After seeing Sanshokuin Sumireko home, Hozuki Nozomi turned and made his way toward the nearest konbini.
Igusa Misaki-senpai had sent him a message, asking him to bring back some sake.
Nozomi thought about the evening ahead.
Of course, he had to satisfy his beloved senpai.
As he neared the store, a familiar notification chimed in his mind—the voice of his ever-reliable game life system.
[Ding! Task triggered: "The Girl Who Collapsed by the Roadside"]
[The girl left her family and came to Kyoto to chase her dreams. She juggles multiple part-time jobs to survive, but after skipping lunch, she couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed on the path ahead.]
[Please help the hard-working girl, take her home, and invite her to stay at your own Sakurasou. Task completion will grant a special entry skill or item, along with a fixed reward of 1,000,000 yen.]
"A girl who collapsed from exhaustion because she was working too hard and skipping meals?"
The situation sounded eerily familiar.
Nozomi immediately thought of Aoyama Nanami.
From what he knew, Nanami had a charming Kansai accent and was determined to become a professional seiyuu, dubbing characters in her favorite anime. However, her parents refused to support her dream, so she left home and moved to Kyoto, enrolling in Suimei University of the Arts High School.
While her family covered her tuition, everything else—from voice acting school fees to accommodation, food, study materials, and exam prep—had to come out of her own pocket.
Even with multiple part-time jobs, she struggled to make ends meet, often going hungry by the end of the month.
Nozomi admired her perseverance.
Chasing a dream this relentlessly—how many people in the world could actually endure such hardship?
Following the golden arrow provided by the system, Nozomi spotted a girl collapsed on the pavement ahead.
Her long brown ponytail was slightly disheveled, and she clutched a plastic bag revealing the sleeve of a convenience store uniform.
She had passed out from exhaustion.
Nozomi sighed, crouching down beside her. "Jeez, you really overdid it, huh?"
Without further hesitation, he slid one arm behind her back and the other beneath her knees, lifting her effortlessly into a princess carry.
Ignoring the curious glances from passersby, he carried her to a park nearby and gently placed her on a bench.
Then, he hurried to the konbini and returned with a bottle of glucose solution and a freshly packed bento.
Kneeling beside her, he uncapped the glucose bottle and carefully pressed it to her lips. "Come on, drink up."
The moment the sweet liquid touched her tongue, she instinctively parted her lips slightly and swallowed. Aoyama Nanami stirred, her expression softening as she subconsciously drank the glucose.
Moments later, her stomach let out a loud gurgle of protest.
She slowly opened her eyes, groaning. "Mmm… I feel so lightheaded…"
The sweetness lingering on her tongue confused her.
Before she could process her surroundings, a calm voice reached her ears.
"Yo, you're finally awake."
Nanami flinched and sat up abruptly. "Huh?! W-who are you?!"
"Hozuki Nozomi," he answered casually, leaning back on the bench. "I live in Sakurasou, near Suimei High. I found you collapsed on the road and brought you here. You were completely out cold, so I gave you some glucose."
He handed her the bento box. "You're probably starving. Eat up."
Nanami blinked at him, still trying to make sense of the situation.
"Sakurasou…?" Her voice trailed off as recognition dawned. Isn't that the infamous dorm filled with oddballs?
Her stomach let out another aggressive growl.
Nanami blushed, pressing her hands against her abdomen as if to silence it.
Nozomi smirked and pushed the bento into her hands. "Come on, if you keep skipping meals like this, you're gonna end up with a stomach ulcer—or worse, gastric perforation. Then you won't be able to eat even if you want to, and the hospital bills will be way worse than the price of a simple meal."
Nanami's expression stiffened at his words.
Realizing he had a point, she hesitated before bowing her head slightly. "T-thank you… I'll pay you back for the food and the glucose!"
Her flustered Kansai accent slipped out, making her "watashi" sound more like "uchi." It was unexpectedly cute.
Nozomi chuckled. "Relax. Just eat before you pass out again."
"T-thank you! I really appreciate it!"
Muttering her gratitude repeatedly, Nanami finally opened the bento and began eating.
As she took her first bite of warm rice, her eyes welled up with emotion.
The simple pleasure of a hot meal after enduring hunger for so long… it was almost overwhelming.
After finishing her meal, Nanami Aoyama let out a small sigh of relief, her body finally regaining some strength.
Hozuki Nozomi, ever the considerate type, handed her a bottle of water. She accepted it with both hands, taking a few careful sips before downing the rest in one go. Only then did she truly feel alive again.
