I, Who Have Been Tasked With Taking Care of the Beautiful Young Lady of the Class, Am Troubled by the Heavy Affection Directed Towards Me

“I’ve run out of money.”

I was sitting at my desk discussing my current financial situation with Kamiki Ren, my friend since entering high school.

“How many times is that this month?”

“The 14th time. I wish you would remember the number of times your best friend has been in a crisis.”

“You know, I remembered it up to the fifth time. But 14 times? When you hear it that often it doesn’t seem like that big of a deal anymore.”

Ren’s words made sense, but I wasn’t just casually saying it each time. I said it, feeling an actual sense of danger. 

As a current third-year high school student with exams coming up next year, I had been working multiple part-time jobs to save money since my have been missing for years now without contact, and my younger sister—who is in her second year of high school—suddenly had a wild idea and blurted: “Big Brother, I’m going to earn money overseas,” and she disappeared.

Why do students have to go through such things?

“Even if you say that, I’m really in a crisis,” I said.

“Haven’t I been telling you: You could stop renting and come live with me? I’ve been turning down confessions from girls just so you can have a place to stay.”

“Ren…”

“Don’t get so moved. It’s only natural, we’ve been best friends for a long time.”

“You’re the worst.”

“What!?”

Ren seemed to think that my silence meant I was moved, but my true thoughts flung that notion away.

What was he thinking? I hadn’t even mentioned living at Ren’s house on my own initiative yet, and he was using that as a reason to reject confessions from girls.

There’s no other way to describe it but as “the worst.”

“What’s wrong with being a good friend, best friend in fact, who prioritises friendship over romance?! How is that me being the worst?!”

“If you are not the worst, then what else are you?”

“Obviously the opposite, the best!”

“That’s absolutely not true! Besides, Ren, you’re popular, so why don’t you try being nicer to girls? You could have a girlfriend and enjoy your youth. You’re missing out.”

What I said is true: Ren is popular.

He’s the ace of the basketball club and he’s charming with his brown hair styled in a playful manner. It would be strange if he weren’t popular. But for some reason, he has never tried getting a girlfriend. 

What do you mean I’m missing out!? If I’m missing out, then you’re also missing out! I’ve heard from several girls that they’re interested in you!”

“I am not missing out on anything…. I never had any time for romance to begin with.”

I’m either working part-time or studying. I simply don’t have any time to spare for romance. I occasionally hang out with Ren, but other than that, nothing really.

“But, Ren, it’s different for you, right? If you have plenty of time, why not enjoy a little romance….”

“Don’t say stupid things. For me, I care about friendship more than romance!” He said that and started doing a wrestling move on me.

“To be treated like this after saying something nice….”

“That’s right, speaking of girls interested in you, Shiratori has been looking at you recently in the classroom… Wait, she’s still looking now!?”

“Huh?”

As the tension I felt from the wrestling move ease, I glanced at Shiratori, but she was talking with the same group of people as always.

“Ren, is this some kind of joke? Why are you lying?”

“A lie? N-no, no, no, no, no! It wasn’t a lie! I seriously saw her looking at you! Not me, but Ayato!”

“That’s impossible, no?”

Speaking of Shiratori, she had beautiful white hair and a well-groomed face, and she was incredibly wealthy. Filthy rich, in fact. 

Why would she glance at me out of all people? 

“Oh, wait, she might have glanced at me too….”

“So, you were the person in question, huh?” I shot him a look.

“Is that killing intent I sense?!”

Huh? Killing intent? I don’t know what he’s talking about…. Was that one of his jokes?

“Anyway, it’s impossible for Shiratori to look at me.”

“Well, I guess so….”

“Right… more importantly, I have to do something about my lack of money.”

“What about staying at my house?”

“No.”

“Hmm, if only there was a part-time job with a high hourly wage somewhere.”

We continued talking about it for a while, but in the end, we couldn’t think of anything. Only time seemed to have moved forward. 

…..

Time passed by, and it was soon time to go home.

“I have club activities today, so you can go home first.”

“Ah, do your best, Mister Ace.”

“Yeah! Maybe I’ll score a perfect 100 today,” muttering to himself, Ren left the classroom.

…Sigh, what should I do about this money problem?

For now, I also left the classroom to go home…

“Excuse me.”

I was stopped from behind by an unfamiliar voice, so I turned around and saw Shiratori, who had been talking with Ren earlier, approaching me.

“Ah, yes… What is it?”

If it were a classmate or a junior, I would speak casually and not worry about addressing them with honorifics. But when it came to Shiratori, I couldn’t help but use polite language.

…Looking closely, her skin had a transparent quality, and her aquamarine eyes sparkled. It reminded me once again that she had a beautiful appearance overall.

“Kimi-kun, are you having financial troubles?”

“Huh?”

How did Shiratori know about that? For a moment, that thought crossed my mind, but sometimes Ren’s voice could be loud, so it wouldn’t be strange if she overheard it. And if I’ve been talking about it 14 times this month alone, it wouldn’t be surprising if the information indirectly reached Shiratori’s ears.

“I am in trouble, but… what does that have to do with anything?”

“What’s the hourly wage you’re currently working for?”

“Why do you want to know that?”

“Just answer me.”

What is this all about?

Could it be that she pities me for being in a situation where I don’t have money while she does?

…I don’t think that’s the case, but that thought lingered in my mind, making it difficult for me to speak. Nevertheless, I managed to open my mouth and respond.

“It’s around a little over a thousand yen…”

“I see… You mentioned something about a high-paying job today, so what is your ideal hourly wage?”

“My ideal hourly wage… Well, I don’t know, the higher, the better, I guess.”

“The higher, huh… Okay. I won’t hold you off anymore.”

“Uh, okay…”

What was the point of all that in the end?

…I can’t even imagine what wealthy people think about. I quickly gave up on pondering what Shiratori was thinking and decided to focus on finding a part-time job…

“Alright, another day completed successfully.”

After finishing my part-time job, I returned home and found a flyer in the mailbox.

“Hourly wage: one million yen! Start living the dream today! Live-in job with three meals and a private room included! A dream job where you can earn money with little effort! Apply now! Phone number: XXX-XXXX-XXXX”

The flyer had an extravagant golden decoration accompanying the text.

This is definitely a scam…. The excessive use of exclamation marks only adds to its suspiciousness.

I tore the flyer into pieces and threw it in the garbage bin as soon as I got home.

The next day, Shiratori came to my seat, wearing a slightly angry expression for some reason.

“Kimi-kun, didn’t you receive a phone call?”

…A phone call?

…………
You can read three chapters ahead from everyone else by becoming a Supporter!

Novelupdates:https://www.novelupdates.com/series/i-who-have-been-tasked-with-taking-care-of-the-beautiful-young-lady-of-the-class-am-troubled-by-the-heavy-affection-directed-towards-me/