I still couldn’t win, but it’s not over yet.
“…How did this happen?”
I muttered in the bathroom, dumbfounded.
This isn’t the bathroom in my house, but the Shinjo House’s bathroom… Huh?
“…Huh?”
No, I’m the most panicked here, you know.
After that, I ended up talking about my family, and the atmosphere became somber. But Sakina-san suddenly stood up, hugged me, and started patting my head as if to reassure me. Of course, I was surprised, but I felt an incredible sense of peace from Sakina-san’s softness, warmth, and voice.
“…………”
Honestly… it felt like the first time in a long time I felt a warmth like my mother’s.
When that happened, I strangely calmed down before surprise or embarrassment, and I was at Sakina-san’s mercy. Well, Arisa and Aina clung to me almost immediately after… I felt sorry for making them worry so much.
“…In the end, it was decided that I’d stay overnight, too.”
I was supposed to go home as soon as the talk was over, but I even had lunch, and as a result, I ended up staying overnight today. Of course, I refused at first, but I succumbed to the sad eyes of the three of them.
Of course, staying at the house of a beautiful mother and daughters was quite exciting for me, but I was surprisingly calm, which was strange.
“…Well, nothing’s going to happen, right?”
Sakina-san aside, I can tell from their attitude that Arisa and Aina don’t think badly of me. If I’m not mistaken, I think I can catch a glimpse of some dangerous feelings… I don’t know what they are, but maybe all of this is the result of that incident.
“…Ugaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Well, I thought about it in a strange, analytical way, but in the end, this is exactly what’s in my head.
“…Calm? Don’t joke around, I’m super nervous, you idiot!!”
Sorry, I totally lied earlier.
I’m not calm at all, I’m super nervous. Because it’s Arisa and Aina’s house, right? It’s the house where the beautiful mother and daughters live, right? Of course, I’m going to be excited, I’m a high school man, you know!?
For some reason, a pumpkin face that seemed to mock me as I worried appeared in my head. I ended up decorating my room with it without throwing it away… Maybe that’s a cursed item in a way, and that’s why this is happening?
“…Just kidding.”
That’s impossible, I thought with a wry smile and decided to warm up again.
As I did, I noticed the sound of the bathroom door opening.
“Hayato-kun? How’s the bathwater?”
It seems to be Sakina-san.
“It’s perfect. Um…”
Can I go home after all? Before I could ask that, Sakina-san’s voice overlapped with mine.
“It’s really okay. Arisa and Aina were happy, and I want Hayato-kun to have a Warm Meal. You were just going to eat cup noodles, weren’t you?”
“…Guu.”
“Hehe♪ I’ve come to understand Hayato-kun, even though it’s only our first meeting.”
…As expected of an adult. I have no comeback.
Indeed, I’ve been too lazy to cook lately and have been living on cup noodles. That was supposed to be the case today as well, just adding hot water, waiting three minutes, slurping the noodles, and saying “Thank you for the meal.”
“Was it… a bother after all?”
“Ah, no, it’s not like that!”
I’m confused, but I don’t think it’s a bother.
“Rather, I’m wondering if I deserve such a good experience…”
“It’s fine.”
With a slight sound, her palm was reflected on the glass separating the bathroom where I was and the dressing room where Sakina-san was.
“Even though you lost your parents, you’re living without giving up. On top of that, we were saved from the worst situation. So, it’s okay to have this much of a reward, right?”
“…That’s…”
“Hehe, it’s useless, you know. I think I, as well as Arisa and Aina, won’t let you escape today?”
“…So, you’re saying give up?”
“That’s right♪”
I see, it seems I can’t escape.
Well, it would be rude not to accept their consideration. I decided to spend my time with an iron will so that nothing would go wrong.
“Well then, Hayato-kun, I’ll leave your change of clothes here. It’s my Husband’s, so it might be a little big.”
“No, no, thank you very much!”
Staying overnight was decided on the spur of the moment, so of course I didn’t have a change of clothes. So, I ended up borrowing pajamas and underwear.
