The Stand User Of The Daily World

Chapter 169: Where's the Bathroom?

Though she looked a bit disheveled, Rita was still making an effort to maintain her lady-like demeanor and elegance, forcing a smile despite her stubborn gaze.

Shunsuke couldn't help but suspect that she was a young lady of some social standing back in England.

—The Ainsworth family, huh? I could ask Eriri about that later. Even if they're not a major household, the fact that her grandfather has his own private studio suggests they're at least part of the upper class.

Shunsuke reached out his hand and said, "I don't recall making any sort of agreement with you… You were that confident I'd come out looking for you?"

"When a beautiful woman is in trouble, shouldn't men step up and help?" Rita replied gracefully, placing her delicate right hand into his broad palm.

"I'd love to argue against that, but considering how things turned out, I guess you're right," Shunsuke said with a shrug. He could feel the smooth softness of her hand, free from the coarse pores often associated with European women. Applying a bit of strength, he helped her to her feet.

The two stood close, and a faint perfume wafted toward him—a fresh and subtle scent. Shunsuke's nose twitched slightly. He didn't catch any of that heavy, overpowering fragrance often used to mask other smells.

Though he'd considered it unlikely, part of him had feared that this world might add some "authentic" but undesirable traits to Rita's character. That would have been a bit hard to handle. But, as it turned out, she was like Eriri—blessed with the best qualities rather than the flaws.

"Come in. I take it you haven't had dinner yet?"

"I don't need anything from my ene—grrrk—"

Rita tried to keep up her tsundere act, but her words were cut short by the unmistakable sound of her stomach growling.

"Ah-heh, sorry for the intrusion," Rita said, tapping her head lightly and flashing a sheepish smile. She gave a slight nod, following the local custom in Japan, before stepping back into the house behind Shunsuke.

"Take a seat. I'll get the food."

Shunsuke retrieved the dishes he'd stored in the warming box and set them on the table.

"So you were prepared from the start, huh? I take back what I said. I suppose you really are a gentleman."

"I am a gentleman, though maybe not in the way you mean," Shunsuke replied cryptically. His comment, laced with insider "otaku" humor, naturally went over Rita's head. She had no knowledge of these niche references, so her confusion was perfectly understandable.

But with the meal now laid out, Rita didn't bother dwelling on it. She pressed her palms together and started eating, quickly yet with a certain elegance.

"You're surprisingly good with chopsticks," Shunsuke observed.

"Well, I had to take care of Mashiro growing up. When she was little, I often had to feed her myself," Rita explained after swallowing her food.

"You must've had a hard time. You were just a kid yourself, weren't you?"

"It wasn't so bad. Mashiro was adorable, and she always listened to me…"

Rita trailed off, her thoughts clearly shifting to the current Mashiro. She glanced at the person she saw as the "culprit" sitting across from her. With a huff, she held out her bowl. "Another serving."

Shunsuke glanced at her well-developed figure and wordlessly stood to refill her bowl. No wonder her figure was so much fuller than Mashiro's—given how much she ate, the difference in nutrition intake was obvious.

Returning with the refilled bowl, Shunsuke handed it back. "Where are you staying tonight? I'll give you a ride after you're done eating."

"I don't have anywhere to stay." Rita shook her head. "I'd planned for a quick round trip—ideally, I'd have taken Mashiro back with me today. I didn't book a hotel, didn't bring any luggage, and I didn't even bring any Japanese currency. I've got nowhere to go tonight."

Shunsuke eyed her skeptically as she tried to pull a pitiful expression. With a cold smile, he said, "No Japanese currency? How did you get here, then? Don't tell me you walked all the way."

"Heh, heh-heh…"

Rita chuckled awkwardly, trying to get by with a cutesy act.

"Fine, if you want to stay here, you can have Mashiro's old room," Shunsuke said.

The house he lived in wasn't small. Originally, it had three bedrooms, a living room, and a study. But one of the bedrooms had been turned into a studio for him and Mashiro to paint, leaving only two rooms available for sleeping.

Eriri had complained about this arrangement quite a bit.

"Really? That's great, Shunsuke! Also, this is delicious—another bowl, please!"

"Are you a rice bucket or something?"

"How could a gentleman use such words to describe a lady!"

"I'm just telling it like it is."

...

In the end, Rita devoured four bowls of rice.

Shunsuke couldn't figure out where on earth she put all that food.

Noticing his curious look, Rita's face turned red. "I didn't eat lunch, okay? The airplane food was awful."

"Whose fault is it that you flew all the way from England to Japan? That's quite the feat."

"Well, I wasn't expecting someone to suddenly throw off my plans. Otherwise, I'd already be on a plane with Mashiro right now."

"Coming over here to steal her away—don't you think that's a bit much?" Shunsuke stood up. "Let's go, I'll take you to your room."

"This one is the studio. Mashiro's inside. She probably doesn't want to see you right now, so don't go in there," he said as they passed the studio door.

Hearing this, a shadow flickered across Rita's smile. After a moment's pause, she smirked mischievously, like a sly junior teasing her upperclassman. "So where are you and Mashiro staying?"

Shunsuke thought Rita had a great smile.

Opening the door to his own room, he said bluntly, "Mashiro and I share this room."

Rita's smile froze on her face.

Sure, she knew they were living together, but not to this extent!

When she had lived with Mashiro, they had been roommates, but never shared the same bed!

Peeking into the room in frustration, the first thing that caught Rita's eye was the starry night painting on the wall. "Is this… painted by Mashiro?"

Rita looked at Shunsuke, her emotions conflicted as she sensed the feelings Mashiro had poured into the painting.

"Of course. If it weren't by Mashiro, I wouldn't have turned my room into this," Shunsuke said.

Shunsuke opened the door to the room next to his own. "This will be your room for tonight."

"Ugh, it looks so bare and messy."

"It's Mashiro's old room. What did you expect?"

"I would have tidied it up every day if it were mine."

"Well then, I'll leave that to you from now on."

"So, are you agreeing to let me take Mashiro back to England? Thanks, but... that's definitely not what you meant," Rita said, shoulders slumping. "First Mashiro, and now you're keeping an eye on me too? Shunsuke, could it be that you're a super-aggressive guy?"

"Don't put it like that—I'm a gentleman."

"Sure, sure. So, Mr. Gentleman, where's the bathroom?"

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