My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman

Fuyumi’s prediction was accurate. The next day, a Level 7 strong wind warning was indeed issued for Nagoya City and the southern part of Aichi Prefecture. However, the strong wind seemed to be taking its time to arrive, making it feel as if there was an error in the weather forecast.

Errors in forecasts were normal. Despite the advanced technology of supercomputers and meteorological satellite systems, atmospheric meteorological patterns remained highly complex. Occasional inaccuracies and omissions were unavoidable.

Kitahara Hideji glanced at his watch and felt it was about time to start his shift at work. He reluctantly closed his book—he was getting closer to the school’s academic assessment, which felt somewhat similar to mid-term exams. However, this assessment would be recorded in his student file, so he couldn’t afford to take it lightly.

He closed his eyes, recollecting the contents of his recent study session. Then, he looked behind him, where Ono Yoko was cuddling with Hyakujirou, reading a manga magazine. She would occasionally purse her lips and chuckle while reading. Those magazines were picked up; it was common to find bundles of them discarded by the roadside. Collectors usually focused on complete volumes, and these serialized magazines had lower-quality paper and printing. Many people would read them and then discard them since they weren’t very expensive.

Of course, Yoko had already completed her homework. The workload in elementary school wasn’t too heavy. Although she couldn’t be labeled as exceptionally intelligent, neither could she be called dull. She didn’t spend much time on her studies.

She had a piece of candy in her mouth and was savoring it. It was a candy that Kitahara Hideji had bought for her—after all, kids loved candy! It wasn’t anything fancy, just some super cheap candy, meant to keep her occupied. But she seemed to really enjoy it. This child was truly well-behaved. She never actively asked for things, but that only made Kitahara Hideji sympathize with her more. He hoped to give her some positive childhood memories.

Hyakujirou was also stealing little bites of candy, occasionally lowering its head to chew and then gulping down some saliva. Its doggy face was brimming with contentment. Ono Yoko liked the dog a lot and often shared her food with it. Though Kitahara Hideji felt it was a bit wasteful, considering it was a sign of the child’s kindness, he didn’t say anything. He guessed Yoko had shared some candy with the dog this time too; the little guy seemed to be enjoying itself.

“Yoko, I’m heading to work now,” Kitahara Hideji stretched lazily and said with a smile. He had been studying all day, and working now would give his mind a change of pace.

Ono Yoko looked surprised as she looked up, “Is it already time, Onii-san?” Reluctantly getting up, she patted Hyakujirou’s head and said, “I’m going back now, Hyakujirou. Be a good boy at home, okay!”

Today, the wind was strong, so Kitahara Hideji went to his wall cupboard to fetch his jacket. He casually smiled and said, “If you have nothing to do, you can stay here and play. It’s okay.” He had realized during this time that Ono Yoko was quite afraid of the older kids who roamed the streets. After school, she would rush home and rarely play around the neighborhood streets. Today, without school, her mom was asleep at home in broad daylight. Who knows, some man might show up looking for some adult activities, and she didn’t have many places to go.

“Is it okay?” Ono Yoko hesitated, lightly biting her lip, her face turning a bit red. While she had accepted Kitahara Hideji’s “investment,” and their relationship was growing closer, they hadn’t reached the stage where they could help each other look after their homes. The sudden prospect of staying alone at his place… made her feel quite shy.

Kitahara Hideji put on his jacket and ruffled her hair, saying with a smile, “I told you, it’s okay. You can stay as long as you want… Just don’t feed Hyakujirou, I’ll bring back some leftovers from work to feed it.”

He really didn’t mind. It was probably better for Ono Yoko not to hang out with the kids on the streets, to avoid picking up bad habits. This neighborhood didn’t seem like a good place to nurture young talents. He might have exaggerated when he mentioned that his apartment was barely furnished, but if a thief were to break in, they would probably shake their head and sigh three times. There wasn’t really anything worth stealing – maybe a bit of money hidden under the tatami mats. However, he trusted Ono Yoko’s character. She even kept track of the two candies he had given her, treating his words as truth. It seemed she was planning to repay him double in ten years.

“Got it, Onii-san, please take care!” Ono Yoko said as she watched Kitahara Hideji insist on leaving.

Her cheeks were flushed red by default, and she clasped her hands over her abdomen as she sent him off, walking with him step by step to the door. Before he left, she gently smoothed out the wrinkles in his collar, incredibly tender. Hyakujirou wagged its tail and followed closely behind her, its doggy eyes filled with anticipation.

In the izakaya, there were always some leftover bone fragments and meat that couldn’t be finished. While humans couldn’t eat them, they were suitable for feeding the dog. Kitahara Hideji often brought some back to feed Hyakujirou, and it had become addicted to them – after a week, its fur had even started to look a bit glossy.

