My Girlfriend is an Evil Woman

Kitahara Hideji could swear to the heavens that he had never expected anything in return from Ono Yoko. In this world, not every act of kindness required a reciprocation. For him, helping someone like Ono Yoko, who he felt a strong connection with, was already a source of happiness in itself.

He hadn’t studied psychology, so he couldn’t quite explain the psychology behind it, but seeing Ono Yoko happy made him feel a sense of fulfillment. It even seemed to diminish the regrets of his own childhood.

However, when Ono Yoko responded to his playful remark with such seriousness, it left him at a loss for words. He could only gently pat her hand wrapped around him and change the subject, saying, “Alright, Yoko, now that you’ve applied the medicine, let’s have dinner. You must be hungry, right?”

Ono Yoko obediently released him, half-turned, and pretended to unscrew the cap of the ointment bottle, using the back of her hand to discreetly cool her burning face. She didn’t want her face to appear so red anymore. Her impulsive hug earlier had been a result of her heightened emotions, and now that she felt calmer, embarrassment took over. She cautiously stole glances at Kitahara Hideji, fearing that he might think she was a forward girl.

Due to her mother’s influence, she was quite sensitive in this regard. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say she was mature beyond her years.

Fortunately, Kitahara Hideji didn’t take it to heart. In his eyes, Ono Yoko was just a child, more than ten years younger than him. Thanking him a few times for saving her was nothing out of the ordinary. When he didn’t show any unusual reactions, Ono Yoko felt completely relieved. She went to wash her hands in the bathroom.

Once she had cleaned her hands and returned, she noticed Kitahara Hideji was busy folding the clothes he had just changed out of. She immediately lowered her head and offered to help. However, Kitahara Hideji stopped her with a smile, saying, “You should eat first!”

It was already close to 9 o’clock in the evening, and they both needed a meal.

Ono Yoko glanced at the small pile of clothes. Her face was still flushed, and she didn’t want Kitahara Hideji to notice it, so she didn’t insist. Instead, she went to open the lunchbox, and even Hyakujirou, who had been hungry, came over, so she fetched its dedicated food bowl and gave it some rice.

Kitahara Hideji, without commenting on this, went to the bathroom to soak the bloodstained clothes. Bloodstains fell into the category of protein-based stains, and using hot water could cause the protein to denature and penetrate the fabric fibers, which would essentially ruin the clothing.

Removing bloodstains usually involves soaking the stained area in cold water for a while and then gently scrubbing it with some laundry detergent. Kitahara Hideji temporarily left it alone and returned from the bathroom. He glanced at Ono Yoko’s meal and noticed it was quite simple—mostly white rice with a large pickled plum in the center and some blackish-gray pickled vegetables around it. There wasn’t even a hint of oiliness.

Ono Yoko noticed his gaze and sweetly said, “Onii-san, I cooked this meal. Would you like to try some?” Despite the modest meal, she believed that her relationship with Kitahara Hideji was different now, and she didn’t feel embarrassed about it.

Kitahara Hideji pondered for a moment. He didn’t intend to go out and buy some meat or anything. He knew he couldn’t support her indefinitely, and he certainly couldn’t adopt Ono Yoko, overseeing her meals every day. He ruffled her little head with a smile and said, “No, you and Hyakujirou enjoy it!”

Ono Yoko was used to eating like this on a regular basis, so she didn’t think much of it. Plus, she was genuinely hungry and enjoyed the meal. Hyakujirou, the faithful dog, would eat anything without complaint, and it seemed to be enjoying the meal immensely.

Kitahara Hideji sat down with a smile, watching these two little companions. Just as he picked up the book to read, the phone rang. He answered it and heard Fukuzawa Naotaka’s voice on the other end. Fukuzawa Naotaka spoke in a calm tone, saying, “Kitahara-kun, I’ve talked to Ota-san. He understands his mistakes fully and is willing to reconcile unconditionally, dropping any pursuit.”

Fukuzawa Naotaka downplayed it, but Kitahara Hideji wasn’t naive. He knew that Ota Tateyo and his gang were so accommodating because Fukuzawa Naotaka had enlisted the help of some influential friends. These street thugs might dare to act tough in front of the police, but they wouldn’t dare to do so in front of the local yakuza. The yakuza didn’t care about legalities or personal protection like the police did. Fukuzawa Naotaka probably had some well-connected individuals sit down with Ota Tateyo and his crew, and they had no choice but to back down.

Fukuzawa Naotaka was really reliable in handling things. Kitahara Hideji expressed his sincere gratitude, saying, “Thank you very much, Fukuzawa-san.”

“Don’t be too formal; I only had a short conversation. It was no trouble at all. Well then, Kitahara-kun, please rest assured now. You don’t need to worry anymore; this matter is now closed.”

