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Chapter 8: The “Gentleman” in a Romantic Comedy, Otherwise Known as Timid
Yaegashi Yui and I walked directly down the stairs, then changed our shoes at the shoe cabinet and went outside.
It’s no surprise she’s one of the few celebrities in school; walking alongside her, I could feel the intensity of the gazes on us.
After all, it’s rare to see Yaegashi Yui walking with anyone other than Shidou Arisu, so this situation is somewhat inevitable.
Could they be thinking I’m Yaegashi Yui’s boyfriend?
—No, let’s not go there.
It’s a bit imprudent to think like that in this situation.
“Where does your house lie, senior?”
“About a twenty-minute walk from here.”
“Wow, you walk to school?”
“Yes, I tend to oversleep on trains… Alice advised me to avoid them if possible. So I chose a high school within walking or cycling distance.”
“I see…”
Even in this respect, her helplessness seems steadfast.
No, ‘helpless’ might not be the right word anymore.
—Let it be. Oversleeping happens.
I generally have an affirmative stance towards girls.
After walking for a while, we reached a residential area.
For me, walking and chatting with Yaegashi Yui at dusk was a precious experience.
It felt like a moment straight out of youth.
“My house is nearby. You can almost see it—Hm?”
“Wow…”
Suddenly, just like last time, large raindrops began to fall on us.
By the time I realized it, the sky was already covered with dark clouds, and the surroundings had turned dim.
And just at this moment, a downpour began.
“This is bad… Can you run for a bit, Natsuhiko?”
“Hey!? Ah, yes! I’ll try.”
“Okay, then let’s run, this way.”
Yaegashi Yui started running in the rain.
To minimize damage, I had no choice but to chase after her.
By the way, anticipating such a situation, I had brought a folding umbrella, but she started running so abruptly that I didn’t even get the chance to open it.
I felt it wouldn’t be right to leisurely open my umbrella and chase after her, so I ended up simply following her.
Although it was a bit late…
“Natsuhiko!”
When I looked up at the sound of her voice, a large house appeared before my eyes.
It wasn’t exactly a mansion, but it was spacious enough for two families.
Perhaps the Yaegashi family was quite wealthy.
“Hurry up!”
“Okay, okay!”
I entered her house at her invitation.
Wait, this doesn’t seem right, does it?
No… surely her parents are at home, right?
Being alone under the same roof with a girl, such a situation akin to a fictional world—
“You’re drenched… You might feel nervous in someone else’s house, but my parents are overseas on a business trip. I’m alone at home today, so I hope you won’t worry too much.”
Oh, so that’s the situation.
This is not good.
Even for me, visiting a girl’s house where I’m not in a relationship feels uncomfortable.
To say I’m not excited would be a lie—
“Ah… If your parents aren’t home, then I should leave. I’m sorry for possibly dirtying your house due to the rain; I was just planning to walk you home.”
I turned at the entrance, ready to leave.
After all, as I mentioned, I had a folding umbrella, so I wouldn’t get wet on the way back.
But then, Yaegashi Yui grabbed my arm as I was about to leave.
“No, you can’t go.”
“Why not?”
“I could lend you an umbrella, but if you walk outside like this, you might catch a cold.”
“A little bit should be fine.”
“You can’t be careless. I can’t just ignore you getting soaked.”
“Uh…”
She had a point. I had no rebuttal.
Even for me, it would be easy to shake off her hand and go home.
But think about it.
Do you think I could do that?
“At least take a bath. And let your clothes dry a bit. Is that okay?”
“…Alright. Then I’ll accept your kindness.”
“Good, that’s settled. I’ll go heat the water; you wait here—”
“But, I’d like you to warm up first, Yaegashi Yui.”
“No, but…”
“It would be a lifelong shame for me to comfortably bathe while you’re cold.”
Entering the house is one thing.
But I cannot yield on the order of bathing.
If Yaegashi Yui catches a cold, I wouldn’t have the face to meet Shidou Arisu.
“…Alright, then I’ll accept your kindness.”
Yaegashi Yui looked a bit troubled for a moment, but eventually agreed.
“Wait in the living room for a bit. Let me at least get you a towel.”
“Thank you.”
Yaegashi Yui, having taken off her shoes, led me, who just entered, to the living room.
The living room was spacious, suggesting a comfortable and relaxing environment.
But—
“(…So messy.)”
