CH ss - 1

–One day, a few days after Rin started staying at my house.

“On the contrary, I’m tired…….”

I finished my part-time job and parked my bike in the parking space of home.

My body felt strangely lazy, and I spun my shoulders.

Today, Rin was unusually absent from my part-time job.

Maybe that’s the reason why the crowd was so bad and I got tired of standing there.

When …… Rin is around, it’s unnecessarily busy.

Well, but that’s good because it makes the time go by faster.

When I looked towards my home, I saw that the windows were dimly lit.

Rin had said she was going out today, but it seemed she was already home.

I opened the door of the apartment and went inside.

Then I saw that Rin was already waiting at the door.

…… Why is she standing there?

After all the Rin is an esper, isn’t she ……?

“Welcome back, Towa-kun.”

“…… Hmm? Why are you staring at my face? ……”

“You should greet people when you get home.”

“…… I’m back.”

Satisfied with my words, she smiled and extended her hand.

Then she took my bag and my part-time uniform and walked to the bathroom.

“It’s kind of relaxing to come home…………. Hmm?”

I stretched out my body and looked around the house… That’s when I felt something strange about the place…….

…… Huh? This is…

“Hey, Rin……”

“What’s wrong?”

“…… Isn’t there some more stuff here?”

In addition to my d***y umbrella at the front door, there were two brand new umbrellas of different colors.

And they were carefully placed in an umbrella stand.

Then I went to the bathroom, and this time….

“Hey, is that ……?”

“It’s pajamas.”

“No, I can see that, but ……”

She tilted her head adorably, as if to say, “Nothing is wrong with it.”

It’s cute for no apparent reason …….

I compare the light blue pajamas with the pink ones next to them.

This is the one, isn’t it ……?

“Rin ……, why the pair ……?”

“It was a cheap set.”

“What about this mug?”

“It’s a set.”

“Well… then…”

I pointed to the object that had been bothering me the most.

Yes, it was the one thing I wanted to avoid noticing as much as possible when I got home.

“Why are there more beds?”

“Cell division is the mystery of life.”

“No, no, no! That’s a terrible excuse!”

Rin turned her head away and covered her ears.

I sigh at her childlike refusal to listen when things get inconvenient.

I don’t know what it is. …… Lately, when I’ve been spending time with Rin, the image of her being too perfect is falling apart…….

“Towa-kun has a letter from mom. Please read it…….”

“A letter ……?”

I have a bad feeling about this.

Lisa-san is really elusive and difficult to grasp…….

In contrast to Rin’s naturalness, there is something calculated about her…….

I open the letter and read through the contents.

“Dear Ponta-kun.

Thank you for always supporting Rin.

This is just a small token of my appreciation for your help.

It seems that you didn’t have a futon for your guests.

This time, I presented daily necessities.

If you don’t need them, please send them to the recycle store.

P.S. Rin is warm and tender when she sleeps, so she makes an excellent hugging pillow.

Have a good sleep! From Rin’s mother.”

I drop the letter on the spot.

And towards that letter….

“Then send me a futon!!!!”

I tsked.

The bed would take up too much …… space, considering it’s for visitors.

And what’s with that last sentence!?　

Don’t give me knowledge I don’t need!

Even if it’s just for the night, it’s hard….

I sighed and held my head.

I looked at Rin from the side, she was smiling and seemed to be enjoying herself.

“Certainly, it’s a futon, isn’t it? Your mother is a careless person, isn’t she?”

Rin’s bland acting.

But from the looks of it, she hasn’t read the letter.

If she had, she would have been somewhat upset.

Mainly by looking at the P.S. section …….

But the gist of it, anyway…

“Rin ……”

“Yes. What can I do for you?”

“You know what I’m talking about.”

“That’s not the point.”

“Rin……, you need to get better at lying.”

I sigh and look at Rin, who is whistling a tune she can’t play.

It’s really a horrible way to cover it up, you know.

“I’m going to reject this one for now.”

“Why, Towa-kun!?”

“No, you can’t just take this as a normal thing…… That’s beyond the scope of a thank you. I mean, why did you do this ……?”

Rin’s expression clouded apologetically.

I felt like I had bullied a small child when I saw her sullen face.

I feel so guilty …….

“Towa-kun …….”

“Me?”

“I’ve been slipping out every night when you’re asleep, and I was afraid you’d catch a cold if I didn’t……”

It’s not exactly a mental health problem to slip out at night…….

But it’s a little uncomfortable that she’s worrying about that…

Oh, but …….

“Wouldn’t it be better if we didn’t sleep together in the first place?”

“No, thanks.”

“And this bed is bigger than the last one, right? It’s too big for my apartment.”

“It’s foldable, so there’s no problem with space.”

She responded to everything I said with a vicious tone.

There it is, this …… feeling.

She never gives up and tries to get the upper hand.

“Anyway! I can’t accept something as expensive as a bed. You’ll be able to say that you’re staying with me, but I’m in your care, so you don’t owe me anything.”

“So you don’t want this bed?”

I nodded and looked Rin straight in the face.

It is certainly a blessing to receive things, and I feel blessed.

However, it seems to me that receiving things is a “relationship based on gain and loss”.

That’s something I don’t like …….

“Oh. I’m glad you feel that way, but ……. I can’t accept it.”

“It might be a little cramped when we sleep, you know?”

“I don’t mind. I’ll put up with it. It’s too late for that.”

“Will you sleep well? If I slip out, will you?”

“I won’t. I promise.”

Rin smiled contentedly at my words, “Hmph.”

And then…

“I’ve got your word, right? That’s a promise.”

She said with a frown and put her hand on my hand.

My face naturally twitched at that.

I’ve been hit …….

“So, Towa-kun, let’s sleep together in our small bed today, okay?”

“No, no, no, wait! That’s not a good idea!”

“You said, you’re a man of your word, right…..?”

I dropped my shoulders and sat down on the floor as if I were unhappy.

I’m sure she’s very proud of her victory, and when I looked at Rin, she was flushed and fidgeting for some reason.

“But when Towa-kun indirectly tells me he wants to sleep with me, it’s ………… embarrassing.”

“…… Then don’t get me into that kind of situation.”

I sighed as I looked at Rin, who was blushing and sulking.

–Rin’s personal belongings and a pair of goods that are increasing day by day.

I looked around at them and smiled bitterly.

The changes in my once bleak home naturally brought a smile to my face.