My Stepsister in Kyoto

Mizuto wasn't sure how long it had been, but he had been staring at the screen of Sonoko's laptop for so long as he wrote his manuscript. Still, as he wrote, his expressions kept changing, and he also often said something strange, but at this moment, as he put all of his focus on his writing, he was like becoming many characters within his story. Sometimes, he was excited, sad, hesitant, angry, then shy. 

Frankly, if this was done on the outside, many would say that he was crazy. 

However, this is how a writer was. 

Like an actor or an actress, they try to understand the characters of the movie by trying to become that character. The writers were similar as they tried to immerse themselves in the world of their writing, becoming several people at the same time as if they were being possessed by several spirits. 

Mizuto was like that as he became several people, talking by himself as his hands kept typing on the keyboard of the laptop. Frankly, he knew that this profession wasn't good for mental health, and it was also why many people often said that a writer was a weirdo, but since he had chosen this path, he was going to see through everything until the end. 

Still, it was also the reason why writers would write their stories in the room, so that way no one would see their weird states. 

While Mizuto wasn't alone in this hotel room as Sonoko was there, she didn't think he was weird. Instead, she felt it was normal since there were even some writers who could only write by getting naked, so compared to those people, Mizuto was completely normal. 

However, she didn't really mind, even if he was naked, though. 

Still, when he wrote a perverted scene, naturally, he got an erection. 

If his thing was small, then there was no problem. 

Unfortunately—

Sonoko opened her mouth wide and stared at his beast for a while before looking away shyly, trying to maintain her modesty as a woman and composure as an adult, but then she occasionally glanced at him, thinking that her reaction was like a high school girl, which wasn't suitable for someone of her age. 

Yet, she sighed, and at the same time, she wondered what kind of a person he was. 

Still, as Mizuto finished his writing, he saw the sky had already turned dark from the window, which made him speechless. At the same time, he was so exhausted and so hungry. 

"Good work. Eat this." 

Suddenly, he saw an onigiri in front of him. He turned and saw that it was Sonoko. "Thanks. Is there water, too?" He was quite thirsty, and he wanted to get away from this place as soon as possible. 

"Wait here! Don't go home! I will check it first, and here is the water." 

"....." 

Mizuto was helpless, but he couldn't move away. He sat on the soft carpet in the room with Sonoko by his side, who tried to keep him in a place so he wouldn't run away. As he ate, he only realized that she had just washed her body; her fresh, sweet scent exuded from her body. 

She had also changed her blue office suit with comfortable clothes that consisted of a hoodie and leggings, which made him speechless since this woman had started to feel comfortable with him. They had just met for a day, yet she started to show her sloppy side, which made him speechless. 

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Sonoko felt a bit nervous when Mizuto was staring at her. While she might have realized it before, when they were so close like this, she could see how beautiful his eyes were, and it was definitely unfair for someone to be born with such eyes. 

"No, I am jealous that you can take a bath." 

"...you want to take a bath?" 

"Yes." 

By saying that he wanted to take a bath, he would have an excuse to go home. 

Perfect! 

"Then, take a bath here." 

Watching her smile, Mizuto frowned and tried to argue. "I don't bring spare clothes."

"There is no need to change your clothes. Your clothes are still clean, after all. As for the towel and soap, there is one from the hotel. Oh, there is also a bathrobe if you want to wear it." 

In other words, he couldn't go home until she was satisfied. 

Moreover, before he entered his writing state, he had told his parents and Yume that he probably wouldn't go home tonight. 

"....." 

Still, Mizuto wondered whether his decision to become a writer was wrong, but as he wanted to refresh himself, he went to take a bath after eating the onigiri and mineral water before going to the bathroom. 

Naturally, Sonoko followed, but she didn't enter the bathroom and sat on the outside, waiting for him to finish taking a bath as she read his story. 

Nevertheless, Mizuto decided to relax himself as he was completely exhausted. It wasn't that his body was tired, as he had a "Stamina" skill from the "Lover" job, but from the mind as he had been thinking about how to smooth out the plots so it wouldn't lead to chaotic and messy writing. 

'If I am not writing...' 

If he hadn't written, then he might have been able to set up a date appointment with Akatsuki, go to visit Nami, or just stay at home with Yume. His weekend would then be filled with passionate exchanges instead of working hard. 

Yet, strangely enough, he didn't feel regret or complain. Instead, he felt this would become a precious experience for him. 

Because of the system, his life was set up, and he definitely led the lives of extraordinary people like Alexander, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Napoleon Bonaparte. He might conquer not only the earth but also the universe, parallel world, or even another world. 

Yet, he knew if he didn't have it, even if he was handsome and smart, his life wouldn't be much different from others. 

Then, what about the matter of love and women that had been bothering him?

He would laugh since he definitely wouldn't have time to do such insignificant things. He knew that this might be cold, but the reality was cold. 

Could love be used to pay your bill?

Could love be used to fill your stomach?

Could an unconditional love that would last forever exist?

Mizuto knew that such a thing was fantasy. It only appeared in a novel, a love song, or even a manga. It was also the reason why many romance stories ended when the protagonist and the heroine became one since after that, their life wouldn't be exciting and their life would be like other beings on the earth, thinking about paying their rent, food, water, electricity, child's education, and many other things. 

Only those who stood above the others, having wealth, power, and everything, could have a leeway to think about love as they had free time. 

For others, his actions of dating many women at the same time might seem wrong, but he didn't think that he was wrong since, at that moment, what he sought wasn't love but to stand above the people. 

Then, wouldn't his life be lonely?

Naturally. 

Life was like this. 

It couldn't be perfect. 

His choice was either having love, yet an ordinary life like the billions of people in the world, or having an extraordinary life, yet lonely. 

His choice was obvious. 

Mizuto chose the latter. 

Laying in the bathtub, he scooped water, then wiped his face with water before relaxing as he sang "Momoiro Clover Z - Saraba, Itoshiki Kanashimi Tachi yo," so his mood wouldn't be so depressive.

Yet, he had to say that as a high school student, he was so pragmatic, cynical, and even nihilistic that he didn't believe in love and a dream, which made him helpless.