Everywhere I looked, there were piles of empty plastic bottles. Without mincing words, it was simply a ‘dirty room’.
If it were me who didn’t know about Yui-senpai’s sloppiness, I would have had a different impression upon seeing this.
Even now, it’s just as I had imagined.
“I’m really sorry… I’m just not good at tidying up.”
“No, please don’t worry about it… Instead of that,”
After glancing around the room, I picked up a plastic bottle that was lying nearby.
“May I take some time to clean this up?”
“What did you say?”
“Well, it was quite boring waiting for you, Senpai, and I thought moving around a bit wouldn’t make me feel cold… So, if you don’t mind, Senpai, I’d like to tidy up a bit.”
“Can I? It’s a bit strange for me to say this, but it’s quite messy here.”
“That’s okay! Despite appearances, I’m actually quite used to it.”
“Used to it…?”
“You go and warm up first, Senpai. I’ll clean up this room while you take your bath.”
“Ha, since you’re so confident, I’m looking forward to it. Alright, I leave it in your hands.”
“Leave it to me.”
After seeing off Yui-senpai, I decided to start cleaning the living room.
Picking up the trash bag I asked about earlier, I continuously stuffed all the trash I saw into it.
I gathered plastic bottles and other items in a separate bag to put aside.
My plan was to clean everything inside later and then take it out to the trash collection area.
The scattered printouts on the floor were gathered and placed on the table.
Since I couldn’t determine which were necessary, I decided to let Yui-senpai sort them out later.
“~♪”
I surprisingly enjoyed cleaning.
Is it the feeling of making dirty things clean, or is it the sense of accomplishment that comes with it?
I worked efficiently for a few minutes.
Though my clothes were still not dry, moving around had banished the cold from my body.
“Oh, wow…! That’s impressive.”
Yui-senpai, who returned at some point, exclaimed in amazement at the sight of the room.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was certainly much neater than before.
Even I felt proud of my proficiency.
“I didn’t expect you to clean it up so well in such a short time… Natsuhiko, thank you so much.”
“I’m honored to receive your praise.”
I bowed with a blend of pride and politeness.
In my excitement, I couldn’t help but show off a bit.
Even at this age, praise still brings joy.
“Ah, I have to wash those plastic bottles too. Otherwise, they can’t be recycled.”
“Wait, before that, you should take a bath.”
I took the soft towel she tossed to me.
Judging by the scent, it seemed like a freshly opened new one.
“You go in after me. Didn’t we agree on that?”
“…Yes, we did.”
We mustn’t break our promise.
I temporarily gave up on the plastic bottles and followed Yui-senpai to the bathroom.
Though sudden, I wanted to shout out what I was thinking in my heart.
Yui-senpai ———— smells so good.
It must be the scent of her shampoo.
A calming floral fragrance.
Another thing I wanted to mention is how cute she looks in her home clothes.
A loose T-shirt paired with loose shorts that revealed her thighs.
Her damp hair gave her a somewhat seductive look, accelerating my heartbeat.
This sight of her must be rare.
At least, I don’t think the boys at school have seen it.
What a feast for the eyes.
I decided to imprint the image of Yui-senpai right now in my mind, until the mental photo frame burns out.
“My house uses a drum washing machine, so let’s wash and dry your clothes as well. Ah, but what about your shirt? Will it get wrinkled…?”
“Ah, right. Speaking of which, I’ll be stark naked until my clothes are dry…”
“That’s not a problem, there are clothes from my dad.”
“May I borrow them?”
“My dad is very generous. Even if his clothes are lent to someone else now, he wouldn’t mind.”
“…Then I’ll graciously accept your kindness.”
“Alright, that’s settled.”
At this point, resistance was futile.
I sincerely accepted Yui-senpai’s kindness.
“I’ll put the clothes directly into the washing machine. The shirt… let’s try the bathroom dryer. I’ll leave a change of clothes for you here later.”
“Thank you.”
“Take your time in the bath. Make sure to warm up to your bones.”
After repeating her instructions several times, Yui-senpai left the changing room.
Alone, I undressed while looking around the changing room.
I’m not curious about where Yui-senpai put her clothes!
Rather, they’re probably all in the washing machine.
Although if they were just lying around here, even seeing them could be passed off as unavoidable, but going through the washing machine would be against my gentlemanly conduct.
“Whoa…”
While doing such things, the body also starts to feel cold.
