Episode 53 – Just being here is fine

” ……Don’t these things usually have to be stopped by the family, not me? ……Can you please take into consideration the possibility that I might get my hands on Kohinata or something like that?”

While I was watching the Kohinata family members moving around in a hurry, I was muttering such things in the corner of the room. Really, how did it come to this?

The time was past eleven o’clock in the evening when I finished brushing my teeth in front of the washbasin.

I was about to put away my desk and put down the futon, when for some reason Kohinata, her mother Yuka san, and her sister Shizuka san started to carry the futon into the guest room. Shizuka san was carrying the futon and Yuka was carrying the comforter. Kohinata was also carrying pillows with a twinkle in her eye.

“What are you doing!?” but the girls just smiled and didn’t answer. The Kohinata were smooching happily, and it was impossible to stop them by force against the women. As a result, I could only watch the scene while muttering to myself.

And then, in no time at all, a futon that looked like it belonged to Kohinata was set up next to my futon. A married couple?

“You know, …… I’m not in a relationship with Asuka san, okay?　We are just friends. Even staying over is close to safe out, but this is completely inexcusable out, isn’t it?”

I sat upright beside the futon and said this in an accusatory tone to the Kohinata’s, who looked as if they had done their job.

Incidentally, Kohinata didn’t seem to have heard what I said and was rolling around on the futon that I had just laid out. The tension is like that on the night of a trip. I’m glad you’re having fun, but we’re talking about you, remember?

“But Tomoki kun, you’ve had plenty of chances like that in the past, haven’t you? There was a time when it was just the two of you at your house, but from the way I looked at Asuka, Tomoki-kun didn’t seem to be doing anything about it.”
“……That doesn’t mean it won’t be like that in the future, right?”

Because Kohinata’s recent aggression is really amazing.

“Ufufu, a boy who really thinks bad things wouldn’t say such a thing, Tomoki-kun.”
“Unun. Tomoki kun is thinking about Asuka a lot, isn’t he?”

…… Ugh, I can certainly say I swear I would never do anything to hurt Kohinata, but I’m worried about her if she is this unguarded.
Well, I guess I’ll just have to protect her on behalf of the Kohinata family then.

“I know it’s not for me to say, but you’re a pretty girl at your age, so you should be more wary of guys, okay?”

I say to the rabbit, who is on her back, sprawled out on her haunches.

The rabbit gets up, gets down on all fours, comes over to me, and starts head-butting me in the stomach with a gulp. Kohinata was studying hard today, and I’m sorry to refuse …… to help her.
But just a little bit, I think she could take into account the fact that her family is watching with a grin on their faces. I have a very hot face.

“I mean, you seem to get along so well that it no longer matters what you do. …… well Tomoki, I’m putting up with you.”
“As a mother, I’m fine with anything as long as Asuka is happy~””

Will you please stop saying things like it’s official for the family!
It’s finally becoming a possibility that my self-control will be defeated by my troubles, isn’t it?

☆ ☆　☆　☆　☆

Shizuka saj and Yuka san leave the guest room and we are finally alone. The light in the room is still on and I’m looking up at the ceiling with Kohinata.

How am I going to excuse myself to Keiichi and Saejima tomorrow? …… I could say that I woke up early and came here first by myself. I feel like I can fake it as much as I want.

I felt like I was doing something wrong if I kept it a secret, but this was not something I could say so easily, was it?

As I lay back on the futon, Kohinata poked me on the shoulder. When I turned my head to look at her, I saw that she had just poked her face out of the futon and was sniffling happily.

This girl is really …… Haaa …….

“Are you having fun?”
“………… (Gokugoku!)”

She’s more energetic than usual. I feel a sense of superiority when I think that I’m the only one seeing something that Kohinata doesn’t show me at school.

I wonder if Kohinata was like this with her father?
Shizuka said something like, “She used to be spoiled by her dad a lot.”

“I see,……, that makes it worthwhile to stay over. However, I’m not a particularly good talker, and the only thing I can do is sleep with you like this. I’m not the best with girls.”

When I said this in a self-deprecating manner, Kohinata shook her head.
Kohinata then picked up the phone on her bedside table and began typing on it. She then showed the screen to me.

“[Just being here is fine]—wait. What an affirmation of my existence!”

I was happy, but at the same time I felt embarrassed, so I lightly tapped Kohinata on the head. She shook her head happily from side to side.

I wonder if I am like an idol to Kohinata? What’s this ‘just being here’ thing–……,

Ah, I see………… her father was not able to carry out that ‘just being here’?

“I’ll stay with you until you tell me to ‘get away from you because you’re depressing me.’ So don’t worry.”

Saying this, I gently stroked Kohinata’s head as if I was touching delicate glasswork. She seemed to be comfortable, meditating as if she were a cat being stroked on the chin.

This was the first time I had ever stroked a girl’s head, but I did not feel nervous or embarrassed, and I felt as if I had obtained a stabilizing element in my heart.