Why You Should Be Responsible For Him - Chapter 5 Part 1

Even though it happened, it didn’t change my relationship with Ash one bit.

I suppose it was part of the lesson.

…But no one teaches sex education that way.

Ash is an idiot who doesn’t know anything about it, so I’m sure he can handle it, but I can’t believe I’m the only one who can’t control my sexual desire and pounce on him. I wonder if I’ve ever been that weak to desire.

Rose, who falls in love so easily, once told me that I was asexual because I’m a stone cold assh*le when it comes to relationships, and I didn’t say anything back then because I had my own convincing doubts.

However, now I can firmly shout, ‘No!’ An asexual person who will freeze to death. I still can’t forget the feeling that was so good it made me gasp.

“…Are you listening to me, senior?”

“Huh?”

A snap.

I lost my grip on the pen.

Ash smiles and puts it back in my hand.

“This is your time with me, so why don’t you just focus on me?”

“I’m being cranky, I didn’t sleep last night.”

“Why didn’t you sleep?”

“Stop asking questions. Just say what you were going to say.”

Ash studied my complexion, and then hesitantly spoke.

“I think I’m going to have to go home tomorrow, my brother’s calling me urgently.”

“…Speaking of home.”

“Oh, the imperial palace.”

Some people consider visiting the imperial palace at least once in their lifetime as a lifelong wish, but this guy talks about it as if he’s just going home… Oh well, it is home.

Feeling a bit uncomfortable with the distance, he subtly moved his chair backward. Though it was a slight adjustment, Ash suddenly pulled the chair closer to the table, narrowing the gap between us.

“Well then, I guess we can’t have a lesson tomorrow.”

“Yes… Feel free to call me anytime for a makeup lesson. Even early in the morning is fine…”

“But what if I’m not available then? I’ll think about when to make up for tomorrow’s lesson and let you know.”

Ash nodded lightly.

“Just in case, I’ve prepared a few things in case you’re free while I’m away.”

“……?”

“Give me your hand…….”

As I extended my hand, Ash supported my hand and started placing the items he had prepared on the palm.

“This is a duplicate key to my dorm room. The bed and desk are larger, so feel free to use them anytime if you need. And this is an opera ticket. It’s currently the most popular work in the Empire.”

“‘The Immortal Sun, Hamilton VI’… Isn’t that about Empress?”

“It’s a piece depicting the saga of the family.”

There are many operas about the lives of great people, but this is the first opera about an actual emperor.

It was easy to see from the newspapers that His Majesty the Emperor was loved and supported by the people. But I didn’t expect it to be like this…….

“In the second act, there’s an actor playing me, and it’s not really me… but if you don’t have a schedule, I think it’s better than not seeing it.”

“I don’t have to see you every day, why go to such lengths? And what’s this?”

I pointed to a small frame on the palm of my hand, with a half-length picture of Ash fitting perfectly inside.

“Since you move according to your schedule, I thought putting up a picture of me might make the lessons more…….”

“Don’t you put that away?”

“Sorry! Actually, that’s my wish. If you don’t like it, you don’t have to do it.”

“Even if you don’t allow it, I wouldn’t do it.”

“Yes. Please just keep the picture. I’m begging you.”

It was foolish to worry about unnecessary things, thinking I might be free. I couldn’t help but let out a dry laugh when I realized that all the carefully prepared things were somehow related to Ash.

After giving Ash a playful tap on the forehead, I organized the books scattered on the table.

“Don’t waste your time, just get back to studying.”

“Are you leaving already? We won’t see each other all day tomorrow, can’t we spend a little more time together?”

“I have to go to work.”

As I stood up, Ash stood up as well, his eyes gleaming. He seemed to be gathering his breath to say something.

“Don’t follow me. Just being in the same space feels distracting, so don’t even watch from a distance.”

“…….”

Ash bit his slightly parted lips and nodded with a dejected look in his eyes.

* * *

Before he could insist any further, I hurriedly left the room. He seemed to be a good listener, but he was also secretly stubborn.

I quickly put the keys, ticket, and photo I’d brought with me into my pocket.

I wondered what to do with them, since I would never use all three… After a moment’s thought, I realized that the tickets were from a popular show, and I could probably sell them for a good price, so I carefully took them out and unfolded the crumpled parts.