After all, I’m currently wearing nothing, which is what one would call completely naked.
I entered the bathroom excitedly and began to shower.
I quickly washed my body and hair and then stepped into the bathtub.
That’s when I realized something.
Wait, isn’t this hot water the same one Yui-senpai just used?
If that’s the case, it’s like an incredible treasure.
If I were to bottle this water and sell it, I could become a billionaire.
It’s something every fan of Yui Yaegashi would desire.
Can I really just immerse myself in it————
“Never mind. Let’s go in.”
This moment of hesitation was brief.
I mercilessly submerged myself in the water.
Ah, covering the hot water soaked by a beautiful girl with my own body, what a thrilling feeling.
Just like that, the value of this water plummeted to nothing.
It’s like carving my own portrait on a gemstone, a sense of ruining everything.
Sorry, I’m getting a bit carried away.
“Ha…”
Regardless of whether Senpai had bathed in it or not, taking a bath is just too comfortable.
Though I rarely soak in hot water during summer, fully immersing myself like this once in a while makes me realize its benefits.
The icy cold inside my body was gradually easing, surrounded by a pleasure so intense it felt like it could melt me.
As my body relaxed, my mind also began to calm down.
It’s a bit odd, but it seems like visiting Yui-senpai’s house made me very nervous.
I’ve been thinking about weird things, probably influenced by that.
Hey, don’t say I’m always like this.
Now that I’ve calmed down, I started rethinking what I should do.
At least until my clothes are washed and dried, I can’t go back.
In the meantime, I should try to make Yui-senpai a bit more relaxed.
Rarely does Arisu Shidou entrust Yui-senpai to me, and not meeting her expectations would hardly make me a man.
“I’m done bathing.”
“Oh, did you warm up?”
“Yes, thanks to you.”
“That’s good.”
After bathing, I changed into the clothes prepared for me and returned to the living room.
Senpai was sitting on the couch, holding a thick workbook.
It seemed she was also studying diligently while I was bathing.
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“Ah, nothing. I was just thinking that you study during such free times…”
“Ah, that… How should I put it…”
Yui-senpai closed the workbook and started toying with the cover.
Seeing her nostalgic expression, I remembered what Arisu Shidou had told me.
“…Although I’m barely managing decent grades now, I used to be inferior in everything I did. I felt I had to put in several times the effort to stand on the same stage as others. So, I think if I don’t study hard like this, I’ll quickly revert back to my incapable self.”
“I heard about your past from Arisu-senpai.”
“Oh, I see. That’s rare of her to talk about the past.”
Yui-senpai said this with a smile, seemingly very happy.
“If I continue as the student council president, I can’t let others see my shortcomings. So it’s hard for me to interact with people as friends… I won’t speak for myself, but Alice is almost never open to others.”
“…”
“In my memory, I’ve never seen her talk about the past with Hiyori or Tsubaki. She seems to like you a lot, Natsuhiko.”
“…That really makes me happy.”
Hehe, my face is about to break into a big smile.
But I need to keep a bit of shyness in my expression, so as not to ruin the mood.
“Though it’s embarrassing to say it to your face, I also think you have a reassuring presence. I feel… if you’re there, no matter what crisis we face, we can handle it.”
“I… I think you’re overestimating me…”
There’s only so much I can do.
I’m neither as academically excellent as Yui-senpai and Arisu-senpai, nor as powerful as Hiyori and Tsubaki.
If I had to say, my specialty is making tea.
Hmm——just that seems a bit unfitting compared to the others.
“Ah…”
Just as my thoughts were becoming a bit whimsical, Yui-senpai’s stomach suddenly growled.
It was already nearing 6 pm.
It must be dinner time now.
“So-sorry… I usually have dinner around this time.”
“Don’t worry about it… Yui-senpai, do you have any ingredients in the fridge?”
“Eh? Ah, um, Alice was here not long ago to cook. I think there should still be some leftovers…”
“Could I use some of them? I’ll cook something for you.”
“That would be fine… But you’re going to cook?”
“Yes. I just hope it’s to your taste…”
I walked to the kitchen and opened the fridge.
It looked expensive and was almost empty, with only condiments and long-lasting vegetables.
“With just these… oh?”
I tried opening the freezer and let out a happy exclamation.
There was frozen meat stored inside.
Were these left by Arisu-senpai as well?
