CH 16

“… How did this happen?”

I muttered in the bathroom, dumbfounded.

The bathroom of the Shinjo family, not mine but… yeah?

“… Yeah?”

No, why am I even panicking?

After I told them about my family, the mood became chilling. However, Sakuna-san suddenly stood up, hugged me, and patted my head as if to reassure me. I was genuinely surprised, but her compassion and warmth made me feel relieved.

“……”

I honestly hadn’t felt a warmth like my mother’s in a long time now…

When that happened, I strangely settled down before my surprise and embarrassment came out, I was left to Sakuna’s mercy.

Well, Arisa and Aina instantly came to hold me as if to switch places with her…

I feel sorry that I made them worry about me somehow.

“And as the flow went by, I ended up staying here.”

I had planned to leave as soon as the exchange of greetings was over, but I got treated to lunch and ended up staying the whole day. Needless to say, I refused at first, but seeing their sad expressions made me give in to their request.

And of course, staying at the same house with such beautiful ladies, albeit mother and daughters, should have been quite thrilling for me, but I was surprisingly calm.

“… Well, nothing is going to happen.”

I can understand from their attitude that Arisa and Aina don’t think badly of me, not to mention Sakuna-san. But the strange thing is that I’m somewhat getting an ominous vibe, I don’t know if it’s my intuition, or maybe just me being paranoid.

I wonder if this is the aftermath of what happened during that incident.

“… Ugaaaaaaa!”

Well, I’ve thought about it in all sorts of weird analytical ways, but in the end, what I have in my head is exactly this.

“… Calm down? Are you kidding me, I’m nervous as h**l, you idiot!”

Sorry, I was certainly lying earlier.

I’m not calm at all! I’m super nervous! I mean it’s Arisa and Aina’s house, you know? A house where a beautiful mother and her daughters live?

Of course, I would be nervous, I’m a high school boy in his puberty you know!

For some reason, a pumpkin face popped into my head as if it was ridiculing me for being troubled like this. In the end, I didn’t throw that thing away, rather it’s displayed in my room… Maybe that thing is some sort of cursed item and the reason of my current predicament, right?

“Nah, no way…”

There’s no way that was possible, so I chuckled and decided to warm up again.

As I did so, I noticed that the door to the changing room opened with a noise.

“Hayato-kun? How is the hot water?”

It appears to be Sakuna-san.

“It’s just great. You see…”

—Can I go home now?

I heard Sakuna-san’s voice first as if she was subjected to it before I even tried to ask her that.

“It’s fine, really. Arisa and Aina were happy too, and besides, I want Hayato-kun to have a hot meal. You were probably planning to eat cup noodles anyway, weren’t you?”

“… Guh.”

“Fufu♪ it’s our first-day meeting, but I’m already beginning to understand Hayato-kun…you know, for me.”

… quintessential of an adult. I can’t even grumble. (E/N: Quintessential here means a perfect example of something.)

It’s true that lately, I’ve become too lazy to cook, so I’ve been eating cup noodles every day. Today was no different. I was supposed to pour in hot water, wait three minutes, slurp the noodles, and enjoy the meal.

“Maybe… I’m bothering you after all?”

“Oh, no, not at all!”

I’m puzzled, but I don’t consider it a nuisance…

“Rather, I’m wondering if I deserve this warmth you have given me—”

“Isn’t it just fine?”

With a slight sound, her palm was reflected in the glass separating the bathroom where I was and the changing room where Sakuna-san was.

“You did not get discouraged by the loss of your parents but that doesn’t mean you didn’t need them. Besides, we were rescued from a horrible situation by you. Then, wouldn’t you deserve at least this much in return?”

“…I guess…”

“Fufu, well it’s not like you have a choice. I’m sure they feel the same as I do, I’m sure Arisa and Aina won’t let you off the hook today, see?”

“… So you’re saying I should just give up?”

“That’s right♪”

I see, apparently I can’t get away from this situation.

Well, I guess it would be rude not to accept their hospitality. I decided to at least spend my time with a steel will to prevent any mistakes from happening.

“I’ll leave a change of clothes here for you, Hayato-kun. They are my husband’s, so they may be a little big.”

“It’s all right, thank you!”

Since my decision to stay overnight was only made just now, I naturally did not have a change of clothes with me. So I had to borrow pajamas and underwear.

