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Chapter 2: Childhood Friends, Trying Remote Co-sleeping

♠♠♠

“So, I was thinking… maybe we need to be more cautious about co-sleeping…”

The morning after we ran into Kazuki-san, as the morning sun filled my house, we started having breakfast across from each other at the living room’s low table. Shizuno-san, looking a bit sleepy, mentioned this.

“Kanon-chan and Komine-kun understand our situation, but… I feel it’s dangerous to think of it as normal. Plus, now that we know Kazuki-san lives in the neighborhood… if we keep wandering around as we have been, we might run into her again… So, I think we need to be a bit more vigilant…”

She seemed to have had trouble sleeping last night. Her eyes were droopy, and her hair was messier than usual. Maybe the encounter with Kazuki-san affected her more than I thought…

The table was filled with breakfast I made: miso soup, rice, several kinds of pickles, grilled fish, and tamagoyaki—an orthodox combination. Though we often had bread when I was living at home, I’ve been making rice recently since Shizuno-san prefers Japanese food.

Holding a bowl of miso soup, I took a sip and replied to Shizuno-san, “Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.”

“Indeed, we’ve become a bit numb to it. It’s time to tighten up again…”

It’s easy to understand if you consider how others might see it. Imagine, hypothetically, if Ryousuke-kun and Rokuyou-san were co-sleeping in secret. That would be a major incident, not just a small matter. It would cause a huge uproar, not just with Kazuki-san, and I’d be incredibly shaken. If Ryousuke-kun tried to brush it off, I’d definitely pursue the matter.

And if… classmates found out. If it spread as gossip. The fact would be talked about for years, and rumors would likely grow more exaggerated over time.

Even more terrifying is if the school found out.

A lecture would be inevitable, and some form of discipline might be imposed. The parents might also be informed.

For high school students to be co-sleeping with classmates… it’s risky, potentially impure by some standards, and unlikely to be understood by those around us.

We need to recognize this again, properly.

“So as a first step, let’s go to school separately today. We’ve been leaving the room together recently, but let’s space out our departures by about ten minutes.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Especially after what happened yesterday, it’d be bad to be found out…”

As Shizuno-san crunched on a pickled radish, she nodded in agreement.

“Also, we should try not to wander around outside too carelessly together. Aside from Kazuki-san, there might be other students from school living nearby… You never know who might see us.”

“…Ah, that’s true.”

Shizuno-san nodded but looked a bit disappointed.

“I liked walking around this area at night… But well, it’s better than not being able to co-sleep anymore…”

“Yeah, it’s a shame, but…”

I agreed, finding night walks quite enjoyable. It felt like an adventure, exploring unknown places with her. It’s sad that such activities will be restricted for the time being, given the circumstances.

“Maybe… it’s time to start looking for other ways.”

“…Other ways?”

Shizuno-san took a sip of her tea and tilted her head.

“Yeah.”

I nodded and then said,

“…Ways to sleep well without directly co-sleeping.”

At those words, I thought I saw Shizuno-san’s eyes widen slightly.

Oh, did I say something surprising?

“…Um, well, you know, that”

I began to explain, feeling a bit flustered.

“Look, we’ve been co-sleeping for a while now, right? We’re not as desperately sleepy as before, and we’ve become quite calm about it…”

“…Yeah.”

“So, we should look for other ways to ensure we both can sleep well without necessarily sleeping together all the time. Like when I tried using a body pillow before, not that I think that’ll work perfectly, but something along those lines… A method that’s less burdensome for both of us.”

It feels necessary to find such a solution. We can’t keep this up forever, and we need to solve the underlying issue of insomnia.

Now that our situation has stabilized somewhat, it seems like a good time to start exploring options.

The encounter with Kazuki-san made me realize this anew.

“And… there’s the upcoming overnight training camp, right?”

I continued, almost pleadingly.

“The one at the end of this month, a two-night, three-day trip…”

—The overnight training camp.

At our school, freshmen go to a mountainous lodge nearby in late June for training. Though it’s called “training,” it mainly consists of recreational activities like orienteering, aimed at fostering interaction among new students.

It sounds fun, but we might not be able to co-sleep during that time…

“We should come up with some plan before then, right?”

…I thought it was quite a persuasive argument.

Suffering from insomnia during the training camp would be tough, and I hoped Shizuno-san would see the sense in it…

…But then.

“…Hmm.”

Shizuno-san looked down at the table, seemingly dissatisfied.

