My Stepsister in Kyoto

If it had been before, Mizuto might not have done this. Instead, he would excuse himself and then visit his woman's place, but after meeting with Sonoko, he felt like he changed. 

At the same time, he felt like the world had become much more complicated. If it was in the primitive world or before modernization, living was much simpler. As long as one could eat that day, have a place to stay, and a safe place to sleep, it was enough. However, as everything became much easier and simplified, our way of life became much more complicated.

Yet, it didn't mean primitive life was easy since living was tough, and just the act of eating was so complicated that it needed a few months to plant a seed or bet their life to hunt an animal as everything was undeveloped. 

As for which one was better, there was no such thing. 

It was also why Charles Darwin proposed the theory of "Natural Selection." 

Like a dinosaur, if someone couldn't adapt and change, then they would go extinct. 

Still, even though Mizuto slept with Sonoko, it didn't mean that he was so shameless that he would sleep on the same bed as her.

"I will sleep on the floor." 

Unfortunately, there was no sofa in her room, only a chair, but fortunately, the floor should be comfortable as a carpet had been laid over the room.

"No, you sleep on the bed with me." 

Unexpectedly, Sonoko was so bold, which made him hesitant. "....Are you sure?" 

"What? Are you getting nervous or something?" Sonoko laughed at his reaction. 

"No, I am fine, but what about you?" 

"Are you going to do something to me?" 

Mizuto fell in silence as he saw her expression was hard to gauge. She was smiling, yet at the same time, she didn't. It was like a poker face that every adult usually showed when they faced someone, so their emotions couldn't be seen. 

"No." 

"Then, there is no need to worry, right?" 

Still, when she said those words, she felt a bit sad, wondering whether she was unattractive in his eyes. Yet, it couldn't be helped, right? Compared to those beautiful and cute high school students, she was just an old woman in her 30s, she thought, which somehow made her depressed. 

Yet, Mizuto thought differently. 

You are too careless. 

Mizuto might be a high school student, but he was still a man, and Sonoko was also a charming, mature woman in her early 30s. She just happened to be his type, which made him unable to calm down. 

Nevertheless, as the decision had been made, the two slept side by side on the same bed after they turned off the light in the room. 

Frankly, there was no hesitation in Sonoko when Mizuto told her that he planned to stay in her room, considering it was so late, and she was also partly at fault for keeping him in her room and not letting him go until so late. All the public transportation had already stopped working, and if he wanted to go home, he could only use a taxi, which was expensive and he might even trouble his parents when he went home this late, so she felt like he might as well stay in her room, sleeping with her instead of going home. 

Yet, fortunately, such a forceful act was able to create a great masterpiece. 

Even if the story he wrote wasn't about a warm and fluffy romance, Sonoko had confidence that this harem story would become a big hit. As she had such a thought, Mizuto suddenly asked, "Did you think about the work again?" 

As the room was in the dark, it was hard to see Sonoko's expression, but he could tell that she showed an awkward smile. 

"Do you like your work, Machida-san?" 

Mizuto thought that Sonoko would say "yes," but—

"Hm... I wonder." 

"...you don't like it?" 

As she looked at the ceiling, Sonoko could see nothing due to the darkness, but due to his question and environment, she started to think about many things. 

"Work is work, after all." 

"Is that it?" 

"Yeah, even if I liked it in the beginning, many things happened as I worked, so my feelings became complex." 

Even if you liked your work and followed it due to your passion, as you continued on the path that you have chosen, it didn't mean that you would continue to love it. You might even start to hate it as many troubles kept coming. 

If there was a reason why she kept doing her work, it was probably because she had nothing else except for work in her life. 

Quitting her job might be an option, but she was in her early 30s, and she was also a single woman. If she quit her job, then people would see her as a NEET. Moreover, it isn't so easy to get a job in the country currently, especially with the current economic situation. 

Pursing her lips, she looked at him and asked, "You must think that I am a lonely woman, right?" 

"No, no. Everyone has their own way of life. There is no right or wrong in it."

"Whose quote is that?" 

"My original." 

"....." Sonoko was speechless, snorted, and showed that she clearly didn't believe him. 

Mizuto smiled and said, "It's from Nietzche." 

Sonoko was in a daze when she saw his smile in the darkness; she thought that he was so handsome even though only part of his appearance was seen. "The one that said, "if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you."?" 

"That's the one." 

"...now a high school student reads such a book?" 

"Probably only me." 

"Now, I understand where your pragmatic and depressive view of life comes from." Sonoko smiled as she lay sideways, facing him. "You should read more Shounen manga. It will make you full of dreams and will to fight." 

"As expected, you like Shounen manga, huh?" 

"I can't deny it since it gives me a spirit during the toughest time." 

"Then, thank you for holding on."

Sonoko was stunned by his words and asked in confusion, "Why did you thank me?" 

"If you don't hold on, then we might not meet each other after all."

"How cheeky! I wonder how many girls have been deceived by your mouth?" She pulled his cheek, trying to hide her embarrassment since she had to say his words made her happy. 

Fortunately, she turned off the light, she thought. 

"Are you being deceived by me, Machida-san?" 

Sonoko chuckled and asked, "Are you interested in an old lady like me?" 

"Our age difference isn't that much, right?" 

"...I think you forgot that I told you I was a decade or older than you." 

"I don't believe you." 

Sonoko chuckled and said, "If you don't believe me, I can show you my number card." 

"No, it's okay, but is it... really okay for me to sleep with you on the same bed like this, Machida-san?" 

"What's wrong? Aren't you so eager to sleep with me before?" 

"Aren't you afraid that your boyfriend might misunderstand us?" 

"Oh, I am single. You don't need to worry." 

"Really?" 

"Um." 

"Sorry." 

"Why did you apologize?" 

"Somehow, I noticed your expression became bad when you said you were single." 

"It's okay, but don't you think it is weird for someone my age to be single?" 

"Not really. Like Nietzsche said, "You have your way. I have my way. As for the right way, the correct way, and the only way, it does not exist."

Sonoko smiled. "Thanks, but sometimes, I also feel worried whether I am going to die alone." Whenever she was alone in the darkness, she would be thinking about whether she would continue to work until so old before dying alone.

"It's okay. I am sure that you will find someone." 

"Really...? Will I...?" 

"No one will know what will happen in life. I couldn't even imagine that I would be able to publish a light novel before. Even if you haven't met your loved one yet, it doesn't mean that you won't find him in the future, right?" 

Sonoko fell in silence for a while, staring at him, then asked, "As expected, you must have a lot of girlfriends, right?" 

"...if you have time to say that, then you might as well sleep." 

"Don't sulk, okay? I am just teasing you." Sonoko laughed as she faced him again. 

"Good night." 

He was smiling there and said those words. 

Sonoko also smiled and said, "Good night." 

With those words, the two closed their eyes while facing each other. 

While some thought that it might be a shame since he didn't do anything, he felt like this relationship with Sonoko was precious, and he felt like it was a shame for him to taint it, especially when she had led him out of his pragmatism, which was close to nihilism.

Only, he forgot that it was impossible for the opposite gender to have a pure friendship. 

"Have you fallen asleep, Irido-kun?" 

"Hmm? Not yet, what's wrong, Machida-san?" 

A shy expression was shown on her mature, charming face. "...do you want to hug each other while sleeping?" 

"....." Mizuto. 

---

I try not to write it, but I know that I have to write it. 

See you tomorrow.