Kitahara Hideji ruffled Ono Yoko’s hair again, finding it just as comfortable as before. With a smile, he left. Ono Yoko maintained her slight bow until Kitahara Hideji closed the door, and then she straightened up. Tilting her head in thought, she rolled up her sleeves and sweetly said to Hyakujirou, “Hyakujirou, since you’ve enjoyed so much of Onii-san’s treats, you should repay him. Let’s get rid of some mold together!”

Having spent time with Kitahara Hideji, she had noticed that he was quite bothered by mold in the house. He would often take a brush and scrub everywhere, feeling quite irritated. She was happy to help Kitahara Hideji with something, just as he wanted to make her happy. She also wished for Kitahara Hideji to be cheerful.

Since Kitahara Hideji disliked having mold at home, it seemed like a good idea to use their time to get rid of it!

“Woof!” Hyakujirou didn’t understand the meaning at all, but it didn’t mind. It barked and wagged its tail, following her to the bathroom.

……….

Kitahara Hideji had just stepped out of the train station when a gust of strong wind hit him squarely in the face, causing his light jacket to cling tightly to his body. He tightened his clothes and braced himself against the wind as he made his way towards Junmi-ya. The wind was unpredictable, alternating between strong gusts and gentle breezes. The forceful gusts could practically push pedestrians off their feet, while the milder moments felt like a tender hand caressing his cheeks.

He arrived at Junmi-ya and immediately spotted Haruna tiptoeing to secure the door curtain. This simple contraption, consisting of a stick holding several pieces of cloth, was susceptible to being blown away by strong winds. Yet, it was essential to have it hanging – it signaled that the izakaya was open for business. If it wasn’t hung, potential customers would likely assume the place was closed.

Kitahara Hideji went over to help. Being considerably taller than Haruna, he easily fastened the wooden stick of the door curtain securely under the eaves. Haruna glanced at him and softly said, “Thank you.” Their first encounter involved drugging and a physical altercation, so their relationship wasn’t exactly on the best terms. Their interaction had remained somewhat awkward, even as their relationship gradually improved.

Kitahara Hideji smiled and asked, “Why didn’t you let Yukari do this, being so tall?” Haruna was barely around 150 cm (4’11”) tall, while Yukari stood at 175 cm (5’9″) – the height difference was quite significant.

Haruna opened the door and gestured for him to come in, casually replying, “Onee-sama and Nee-chan are discussing something.”

Kitahara Hideji thanked her and entered. He suspected that Yukari had likely caused some trouble again and might be in for a scolding. After spending a little over a week with the Fukuzawa Family, he had come to realize that there weren’t many easygoing individuals among them. Fukuzawa Senior appeared stable, but he had a penchant for drinking and seemed to have a drinking problem. His health wasn’t great, and while he had good intentions, he often lacked the ability to handle many household matters. He could only make decisions on significant matters, but for the rest, he was somewhat helpless. Yukari, on the other hand, was practically a walking disaster – she spoke without thinking and frequently got involved in chaotic situations. Dealing with her could be both exasperating and amusing. As for Natsuo and Natsuha, they were both immature and often focused on shirking responsibilities. Their interactions often consisted of bickering and playfulness, lacking any moments of quietude. Akitaro was too young, barely three years old, and had very limited self-sufficiency. Sometimes, even something as basic as cleaning after using the bathroom required Fuyumi’s assistance.

The only one who could save him a bit of trouble was Haruna. However, being the middle child, she was caught in a position where it was difficult to gain authority. Not only was she unable to control Yukari, even Natsuo and Natsuha didn’t seem to respect her much. Even Akitaro, the youngest and most clueless among them, treated Fuyumi like a mother figure and constantly sought her attention. Haruna, on the other hand, seemed to be ignored.

No wonder Fuyumi, the little radish head, had such a temper… With such a chaotic household, it was hard for anyone to have the patience to patiently explain things one by one. Resorting to forceful measures was quicker and easier.

To be honest, over the past few days, the phrase Kitahara Hideji heard Fuyumi say the most was, “Shut up, no arguing allowed.” This clearly indicated the disorder within the household. Yukari was playful, often agreeing with people verbally but then disappearing without a trace. While she was quick to apologize and accept her mistakes afterwards, even if it meant facing punishment, she still managed to frustrate Fuyumi. Natsuo and Natsuha were constantly plotting mischief – either secretly slacking off or threatening to strike. Given Fuyumi’s already short temper, any misalignment of words would trigger her into a violent rampage, resulting in chaos at home.

In reality, the little radish head wasn’t having an easy time either… Without her, the other sisters could easily turn into wild children, running amok like a flock of sheep.

Kitahara Hideji clicked his tongue sympathetically, understanding the situation. He greeted Fukuzawa Naotaka in the kitchen, officially starting his shift, and then followed Haruna to the common activity room to have their working meal. Along the way, he planned to see what kind of trouble Yukari had managed to stir up this time…