“……”

I’m quite speechless, it must have already been several years since her husband passed away. And yet, the fact that they have his change of clothes must mean that he was such a big part of their life. But i agree, even if they are no longer used, it would be outrageous to throw them away.

“I’ll leave you to it then. Please take your time to warm up.”

“Thank you–”

“I will wash everything that Hayato-kun was wearing, so please don’t worry.”

–and sorry for the trouble.

Sakuna-san walked out of the bathroom, perhaps taking my clothes in her hand.

“… Un”

“Hmm?”

I thought I heard some subtle voice… or was it my imagination?

The tension eased slightly, probably due to the fact that the hot water helped me to relax and my frenzy thoughts gradually calmed down. A little while after Sakuna-san left, I got out of the bathtub.

“Haha… something about wearing other people’s underwear makes me uncomfortable.”

The pajamas and underwear that were prepared, as I said before, must have been used by Sakuna-san’s husband. So I was very uncomfortable with the underwear, but not much with the pajamas.

“… Oh well whatever!”

I took the plunge and quickly put it through.

It was a strange feeling, but not as bad as I thought it would be, and I chuckled to myself, thinking that I would get used to this in no time. As I left the changing room to return to the living room, I met Sakuna-san.

“Ah, Sakuna-san. Thank you for the bath.”

She was probably washing my clothes with some other things.

It looks like she’s on her way back, but for some reason, Sakuna-san’s face was red. Her eyes were moist and her breathing was ragged. I feel like watching this scene is very damaging for my eyes.(E/N: Dangerous to the eyes maybe?)

“… Ah.”

Then suddenly, Sakuna-san stumbled and almost fell over, so I instantly reacted. As I caught her body, the sweet scent of a woman’s body tickled my nostrils. I couldn’t help but look away from her, as if to stop it from ravishing my brain.(E/N: N-nani? Sa-chan smelled t-that good? D-demn, as expected of the best waifu.)

“… Hayato-kun… smells good.”

“Uh-huh?”

Oh, I’ve said it in falsetto.

Sakuna-san puts her face close to my chest and sniffs me.

Even if she’s tempted to say I smell good, it’s after a bath, so of course I would… Wait, what’s this sweet atmosphere wafting from Sakuna-san?

“His smell is mixed together with Hayato-kun…”

“Sakuna-san!”

“…!?”

I put my hand on her shoulder and called her name a little louder.

After rolling her eyes for a moment, Sakuna-san came to herself, stood up, and instantly apologized to me.

“No need to apologize. Scratch that, Is there something wrong?”

“No, there’s nothing. I’m fine.”

“I see…”

The way she fell earlier, it was as if she lost the energy to use her legs, and… the strange atmosphere she had earlier for some reason, had faded away and I could only tilt my head, puzzled.

When I returned to the living room, I saw Sakuna-san starting to prepare dinner, and Aina was running as she was going to take a bath after me.

“How was the bath?”

“It was great. I feel refreshed.”

“Well, that’s good to know.”

She told me to just relax for a while and I was sitting on the couch with Arisa, chatting with her.

“Are you a great student, Hayato-kun?”

“… mm~ normal I guess.”

I can seriously say that I’m just average when it comes to my studies. I’m not dumb enough to get a red mark, nor am I good enough to get a high score. So I’m really just average. But compared to me, Arisa and Aina are quite smart, Arisa seems to be at the top of her class.

“When the final exam is coming up, why don’t we study together? I’ll teach you anything I can.”

“Really? But that would mean that Arisa’s time would be…”

I’d appreciate it if you could teach me, but I think it’s a waste of Arisa’s time. When I said so, Arisa shook her head and said that was not true.

“It’s okay. I can also learn a lot by teaching others.”

“… Ah, I often hear that. Then please take care of me, Sensei?”

When I said, Sensei, Arisa giggled and nodded her head.

“I understand. I will teach you well as a teacher. So, Hayato-kun.”

“Yeah?”

“You’ll have plenty of time for me, won’t you?”

What a novel way to put it, —plenty of time for me.

I’d like to mention one more thing, if I may, Arisa… you didn’t blink at all when you were talking to me, so be careful because you’re going to get dry eyes, okay?

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[Postscript]

I’ve applied for the Kakuyomu contest.

The romantic comedy weekly and overall ranking was first place. This is thanks to all of you. Thank you very much.

*This work is a romantic comedy. It is not a horror story.

It’s definitely not horror!