Chapter 4

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 4: Gothic Lolita Is Cutely Decorated With Frills II

As I gazed out the window with growing anxiety about how far I was being taken, I watched the familiar fields and low mountain ranges pass by. To my surprise, we reached our destination much sooner than I expected. It wasn’t very far from my home, I’d guess it’s still within Yuhigaoka.

Realizing that I wasn’t resisting, even the stern-looking man in black, who had been sitting next to me, began to treat me with more kindness. I hadn’t noticed before due to the sunglasses and my own disorientation, but it seemed that this person was actually a woman.

The driver in black opened the car door for me and offered a hand to help me out. This person seemed to be a man. Though I had worn girls’ clothes many times before, it was my first experience being treated like a girl in this manner, which felt oddly awkward. I reminded myself not to get used to it.

I was greeted by an enormous gate that seemed to be at least three times my height. Looking around, the corners and the surroundings were not clearly visible. Even though my family’s dojo is quite large, this place seemed to be on a different scale altogether.

In Yuhigaoka, there are many houses that are unimaginably large for a city, but this one must be among the few truly enormous ones.

I glanced at the ‘Nakajo’ nameplate hanging on the corner of the gate. Just seeing that was enough for me to realize where I was.

“I think Grandpa said that the Nakajo family is the largest landowner in Yuhigaoka.”

I remember Grandpa saying that.

Speaking of which, I recall him mentioning that the Nakajo family only had a daughter in high school and laughing about how it would be good if he could arrange for me to marry into their family as a son-in-law through his shogi friends. The rural gossip network is so dangerous because such jokes can spread everywhere before you know it. I hope it hasn’t reached this house.

“Don’t get too excited.”

She admonished me as I looked around busily. Umm, I think my grandfather mentioned the name Rei.

“There’s no point in getting excited about being kidnapped.”

“Oh, I didn’t kidnap anyone. I just brought home a new doll, that’s all.”

Even though I answered back without thinking, it seems she didn’t realize I was a man. Rei-san’s expression, which seemed more cheerful than before, seemed directed more towards the house than towards me.

Two men in black suits slowly opened the large gate at both ends. Passing through the cedar gate, which seemed to be as heavy as it looked, we came to a spacious garden with carefully pruned trees lined up, and in the center, a stone-paved path led towards the mansion.

As I observed the well-maintained garden, someone approached from the mansion, making hurried footsteps in sandals.

“Rei! Snucking out of the house again!”

The first thing the woman who scolded Rei did was to mess up her own beautiful black hair and point a sharp finger at her. Though dressed in a kimono, she had a somewhat similar atmosphere, so she was probably her mother.

“Mother, I’m already eighteen, you know? It’s my own choice to go outside.”

“That’s not the issue!”

Rei shook her head as if she didn’t need her mother’s scolding and then directed her gaze towards me.

“Oh dear, I’m sorry you had to see this embarrassing side. Are you Rei’s friend? That’s unusual.”

Rei’s mother hurriedly put on a smile to cover up her earlier outburst. Still, the loud anger she had just shown didn’t vanish.

“Um, excuse me for intruding.”

Even so, I pretended not to see what had just happened and politely bowed my head. Family matters are not something you want others to witness. I wouldn’t want anyone to see me being scolded by my mother either.

“Right. Please take your time.”

It seemed that my sentiment was understood, as the previously tense atmosphere in the garden began to calm down a bit.

Despite that, she easily overturned it.

Rei-san took my arm as I raised my head and leaned against me, as if to entwine herself with my arm. Even though she wasn’t wearing perfume, a pleasant scent seemed to waft from somewhere. That’s how girls are.

“No, Mother. Nao is not my friend.”

I was worried that she would bring up dolls again, but she continued speaking, contradicting my expectations.

“She is my girlfriend.”

Without even having a chance to say “What?” I was led by Rei-san into the Nakajo family mansion, leaving Rei-san’s mother there, stunned and frozen.