When it came to karaoke, Uehara-san and Aizawa-san were the sole performers. The two who usually come to karaoke have a large repertoire and are accustomed to singing.

Chihiro and I sang about one song while Uehara-san and Aizawa-san sang three songs each.

「Takai-san, what do you sing? Eh? You’re not much of a singer? Here, this one is so famous and you know it, don’t you?」

Takai said it had been a long time since she had been to karaoke since junior high school. At first I was quietly listening to people singing, but then Uehara-san said, “Since we’re here, let’s sing,” and she and Takai were choosing a song together.

Finally, it was Takai’s turn to sing.

I had only ever seen her in the classroom or library, either reading a book or naked and disheveled, so it was refreshing to see her holding a microphone and looking nervous.

After singing, Takai sat down on the sofa with a relieved look on her face.

「Takai-san, thank goodness! Your voice was so lovely.」

Uehara-san was also goofy about how cute she looked singing to Takai, who was sitting next to her. Takai seemed very embarrassed to hear this, but it was probably not my imagination that there seemed to be a bit of happy emotion mixed in with her usual blank expression.

Takai had a very good voice, although she was not used to singing. She was good at a thousand questions, and I was the only one who had a subtle appreciation for it.

I was a little depressed because I felt that I really had nothing to offer.

「Tōyama, what are you depressed about?」

Uehara-san, who was sitting next to me, spoke to me with concern.

「No, I just thought everyone sings so well.」

「Even Tōyama, once you get used to singing, you’ll be able to do it. This is just something you get used to.」

「Is that how it is? I hear you can’t fix tone deafness.」

I felt like I was fundamentally tone deaf and out of tune.

「I don’t care about karaoke as long as the person himself enjoys singing. If you practice, you’ll get better at it… Can we practice together sometime?」

Uehara-san casually invites me to join her.

「Yes, let’s all come back for karaoke next time.」

Knowing how Uehara-san feels, I wondered how I should respond, but I decided to keep a little distance so as not to give her too much hope.

「Che— Too bad! It was a good excuse to be alone with Tōyama!」

Although she said so, Uehara-san did not seem particularly disappointed.

I don’t think anyone else heard our current conversation since Aizawa-san was in the middle of singing as fast as she could.

I asked Takai, who was sitting on the opposite side of the room with Uehara-san on the other side, but she was just watching Aizawa-san singing and did not seem to have changed in any particular way.

「Nhn— It was fun. The singers were different from usual and it was fresh.」

As we left the karaoke bar and walked to the station, Aizawa-san muttered to me while straightening her back.

「Karaoke is fun after all. It’s a great stress reliever, and I’m happy to hear Takai-san sing.」

In the end, Takai sang only once, and most of the time it was Uehara-san and Aizawa-san.

「Did you have fun, Takai-san?」

Uehara-san asked Takai.

「Nhn, it’s just fine.」

It was a very subtle impression if you ask an ordinary person, but if you consider it Takai’s impression, I think she is saying it was quite good.

「Yeah! Well, that’s good. Let’s go somewhere together again sometime.」

Uehara-san must have taken it as a sign that she had enjoyed himself; she had a big smile on her face.

Takai nodded silently.

Takai and I were on the same train, but the other three were on different lines, so we parted ways in front of the station and headed home separately.

「Takai, can I come over to your house now?」

I asked Takai, who was standing in the car with her back to the door.

「Yeah, I think I’m good for today.」

「Hold on a second.」

We arrived in front of Takai’s house and she went in first to make sure no one was home.

No one was home, so I went in without hesitation.

Me and Takai are sitting on the sofa watching TV in a daze.

I came to Takai’s house to have sex, not to watch TV or chat. Takai is well aware of this.

We are now in the process of filling the bathtub with hot water so that the two of us can take a bath together.

After we washed each other’s bodies, I held Takai between my legs as if I was holding her from behind, and we were both soaking in the bathtub together.

Takai does not answer anything, but is probably embarrassed to see a side of her that she does not usually show. She doesn’t show much emotion, but lately I’ve gotten to know her emotions a little better without her having to say anything.

I kissed Takai’s neck and ears from behind while soaking in the bathtub. She responded well, so I got carried away and was enjoying her body, and it turned me upside down.

I wiped my body and moved from the changing room to Takai’s bed.

Me and Takai are lying on the end bed several times together.

「Will Takai continue to go out with Uehara-san and others when she invites you?」

I wanted to know whether Takai’s visit to the karaoke bar today was on a whim, or whether she had changed her mind.

「I don’t know. But today I went to karaoke with everyone and for the first time in a long time I thought it would be fun to be in a big group.」

「I see… That’s good to hear. I would be happy if Takai could continue to communicate with someone like that, even if it’s just little by little.」

Given Takai’s family environment, it is obvious that this factor is a bad influence for her.

However, as a mere high school student, there is no way I can interfere with her family, and the only thing I can do is to make sure that she enjoys her school life at least.

「Yeah… Just as Yuki has changed recently, so have I…」

Takai did not speak the rest of the words.

But I do know.

——Because I was the same as you.

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