Maybe she planned to use them soon. I should contact her later about it.
At least, I think it’s much better than having Yui-senpai settle for fast food.
“Meat and onions… potatoes are fine too. So, it’s going to be that.”
The dish that came to mind was curry.
Although I was slightly disappointed about not having carrots, it would still be delicious with just these ingredients.
I was concerned about the expiry date of the curry powder in the fridge corner, but it turned out to be fine after checking.
There seemed to be enough rice too, so it should be alright.
“How about curry? Would you dislike it?”
“I love curry!”
“Ha ha, then please wait a moment.”
Her energetic response made me smile.
I couldn’t help but laugh as I gathered the needed ingredients in the kitchen.
Cooking the rice would take about fifty minutes.
In that time, I aimed to make the curry as delicious as possible————
(Ah… now that I think about it)
I searched the kitchen again and successfully found something.
It was a secret ingredient to deepen the flavor of the curry, an excellent addition.
Its name was instant coffee.
Many say curry tastes better the next day, but with this, it can nearly reach that state from day one.
I had already confirmed its effectiveness in my previous cooking attempts.
Near the end of the cooking process, I added a bit of instant coffee to the pot.
“————Good.”
I tasted it, and it was pretty close to the ideal curry flavor.
Yui-senpai should like it.
I decided to first finish cooking the rice and then prepare the plates.
Soon after, the rice cooker signaled it was done, and I turned off the stove.
“Is it ready?”
“Yes, thank you for waiting.”
Attracted by the aroma and sound, Yui-senpai came to check.
Her excitement made me happy too.
“Can I use the plates nearby?”
“Sure, feel free to use them.”
I prepared two slightly deep plates and served the rice and curry.
Hmm, it turned out really well. Quite captivating.
“Here you go, please enjoy.”
“Oh…! I’ll start then.”
After I placed the curry on the table, Yui-senpai immediately began eating.
She then widened her eyes and looked at me.
“It’s delicious! Natsuhiko, it’s really good!”
“Is it that good?”
“Yes! Although it looks plain, it has a profound taste…!”
Yui-senpai gradually devoured the curry I prepared.
Her way of eating was delightful to watch. It even boosted my appetite.
“‘Thank you for the meal.’”
We both joined hands, concluding the meal with gratitude.
“I’ll clean up the plates.”
“Thanks.”
Heh, I felt like a househusband for a moment.
Not long after, Yui-senpai finished another bowl of curry.
Since I made extra curry, there should be enough for tomorrow.
When I told this to Yui-senpai, she seemed really happy.
She appeared to really like the curry I made. That made me happy.
“Speaking of which, you’re really good at cooking. Do you often cook at home?”
“Sort of. While my home situation isn’t quite like Yui-senpai’s, my parents are also rarely around.”
My mom is a designer active abroad.
Just like Yui-senpai’s parents often travel overseas, my mom is also constantly abroad.
As her assistant, my dad, who’s a homemaker, is also often out of Japan.
“But they started being away only after I entered high school. In middle school, dad was still at home.”
He probably figured I could manage on my own to some extent.
For about a year and a half since then, I’ve been semi-living alone, taking care of everything at home.
“My dad is really good at cooking… Apparently, he won my hardworking mom’s heart through her stomach. So, if she doesn’t get to eat his cooking, she gets quite upset.”
“Heh, sounds like a cute couple.”
“They’re quite old now, but they can be childishly upsetting sometimes…”
However, dad’s cooking didn’t involve any special techniques different from the usual methods.
However, he would occasionally add a little creativity to make the food more enjoyable.
Like the coffee I added to the curry earlier for a hidden flavor.
Dad gave me recipes that required adding such things as essentials.
“Did you also learn how to brew tea from your dad?”
“Yes… my mom loves tea. So, dad is quite particular about brewing it… Although you can find these methods with a quick search, whether or not you actually put them into practice makes a big difference.”
Thinking of this, I looked around the kitchen while washing dishes.
Then, finding the tea bags, I spoke to Yui-senpai, who was resting.
“Since we’re on the topic of tea, would you like some? I can brew it for you right now.”
“Hm? Ah, yes, that sounds good. I bought the same kind we have in the student council room… Could you please make it for me?”
“Of course. Just a moment, please.”
After finishing the dishes, I began preparing the tea.
Some people might have a cheap impression of tea made from bags, but to brew it deliciously, just following the right process makes it as effective as any other method.
