Chapter 2

When Ogiwara Sayu was almost done putting on her clothes, Hozuki Nozomi took a bath towel from the closet and gently wrapped it around her.

"Okay, Sayu-chan, head to the shower and use this afterward," he said, handing her his shirt and shorts with a small, reassuring smile. "These are my clothes for now. Once you're ready, we'll go out and get you some proper clothes for daily use."

Sayu stared at him blankly for a moment, her cheeks suddenly turning a deep shade of red. It was then that she realized he had no ulterior motives toward her—a stark contrast to the fear that had lingered in her mind.

"Y-Yes... I understand," she stammered before quickly running into the bathroom, clutching the towel around herself as though making a hasty escape.

Nozomi rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, his own face warming with a tinge of embarrassment. It wasn't like he had any improper intentions. If he had taken her in just to satisfy his desires, wouldn't that make him no better than some sleazy creep?

What Hozuki Nozomi truly wanted was something far more meaningful—a warm and peaceful life where happiness wasn't one-sided. It was something he couldn't achieve if Sayu remained burdened by her inner struggles. To make that vision a reality, he had to help her untangle the knots in her heart.

As if on cue, a chime echoed in his mind:

[Ding! Task triggered: Untie the emotional knots of the runaway JK (high school girl). Completion will reward you with random skill entries and items.]

Nozomi blinked in surprise, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"Man, this system sure knows how to pick its timing," he muttered under his breath. Unlike those cliché systems that forced ridiculous tasks with harsh penalties for failure, his "Game Life System" felt more... fair. It was less a burden and more of a guiding hand.

Sayu took her time in the bathroom, emerging only after what felt like an eternity. She was wearing Nozomi's oversized shirt, which barely managed to contain her figure, and his shorts hung loosely on her slim frame. Her soft, flushed face still held traces of moisture from the shower, and her damp hair clung to her cheeks. The sight of her slender legs peeking out from beneath the oversized clothing made her look irresistibly innocent yet unintentionally alluring.

Nozomi couldn't help but take a few quick glances before clearing his throat and averting his eyes.

"Ahem... Sayu-chan, this outfit is only temporary. You can't go outside looking like this!"

Sayu tilted her head and pouted slightly, a playful glint in her eyes. "Okay, then I'll only wear it for you, Nozomi-kun."

Her teasing tone left him momentarily speechless, but he quickly composed himself and motioned for her to sit down.

"Come here. I'll help you dry your hair," he said.

Sayu obediently sat on the small stool in front of him, her petite frame giving her the appearance of a delicate doll. As Nozomi gently ran the hairdryer through her damp locks, she couldn't help but frown slightly.

"You're surprisingly good at this, Nozomi-kun," she remarked, her tone laced with suspicion. "Do you do this often for other girls?"

Nozomi raised an eyebrow at her comment but chose to ignore the implied accusation. He chuckled softly instead.

"Skilled hands, Sayu-chan. Just accept it as part of the package," he replied with a playful smirk.

Sayu remained quiet after that, her thoughts drifting to darker places. Despite everything she had endured, she still couldn't bring herself to face the finality of death. Was she really that much of a coward? She bit her lip, her gaze growing distant as the memories of her past surfaced.

Nozomi, noticing her silence, finished drying her hair and gave her shoulder a light tap.

"All done. Let's head out now," he said cheerfully. "Oh, and on the way, I'll tell you a bit about my situation."

Sayu nodded and followed him out the door, her steps light and uncertain. As they walked down the street together, Nozomi began to speak, his tone calm and steady.

"I'm a first-year at Sobu High School. Classes start in about five days," he began. "My parents passed away a while ago, and I live alone now. The house I'm living in is called Sakurasou, and it was left to me as part of their inheritance."

Sayu glanced at him curiously, listening intently.

"My main source of income comes from the tenants at Sakurasou," Nozomi continued. "There's a school nearby called Suimei University of Arts High School, and most of the tenants are students there."

Some people might find this setup oddly familiar.

That's right.

The Sakurasou that Hozuki Nozomi inherited is the very one from the anime The Pet Girl of Sakurasou.

It's one of the perks of his life system—an immersive game-like ability that turns everyday challenges into quests with rewards. Starting with Sakurasou as his base, Nozomi is tasked with managing it, completing missions, and steadily improving himself.

Nozomi glanced at Sayu as they approached the dorm. "There are five other people living in Sakurasou right now, not counting you and me."

"Five?" Sayu tilted her head, her curiosity piqued.

"Let me give you a quick rundown," he said, folding his arms. "On the first floor, there's Kanda Sorata, a guy who's way too attached to stray cats. The school made him move here after he adopted too many of them."