I tossed the keys and photo onto the desk in my dorm room as if discarding them and headed straight to the bakery.

* * *

“Oh, my shoulders.”

Groaning like a seventy-year-old. I massaged my stiff shoulders that had become sore from kneading the dough and sat on the bed.

With no tutoring tomorrow, I wonder what I should do with my free time. Perhaps it would be best to study up on the weakest of the Academy’s subjects. I’ll stop by the library and check out some more books on the subject, and then I’ll study there day and night.

“What a boring life.”

Hm. Was what I said correct?

I’d been running with only one goal in mind: to get away from Cerez and live my life, and now I was feeling bored along the way. It had never occurred to me before.

Why? Why did I think of this…….

Without much pondering, my mind easily provided the reason. The vivid image of Ash’s face appeared as if it were right in front of me.

Like a squirrel running on a wheel, I had repeated the same routine for five years, and then Ash, the unwelcome guest, barged in. He opened the door without hesitation and messed up the sturdy Great Wall I had built for myself.

As the defenses I had firmly erected to protect myself from Ceres crumbled, I could see the sea, the stars, and the vast world beyond. After realizing this, trying to rebuild the walls felt more suffocating than comfortable.

And then, I realized. I had been living in a prison of my own making.

But I can’t help it. I can’t escape, not yet, because I don’t know when or where that bastard Ceres will show up and shackle my ankles.

The image of Ceres’s disgusted grin flashes through my mind, and my heart grows cold again.

“I was just distracted by all the noise.”

Tap! Tap!

As I tried to regain my composure, another noise echoed through the room. Without hesitation, I opened the window with a loud bang!

Bam!

“Ah!”

I opened it too quickly.

A rock thrown by Ash hit me squarely in the forehead.

“Oops! Sorry, senior!”

Gritting my teeth, I wanted to shout out in pain, but I refrained from making any loud noises at night. I didn’t want to get kicked out of the dorm for being rude.

However, Ash was loudly expressing himself like an innocent child in broad daylight.

“You’re not seriously hurt, right?! Why aren’t you answering, senior?”

I raised my hands above my head, forming a large ‘X.’

“What?! You’re not okay?! Senior! Can I come up?! I’ll come up!”

I meant to tell him to shut up because I wasn’t seriously injured, but why is that how you interpret things!

Despite my efforts to signal him to quiet down, before long, there was a loud commotion in the corridor.

If I got caught by the dorm supervisor, I would have to deny everything.

“Senior! Yveline senior!”

…It was becoming unavoidable.

Ash was screaming my name down the dorm hallway like he was playing rugby, so I opened the door, grabbed him by the back of the head, and pulling him into the room.

Boom!

I quickly closed the door and covered Ash’s mouth with my hand as he sprawled on the floor.

“Shut up, Ash.”

Wide-eyed, Ash quieted down and nodded. Fortunately, there were no sounds indicating the dorm supervisor coming up to my room.

I carefully remove my hand from Ash’s mouth. But this time, he wraps his hand around my cheek.

“You didn’t get a concussion, right? Your head isn’t dizzy, and you remember everything, right? You didn’t forget who I am, did you?”

Ash’s voice was filled with concern.

“Because of you, my perfectly fine head is about to ring. Please, just back off.”

“A ring?!”

“It’s fine. I’m fine!”

Whack.

Ash pulled me into his arms.

“Are you really okay, senior? If something’s wrong, I…”

“Let go, you brat!”

What the hell is this at night?

I pulled away from his embrace, and Ash snapped his fingers in the air.

“I came to talk to you about something.”

“At this hour, really?”

“It has to be now.”

Ash tugged on my wrist. His watery eyes cleared as if for the first time, and there was a sparkle in his pupils as if he were gazing at the stars.

Instead of bringing joy, his pure delight made my throat feel tight. It was clear that he was about to share something unpleasant.

“Then, don’t ever say it.”

Touch.

Something warm and squishy touched my lips and then fell away.

What the…….

It happened so fast that it took me a moment to realize what had just happened.

Ash’s neck was noticeably reddened. His eyes widened at the unexpected brief baby kiss.

He seemed as surprised as I was.

“I’m sorry. I talked too much, and you seemed hurt…….”

“…….”

Ash’s Adam’s apple bobbed loudly.

“…I’m sorry.”