Those who can brew leaf tea beautifully are either professionals or very particular people.
But for just enjoying a cup, I think a correctly brewed tea bag is most suitable.
First, I prepared hot water. Since Yui-senpai’s home had a water purifier, I decided to use it.
After boiling water on the stove, I immediately poured it into the teapot.
Then, I added the tea bags and waited a moment.
There are a few key points here.
First, heat the teapot and cups, then gently spread the tea bags.
The essence of tea lies in its temperature; during extraction, the water temperature should ideally not drop below eighty degrees.
Therefore, a towel should be placed under the teapot, or the container preheated.
Cover the teapot for a while, then remove the tea bags within two minutes.
By the way, although some people often shake the tea bag in hot water, that’s not really recommended.
Just placing it in hot water and not touching it is said to significantly reduce any bitterness.
But, I’m also learning as I go, so let’s leave the theory for later.
“Here you go, please enjoy.”
“Thank you… Mmm, it smells great.”
We sipped the tea, and a leisurely time began to flow.
After all, I’ve felt quite busy lately, so being able to spend time like this calmly might be unexpectedly precious.
“…It’s been a long time since I had a moment like this, not thinking about anything.”
It seems Yui-senpai’s thoughts were similar to mine.
She looked at the steaming cup of tea and sighed softly.
“To be honest… after that photo incident, I’ve become somewhat afraid of people’s cruel nature… Although I’ve gotten used to being alone in this big house, today still felt particularly hard.”
“Yui-senpai…”
“I invited you in, maybe because I didn’t want to be alone. I’m sorry for dragging you into this pathetic situation.”
Yui-senpai apologized with a wry smile.
I shook my head, refusing her apology.
“It’s natural to be hurt by baseless rumors. If you don’t mind it being me, feel free to use me. Whether as Yui-senpai’s sword or shield, I can take on the role.”
“Heh, heh heh… A sword and shield, huh? That’s pretty cool. I’ll definitely rely on you from now on.”
Seeing Yui-senpai smile, I felt relieved.
Did I properly fulfill the task Arisu-senpai entrusted to me?
To be honest, even during our conversation, this anxiety lingered with me.
“…You’re really kind. To treat me like this even after knowing the real me.”
“I’m just living honestly according to my own principles. My motto is to treat women gently and with gentlemanly conduct.”
“Hmm… That’s quite impressive.”
“I am honored to receive your praise.”
After being complimented by Yui-senpai, I naturally smiled.
Perhaps this is part of her extraordinary charm.
“But, don’t you get tired maintaining this awareness all the time, Natsuhiko?”
“Hmm… I guess I’ve gotten used to it. It doesn’t tire me anymore.”
“Is that so?”
“It was exhausting at first, though…”
Suddenly remembering this, I decided to tell her the whole story.
The reason was really quite arbitrary.
Although I never had the chance to tell anyone before, I hoped Yui-senpai would listen.
“It all started with Hiyori.”
“Hiyori? If I remember correctly, you two are childhood friends, right?”
“Yes… Back in elementary school, classmates teased me for always being with Hiyori.”
That’s a common form of teasing.
But for us back then, it was a source of distress.
“One time, the teasing got a bit harsher, and Hiyori… she cried… Then, with my slow-witted brain, I pondered.”
What could I do to prevent Hiyori from getting hurt?
The conclusion I came to after much thought became the most important reason for how she interacts with me now.
“The conclusion was that I should become a ‘ladies’ man.'”
“Ladies’ man…? Sorry, I’m not seeing the connection.”
“See, if I were with Hiyori because I’m a ladies’ man, wouldn’t that make her someone who got entangled with me unwillingly?”
After such a display, it didn’t take long for it to have an effect.
In everyone’s eyes, I became someone who liked Hiyori and bothered her every day, resulting in only me being teased.
Rather, due to intentionally dealing with me, Hiyori received impressive commendations and was spared from ridicule—things turned out this way.
“I see… So you played the ladies’ man to protect Hiyori?”
“It’s a bit exaggerated, but basically, yes.”
Now, I’m not sure if that choice was correct.
However, seeing the results, as I haven’t parted ways with Hiyori and our relationship is good, I know I didn’t make a mistake.
“Although I never expected that playing the role of a ladies’ man would actually turn me into one…”
“Heh… So if you’ve really become a ladies’ man, does that mean you like me too?”