Clearly, she wasn’t pleased.

Why that reaction…?

“…Did you hate the idea?”

Tentatively, I asked.

“If Shizuno-san is opposed, I won’t force it, of course…”

“…No, it’s fine.”

She said, but her tone remained low.

“…So, what exactly do we do? Do you have any ideas you want to try?”

“…Not yet. I was hoping we could come up with something together.”

“I see.”

She responded briefly and took another sip of her tea.

“Alright, if I think of anything, I’ll suggest it to Shinobu-kun.”

“Thanks, I’m counting on you…”

“And today, I’ll leave first. Shinobu-kun, make sure to leave a bit later.”

“Okay… got it…”

Nodding, I reached for my breakfast again.

The TV weather forecaster mentioned the unstable weather continuing for a while.

Listening with one ear… I kept pondering what about my words had made Shizuno-san unhappy, all by myself──.

♡♡♡♡♡♡

“So, Shinobu-kun started saying we should find a way to sleep without needing to co-sleep anymore!”

—Lunch break.

At a bench in the school courtyard, I was telling my best friend, Kanon-chan, about what happened this morning.

“He said now that our health and lifestyles have stabilized, maybe we could look for a different way to fall asleep…”

“……Hmm, hmm…”

Having finished her sandwich already, Kanon-chan was nodding while drinking her juice from a carton. Her hair, notable for its blue inner color, swayed gently.

I vented to her, my frustration apparent,

“There’s no way it’ll be that easy to find. We’ve struggled so much already without finding a solution…”

…I was angry.

For some reason, I was mad at Shinobu-kun for suggesting such a thing. It almost felt like… he was in a hurry to stop co-sleeping with me.

I understand that we can’t keep doing this forever and that it’s probably not the best thing…

But being the first to suggest such a solution after everything… it just irked me.

Did Shinobu-kun dislike co-sleeping with me that much…?

I thought he was happy about it. I thought he valued spending time with me, even if it was just an excuse…

I felt like Kanon-chan would understand these feelings. I hoped she would share my indignation or at least lighten the mood with some jokes.

However,

“……Hmm.”

Crossing her arms, Kanon-chan looked down seriously, furrowing her brows and squinting her eyes,

“……What is he… thinking?”

“……Eh?”

“Ōtaki Shinobu… what is he thinking!?”

—Her eyes suddenly widened.

Kanon-chan started talking as if she were a strategist analyzing the enemy’s thoughts.

“A normal person wouldn’t dislike co-sleeping with Shizuno-san. On the contrary, they would want to keep that relationship as long as possible… Shizuno-san’s cuteness is unparalleled, and Ōtaki-san should be well aware of that…”

“Eh, yeah…”

I don’t think it’s that extreme…

I’m pretty sure there are people who wouldn’t enjoy co-sleeping with me…

“Then why did Ōtaki-san say that…!? Is he really just being sincere!?… That can’t be it, there must be another reason!”

…Another reason.

Well, I mean… probably not. Despite getting so angry and complaining… I think he’s just being sincere.

He genuinely believes “Boys and girls co-sleeping should end sooner rather than later!”…

Given Shinobu-kun’s personality, yeah, that’s probably the most realistic reason…

I was just sulking selfishly…

But Kanon-chan, now carried away with her imagination,

“Could it be… he’s starting to struggle against his own desires!? He’s worried he might assault Shizuno-san at any moment. Before becoming a criminal, he wanted to distance himself from Shizuno-san!?”

“That… that’s not it…”

Even when I borrowed his shirt and was dressed so lightly, he wasn’t that flustered…

If anything, I was the one who got a little carried away, sniffing his scent.

I don’t think it’s about him attacking me…

“Or, has his heart reached its limit!? Being with Shizuno-san, the excitement causes his blood pressure to spike. The damage to his body is too great, and he can’t bear it anymore!?”

“Does that even happen!? Just from excitement!?”

He doesn’t seem to care about his blood pressure, and there’s no sign he’s been to the hospital… I think that’s unlikely, too.

“Then!”

Kanon-chan, still looking determined,

“Maybe he wants time to himself for… you know…!?”

“…You know…!?”

I was taken aback by her unexpected suggestion.

However, Kanon-chan became even more enthusiastic.

“Yes! The so-called pleasure of one’s self! Ōtaki-san is a boy of that age, after all; he must be doing it!”

“Eh, eh…?”

…Well, I understand what she’s saying.