The atmosphere became strange.

Thud, thud.

I wondered why my heart was beating harder than when we had kissed.

My fingertips tingle with awkwardness as I look at Ash, who’s stunned, and I, who can’t say anything.

Let’s just smoothly move on.

“Fine, what do you want to say?”

“…Come with me.”

“Where?”

“My house.”

“…….”

“No matter how I think about it, being apart from senior is too painful. Just come with me.”

Before the aftermath of the kiss could fully settle, Ash threw another statement, attacking my senses.

Did I hear that correctly?

“…You’re saying we should go to your house, to the palace.”

“Yes!”

While Ash beamed a bright smile, seemingly oblivious to the inner turmoil of a commoner who chews on tough wheat bread every day, I forcefully pushed his chest away and shouted firmly from a distance.

“I don’t want to.”

“Senior, you’ll be in a much better place than if you stayed in the dorms.”

“I don’t feel comfortable with it.”

“It’s my home, think about it…….”

“It’s not my home. You should go back, now.”

“What?! After coming all the way into senior’s room, I haven’t even had a chance to look around. Senior, wait, just wait. Don’t push me coldly.”

I’m not going! You’re crazy, you want me to go there?! If it’s found out that I’ve been tutoring the naive youngest prince and taking his tuition money, I’ll be out of business!

I’m not going anywhere!

* * *

… Unlike the desperate refusal to go, I found myself walking side by side with Ash through the dazzling corridors of the palace.

I succumbed to Ash’s sweet temptation, promising not only tutoring fees but also travel expenses.

Until I fell asleep, I had been excited about the prospect of a fattening wallet, but when I actually set foot in the palace, my inflated sense of wealth deflated. The lavish palace and the restrained demeanor of the servants brought a sense of shrinking to my body.

It feels like I’ve come to the wrong place.

“To think senior is in the palace. It feels like I’m dreaming right now!”

Ash exclaimed, and I noticed the servants behind us, who had been walking in a line, flinch at his loud voice.

“Ash, could you lower your voice for a moment?”

Normally, I would have pulled him down to me anywhere, but I couldn’t do such a foolish thing in front of the loyal servants who served the prince.

Ash leaned down and pressed his face close. It was still too far away to speak in his ear, so I had to grab his shoulders and lift myself up on my tiptoes.

“Ugh.”

A strange sound emanated from the group of servants. Wondering why, I tried to look over Ash’s shoulder, but he promptly leaned in, blocking my view.

“What’s wrong?”

His innocent question knocked the curiosity out of me.

“Don’t use honorifics with me. Don’t say things like I’m glad we’re together. It could lead to misunderstandings.”

“Misunderstandings? What kind of misunderstandings?”

“Misunderstandings about our relationship.”

“Well… It seems good to me.”

“No, not at all. It’s not like you’re making a tremendous fuss blocking my exit, right?”

“Why worry about that? I’m here.”

“…….”

“I’m going to be responsible for your future, and you’re going to be responsible for mine.”

I’m not the type of person to blow the whistle on the world’s darkest secrets and seek justice. I’m studying for my life because I don’t have the money or the connections to make it big.

And now this guy is offering to… guarantee me a job? A parachute I’ve only heard rumors about?!

Sigh. My mouth is watering. He’s a prince, the center of power.

I smiled as gently as possible compared to when I usually deal with Ash.

“Kook. Gulp. Hahaha!”

Laughter slowly escaped Ash’s lips, as if he couldn’t hold back any longer, erupting into thunderous laughter that reverberated through the corridor.

Crazy guy, what’s wrong with him?

As I stood with a relaxed facial expression, Ash, trying to contain his laughter, again bent his waist and brought his face close.

“I’m sorry, I just couldn’t help myself because you were so adorable.”

“I told you not to say things like that, you’ll get yourself into trouble… I mean, groping.”

“I like you because you’re so honest.”

I’m honest?

He doesn’t know how to read people at all. He’s just humming to himself inwardly, not showing it outwardly.

Suddenly, the surroundings became noisy. It was hard to see what was going on because Ash was laughing and blocking my way.

Can’t you move away?

The words were about to rise to the bottom of my throat when a voice boomed like thunder, louder in my stomach than Ash’s laughter.

“Ash Kindroper Penterion!”

Angry!