Yui Yaegashi pointed at herself, half-jokingly asking me.
“Isn’t that obvious? Beautiful, excellent in studies and sports, and very approachable—there’s no reason not to like you.”
“Hmm…”
Yui’s face visibly reddened, and she turned her gaze away from me, covering her cheeks.
What a person terrible at handling reversals…
“Being told so bluntly is quite embarrassing… Somehow, your words always manage to reach deep inside me.”
“Deep inside?”
“I mean, you’re a trustworthy guy. Even though I don’t consider myself outstanding, your words make me feel like even someone like me shouldn’t give up.”
In other words, my words had successfully boosted Yui’s self-esteem.
How should I put it? I felt extremely happy about it.
The fact that Yui Yaegashi could believe in herself made me incredibly happy.
“…Well, your clothes must be dry by now.”
Yui suddenly glanced at the clock and left the living room.
Honestly, the thought of going back made me reluctant.
But I couldn’t possibly stay over.
As a gentleman, it’s better for me to go back home now.
“No, no, this is bad! Natsuhiko!”
Just as I was convincing myself of this, Yui rushed back into the living room, looking frantic.
Although I had a rough idea of what was happening, I decided to keep silent for now.
“What’s wrong…?”
“So-sorry… I forgot to press the drying function…”
Is she showing her scatterbrained side now?
Since it hadn’t been active much today, I almost forgot about it.
“By the way, how long will it take if we use the drying function now?”
“About three hours…”
“Three… three hours…”
I glanced at the clock again, calculating backwards from my return time.
While I wouldn’t miss the last train, I would get home very late.
“It’s not so late that I can’t go back, no worries! But to leave it all to you, I’m really sorry.”
“No, it’s my mistake for not performing my duties properly… You can blame me if you want.”
Although Yui said that, there’s no way I could blame her.
Now, what to do?
Since I planned to leave around this time, I was uncertain about what to do next.
“…Natsuhiko, why don’t you stay over tonight?”
“Pffft—”
The bomb dropped while I was pondering my next move, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What, what are you saying all of a sudden!?”
“It’s not a strange suggestion, is it? Given how things have turned out, it’s obviously more efficient to stay over.”
“You’re talking about efficiency…”
“And as your senior, I can’t let you go back so late.”
“Hm, hm——…”
Her words left me at a loss for a rebuttal.
If I were the senior, I could escort someone to the station, so it would be different.
But given the current situation, even if Yui escorted me, it would just end with her returning home alone from the station.
By that time, it would be past eleven, and as a guy, I couldn’t let her do something so risky.
————These are just formalities.
I was just battling with my rationality.
The excitement of staying over at Yui’s was conflicting with the rationality that I shouldn’t engage in such inappropriate behavior.
As a man, what should I choose…
“Or is it that… you dislike being with me?”
“How could that be possible!”
I had decided.
As a man, I would choose the path that would not hurt Yui Yaegashi.
◇◇◇◆◆◆
After deciding to stay over, I spent time having Yui Yaegashi tutor me in my studies.
As a result, I made significant progress in the coursework I was supposed to complete during the summer vacation.
Although Yui believed she wasn’t good at teaching, it turned out she was quite the opposite.
“Hmm… This really is a comfortable time.”
Yui mumbled this just as the clock hands pointed a little past eleven.
Because I had been so focused earlier, I hadn’t noticed the time, but as soon as I realized it, sleepiness washed over me.
“Um… I’m sorry to ask this, but where should I sleep?”
“Hehehe… No, you asked just right. I’ve already thought about where you’ll sleep.”
—Already thought about it?
While I was questioning what she meant, she left the living room.
After waiting for a few moments, Yui returned with bedding in her arms.
“Sorry, can you help clear this area a bit so I can lay this down? We need quite a bit of space for two sets of bedding.”
“Two sets, does that mean…”
“Yes, that’s right! Let’s sleep side by side here tonight!”
Hmm——
Hmm——… Hmm?
“Yui-senpai, what exactly do you mean by that?”
“The usual way to spend the night is to sleep in a line, chatting until we fall asleep. That’s the real fun, right?”
“Yes! That’s absolutely right!”
I had given up.
Although I tried to restrain myself with rationality, the fact that she invited me made any further resistance foolish.
Since things had come this far, I decided to accept everything.
We laid out the bedding together, leaving about a fist’s distance between them.