Kanon-chan is being vague, but I get her point…

I’ve read articles saying almost 100% of boys do it… so, probably Shinobu-kun too, doesn’t… not do it.

“And with Shizuno-san always around, he must be feeling frustrated! But since you’re always together, he can’t relieve that… To find time for himself, maybe that’s why he suggested it…!?”

“That… could that really be the case…?”

“Of course, it is! Shizuno-san, do you think Ōtaki-san is some ascetic monk with no such desires at all!?”

“I wouldn’t think that far…”

But I’ve never sensed he was doing it…

If he had a chance, maybe when I’m in the bath…?

No, but he doesn’t seem any different after I come out of the bath…

I wonder, in that short time, can someone actually finish doing… that?

As I pondered this, Kanon-chan next to me exclaimed,

“Damn… I don’t understand!”

“Ōtaki-san, what are you planning…!?”

…Why is Kanon-chan so worked up about Shinobu-kun?

Sure, I’ve been spending more time with Shinobu-kun lately, but Kanon-chan’s importance to me hasn’t changed.

She’s still my precious best friend, now and always.

I wish she wouldn’t worry so much…

“We have to… start investigating!”

Finally, Kanon-chan began to say such things.

“Follow Ōtaki-san’s actions, monitor him, and grasp his movements! And then, thoroughly investigate why he started saying such things to Shizuno-san──”

“──Wait, wait, wait! Just wait a minute!”

I hastily interrupted, sensing the conversation was heading into troublesome territory.

“It’s not like I’m doubting him that much! I’m happy you’re worried, but it’s just… kind of a vague feeling. I just wanted to vent a little bit…”

“…Ah, is that so?”

“Yes, sorry for making you worry…”

“Well, if that’s the case…”

Kanon-chan let out a sigh.

So, it seems like I ended up being roped into a lovey-dovey complaint session…

“Lovey-dovey!? I didn’t mean it like that…”

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I’m always welcoming your lovey-dovey stories…”

Kanon-chan said, looking up at the sky with a distant gaze.

…Did it really come across like that?

I didn’t mean to, but… did it seem like I was boasting?

But, yeah… it’s not strange to be taken that way.

After all, I wasn’t really angry…

I should be careful. Somehow, I’ve become someone who likes to talk about Shinobu-kun without realizing it.

After chatting for a while like that,

“…Wow! This is bad!”

Kanon-chan, who glanced at her smartphone, exclaimed.

“It’s already this late!”

Then──she tapped on her smartphone a few times.

Using the ring on the back of the cover as a stand, she placed it on the table in front of the bench we were sitting on.

“…Hm? What are you doing?”

As I peered into the screen,

“──Hello everyone, good afternoon!”

On the other side of the display, a cute girl of our generation waved at us, smiling.

“Today, I’m going to do my lunch broadcast again. Sorry for starting a bit late…”

“Is this… a live stream?”

“Yes, exactly!”

Kanon-chan nodded happily in response to my question.

“I’ve been following this idol group lately, ‘Future Girls Detective Agency’, and Junon has just started doing this!”

Looking at the screen for a while, the girl named Junon seemed to be in a dressing room or a meeting room.

In front of her was a table, with convenience store-bought salad pasta, yogurt, and other foods lined up.

“Have you all had lunch yet?”

Junon asked from the other side of the screen.

“My lunch today looks like this. I couldn’t make a bento because I was up early, so I bought something from the convenience store… Let’s eat. Itadakimasu!”

“Itadakimasu!”

Kanon-chan raised her voice, following Junon.

“Kanon-chan… you just finished eating a sandwich.”

“It’s fine! Since Junon is starting to eat, it’s the perfect timing for a lunch encore!”

Saying so, Kanon-chan took out some snacks from her bag and started eating.

She eats so much but never gains weight, which is so enviable.

“Wow, this is delicious.”

Junon exclaimed on the screen.

“This salad pasta, it’s my first time trying it and it’s delicious. I might get hooked…”

…The tone was more laid-back than I expected.

Somehow, I had the impression that idol broadcasts were fun and lively. I thought they involved singing, dancing, or maybe even game streaming.

But from what I could see, that didn’t seem to be the case at all.

It was really just Junon eating and occasionally making small comments…

“…Is this interesting?”

I couldn’t help but ask.

“Just watching her eat… is that fun?”

“Eh, it’s the best!”

Kanon-chan answered as if it were the most obvious thing.

