LIGHTNOVELSTORY Chapter 15
“So, to summarize, you’ve been breaking into the guy’s house while he’s home, and he hasn’t said anything. And since he’s ignoring you, you’ve just been acting like his girlfriend and doing house chores?”
“…Yes.”
“But you’ve never actually talked to him while doing these chores? You try to, but he never responds?”
“…That’s correct.”
“And this has been happening, not just once or twice, but almost every day since you ran into him? He just consistently gives you the cold shoulder?”
“…Yes, that’s right.”
“You, seriously…”
The candid talk that was meant as punishment turned into an interrogation thanks to Ran’s disturbing confession.
What came out was a shocking truth: the store clerk was completely ignoring her. It’s not exactly that he was allowing her behavior—he was clearly very cautious of her.
“I figured, you know, he’d found out you were stalking him and was like, ‘Sigh, whatever’ and just went along with it. But no? You’ve had zero conversation? Really?”
That’s just… not it. How do you even call someone your fated partner if they don’t even acknowledge your existence?
“That guy at the store… is full of surprises.”
“It really goes to show you can’t judge a book by its cover, huh?”
Kaho and Fuyuka were visibly taken aback by the unexpected situation. It was more about their disbelief in the store clerk’s behavior rather than Ran’s.
Honestly, I’m also pretty shocked by him. He’s a really bizarre guy. I mean, nobody in their right mind would just tolerate a stalker. If they were close friends or something, maybe, but if they hardly know each other, the natural response is to call the police.
And if he’s still allowing this, there’s gotta be a reason. Love stories about stalkers turning into couples only happen in fiction.
Real life is much messier. At best, it’s because someone’s looking for a physical relationship, or a convenient fling.
And on that front, Ran is more than attractive. No matter how terrible her personality is, she’s got looks. Sure, her figure is on the modest side, but that’s more about preference. She’s still within the range most guys would consider attractive. And, well, her face alone is enough to make her a prime candidate for a fling.
Anyway, the point is, based on normal reasoning, it’d make sense if they were already heading towards that kind of relationship. That’s why we all assumed she wouldn’t get reported, and we felt relieved.
But now…
“You’re not even being acknowledged! Does he think you’re a ghost or something?”
“No way! What do you think I am, Meg?”
“A stalker and a criminal.”
“…Yeah, you’re right.”
Don’t just hang your head because I stated a fact. If anyone should be hanging their head, it’s me.
“This means… we might still be on the ‘getting reported’ route, doesn’t it?”
“Wait, but Meg, if he’s letting her into his room, wouldn’t it be hard to arrest her now?”
“Don’t forget, Kaho, this idiot has also stolen things.”
“Oh…”
That’s right. While stalking and breaking and entering might somehow be forgiven, if he comes after her for theft, it’s game over.
That’s why this is a problem. If Ran had earned enough points with the guy to avoid getting reported, that’d be one thing. But from what I’m hearing, she clearly hasn’t.
“Right now, Ran’s basically a high-tech vacuum cleaner. It wouldn’t be weird if he tossed her out like junk at any moment.”
“Vacuum cleaner?! At least say housekeeper!”
“What are you talking about when you can’t even get him to speak to you? You’re obviously being treated like a tool at best.”
“…Ugh…”
Honestly, there’s a high chance that’s exactly what’s happening. If he’s totally ignoring her, it’s not because he’s after her body. The only reason he’s letting this go on is probably because she’s doing his chores for him.
From what Ran’s told us, the guy seems like the type to let his chores pile up. So, Ran’s free housework might be the only reason he’s letting her do this.
Normally, this sounds like the kind of wild, delusional theory you’d dismiss. But in this case, it actually makes sense. And from everything I’ve heard about this guy, it seems like something he’d do.
“So, what you need to do is find a way to boost his opinion of you. Ideally, you’d work your way up to being his girlfriend, but… you know?”
“Um, the way you’re trailing off is pretty concerning…”
“You’re a criminal who’s only being ignored, not reported. Realistically, you’re not going to end up as his girlfriend. At best, you’ll be his fling.”
“Why does it hurt more when you say it like that, even though it’s basically the same thing you said before?”
Because it’s the truth. The truth stings more than anything else.
“…Actually, I’m surprised you aren’t telling me to stop stalking him before I get reported.”
“Because it’s too late for that now. This is just my guess, but I think the only reason he’s letting this go is because he benefits in some way. If you stop, he might actually report you. So, at the very least, you should keep being his vacuum cleaner.”
“You’re still not treating me like a person…”
Of course not. We’re talking about how to stop you from being a vacuum cleaner in the first place. You can’t gloss over the starting line.
“Anyway, you should start by apologizing properly. Grovel if you have to. Tell him you’re sorry and that you’ll do whatever it takes—be his fling, whatever it takes—not to get reported.”
“Meg, why are you so fixated on me being his fling…?”
“Because it’s the only option. How do you expect to get onto the main route when you already screwed up this badly? Normally, being totally fine with criminal behavior is a huge red flag.”
In this world, most guys aren’t interested in heavy girls, let alone yandere stalkers… or maybe you’d call them mentally unstable? Either way, only in fiction do you find a guy willing to deal with that kind of baggage.
“If you want to get onto the main route, you’ll have to at least go through the ‘convenient girl’ phase. Once you’ve slept together enough, maybe, just maybe, you’ll have a chance at something more.”
“Ugh… Meg, you’re awful…”
“You’re the one who’s awful, being a stalker and all. Also, don’t act all happy if you do become his fling.”
“I think that might be impossible…”
“Ugh, seriously…”
The fact that you can answer that immediately proves how messed up you are. You’re basically wired to be the convenient girl.
And yeah, I know I’m being harsh here, but I want you to understand that this is still solid advice. I’ve put actual thought into this ‘maybe you can get back onto the main route’ plan.
I’m genuinely worried about you, okay? I’m seriously hoping things work out between you and the store clerk.
Because, seriously, I wouldn’t trust you with any other guy. Even suggesting this fling thing feels awful to me. I’m only doing it because I know for a fact this guy isn’t driven by lust.
From what I’ve seen of him and what I know about Ran’s level of messed up, I think the store clerk’s actually a pretty good match for her.
And based on everything Ran’s told us, he seems to at least have a basic sense of decency, which is why, as a friend, I don’t want her to lose this chance.
“Anyway! You need to throw away your pride and find a way to raise your standing with him. Being his girlfriend is too much to hope for right now. You have to start small. If you don’t take baby steps, something could go wrong, and you’ll end up with a bad ending. You’ve got to know your place.”
“That’s so cruel…”
Don’t give me that sad voice. You’re the one who decided to dive into the crime route. Go slap your past self. And you were just acting all fine about the fling thing earlier, too.
“—But is that really true? I think there might be a chance.”
Just as I was sighing, frustrated, Fuyuka unexpectedly chimed in, throwing a lifeline to Ran.