside her, closed her eyes, and bowed slightly: "Then we'll follow your will."
"At the very beginning of this conversation, I'd like to know if you remember the conversation we had when we first visited you?"
During that conversation, could she have been saying something like...?
My thoughts, like the pages of a book turning rapidly, quickly flowed back to that afternoon.
About two weeks ago, just a week after I successfully created this unique little garden of my own using the knowledge I gained from reading books, a group of uninvited guests suddenly barged in, causing quite a stir.
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