“Daily streams like this are perfect. If it’s too high-energy or too planned out, it gets tiring to watch.”

Kanon-chan said, turning her gaze back to Junon on the screen.

Junon was still talking and eating deliciously…

“See, it’s all very relaxed, right? The background is just an office meeting room, not overly decorated. Junon is in her casual clothes, makeup light. And she’s just eating convenience store food.”

“…Indeed, that’s true.”

“It kind of feels like I’m having lunch with Junon when I watch these laid-back streams and eat snacks like this.”

Then, Junon started asking the viewers a question.

“Where are you all and what are you eating now? Let me know in the comments.”

Responding to that, viewers began to comment on their situations.

“Eating an onigiri at the office.” “Just finished school lunch, now it’s break time!” “Eating a hamburger at a shop and watching!”

And to those, Junon casually replied, “Ah, nice,” “I want to eat that too.”

… I see.

Indeed, this has its own charm.

Feeling like you’re having lunch with your favorite idol…

And then,

“…Hm?”

Suddenly──I had an idea.

Maybe this could be used…

As an alternative to “sleeping together”.

♠♠♠

“…Is this okay?”

──That evening.

After dinner and a bath, as I was about to go to sleep, I followed Shizuno-san’s advice to create the right environment and let out a sigh.

“I’ve set up the call with Shizuno-san. The sound is coming through the speaker, the camera is showing me through the front camera… and everything’s set up on the bed. Yeah, should be no problem…”

It’s been a while since I’ve been in my room without Shizuno-san.

On the bed, there lay a smartphone connected to a charger, propped up on its side.

What was displayed──was Shizuno-san’s bed.

Her bed, in her bedroom, in a high-class residential area a little distance from here──.

She seems to be still preparing.

Only the bedding and the blanket were visible──.

──Let’s try remote cuddling!

During lunch break, Shizuno-san suggested this idea through LINE.

Not actually sleeping under the same blanket, but sleeping together while on a video call.

…Even though she was quite moody in the morning.

I was worried if she would cooperate, but I never expected Shizuno-san to come up with such an idea. It seems she had cheered up, and I felt relieved for the moment.

And then──the idea of remote cuddling.

Indeed, it didn’t seem like a bad idea.

I could still see Shizuno-san and talk to her. Moreover, I could hear her breathing and even the slightest noise.

Yet──there’s no need to actually be beside each other.

It’s possible to feel close to cuddling while being in separate places.

Of course, there’s a difference, like not being able to physically feel each other’s presence, but it seemed worth trying at least.

At that moment,

“…Hello, can you hear me, Shinobu-kun?”

From the smartphone, I could hear Shizuno-san’s voice.

“Is the volume and sound quality okay?”

And then──Shizuno-san appeared on the screen in her pajamas.

Looking into the camera in her usual pre-sleep attire, she peered at me.

“Yeah, the sound seems fine.”

I also looked into the screen and replied.

“It doesn’t crackle or get too quiet. It just feels clearer than talking directly, kind of ticklish…”

“Really…”

We laughed about it, and as we dimmed the lights──we lay down on our beds.

Usually, we turn off all the lights, but this time, turning them off completely would defeat the purpose of the video. So, we decided to keep a dim light on.

And somewhat adjusting the camera so that our faces to chest area could fit in,

“…Alright, this should do.”

“Yeah, we’re set…”

“Then, let’s sleep…”

“Yeah…”

All preparations complete.

Now, it was time to actually try sleeping──.

As I closed my eyes──I could hear Shizuno-san’s breathing from the smartphone.

And occasionally, the faint sound of fabric rubbing──.

…it was a strange sensation.

Without feeling her body heat beside me, cuddling felt different.

But, hearing Shizuno-san’s real-time sounds and seeing her next to me on the screen──

Undoubtedly──I could feel her presence.

Somehow, that made me feel oddly restless.

“…By the way,”

Suddenly, I voiced my thoughts.

“Shizuno-san… why did you suddenly come up with this idea? Was there a trigger or something?”

It didn’t seem like an idea that would just come to mind easily.

Was it inspired by a phone call with someone, something seen on TV, or something like that?

“Ah, that’s because…”

Shizuno-san opened her eyes and looked towards me from the smartphone.

“Kanon-chan was watching an idol’s live stream… and that gave me the idea. Apparently, there are quite a few streams where you can enjoy the feeling of spending time together.”

“Ah, I see, streaming…”

I understood because I also watch such streams occasionally.

