Episode 56 – Sure enough, they find out

After having breakfast with the Kohinata family, I changed from my room clothes to outside clothes and put the new futon that was spread out in the guest room into the closet under Shizuka san’s instruction.

Kohinata and Shizuka san had also returned the futon to the room, and the evidence of the sleepover had now been destroyed.
After returning the table to its original position, the room was ready to be used as it was yesterday.

Since Shizuka san and Yuka san had already left after 9:00 p.m., there was no longer any possibility that they would inadvertently leak the story to Keiichi and the others. I don’t know what will happen after they return home, but it will probably be fine.

Keiichi and Saejima arrived here around 10:00 a.m., and I told them flatly that I had woken up early, so I had come ahead of them. They were convinced on the spot,

“What’s with ….., stare.”

After a while after we started studying, Keiichi started grinning at me for some reason. It was as if he was convinced that I was hiding something from him. I told him to be serious because the exam will start tomorrow.

“Nothing~, I have a feeling that Tomoki and kohinata are acting differently than they did yesterday.”
“Really?”

In response to Keiichi’s words, Saejima also raised her head and looked at me and Kohinata alternately.

“There’s nothing going on. I left right after Keiichi and the others left after I carried their luggage. I came here today just before you arrived.”
“…… Hmmm, by the way, what was that luggage?”

…… That’s an incredibly hard question to answer. It’s directly related to my secret. [Futon] is a set of bedding, which may lead Keiichi’s thoughts to “sleepover”.

“I don’t know, I haven’t seen what’s in it–ah, kohinata, that’s the wrong formula to use.”

As I watch Kohinata study, I keep piling lie upon lie on top of lie. I’m inwardly racing my heart out.
I’m not sure if Kohinata is aware of the fact that she is going to have a sleepover, but she is not very calm and composed. She seems to be trying to erase her mistakes with an eraser, but for some reason she is rubbing her notebook with a plastic bottle cap. That won’t erase it.

While I was erasing the mistakes from the side instead of Kohinata, Keiichi turned his attention to us and continued talking further.

“And Tomoki’s luggage, isn’t it awfully much? What’s in it?”
“It’s my study stuff.”
“But isn’t it packed?”
“It’s just your imagination.”
“Can I look in your bag?”
“No.”
“Are you sure it’s just a study bag?”
“……No is no”

When I show my adamant refusal to answer, Keiichi cowered his shoulders and turned to face Saejima. What’s with that look? There’s no way I’m showing him my loungewear and toothbrush set.

Keiichi sighs in frustration, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to pursue the matter any further. …… Thank goodness.

“By any chance, did you stay at Kohinata’s house yesterday, Tomoki?”

Not good at all! And how did he find out? He’s too perceptive as usual, isn’t he?　

What’s more, Keiichi, of all people, threw that question not at me but at Kohinata. And he asked this question to Kohinata, who is not very good at deceiving people.

Kohinata shuddered, then raised her head and looked at Keiichi.
Then she began to shake her head sideways in small increments.

“………… (BunBunBunBun)”

…… yeah. I appreciate the effort you’re making to hide it, but Keiichi and Saejima have already changed their faces to “Oh, yeah,” you know?

It can’t be helped,…… if they found out that I stayed over, Kohinata will be in trouble if they get a strange, evil idea, so it’s better to be honest about it. I’d be embarrassed too if she got a strange idea.

“Shizuka-san and Kohinata’s mother went out of their way to buy a futon for me. As expected, if they went that far, I’d have no choice but to stay, wouldn’t I? I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to get the wrong idea, but I really just stayed the night, you know? I spent the rest of the night studying for exams right Kohinata.”

Since it is the truth about this, I speak normally and Kohinata nods her head firmly once. Keiichi and Saejima seemed to agree with me, “I see.”

“Did you sleep in separate rooms?”

Saejima then asks Kohinata. Ask me a question, please.

“Ho, did you sleep in the same room together, bedding side by side?’

Keiichi, who understood Kohinata’s reaction in seconds, adds more questions. To Kohinata, of course.

“Oioi, come on, stop right there. This is no longer teasing, this is bullying. Take a good look at Kohinata right now.”

Look at how teary-eyed she is, but her face is as red as a ripe tomato.

Keiichi and Saejima must have felt sorry for Kohinata, who was shaking her head frantically (because it was your fault), and said things like “I’m sorry,” “I’m sorry,” and other words of apology.

Mm-hm. Well, let’s just call it quits and get on with our studies, shall we? It looks like we can avoid red marks now, but there is still plenty of room for growth for Kohinata, so let’s not cut corners, even though it’s a mid-term exam.

“We don’t have much time left, you know. Let’s cram in the last spurt.”

When I said this, Kohinata seemed a little embarrassed and nodded her head firmly, although she was still fidgety.

While Saejima watched our exchange with a smiling face, Keiichi looked on with his hand on his chin as if he was thinking about something. Eventually, Keiichi opened his mouth.

“I mean, there are other family members at Kohinata’s house, but if you stayed at Tomoki’s house throughout the exam, wouldn’t you be able to study all you want from morning till night?”

He started to say something like that.

Hey, there, idiot! Don’t say unnecessary things!　

Her mother Yuka san might indeed stop her, but Shizuka san and the rest might be amused and agree to it if they hear about it!