Sayu nodded, a faint smile on her lips.

"Then we've got Kamiigusa Misaki-senpai on the third floor. She's a genius when it comes to animation production. Don't let her eccentric personality catch you off guard."

"Next is Akasaka Ryunosuke, who's on the second floor like us. He's... well, let's just say he's more comfortable with computers than people. You might not see him much since he rarely leaves his room."

"And then there's Sengoku Chihiro-sensei, the original manager of Sakurasou. She's on the first floor as well. Her dad ran into gambling trouble and had to sell Sakurasou to my parents. So, technically, I'm the landlord now."

Sayu blinked in surprise. "You're the landlord?!"

"Yup," Nozomi said with a wry smile. "That's why you'll be living on the second floor, in the room next to mine. As for your responsibilities, I'll need you to handle the cleaning and help with meals. Is that okay?"

Sayu's face softened, and she nodded firmly. "Of course, I don't mind. I'm used to doing those kinds of things."

She had spent so much of her life trying to prove herself through cooking and cleaning, hoping her efforts would earn her mother's approval. But no matter how hard she worked, she could never meet her mother's impossible expectations.

She snuck a glance at Nozomi before quickly looking away.

If this man—who had shown her kindness—valued her efforts, then maybe this time, she could finally feel wanted.

"One more thing, Sayu," Nozomi added with a playful smirk. "There's someone here you should avoid at all costs."

"Eh? Who?" she asked, tilting her head in confusion.

"Mitaka Jin. This guy's the definition of trouble. He's a shameless flirt who's dating six girlfriends simultaneously. They say just locking eyes with him on the street can get you pregnant."

Sayu's eyes widened in horror. "No way! Is he really that dangerous?"

"Just kidding," Nozomi chuckled, his tone lighthearted. "But he is notorious for being a player. From my perspective, I'd rather no other guys even get close to you... but that's just me being greedy."

Sayu blinked, slightly startled by his candidness.

"Of course," Nozomi continued, "if you ever feel uncomfortable or want to leave, you can tell me anytime. I'm not the kind of guy to force someone to stay."

Sayu's lips curled into a soft, almost shy smile. "I understand. Don't worry, Nozomi-kun. I won't let anyone else touch me."

Her thoughts, however, went a step further.

Only you can touch me.

While his words carried a possessive tone, Sayu couldn't help but feel comforted. For the first time, someone cared enough to protect her, even if it was selfish.

The atmosphere between the two softened after that, and they soon found themselves on the tram heading to a nearby shopping district.

Nozomi led Sayu to the clothing section of a large department store, picking out several casual outfits for her—skirts, tops, and even two warm coats for colder weather. He hesitated a bit when it came to choosing undergarments, but after a moment of awkwardness, they grabbed two sets.

All in all, the trip cost him 58,000 yen.

On their way back, they stopped at the supermarket to stock up on ingredients.

Sayu's mood visibly brightened. To her, having a man spend money on her, even if he insisted it would come out of her "salary," made her feel cared for and respected in a way she hadn't experienced before.

When they returned to Sakurasou, they found Sengoku Chihiro, the glamorous and slightly disheveled teacher, lounging with a bottle of wine in hand. She glanced at the pair and raised an eyebrow.

"Nozomi-kun, don't tell me you're turning into another Mitaka and bringing girls back to Sakurasou?" she teased, taking a sip from her bottle.

Nozomi waved her off with a grin. "Give me some credit, sensei. I'm not quite on Mitaka's level yet—not that I'd want to be. This is Ogiwara Sayu. She's the new assistant for Sakurasou's management. She'll be living here from now on."

Chihiro arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "Assistant, huh? Sounds more like you've hired yourself a secretary. I'm betting she'll only 'assist' you with your personal needs."

Nozomi laughed, unbothered by her jab. "You're overthinking it, sensei. Sayu will handle the cleaning and meals, that's all. Besides, I'll still need you to help her settle in and complete the paperwork."

Chihiro rolled her eyes but stood up nonetheless. "Fine, fine. Miss Ogiwara, follow me. I'll show you to your room."

Sayu glanced at Nozomi, silently seeking reassurance.

He nodded and offered a warm smile. "It's okay. Chihiro-sensei might talk tough, but she's kind at heart. You'll be fine."

Chihiro smirked, twirling a strand of her hair. "You know, Nozomi-kun, flattery will get you everywhere."

With that, she led Sayu away, leaving Nozomi chuckling to himself in the doorway.

***************

***************

Sayu is from the anime: I shaved and brought a school girl home.