Live streams on the internet can give you a closer feeling with the broadcaster compared to videos or TV shows.

Indeed, this remote cuddling might be close to that sensation.

“So, I thought we could try cuddling using smartphones.”

“I see…”

Nodding, I looked at the screen again──.

And felt a sudden thrill seeing Shizuno-san there.

Lying down facing me, smiling faintly──.

Her face lit by the smartphone’s light, softly illuminated in pale blue──.

──Even though it was a scene I had seen up close before.

Even though I had seen her from a distance where I could reach out and touch her──.

Seeing her through the screen felt refreshingly new. Her cuteness struck me more clearly than ever.

…Ah, with such a girl.

I’ve been cuddling with such a girl every night, I realized anew.

“…Oh, by the way, Kanon-chan said,”

Remembering, Shizuno-san continued with a laugh.

“When I told her Shinobu-kun was looking for an alternative to cuddling, she started suspecting Shinobu-kun a lot…”

“Eh, suspect…!?”

I was caught off guard by the completely unexpected topic.

Sitting up abruptly, I asked Shizuno-san on the other side of the screen.

“What… suspecting what? Have I been doing something strange…?”

“No, it’s not that,”

Shizuno-san smiled again, reassuringly.

“Kanon-chan just couldn’t believe that ‘normally Shizuno-san wouldn’t want to stop cuddling!’ She thought there must be some difficult reason behind it!”

“A reason… There’s really nothing special. It’s just that I thought continuing like this wasn’t good…”

“Yeah. But Kanon-chan couldn’t accept that and started guessing all sorts of reasons.”

“Huh… What did she imagine?”

“…Ah, that is…”

To that question──for some reason, Shizuno-san fell silent for a moment.

What’s with that? She had been quite talkative until now, what happened?

After mumbling uncomfortably for a bit,

“…Well, various things, various…”

The hesitation was evident.

“Eh, what do you mean by various things?”

“Well, you know…”

Once again, Shizuno-san mumbled something, then timidly, with a voice that seemed to disappear, she said, “Maybe there’s something you want to do alone?”

And… what’s that about?

It’s dark and it’s through a screen, so I can’t be sure, but it feels like her cheeks are somewhat red…

…But then again.

Something I want to do alone, huh…

After thinking about it──I immediately came up with something.

Yes, there is something I definitely want to do.

──I want to watch videos from the dairy-themed YouTuber “Makiba Channel.”

I haven’t been able to check the new uploads for about a month now because things have been hectic. Being with Shizuno-san a lot made me feel awkward about watching those videos.

If I’m alone, I’d want to take my time and watch them.

“Yeah, there is. Definitely, there is something I want to do alone.”

However,

“Eh!?”

Shizuno-san exclaimed in surprise from the other side of the screen.

“Is that, you know… maybe, about watching videos?”

“Yeah, exactly.”

Good guess.

Maybe I had mentioned “Makiba Channel” to Shizuno-san before.

“…That video, does it… include chests? Or rather, nudity…”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Because there are videos about milking cows and such.

Plus, the animals that appear are basically all naked.

Sometimes those wearing clothes appear too. Like pets owned by the contributors.

“Right… I thought so…”

For some reason, Shizuno-san was nodding vigorously, her body seemingly shaking.

“Yes, even Shinobu-kun does that kind of stuff…”

…What’s with Shizuno-san all of a sudden?

Why is she so surprised? Just because I watch YouTubers.

“I mean, it’s not weird, right? When I was living at home, it was almost a daily routine…”

“A daily routine!? You did it every day!?”

“Eh? Yeah…”

“But, I guess it’s normal for a teenage boy… It can’t be helped…”

“No, it’s not just about being a teenager or a boy… Everyone does it, right?”

“Really!?”

“I think so…”

“Do… do girls do that kind of thing too? Daily…?”

“Of course! It’s not something exclusive to men, that’s for sure.”

“I see… Well, I… I hardly ever do that kind of stuff… I’m not familiar with it…”

…That’s a bit surprising.

I had the impression that Shizuno-san was up-to-date with information from the internet.

There are fashion YouTubers too, she might get hooked if she starts watching.

“If that’s the case,”

And then, an idea struck me,

“Shizuno-san, next time you come over, why don’t we watch (Makiba Channel’s) videos together?”

“Watch!? With you, Shinobu-kun?”

“Yeah. You might find it fun too.”

“Is… is that something people normally do!?”