“Thank you once again!”

“Let’s leave it at that for now, Kitahara-kun. Please remember to come to the shop early tomorrow.”

“I understand, Fukuzawa-san.”

Kitahara Hideji hung up the phone and still couldn’t help but admire Fukuzawa Naotaka’s mature demeanor. His way of handling things and speaking made people feel comfortable, and it’s no wonder he had managed to make so many friends. Regardless of Fukuzawa Naotaka’s past experiences, Kitahara Hideji felt a genuine connection with him. He contemplated learning from Fukuzawa Naotaka in the future, promoting the spirit of kindness and expanding his circle of friends for mutual benefit.

Having more friends meant having more opportunities, while having more enemies meant facing more obstacles. That saying had some rough wisdom to it!

As these thoughts churned in his mind, Kitahara Hideji picked up the book “Small Ono Ittō-ryū Ougi Explained” and started flipping through it casually. He figured Fukuzawa Naotaka would likely test him on it tomorrow, and he needed to dispel any lingering doubts in Fukuzawa Naotaka’s mind. After all, you never knew what tricks such a shrewd individual might have up their sleeve – people like him should never be underestimated.

…………

Ono Yoko stayed with Kitahara Hideji until her mother, Yumiko, returned. Yumiko was completely drunk and disheveled, and Kitahara Hideji had to exert a considerable effort to help Ono Yoko get her intoxicated mother inside the house.

As he looked at Yumiko, who was covered in vomit and reeked of alcohol, Kitahara Hideji furrowed his brow. He had no sympathy for this woman. While it might be true that a single mother raising a child was a challenging situation, the saying “pity the person who deserves it” was not without merit.

Kitahara Hideji glanced at the relatively fancy clothes, jewelry, and the discarded designer handbag – possibly second-hand items from a thrift store or gifts from her clients. Then he looked at Ono Yoko, who was earnestly cleaning her mother’s mess. He couldn’t help but feel a sense of frustration and anger welling up inside him. He wished he could slap some sense into this woman.

Couldn’t she find honest work? Even part-time jobs at convenience stores or gas stations would be better than being a hostess or a companion for clients. While the income might be less, it would be an honest way to make a living. Why put herself through this?

It wasn’t about looking down on her; if she were working tirelessly to provide for her daughter and ensure her well-being, Kitahara Hideji would respect that effort. But the current situation was different. This woman was neglecting her daughter, treating her as if she were a burden or a free servant. Kitahara Hideji couldn’t shake the feeling of anger.

Perhaps in her eyes, her daughter was nothing more than an inconvenience or a free laborer. If Yoko’s expenses grew in the future, there was no guarantee her mother would continue to support her education. Kitahara Hideji even considered the possibility that one day, Yumiko might sell Yoko for a good price. One should never underestimate the dark side of human nature; sometimes, real-life events could be more disturbing than the worst things depicted in fiction.

Looking at the kind of mother Yoko had, Kitahara Hideji couldn’t help but wonder how she had managed to survive these past ten years or so.

“Onii-san, you can go back now. I can handle this on my own,” Yoko said, showing her consideration for Kitahara Hideji as she noticed his frowning expression.

Yoko wasn’t trying to rush Kitahara Hideji away; she understood that he wouldn’t be repelled by such situations. She felt quite comfortable with the idea. Yoko knew that Kitahara Hideji had a preference for cleanliness, and her mother’s current condition couldn’t be described as anything less than awful.

Kitahara Hideji nodded in agreement. Yoko’s mother was an adult, and it would be inconvenient for him to stay while she changed her clothes. He gently ruffled Yoko’s hair and whispered, “Yoko, if your mother wakes up and blames you for the Ota Family incident, don’t endure it. Just come over to my place. Do you understand?”

“I understand,” Yoko replied.

Despite his reminders, Kitahara Hideji was still somewhat worried. Yoko was very cautious and didn’t want to burden anyone. In case something happened and she didn’t turn to him, it could be problematic. So, he emphasized once more, “No matter what happens, make sure to tell me right away.”

Yoko’s heart warmed at his concern, and she smiled sweetly at him, saying, “I got it, Onii-san!”

Kitahara Hideji watched her radiant smile, sighed quietly, and gently ruffled her hair once more before leaving.

Outside the door, he paused, deep in thought. There didn’t seem to be any easy solutions to this situation. After all, it was Yoko’s family matter, and he didn’t have a legitimate reason to intervene. While Yumiko neglected her daughter, it didn’t seem like there was daily abuse, and she still provided Yoko with food and schooling. It might not meet the ideal standard, but it didn’t quite qualify as abuse.

Could it be considered emotional abuse?

He decided to continue observing the situation and see if there was any way he could help improve Yoko’s living environment.