With newfound energy, she immediately stood up and bowed deeply.
"Hontou ni arigatou gozaimasu! Thank you very much for the lunch, Hozuki-san! My hands aren't exactly free right now, but please rest assured—I'll definitely pay you back for the lunch and the glucose solution!"
Her voice was firm, her resolve unwavering. Accepting kindness wasn't something she was used to. Her strong self-esteem wouldn't allow her to take things for free.
Hozuki Nozomi merely smiled and waved his hand dismissively.
"Daijoubu. We met by chance—it's fate, ne? I couldn't just ignore a girl collapsed on the side of the road."
He leaned back slightly, his tone light but sincere.
"It's just a lunch box. If it really bothers you that much, just treat me to a meal sometime."
Nanami blinked in surprise before quickly nodding.
"Hai! I'll treat you when I get paid next month!"
"Deal. But… I don't think I caught your name yet?"
"Ah! Gomen! I'm… Aoyama Nanami. I'm a first-year at Suimei University of the Arts High School."
Her cheeks turned slightly pink as she hurriedly introduced herself. In her flustered state, her Kansai accent slipped through again. Realizing this, she quickly corrected herself, trying to suppress it. After all, if she wanted to be a top-tier seiyuu, she had to learn to control her dialect.
"So it's Aoyama-san. No need for honorifics—I'm a high schooler too, y'know."
"Eh? Really?"
Nanami blinked, clearly surprised.
Hozuki smirked, rolling his eyes playfully.
"Why, do I not look like a high school student?"
"Iie, iie! That's not it!" She waved her hands frantically, looking embarrassed. "It's just… you seem so mature and composed…"
"I'll take that as a compliment."
His amused grin deepened as he watched her fidget slightly, her face still tinged with pink.
"Looking at the uniform peeking out of your bag, I'm guessing you work at a nearby konbini? Are you headed there now?"
"Un… yeah, I am."
Hozuki frowned slightly and crossed his arms.
"I'd suggest taking the day off. You should have some okayu for the next few days to settle your stomach. That bento just now was to keep you from passing out again, but if you've been skipping meals often, your stomach is probably in bad shape. Fainting like this is a red flag."
Nanami stiffened slightly. He was right. It wasn't the first time she had felt dizzy from hunger, but she never let herself collapse like this before.
"You should get checked out and take better care of yourself. I get that working part-time is important, but your health should come first. Girls especially need to be careful with their well-being."
His words weren't scolding, but there was an undeniable warmth behind them.
Nanami hesitated before lowering her head slightly.
"… I understand. Thank you."
"Heh, no need to thank me. I just tend to ramble sometimes. Hope you don't mind."
She shook her head quickly.
"Not at all."
"Well then," Hozuki stretched a bit before turning toward the street. "I was heading to the konbini myself. Mind if we walk together?"
"Ah… sure."
Though his words felt slightly teasing, Nanami had no reason to refuse the boy who had just helped her.
**************************************
T/N
Before someone asks, I like to think that I want to learn more Japanese, apparently their population is an aging one and they're in desperate need of young studs. The benefits are good too if rumours are to be believed.
"Watashi" (わたし) is a Japanese pronoun that means "I" or "me." It is a gender-neutral term commonly used in formal contexts, but it can be perceived as more feminine in casual situations.
"Konbini" (コンビニ) is a Japanese term that refers to a convenience store. These stores are typically open 24 hours a day and offer a wide range of products, including snacks, beverages, toiletries, and sometimes even fresh food and ready-to-eat meals. Konbini are popular in Japan for their convenience and accessibility.
In some Japanese dialects, particularly in informal or casual speech, "watashi" (私) can sound similar to "uchi" (うち) due to variations in pronunciation. In certain regions, especially among younger speakers or in more relaxed settings, "watashi" may be pronounced in a way that resembles "uchi."
"Seiyuu" (声優) is a Japanese term that means "voice actor" or "voice actress." Seiyuu are professionals who provide voices for characters in various media, including anime, video games, dubbing for foreign films, and radio shows.
"Okayu" (お粥) is a Japanese term that refers to rice porridge or congee. It is a dish made by cooking rice with a larger amount of water than usual, resulting in a soft, creamy texture. Okayu is often served as a comfort food, especially when someone is feeling unwell, and it can be customized with various toppings such as pickles, vegetables, or meats. It is a common dish in Japanese cuisine and is similar to similar rice porridge dishes found in other cultures.