“Eh? I think so? I sometimes get recommendations from Ryousuke-kun too…”

“Eeeeeh!? That’s… really how it is…!?”

“Yeah. Actually, now that I think about it, there was no need to be cautious.”

Saying that, it dawned on me.

“I thought I had to be alone, but it’s fine to watch (Makiba Channel’s) videos even if Shizuno-san is here. I’ve been neglecting them recently because I’ve been busy…”

“Accumulating!? But, still, to watch it in front of me… What should I do…?”

“If you feel like you’re going to be left out,”

Then──an idea struck me,

“Shizuno-san could also look for something she likes?”

“My preference…!?”

“Yeah. After all, everyone’s tastes are different. It might be good to share my favorites with you too.”

“That is…”

Shizuno-san paused for a moment.

Hesitantly──she asked me this,

“Do you mean… I should do it too, together?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I nodded firmly to her.

“It might be fun if we can (watch videos) together… Huh?”

Something was off with Shizuno-san on the other side of the screen.

She was trembling visibly, her face unmistakably flushed.

Her eyes even seemed teary…

…Eh? What happened? Did I say something weird…?

Confused, I was met with a stern glare from Shizuno-san.

Taking a deep breath, she then said to me,

“Shinobu-kun──you pervert!!”

♡♡♡♡♡♡

Afterward, it was revealed that what Shinobu-kun was talking about was his desire to watch his favorite YouTuber. My misunderstanding was thankfully cleared up… I’m relieved it was just a misunderstanding. If he had truly been inviting me for… I wouldn’t have known what to do…

…It’s all Kanon-chan’s fault. Because Kanon-chan said such weird things… I ended up with a huge misunderstanding.

By the way,

“──Eh, what did Shizuno-san think I was talking about!?”

“──I’m curious, please tell meー”

Even though Shinobu-kun pressed for an answer, I firmly refused to respond. If it were to be revealed… I could no longer face Shinobu-kun…

──And so, our conversation continued to get more animated. Before we knew it──,

“…Wow, is it already past two o’clock?”

“Ah, you’re right…”

We had been talking non-stop for over three hours.

“This is strange… our conversation becomes so lively.”

Sighing, I said to Shinobu-kun on the other side of the screen.

“I wonder why. It seems like we talk more than when we’re usually cuddling…”

“Really though.”

Shinobu-kun agreed, smiling bitterly.

“Actually, talking this much with Shizuno-san, it’s been a really long time.”

“Usually, when we’re together, we fall asleep right away…”

This might even be the first time, including when we were children. To talk so aimlessly, just the two of us… I sometimes have long phone conversations with female friends at night, but having such an opportunity with boys is quite rare…

And then I said,

“…We probably can’t sleep now, can we?”

With a resigned smile, I asked Shinobu-kun.

“Isn’t it impossible to sleep from here on out?”

“Honestly… yeah.”

Saying that, Shinobu-kun somewhat embarrassedly scratched his cheek.

“I’m completely awake now. Probably can’t sleep until morning…”

“That’s what I thought.”

“Sorry, even though you came up with that idea…”

“No, it’s okay.”

In its own way, this was a discovery. At least, we found out that remote cuddling doesn’t work.

“This was enjoyable in its own way. Kind of like a night during a school trip.”

“Ah, indeed. It does feel somewhat similar…”

Saying that and then smiling slightly,

“…Guess there’s no substitute for cuddling.”

Shinobu-kun continued from the other side of the screen.

“Trying this out, I’ve realized… I can’t feel like sleeping by any method other than actually cuddling with Shizuno-san…”

“…Right?”

I answered, feeling somewhat proud.

“I thought so from the beginning…”

“Sorry, sorry…”

“So, shall we just keep talking like this until morning? We don’t have school tomorrow.”

“Sounds good, let’s do that.”

Saying that, Shinobu-kun sat up on his bed, crossed his legs, and faced the smartphone directly.

“We have plenty to talk about. Then, when it’s morning, we can gather at one of our houses and take a nap during the day.”

“Yeah, that sounds good.”

Nodding, I then got out of bed.

“I think it’s going to be a long night, so I’m going to get some drinks.”

“Okay, I’ll do the same.”

Leaving the room and going downstairs to the first floor.

Inside the house at night, without the lights on. I quickly walked towards the kitchen.

──Normally, it would feel lonely.

The darkness and silence might have been scary…

But today, I feel somewhat adventurous, and I clearly realize that I’m smiling softly──.