Chapter 151. Day Two

I thought for a bit of where to start. Unaware of the girls that hadn't started their bathing and were listening in from the bathroom door. “I was an only child. My mom had a job in the couples counselling business as I’ve already said.” Nemuri nodded while she was mentally taking notes of everything I was saying. 

“My mom had good hours, so she was able to be home before I came home from school. I remember the way that I would always walk in through the door after walking back home from where the school bus would drop me off.” I smiled distantly and full of longing while remembering those days. “She would always be by the door. I would get home, and she would always be there to greet me. She may have worked a lot, but she always seemed around. Like I would never have to go far for her help when I needed it.”

I sighed and let out a small chuckle while thinking how long it took me to ask for that needed help for my ex-girlfriend. “She would give me a hug, that as I got older seemed to be more embarrassing… I miss them now though.” I paused for a bit thinking back to the way she used to hug me. “She would bring her arms under mine, like she was ready to hold me up like a baby. She would cross her arms behind my back, almost to say that she would never lose me… Almost…”

I shook those thoughts away and decided to keep talking to keep my mind occupied. “We would go to the living room to talk about how my day was, and what happened… After her whole day of hearing other people complain, she still let me know she wanted to listen to my troubles as well…” I bit my lower quivering lip. “Next she would teach me about relationships, but before that incident that made her start doing that, she would help me with my homework. After she started teaching me about relationships, my dad helped me with homework.”

Nemuri perked up a bit when she heard about my dad. She spoke carefully. “What was your dad like?” I thought back to my dad. About how happy he was, and how much life and energy he could bring to any get-together. I smiled happily thinking about him. “He was so full of happiness.” Nemuri looked at me incredulously as I grinned just remembering some of the best times I had with him. 

“He always had something fun or snarky to say. He made jokes about everything, and enjoyed seeing others have a good time. He ran a small food truck. Best food in the neighborhood.” I smiled some more just remembering him talking to each customer by name. He was talking and joking with each of their lives. “His food filled your stomach, but he fed your soul better. That’s what my mom used to say anyway… He would just make anything seem to be no big deal, like how any problems were just a joke to him. He always smiled and had fun with everything he did.” 

I chuckled a bit from the way he used to make jokes about my school problems, and talking about his own funny experiences. “He had a great story for anything. He had so many experiences, to live life and get great stories to dazzle others with, just to see their smiles. He… He… He would even have been smiling in my position… I know he would.” I smiled thinking about him, but tears were falling down my face anyway. “He always used to smile… Like nothing would ever make him sad…” I chuckled while sobbing.

I stopped being able to talk, and could only sob while letting out the occasional chuckle, all while smiling. I sniffled while my head was down, I couldn’t look at her right now. “I’m going to bed… Can you tell the girls I got sick or something?” I started to get up, but was stopped by Nemuri. I didn’t look at her face, my head was too low to see what expression she had. She just held my forearm while we were just frozen like that.

She never spoke, never said a word. She just slowly got up while her hand was still attached to my forearm. She then started to let go from my arm, but then warmly embraced me. I was shocked she was doing this. I froze from what she was doing, but I soon relaxed after I could feel her arms slowly rubbing my back. She wasn’t teasing, or hunting. She was just helping. She then brought my head to rest on her chest. I would normally try and run from her at this point, but right now I felt I needed this. I needed a hug.

I slowly raised my arms and returned her hug by wrapping my arms around her waist. “Thank you…” I said weakly, as I felt so warm and safe in her embrace. I could suddenly feel the urge to sleep, being so close to Nemuri made me catch a whiff of her sweet smelling anesthesia. I was wondering if I should move away and fight it, but it felt so nice to be hugged like this right now. I hugged her tighter as I was slowly going to sleep. The last thing I remembered was Nemuri slowly petting my hair as I drifted off into her chest.

I woke up the next morning in a daze. Still half asleep, I only realized that I was hugging a girl in my sleep. I found that my head was buried in that girl I was hugging. I tried to move my head back, but realized that she was holding my head in its place. I felt comfortable, so I decided that I didn’t need to rush. I closed my eyes and held her tighter. She held me tighter as well as we both enjoyed the comfort of each other. I smiled while resting here like this. I didn’t remember how I got here from last night in my state right now, but I felt comfortable like this. I let out a sigh of content, as I started to drift off again. 

I woke back up alone in my twin bed later in the day than normal. I groggily got up and stretched. The room with all of the different beds was empty, I was all alone here. I got up, and began to change into my normal clothes. I put on my jeans and took off my T-shirt. As soon as I did, the connecting door burst open. “Denki~! Wakey, Wakey!” Himiko was first through the door as she yelled for me to get up.

Everyone else was all walking in behind her, but all of them froze at the sight of me. I sighed while frowning at all of them. “Knock much?” I was about to put on my shirt, but my bandages started to come loose. “I guess it’s time to redress this.” I took out some bandages from my suitcase and started to unwrap the old ones off my hand. I tried to bandage my arm again, but I always had trouble with it. It was then that another pair of hands went over my arm.

I looked up to see Nemuri staring at my arm with furrowed brows. I noticed the other girls were also staring intently at my arm. ‘I guess they have rarely, if ever, seen all of the scars, and how far they reach.’ I let them look at it, but I had a feeling that I had been this close to Nemuri before. I had a hard time remembering while still waking up. ‘Did we… Hug last night?’ I then started to redden up, as my arm lit up a bit from embarrassment. It seemed that Nemuri noticed my gaze and started to blush as well.

Nemuri stepped back while adjusting her glasses. “Could someone help him with his bandages? We’ll be late if he keeps up at this pace!” With that, Nemuri left the room quickly to the connecting adult room. I looked back at the girls, and saw they were all blushing too. It was then that Momo came up with her gentle smile. She was still blushing, but comforting me. She grabbed my hand gently and started wrapping my arm cautiously.

I watched as she slowly and methodically wrapped my arm up. She pulled and tucked the bandages over and under each other, and after she got up to my shoulder. She was finally done. After she was, I almost didn’t want to ever take my bandage off after how much care she put into it. Momo was about to get up from the bed, but I grabbed her hand. She was surprised and let out a surprised squeak as I pulled her down on my lap. I smiled lovingly at her blushing yet still majestic face.

I smiled at her and hugged while she was still on my lap. “Thank you.” I then stood up with her in my arms. She was still blushing, and now she seemed to be in shock. I could see the little gears in her mind go. It was adorable to see her thinking. I then began putting on a red T-shirt and put on my black button up shirt. I matted down some of my bedhead and was ready to go. I started to head to the door, before realizing all of the stares the girls were still giving me.

All of the girls were blushing and smiling, and after they noticed my gaze towards them, they all dispersed. Mina was the first with her big smile. “Let’s go Denki! We totally don’t want to be late!” She dragged me by my arm as she led us all out the door. We met with Nemuri and left the hotel, after we had a complimentary breakfast of course.