Chapter 135: Workroom
Just as the conversation reached a lull, Dad placed two unfamiliar keys and a notepad on the table.
On the notepad was an address I didn’t recognize. From the look of it, it seemed to be an apartment near the station.
“It’s the key to a studio apartment I occasionally use as a workspace.”
Seeing the confused tilt of my head, Dad explained.
“But… why are you giving this to me?”
Dad had always made a point of keeping his work life separate from home. So much so that I’d never even heard of this apartment before now.
“There are certain things you’ll need to do to carry Alicia. You didn’t think about where you’d actually do it?”
“Ah…”
It wasn’t until he said it that I realized.
Souta’s house is on shrine grounds, so doing something like that openly wouldn’t be ideal. But my room wasn’t an option either. Mom works from home and is usually around, and Yuna’s room is right next to mine.
Even using a hotel was out of the question. High school students showing up together? That’d be suspicious from the start. If anyone saw us going in or out, we’d be finished.
Of course, doing it at school was completely out of the question.
When I thought about it, having a private apartment to use without worrying about anyone else was honestly a huge relief.
“I won’t be needing it for a while, so you two can use it.”
Still, a room specifically offered for the purpose of having sex felt… really raw.
Our family’s pretty open when it comes to sex, I think. But this was the first time we’d ever had such a blunt, upfront conversation where sex was simply assumed—and I didn’t really know how to react. Especially with not just my own family here, but Souta’s as well.
“Ah… thanks…”
I reached out and took the keys and the note in one hand, gripping them tightly.
Was the trembling in my hand from nerves? Did anyone notice?
Breaking the awkward silence, Dad cleared his throat dramatically before speaking again.
“Souta-kun.”
“Y-yes!”
Suddenly being addressed, Souta shot upright as if startled.
“Uh… well… I mean. Yeah. Do your best.”
For Dad, that was unusually clumsy. It must’ve been hard to find the right words. Since Souta was just the one providing the sperm, it probably felt weird to say something like “take care of my child.”
“U-understood!”
Souta stiffened like a board.
I’m really… going to do it with him…
Realizing that all over again, I caught my breath.
The key I was gripping felt cold in my palm. Strangely heavy. Tangibly real.
“If there’s nothing else, shall we wrap it up here?”
Dad said, and with no objections from anyone, the adults filed out of the room.
But the four of us kids remained in the living room, still seated.
I had something I needed to talk to Souta about. And I assumed the other two were staying behind to keep me company.
“Um, here—”
I slipped one of the keys off the metal ring and held it out to Souta.
“...Oh.”
Souta gave a gruff reply, turning his hand palm up. I dropped the key between his fingers, which had been waiting stiffly.
Then I pulled out my phone and sent him the apartment address by message.
“…………”
Silence settled in again.
I had to talk with Souta about what comes next.
I knew that much—but I didn’t know how to start. I hesitated and fumbled, unable to find the right words.
That’s when Yuna, apparently fed up with waiting, opened her mouth to speak first.
“So, Alice, are you gonna have sex with Big Bro Souta now?”
The bluntness of the question caught me off guard for a moment—but there was no point trying to sugarcoat it. I just continued the conversation.
“Y-yeah… if Souta’s okay with it, I was hoping we could, you know, after this… What do you think?”
It’s said that an egg can be fertilized for about twenty-four hours after ovulation. If it doesn’t meet sperm within that window, you have to wait for the next cycle.
It’s already been quite a while since my last period, so the chances of getting pregnant right now are pretty low. But not zero. So if there’s even the slightest chance, I want to make sure I receive the sperm properly—and sooner rather than later.
“I-I mean… I’m fine with whenever…”
“I-I see… Then, is it okay if I ask you now?”
“Y-yeah…”
My face felt hot, and I couldn’t look at Souta.
He was probably feeling the same.
“Alright! Since Alice needs time to get ready, let’s say she’ll head over to the apartment in two hours!”
As the silence stretched on again, Yuna jumped in to take charge and keep things moving.
“...Two hours? Isn’t that a bit much?”
Souta voiced what I was thinking too. Did we really need to wait that long?
“Alice is a girl, you know. Honestly, even two hours is cutting it close. So just be patient, okay, Big Bro?”
“G-got it.”
Honestly, I’d rather just get this over with than sit around waiting for no reason…
—or at least, that’s what I was about to say.
Then it suddenly crossed my mind: what underwear was I wearing today?
Uh…
“...Well then, Souta. See you later.”
After a brief pause to think, that’s what I said.
…Yeah.
I should head home and change.
I can’t afford to mess up again like I did with Aymok.
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