This distance was close enough for me to catch Yui’s scent.
Oh, I shouldn’t have said that.
Such thoughts should be kept to myself, enjoyed in secret.
“I always keep a spare toothbrush, you can use that.”
“That’s a big help…!”
Gratefully, I took a brand new toothbrush to brush my teeth.
Although the taste of the toothpaste was different from usual, I thought this was also part of the fun of staying over.
“Is it okay if I turn off the light now?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“Got it.”
After confirming I was in bed, Yui turned off the room light.
Using the moonlight streaming through the gap in the curtains, I saw Yui crawl into the bedding next to me.
As my mind cooled down again, a strange tension surfaced.
It seemed I wouldn’t be able to sleep for a while.
“…Natsuhiko, are you still awake?”
“What’s up?”
Someone beside me started talking, so I turned my face towards them.
Then, I met eyes with Yui, who was facing me.
Even in the dimly lit room, I could clearly see her beautiful face, causing my heart to beat faster.
“I want to thank you again.”
“Thank me…?”
“Living alone in such a big house is actually quite lonely. But today, thanks to you, that feeling has been greatly alleviated.”
“…I’m glad I could be of help.”
I could deeply relate to Yui’s feelings.
I also understood the loneliness of living alone in a large house.
Even if my mother was nagging, the absence of my parents made a big difference.
Loneliness is real when you’re alone.
Though it gets better with age, we kids have less freedom than we imagine.
So, we basically don’t have ways to alleviate loneliness.
“I think I’ll sleep well tonight. Thank you so much.”
Good night———
After saying that, Yui closed her eyes and lay down.
In the end, did I fulfill Arisu’s wishes?
But seeing her peaceful sleeping face, I guess it wasn’t a failure.
“Yui-senpai, good night.”
After responding, I also lay down.
Tomorrow is the end, and then it’s the closing ceremony.
Whether I’ll have a pleasant summer vacation depends on these next two days.
◇◇◇◆◆◆
Six in the morning.
I had become someone who naturally woke up at that time.
It’s not strange if you wake up at the same time every day.
But the problem was, this wake-up time was for when I was at home.
In other words, I woke up quite early at Yui’s place, which was closer to school than mine.
I glanced beside me; Yui was still sleeping soundly.
“Hmm——… What are you talking about… I’m a mix of Hokkaido and Tokyo…”
What an odd sleep talk.
Though I felt like commenting, there was no need to wake her up forcibly.
I silently slipped out of the bedding and headed to the washroom.
After washing my face and brushing my teeth, I went to the kitchen.
Some ingredients from last night’s dinner were still left.
As I prepared a simple breakfast with those and some eggs, a shrill alarm sound came from Yui’s bedding.
“Is… is it morning already…?”
Yui made such a sound and crawled out of the bedding.
With her long hair and the way she moved, she looked almost like a mythical creature.
“Hmm, Natsuhiko… Why are you in the kitchen so early in the morning?”
“Yui-senpai, good morning. I’m making breakfast right now.”
“Ah, right… That’s really helpful.”
Yui, rubbing her dry eyes, wobbled towards me.
Then, her eyes lit up at the sight of the breakfast I made.
“Oh! Homemade breakfast!”
“Though it’s just something simple…”
“Even so, just having a hot meal makes me really happy. Natsuhiko, thank you.”
She really knew how to make someone feel proud!
My face, grinning from ear to ear, must have looked ridiculous.
“Anyway, please go brush your teeth and wash up, then we can eat together.”
“I understand!”
Yui happily ran to the washroom.
Hmm—— She seemed more like a little girl than ever.
After a while, Yui and I peacefully finished breakfast and began preparing for school.
After changing in separate rooms, we regrouped in the living room.
Yui was wearing her summer uniform.
Although it’s a bit blunt, she didn’t give off a girlish vibe at all.
“Let’s go then, Natsuhiko.”
“…Yes.”
Going back together yesterday, and going to school together today.
If not careful, rumors might start spreading at school.
——Forget it.
Rather than worrying about what might happen, refusing an invitation from a beautiful girl is a bigger problem.
“Ah, I always meet Arisu here.”
“I see, so that’s the case.”
After all, I heard they’ve been together since elementary school. Living nearby is natural.
I felt I had a lot to report, and since the opportunity was rare, I decided to wait with her.
But that day.
Arisu never showed up in the end.