“…………”
Somehow, it’s been several years since her Husband passed away. But the fact that she still has his clothes means that he was that important to her. Even if they’re not used anymore, she would never throw them away, or so she might be thinking.
“Well then, I’ll excuse myself. Please warm up slowly.”
“Thank you.”
“I’ll wash everything Hayato-kun was wearing, so don’t worry.”
I’m really sorry for everything.
Sakina-san took my change of clothes and left the bathroom.
“….Un”
“Huh?”
I thought I heard something… Am I imagining things?
Being in the hot water is making me relax, and my tension is gradually easing. A little while after Sakina-san left, I got out of the bathtub.
“Ahaha… Somehow, other people’s underwear doesn’t feel right.”
The pajamas and underwear that were prepared, as I said earlier, were probably what Sakina-san’s Husband used to wear. The pajamas are one thing, but the underwear is somehow very unsettling.
“…Eei, whatever!”
I took the plunge and quickly put them on.
It feels strange, but it’s not that bad, and I chuckled, thinking I’d get used to it soon. When I came out of the dressing room and tried to return to the living room, I ran into Sakina-san.
“Ah, Sakina-san. Thank you for the bath.”
She was probably doing the laundry and other things with my clothes. I think she was on her way back, but for some reason, Sakina-san’s face was red. Her eyes were moist and her breathing was rough, and I felt like I was seeing a very harmful sight.
“…Ah.”
And then, Sakina-san stumbled and almost fell, so I moved instinctively. When I caught Sakina-san’s body, a sweet, feminine scent wafted into my nostrils. I couldn’t help but look away from the scent that seemed to invade my brain.
“…Hayato-kun… you smell nice.”
“Uh~?”
Ah, my voice cracked.
Sakina-san brought her face close to my chest and sniffed. Even if she says I smell nice, I want to say that’s because I just took a bath… But what is this sweet atmosphere coming from Sakina-san?
“The scent of that person and Hayato-kun together…”
“Sakina-san!”
“…!?”
I put my hand on her shoulder and called her name in a slightly louder voice.
Sakina-san, who had widened her eyes for a moment, stood up as if she had come to her senses and said “I’m sorry” in a word.
“There’s nothing to apologize for. Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, it’s nothing like that. I’m really okay.”
“…Is that so?”
The way she fell earlier, it felt like the strength in her legs disappeared… The strange behavior from earlier has subsided, and I can only tilt my head. Sakina-san returned to the living room and started preparing dinner, and Aina ran off, saying she would take a bath after me.
“How was the bath?”
“It was a great bath. It felt good.”
“I see, that’s good.”
I was told to relax for a while, so I sat on the sofa with Arisa and chatted.
“Hayato-kun, are you good at studying?”
“…Hmm, I’m average.”
I can only say that I’m really average when it comes to studying. I’m not so bad that I get failing grades, but I’m not good enough to get high scores either. So, I’m really average. But Arisa and Aina should be quite smart compared to me. Moreover, Arisa seems to be at the top of her class.
“How about we study together when the final exams get closer? I’ll teach you anything I can.”
“Really? But then Arisa’s time…”
Is it a so-called study session? I’m grateful for her offer to teach me, but I think it’s a waste of Arisa’s time. When I said that, Arisa shook her head, saying that it wasn’t true.
“It’s okay. Teaching others helps me study too.”
“…Ah, I often hear that. Then… can I ask you to be my teacher?”
When I said “teacher,” Arisa chuckled and nodded.
“Okay. I’ll teach you properly as your teacher. So, Hayato-kun.”
“Yeah?”
“Use my time as much as you want, okay?”
Using my time, what a novel way of putting it.
More importantly, can I say one thing, Arisa-san…? You didn’t blink at all when you were talking to me. Be careful, or you’ll get dry eyes, okay?
[Afterword]
I’ve entered the Kakuyomu Contest.
It was ranked first in the Love Comedy Weekly and Overall rankings. This is all thanks to you. Thank you so much.
※This work is a love comedy. It is not horror.
It’s not horror!